i lifted his cup and broke into wailing。
Everyone asked what was the cause of this grief； and Zhong Hui replied。 〃The Empress has just died； but before her death she gave me an edict； which is here； recounting the crimes of Sima Zhao and charging him with aiming at the Throne。 I am missioned to destroy him； and you all must join me in the task。〃
The guests stared at each other in amazement； but no one uttered a word。
Then the host suddenly drew his sword； crying； 〃Here is death for those who oppose！〃
Not one was bold enough to refuse； and； one by one； they all signed a promise to help。 As further security； they were all kept prisoners in the Palace under careful guard。
〃They are not really with us；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃I venture to request you to bury them all。〃
〃A great pit has been already dug；〃 replied his brother host。 〃And I have a lot of clubs ready。 We can easily club those who disagree and bury them in the pit。〃
As Jiang Wei and Zhong Hui discussed the matter； General Qiu Jian； a man in the confidence of Zhong Hui； was present。 He had once served under Assistant General Hu Lie； who was one of the imprisoned guests； and thus he found means to warn his former chief。
Hu Lie wept and said； 〃My son； Hu Yuan； is in mand of a force outside the city。 He will never suspect Zhong Hui capable of such a crime； and I pray you tell him。 If I am to die； it will be with less regret if my son can be told。〃
〃Kind master； have no anxiety； only leave it to me；〃 replied Qiu Jian。
He went to Zhong Hui； and said； 〃Sir； you are holding in captivity a large number of officers； and they are suffering from lack of food and water。 Will you not appoint an officer to supply their needs？〃
Zhong Hui was accustomed to yield to the wishes of Qiu Jian； and he made no difficulty about this。 He told Qiu Jian to see to it himself； only saying； 〃I am placing great trust in you； and you must be loyal。 Our secret must be kept。〃
〃My lord； you may be quite content。 I know how to keep a strict watch when necessary。〃
And Qiu Jian allowed to enter into the place of confinement a trusty confidant of Hu Lie； who gave him a letter to his son Hu Yuan。
When Hu Yuan knew the whole story； he was astonished and told his subordinates； and they were greatly enraged。
They came to their mander's tent to say： 〃We would rather die than follow a rebel！〃
So Hu Yuan fixed upon the eighteenth day of the month to attempt the rescue。 He enlisted the sympathy of Wei Guan and got his army ready。 He bade Qiu Jian tell his father what was afoot。 Hu Lie then told his fellow…captives。
One day Zhong Hui said to Jiang Wei； 〃Last night I dreamed a dream； that I was bitten by many serpents。 Can you expound the vision？〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃Dreams of dragons and snakes and scaly creatures are exceedingly auspicious。〃
Zhong Hui was only too ready to accept this interpretation。 Then he told Jiang Wei that all was ready and they would put the crucial question to each captive。
〃I know they are opposed to us； and you would do well to slay them all； and that right quickly；〃 replied Jiang Wei。
〃Good；〃 replied Zhong Hui。
He bade Jiang Wei with several ruffians kill the Wei leaders among the captives。 But just as Jiang Wei was starting to carry out these instructions； he was seized with a sudden spasm of the heart； so severe that he fainted。 He was raised from the earth and in time revived。 Just as he came to； a tremendous hubbub arose outside the Palace。 Zhong Hui at once sent to inquire what was afoot； but the noise waxed louder and louder； sounding like the rush of a multitude。
〃The officers must be raging；〃 said Zhong Hui。 〃We would best slay them at once！〃
But they told him： 〃The outside soldiers are in the Palace！〃
Zhong Hui bade them close the doors of the Hall of Audience； and he sent his own troops upon the roof to pelt the ining soldiers with tiles。 Many were slain on either side in the melee。 Then a fire broke out。 The assailants broke open the doors。 Zhong Hui faced them and slew a few； but others shot at him with flights of arrows； and he fell and died。 They hacked off his head。
Jiang Wei ran to and fro slaying all he met till another heart spasm seized him。
〃Failed！〃 he shrieked； 〃But it is the will of Heaven！〃
He put an end to his own life。 He was fifty…nine。
Many hundreds were slain within the Forbidden City。 Wei Guan presently ordered that the soldiers were to be led back to their various camps to await the orders of the Duke of Jin。
The soldiers of Wei； burning for revenge of his many invasions； hacked the dead body of Jiang Wei to pieces。 They found his gall bladder extraordinarily large； as large as a hen's egg。 They also seized and slew all the family of the dead leader。
Seeing that Deng Ai's two enemies on the spot were both dead； his old soldiers bethought themselves of trying to rescue him。 When Wei Guan； who had actually arrested Deng Ai； heard this； he feared for his life。
〃If Deng Ai lives； I will die in his hand！〃 said Wei Guan。
Furthermore； General Tian Xu said； 〃When Deng Ai took Jiangyou； he wished to put me to death。 It was only at the prayer of my friends that he let me off。 May I not have my revenge now？〃
So Wei Guan gave order。 At the head of five hundred cavalry； Tian Xu went in pursuit of the cage…carts。 He came up with them at Mianzhu and found that the two prisoners had just been released from the carts in which they were being carried to Luoyang。 When Deng Ai saw that those ing up were soldiers of his own late mand； he took no thought for defense。 Nor did Tian Xu waste time in preliminaries。 He went up to where Deng Ai was standing and cut him down。 His soldiers fell upon the son； Deng Zhong； and slew him also； and thus father and son met death in the same place。
A poem； pitying Deng Ai； was written：
While yet a boy； Deng Ai loved to sketch and plan；
He was an able leader as a man。
The earth could hide no secrets from his eye；
With equal skill he read the starry sky。
Past every obstacle his way he won；
And onward pressed until his task was done。
But foulest murder closed a great career；
His spirit ranges now a larger sphere。
A poem was also posed in pity for Zhong Hui：
Of mother wit Zhong Hui had no scanty share；
And in due time at court did office bear。
His subtle plans shook Sima Zhao's hold on power；
He was well named the Zhang Liang of the hour。
Shouchun and Saber Pass ramparts straight fell down；
When he attacked； and he won great renown。
Ambition beckoned； he would forward press
His spirit homeward wandered； bodiless。
Another poem； in pity of Jiang Wei； runs：
Tianshui boasts of a hero；
Talent came forth from Xizhou；
Lu Wang fathered his spirit；
Zhuge Liang tutored his mind；
Valiant he ever pressed forward；
Nor had a thought of returning；
Grieved were the soldiers of Han
When death rapt his soul from his body。
And thus died all three leaders。 Many other generals also perished in the fighting； and with them died Zhang Yi and other officers。 Liu Rui； the heir…apparent； and Guan Yi； Lord of Hanshou and grandson of Guan Yu； were also killed by the Wei soldiers。 Then followed a time of great confusion and bloodshed； which endured till Jia Chong arrived and restored confidence and order。
＇e＇ Matt； a reader： 〃Shu's Demise………I Am Pissed： I found it disheartening that the Shu Kingdom was overturned by Deng Ai。 In all； all the three kingdoms were united by the Jins。 Man； Shu Kingdom were the most righteous； honorable kingdom which actually tried to upheld the Han Dynasty。 In the end； Cao Cao's decendants and Sima Yi's heirs managed to destroy Shu and Wu。 This is not right！！ The Emperor was never avenged； and the kingdom which was actually trying to restore the Hans were destroyed。 If they were so righteous； why were they defeated by the rebel！！ Man； where there is a great warrior like Zhou Yu； there is Zhuge Liang that defeated him。 Where there is great Prime Minister Zhuge Liang； there is great strategist Sima Yi that out…witted him。 Where there is Jiang Wei； there is Deng Ai。 Rebels remains victor and the righteous are defeated。〃 。。。。。
＇e＇ Sephiroth； a reader： 〃I tend to agree with you。 The ones who actually tried to restore the Hans were defeated and the rebels remains victorous。 This sucks but this i