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At last Chiang Wei consented, and the march began. as they neared the town they heard drums rolling and saw flags fluttering, which told them that the pass was held.

Hanchung, that strong defence is lost,

And storm clouds gather round Chienko.

What force was at the pass will be told in the next chapter.

CHAPTER CXVII.

TENG GETS THROUGH YINP'ING PASS;

CHUKO DIES AT MIENCHU.

The soldiers, whose coming had at first alarmed Chiang

Wei, were, however, from his own country, part of a force brought to the frontier by Tung Chüeh when he heard of the invasion from Wei. Two legions had been sent to Chienko, and when the dust showed an approaching army he thought it wise to go to the Pass lest the coming men should be enemies to be stopped.

When Tung found that the newcomers were friends, he let them pass through and gave them the news from the capital, bad news of the deeds of both the king and the eunuchfavourite.

"But do not grieve," said Chiang Wei, "so long as I live I will not allow Wei to come and conquer Shu."

They kept good guard at Chienko while they discussed future plans.

"Though we are holding this pass, yet Ch'êngtu is well-nigh empty of soldiers," said Tung Chüeh. "If it was attacked it would go crack!"

Chiang Wei replied, "The natural defences are excellent; it is hard to cross over the mountains and climb the steep roads. No one need fear."

Soon after this, Chuko Hsü appeared at the pass challenging the defenders. Chiang Wei forthwith placed himself at the head of a half legion and went down to meet him. He gained an easy victory, slaying many of the enemy and taking much spoil in horses and weapons.

While Chiang went back to the pass, the defeated general made his way to Chung Hui's camp to confess his failure. His general was very angry.

"My orders to you were to hold Yinp'ing Bridge so as to stop Chiang Wei, and you lost it. Now without any orders you attack and are defeated."

"Chiang Wei played so many deceitful tricks. He pretended to be going to take Yungchou, and I thought that was very important, so I sent troops to rescue it. Then he meanly got away. I followed to the pass, but never thought he would come out and defeat my men."

Chuko pleaded thus, but he was sentenced to die. Now Chuko was really a subordinate of Têng Ai and, admitting that he was in fault, his punishment should not have been pronounced by Chung Hui. But when Wei Kuan mentioned that as a reason for reprieve, Chung Hui swaggeringly replied, "I have a command from the Emperor and orders from the Prime Minister to attack Shu; if Têng Ai himself offended I would behead him."

However, in spite of these big words, he did not put Chuko to death, but sent him a prisoner to the capital to be judged. The surviving men were added to Chung Hui's army.

This insolent speeech of Chung Hui was duly repeated to Têng Ai, who was angry in his turn and said, "His rank and mine are the same. I have held a frontier post for years and sustained many fatigues in the country's service. Who is he that he gives himself such airs?"

His son Chung endeavoured to appease his wrath. "Father, if you cannot suffer small things you may upset the grand policy of the state. Unfriendliness with him may do great harm, so I hope you will bear with him."

Têng Ai saw he was right, and said no more; but he nourished anger in his heart. With a small escort he went to call upon his colleague. When his coming was announced, Chung Hui asked his staff how many men were following Têng Ai.

"He has only half a score of horsemen," they replied. Chung Hui had a large body of men drawn up about his tent, and then gave orders that his visitor should be led in. Têng Ai dismounted, and the two men saluted each other. But the visitor did not like the look on the faces of his host's guard. He decided to find out what Chung Hui was thinking.

"The capture of Hanchung is a piece of excellent fortune for the state," said he. "The capture of Chienko can now be accomplished easily."

"What is your own idea, General?" asked Chung Hui.

Têng Ai tried to evade answering the question, but could not. Chung Hui pressed him to reply. Finally he said, "In my simple opinion one might proceed by by-roads from the pass through Hanchung to Yangt'ing, and thence make a surprise march. Chiang Wei must go to its defence, and you, General, can take Chienko."

"A very good plan," said Chung Hui. "You may start forthwith, and I will wait here till I hear news of your success." They drank, and Têng took his leave. Chung Hui went back to his own tent filled with contempt for Têng's plan, which he thought impracticable.

"They say Têng Ai is able; i think he is of most ordinary capacity," said he to his officers.

"But why?" said they.

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"Because the by-roads by Yinp'ing are impassable, nothing but lofty mountains and steep hills. A hundred defenders at a critical point could cut all communications, and Têng Ai's men would starve to death. I shall go by the direct road, and there is no fear about the result. I shall overcome Shu.'

So he prepared scaling ladders and ballista and set himself to besiege Chienko.

Têng Ai went out to the main gate of the court. While mounting, he said to his followers, "What did Chung Hui think of me?"

"He looked as though he held a poor opinion of what you had said, General, and disagreed with you, although his words were fair enough."

"He thinks I cannot take Ch'êngtu; and so I will take it."

He was received at his own camp by Shih Tsuan and his son, and a party of others of his captains, and they asked what the conversation had been about.

"I told him simple truth, but he thinks I am just a common person of no ability to speak of. He regards the capture of Hanchung as an incomparable feat of arms. Where would he have been if I had not held up Chiang Wei? But I think the capture of Ch'êngtu will beat that of Hanchung."

That night camp was broken up, and they set out upon a march of seven hundred li along the hill paths. At that distance from Chienko they were to make a permanent camp. Chung Hui laughed at the attempt.

From his camp Têng Ai sent a secret letter to Ssuma Chao. Then he called his officers to his tent and asked them, saying, "I am going to make a dash for Ch'êngtu while it is still undefended, and success will mean unfading glory for us all. Will you follow me?"

"We will follow you and obey your orders," cried they all. So the final dispositions were made. Têng Chung went first to improve the road. His men wore no armour, but they had axes and boring tools. They were to level roads and build bridges.

Next went three legions furnished with dry grain and ropes. At every three hundred li they were to make a post of three companies.

In the autumn they left Yinp'ing, and in the tenth month. they were in most precipitous country. They had taken twenty-seven days to travel seven hundred li. They were in an uninhabited country. After garrisoning the various posts on the way, they had only two companies left. Before them stood a range named Mot'ien Ling, which no horse could ascend. Têng Ai climbed up on foot to see his son and the men with him opening up a road. They were exhausted with fatigue and weeping.

Têng Ai asked why they were so sad, and his son replied, "We have found an impassable precipice away to the northwest which we cannot get through. All our labour has been in vain."

Têng Ai said, "We have got over seven hundred li and just beyond is Chiangyu: we cannot go back. How can one get tiger cubs except by going into tiger caves? Here we are, and it will be a very great feat to capture Ch'êngtu."

They all said they would go on. So they came to the precipice. First they threw over their weapons; then the leader wrapped himself in blankets and rolled over the edge, next the captains followed him, also wrapped in blankets. Those who had not blankets were let down by cords round the waist and others clinging to trees followed one after another till all had descended and the Mot'ien Ling was passed. Then they retook their armour and weapons and went on their way. They came across a stone by the roadside. It bore a mysterious inscription composed by Chuko Liang. Translated literally it read:

"Two fires first set out,

Men pass by here,

Two soldiers compete

Both soon die."

Têng Ai was perplexed. Presently he bowed before the stone and prayed to the spirit of Chuko Liang.

"O Marquis, immortal. I grieve that I am not thy worthy disciple."

The rugged lofty mountain peaks
Of Yinping, pierce the sky,

The sombre crane with wearied wing
Can scarcely o'er them fly.

Intrepid Têng in blankets wrapped
Rolled down the craggy steep,
His feat great Chuko prophesied
By insight wondrous deep.

Note. The interpretation of the inscription is as follows:

"Two fires" form the ideograph yen; "set out" is hsing; "first," refers to the year. Thus the first line gives the date, "Yen-Hsing, first year." The two men were Têng Ai and Chung Hui, rivals for glory.

Having crossed this great range of mountains without discovery, Têng Ai marched forward. Presently he came to a roomy camp, empty and deserted. He was told that while Chuko Liang lived two companies had been kept in garrison at this point of danger, but King Ch'an had withdrawn them. Têng Ai sighed at the thought.

He said to his men, "Now retreat is impossible, there is no road back. Before you lies Chiangyu with stores in abundance. Advance and you live, retreat and you die. You must fight with all your strength."

"We will fight to the death," they cried.

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