第一小说网

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第283部分（第3页）

To　save；　with　base　content　the　erstwhile　king

Too　soon　surrendered；　yielding　all　but　life。

In　gifts　Zhuge　Liang　was　peer　with

Guan　Zhong　and　Yue　Yi；

His　hapless　death　pared　with

Zhang　Feis　and　Guan　Yus；

Sad　sight；　his　temple　on　the　rivers　brink！

It　wrings　the　heart　more　than　the　tearful　verse

Of　the　Liangfu　songs　he　most　loved。

In　due　time　Minister　Jiang　Xian　reached　the　Saber　Pass；　and　gave　Jiang　Wei　the　Latter　Rulers　mand　to　surrender　to　the　invaders。　Jiang　Wei　was　dumb　with　amazement　at　the　order；　his　officers　ground　their　teeth　with　rage　and　mortification。　Their　hair　stood　on　end　with　anger；　they　drew　their　swords　and　slashed　at　stones　in　their　wrath。

Shouted　they；　〃While　we　are　fighting　to　our　death；　the　Latter　Ruler　has　yielded！〃

The　roar　of　their　angry　lamentation　was　heard　for　miles。

But　Jiang　Wei　soothed　them　with　kindly　words；　saying；　〃Generals；　grieve　not。　Even　yet　I　can　restore　the　House　of　Han！〃

〃How？〃　cried　they。

And　he　whispered　low　in　their　ears。

The　flag　of　surrender　fluttered　over　the　ramparts　of　Saber　Pass；　and　a　messenger　went　to　Zhong　Huis　camp。　When　Jiang　Wei　and　his　generals　drew　near；　Zhong　Hui　went　out　to　meet　them。

〃Why　have　you　been　so　long　in　ing？〃　said　Zhong　Hui。

Jiang　Wei　looked　him　straight　in　the　face　and　said；　without　a　tremor；　but　through　falling　tears；　〃The　whole　armies　of　the　state　are　under　me；　and　I　am　here　far　too　soon！〃

Zhong　Hui　wondered　about　this　firm　remark；　and　said　nothing　more。　The　two　saluted　each　other　and　took　their　seats；　Jiang　Wei　being　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor。

Jiang　Wei　said；　〃I　hear　that　every　detail　of　your　plans；　from　the　time　you　left　the　South　of　River　Huai　till　now；　has　been　acplished。　The　good　fortune　of　the　Sima　family　is　owing　to　you；　and　so　I　am　the　more　content　to　bow　my　head　and　yield　to　you。　Had　it　been　Deng　Ai；　I　should　have　fought　to　the　death；　for　I　would　not　have　surrendered　to　him！〃

Then　Zhong　Hui　broke　an　arrow　in　twain；　and　they　two　swore　close　brotherhood。　Their　friendship　became　close…knit。　Jiang　Wei　was　continued　in　mand　of　his　own　army；　at　which　he　secretly　rejoiced。　He　sent　Jiang　Xian　back　to　Chengdu。

As　conqueror；　Deng　Ai　arranged　for　the　administration　of　the　newly…gained　territory。　He　made　Shi　Zuan　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou　and　appointed　Qian　Hong；　Yang　Xin；　and　many　others　to　various　posts。　He　also　built　a　tower　in　Mianzhu　in　memoration　of　his　conquest。

At　a　great　banquet；　where　most　of　the　guests　were　people　of　the　newly…conquered　land；　Deng　Ai　drank　too　freely　and　in　his　cups　became　garrulous。

With　a　patronizing　wave　of　his　hand；　he　said　to　his　guests；　〃You　are　lucky　in　that　you　have　had　to　do　with　me。　Things　might　well　have　been　otherwise；　and　you　might　all　have　been　put　to　death；　if　you　surrender　to　other　leader！〃

The　guests　rose　in　a　body　and　expressed　their　gratitude。　Just　at　that　moment　Jiang　Xian　arrived　from　his　visit　to　Jiang　Wei　to　say　that　Jiang　Wei　and　his　army　had　surrendered　to　Zhong　Hui。　Deng　Ai　thereupon　conceived　a　great　hatred　for　Zhong　Hui；　and　soon　after　he　wrote　to　Luoyang　a　letter　something　like　this：

〃I　would　venture　to　remark　that　misleading　rumors　of　war　should　precede　actual　attack。　Now　that　Shu　has　been　overe；　the　manifest　next　move　is　against　Wu；　and　in　present　circumstances　victory　would　easily　follow　an　attack。　But　after　a　great　effort；　both　leaders　and　led　are　weary　and　unfit　for　immediate　service。　Therefore　of　this　arm