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higher officers of state are concerned solely with their own safety and Chiang Wei has gone to Miaochung only that he may save his life. If you send an able leader, victory is certain. Where is the need for an assassin's dagger?"

"These are excellent words," said Ssuma Chao, with a laugh, "but if I would attack Shu where is the leader?"

"Têng Ai is the ablest leader of the day," said Hsün. "Give him Chung Hui as his second, and the thing is done."

"Exactly what I think," said Ssuma. So he summoned Chung Hui and said to him, "I desire to send you as leader against Wu; can you go?"

"My lord's design is not against Wu, but Shu," was his reply. "How well you know my inmost thought!" said Ssuma. "But how would you conduct an expedition against Shu?"

"Thinking that my lord would desire to attack Shu, I have already prepared plans. Here they are."

He laid out his maps, and thereon were shown the camps, and storehouses and roads all complete.

Ssuma was highly pleased. "You are an excellent leader," said he. "What say you to going with Têng Ai?"

"Ssuch'uan is large, and there is space for more than one set of operations. Têng Ai can be sent along another line."

Chung Hui was given the title of "Conqueror of the West" and the insignia of a Commander-in-chief over the forces within the pass and control of the armies of Ch'ing, Hsü, Yen, Yü, Ching and Yang. At the same time a commission was sent to Têng Ai giving him command of the forces without the pass, with the title of "Conqueror of the West." And the time for an attack on Shu was settled.

When Ssuma Chao was settling the plans in the court, the General Têng Tun said, “Why are you sending our armies into a distant and dangerous country and thus inviting trouble? Chiang Wei has invaded this country many times, and the wars have cost us many lives. We should rather seek safety in defence.

"I am sending a righteous army against an unrighteous king; how dare you oppose my designs?"

He ordered the executioners to put Têng Tun to death forthwith, and they soon returned to lay his head at the foot of the steps. This frightened all those present, and they turned pale.

Ssuma said, "It is six years since I conquered the east, and the six years have been spent in preparation. I have long intended to reduce both Wu and Shu. Now I will destroy Shu, and then like a flood I will descend upon Wu and conquer that. Thus will I destroy both Kuo and Yü. I can tell very nearly what forces they have in Shu. There are eight or nine legions in the garrison of the capital, four or five on the frontier, while Chiang Wei has about six in his cantonments.

Against them we can pit ten legions under Têng Ai, enough to hold Chiang Wei and keep him from moving east, and Chung Hui has twenty or thirty legions of veterans. And they will go in three divisions straight into Hanchung. The King of Shu is a blind fool with his frontier cities in ruins, his courtiers and women quaking with fear. He will not last long.'

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The assembly praised this perspicacity.

Chung Hui marched as soon as he received his seal of office. Lest his real object should be known, he gave out that his force was directed against Wu, and to give colour to the pretence he had many large ships put in hand. He also sent T'ang Tzu to Tênglai and along the sea coast to collect vessels. Even his chief, Ssuma, was deceived and called him to ask why he was collecting ships.

He replied, "If Shu hears that we intend to attack the west they will ask assistance from Wu. So I pretend to attack Wu, and they will not dare to move under a year. When Shu is beaten, the ships will be ready and useful for an expedition into the east."

Ssuma was pleased. The day chosen for the march was the third day of the seventh mouth. Ssuma escorted his leader out of the city for ten li and then took his leave.

A certain Shao T'i, the "Western Ts'ao-chüan," whispered a word of warning.

"My lord has sent Chung Hui with a large army against Shu. I think he is too ambitious to be trusted with such powers?"

"Think you I do not know?" said Ssuma.

"Then why have you sent him alone and without a colleague?"

Ssuma said a few words to Shao T'i which put his doubts at rest.

Chung went alone, although his master knew,
Occasion serving, he would be untrue.

The next chapter will tell the reader what Shao T'i heard.

CHAPTER CXVI.

CHUNG HUI DIVIDES HIS ARMY;

APPARITION OF WU HOU.

The words whispered in the ear of Shao T'i proved Ssuma's

subtlety. Said he, "This morning they all maintained that Shu should not be attacked, because they are timid.

determined attack will defeat them. You saw Chung Hui was set upon his plan, and he is not afraid. Shu must therefore be beaten, and then the people's hearts will be torn. Beaten leaders cannot boast, and the officers of a broken state are no fit guardians of its welfare. When Chung turns against us, the men of Shu will not support him, and our men being victors they will wish to return home and will not follow their leader into revolt. Hence there is nothing to be feared. I know this, as you do, but it must remain our secret."

Shao T'i understood.

In his camp, just prior to his march, Chung Hui assembled his officers, four score of them and many bearing well-known names, to receive orders.

99

"He must

"Firstly I want a leader of the van," said he. be skilled in making roads and repairing bridges.' "I will take that post," said a voice, and the speaker was Hsü I, son of the "Tiger Leader" Hsü Chu. "Nobody is fitter," cried all present.

"You shall have the seal," said Chung. "You are lithe and strong and have the renown of your father to maintain. Beside, all your colleagues recommend you. Your force shall be half a legion of cavalry and a company of footmen. You are to march into Hanchung in three divisions, the centre one going through Hsieh Valley, the other two passing through Lo and Tzuwu Valleys. You must level and repair the roads, put the bridges in order, bore tunnels and break away rocks. Use all diligence, for any delay will entail punishment."

Hsü I was told to set out immediately, and his chief would start as soon as possible.

As soon as Têng Ai received his orders to attack Shu he sent Ssŭma Wang to enlist the aid of the Ch'iang. Next he summoned the Prefects of the various districts, and soon soldiers gathered in Shênsi like clouds.

One night Têng dreamed a dream wherein he was climbing a lofty mountain on the way into Hanchung. Suddenly a spring of water gushed out at his feet and boiled up with great force so that he was alarmed.

He awoke all in a sweat and did not sleep again, but sat awaiting the dawn. At daybreak he summoned Shao Huan, who was skilled in the Book of Changes, told him the dream and asked the interpretation.

He replied, "According to the book, 'water on a mountain' signifies the diagram Ch'ien, whereunder we find that the south-west augurs well, but the north-east is unpropitious. The Sage said of Ch'ien that it meant advantage in the southwest, i.e., success; but the north-east spelt failure, i.e., there was no road. In this expedition, General, you will overcome but you will be checked before you can proceed far."

Têng listened, growing more and more sad as the interpretation of his dream was unfolded. Just then came despatches from Chung Hui asking him to advance into Hanchung and take Ch'i. He at once sent Chuko Hsü, Governor of Yungchou, to cut off Chiang Wei's retreat, and sent other bodies against the various cantonments. Têng Ai took command of a force to go to and fro and reinforce whatever body needed help.

All the officials came out to see Chung depart. It was a grand sight, the gay banners shutting out the sun, breastplates and helmets glittering. The men were fit and the horses in good condition. They all felicitated the leader.

All save one; for Liu Shih was silent. He smiled grimly. Then Wang Hsiang made his way through the crowd and said, "Do you think these two will overcome Shu?"

"They will overcome Shu certainly, only I think neither will ever come back."

"Why do you say that?"

But Liu did not reply; he only smiled. And the question was not repeated.

The armies of Wei were on the march before Chiang Wei heard of the intended attack. He at once sent up a memorial asking that certain defensive arrangements be made. Chang I and Liao Hua were to command at the two most important points, upon which depended the security of Hanchung. He also sent to engage the help of Wu, and gathered soldiers in Miaochung ready for defence.

That year in Shu the reign-style had been changed to the first year of Yen-Hsing. When the memorial came to the king it found him as usual amusing himself with his favourite Huang Hao. He read the document and said to the eunuch, "Here Chiang Wei says that the Wei armies under Têng Ai and Chung Hui are on the way against us. What shall we do?"

"There is nothing of the sort. Chiang Wei only wants to get a name for himself, and so he says this. Your Majesty need feel no alarm, for we can find out the truth from a certain wise woman I know. She is a real prophetess. May I call her?"

The king consented, and a room was fitted up for the séance. They prepared therein incense, flowers, paper, candles, sacrificial articles and so on, and then the eunuch went with a carriage to beg the wise woman to attend upon the king.

She came and was seated on a dragon couch. After the king had kindled the incense and repeated the prayer, the wise woman suddenly let down her hair, dropped her slippers and capered about barefoot. After several rounds of this she coiled herself up on a table.

The eunuch then said, "The spirit has now descended. Send everyone away and pray to her."

So the attendants were dismissed, and the king entreated the wise woman.

Suddenly she cried out, "I am the guardian spirit of Hsich'uan. Your Majesty rejoices in tranquillity; why do you enquire about other matters? Within a few years the land of Wei shall come under you, wherefore you need not be sorrowful."

She then fell to the ground as in a swoon, and it was some time before she revived. The king was well satisfied with her prophesy and gave her large presents. Further, he thereafter believed all she told him. The immediate result was that Chiang's memorial remained unanswered, and as the king was wholly given to pleasure it was easy for the eunuch to intercept all urgent memorials from the general.

Meanwhile Chung Hui was hastening toward Hanchung. The van-leader Hsü I was anxious to perform some startling exploit, and so he led his force to Nanchêng Pass.

He said to his officers, "If we can take this pass then we can march directly into Hanchung; the defence is weak."

A dash was made for the fort, each one vying with the rest to be first. But the commander was Lu Hsün, and he had had early information of the coming of his enemies. So on both sides of the bridge he posted men armed with multiple bows and crossbows. As soon as the attacking force appeared, the signal was given by a clapper and a terrific discharge of arrows and bolts opened. Many men fell, and the army of Wei was defeated.

Hsün I returned and reported his misfortune. Chung Hui himself went with a few horse to see the conditions. Again the machine bows let fly clouds of missiles, and Chung turned to flee.

But a sortie was made, and as Chung crossed the bridge at a gallop the roadway gave, and his horse's hoof went

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