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He　knocked　his　head　on　the　ground　and　wept；　saying；　〃O　unfilial　son　to　bring　distress　upon　a　gentle　mother！〃
But　his　mother　laughed。
〃Who　does　not　die？〃　cried　she。　〃The　only　thing　to　be　feared　is　not　dying　the　proper　death。　Who　would　regret　dying　like　this？〃
When　next　day　the　family　were　led　out　to　execution；　both　mother　and　son　smiled　as　they　went　past。　But　the　whole　city　wept　tears　of　sorrow。

Mother　Yuan　was　famous　at　the　rise　of　Han；
Mother　Zhao　was　distinguished　at　the　end　of　Wei；
With　purest　virtue　and　unfaltering　heart；
With　resolution　stern　she　played　her　part。
Her　fortitude　was　great　as　Taishan　Mountains；
Her　life　but　as　the　floating　down　did　count；
Like　mother　like　son；　their　fame　never　will　die；
So　long　as　shall　endure　the　earth　and　sky。

Imperial　Guardian　Sima　Fu　proposed　that　the　body　of　the　late　Emperor　should　receive　a　royal　funeral；　and　Sima　Zhao　consented。　Jia　Chong　and　those　of　his　party　urged　Sima　Zhao　to　assume　the　Throne　and　replace　Wei；　but　he　refused。
〃Formerly　King　Wen　had　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　and　yet　he　supported　and　served　the　state　of　Yin　to　its　end。　Wherefore　Confucius　called　him　'plete　of　Virtue'。　Emperor　Cao　of　Wei　would　not　replace　the　Hans；　nor　will　I　accept　an　abdication　of　Wei。〃
Those　who　heard　this　felt　that　in　these　words　was　an　implication　that　he　intended　to　place　his　own　son　Sima　Yan　on　the　throne；　and　they　ceased　to　urge　him　to　act。
In　the　sixth　month　of　that　year；　Cao　Huang；　Duke　of　Changdao；　was　raised　to　the　throne　as　Emperor；　the　period…style　being　changed　to　Wonderful　Beginning；　the　first　year　（AD　260）。　Cao　Huang　was　a　son　of　Cao　Yu；　Prince　of　Yan；　and　a　great　grandson　of　Cao　Cao。

＇e＇　Jin　state　occupied　the　western　part　of　the　empire；　in　the　mountainous　area　north　of　the　Yellow　River。　During　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　under　the　leadership　of　Duke　Wen　and　his　successors；　Jin　grew　into　a　very　large　state；　which　broke　into　three　states　in　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。
Sima　Zhao　was　made　Prime　Minister　and　Duke　of　Jin*。　Beside；　he　received　gifts　of　one　hundred　thousand　gold　coins　and　ten　thousand　rolls　of　silk。　All　the　officers　were　promoted　or　received　honors。
When　these　doings　in　Wei　were　told　in　Shu；　Jiang　Wei　seized　upon　them　as　pretext　for　another　war；　to　punish　Wei　for　the　deposition　of　its　ruler。　So　letters　were　written　calling　upon　Wu　to　help；　and　a　memorial　was　sent　to　the　Throne。　The　army　raised　was　one　hundred　fifty　thousand；　and　there　were　many　carts　with　boxes　made　to　fit　them。　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　were　the　Leaders　of　the　Van。　Liao　Hua　was　to　march　to　the　Ziwu　Valley；　and　Zhang　Yi　to　the　Luo　Valley；　while　Jiang　Wei　took　the　Xie　Valley　road。　They　marched　at　the　same　time　and　hastened　toward　Qishan。
Deng　Ai　was　still　on　the　Qishan　Mountains　training　the　Wei　soldiers　when　he　heard　that　the　Shu　armies　were　once　more　on　the　war　path。　He　called　his　officers　together。
And　Adviser　Wang　Guan　said；　〃I　have　a　plan　to　propose；　but　I　will　not　tell　it　openly。　However；　I　have　written　it　down　for　your　consideration。〃
Deng　Ai　took　the　envelop；　opened；　and　read　it。
〃Though　excellent；　I　fear　it　is　not　enough　to　beguile　the　leader　of　Shu；〃　said　Deng　Ai　as　he　finished　reading。
〃I　am　willing　to　stake　my　life　on　it；〃　said　Wang　Guan；　〃and　I　will　lead　the　way。〃
〃Since　you　have　such　confidence　you　may　try。　You　ought　certainly　to　succeed。〃
So　five　thousand　troops　were　put　under　the　leadership　of　Wang　Guan；　and　they　set　out　for　the　Xie　Valley；　where　they　fell　in　with　the　scouts　of　Jiang　Wei's　force。
Seeing　these；　their　leader；　Wang　Guan；　shouted；　〃We　are　deserters。　Tell　your　leader！〃
So　the　scouts　told　Jiang　Wei；　who　replied；　〃Hold　up　the　soldiers；　letting　their　leader　only　e　to　me。〃
Wang　Guan　went　forward　and　kneeled　before　Jiang　Wei；　saying；　〃I　am　a　nephew　of　Wang　Jing；　and　I　hate　Sima　Zhao　for　what　he　has　done　to　the　Emperor　and　my　family；　and　I　wish　to　join　you　and　my　five　thousand　soldiers　with　me。　I　also　desire　to　be　sent　against　the　rebel　army　that　I　may　avenge　my　uncle。〃
Then　said　Jiang　Wei；　〃Since　you　are　sincere　in　your　desertion；　I　must　be　sincere　in　my　treatment　of　you。　The　one　thing　my　army　needs　is　grain。　There　is　plenty　at　the　border　of　the　River　Lands。　If　you　can　transport　it　to　Qishan；　I　can　go　straightway　and　take　the　Qishan　camps　of　Deng　Ai。〃
This　reply　rejoiced　Wang　Guan；　who　saw　that　Jiang　Wei　was　just　going　to　walk　into　the　trap。　So　he　agreed　at　once。
〃But　you　will　not　need　five　thousand　troops　to　see　after　the　transport。　Take　three　thousand　and　leave　two　thousand　as　guides　for　me。〃
Wang　Guan；　thinking　that　suspicions　would　be　raised　if　he　refused；　took　the　three　thousand　of　his　troops　and　marched　away；　and　the　other　two　thousand　were　attached　to　the　army　of　Shu。
Then　Xiahou　Ba　was　announced；　and；　when　he　was　e　in；　he　said；　〃O　mander；　why　have　you　believed　the　tale　of　this　Wang　Guan？　In　Wei　I　never　heard　that　Wang　Guan　was　related　to　Wang　Jing；　though　it　is　true　I　never　made　particular　inquiries。　You　should　look　to　it；　for　there　is　much　pretense　in　his　story。〃
〃I　know　Wang　Guan　is　false；〃　said　Jiang　Wei；　with　a　smile。　〃That　is　why　I　have　taken　away　many　of　his　force。　I　am　meeting　trick　with　trick。〃
〃How　do　you　know　for　certain　he　is　a　false？〃
〃Sima　Zhao　is　as　crafty　as　Cao　Cao。　If　he　slew　all　Wang　Jing's　family；　would　he　have　left　a　nephew　and　sent　that　nephew　to　the　pass　beyond　his　own　reach　with　soldiers？　You　saw　this；　as　did　I。〃
So　Jiang　Wei　did　not　go　out　by　the　Xie　Valley；　but　he　set　an　ambush　there　ready　for　any　move　of　Wang　Guan。　And　indeed；　within　ten　days；　the　ambush　caught　a　man　with　a　letter　from　Wang　Guan　to　Deng　Ai　telling　him　what　had　e　about。　From　the　letter　and　the　bearer　thereof；　Jiang　Wei　learned　that　Wang　Guan　would　divert　a　convoy　of　grain　to　the　Wei　camps　on　the　twentieth　and　Deng　Ai　was　to　send　troops　to　Yunshan　Valley　to　help。
Jiang　Wei　beheaded　the　courier。　Then　he　sent　another　letter　to　Deng　Ai　by　a　man　dressed　as　a　Wei　soldier；　the　date　being　altered　to　the　fifteenth　instead　of　the　twentieth。
As　a　preparation；　Jiang　Wei　ordered　many　wagons　to　be　emptied　of　their　grain　and　laden　with　inflammables；　covered　with　green　cloth。　The　two　thousand　Wei　soldiers　were　ordered　to　show　flags　belonging　to　the　Shu　transport　corps。　Then　Jiang　Wei　and　Xiahou　Ba　went　into　the　valleys　in　ambush；　while　Jiang　Shu　was　ordered　to　march　to　the　Xie　Valley；　and　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　were　sent　to　capture　Qishan。
The　letter；　apparently　from　Wang　Guan；　was　sufficient　for　Deng　Ai；　and　he　wrote　back　to　say　it　was　agreed。　So　on　the　fifteenth　day；　Deng　Ai　led　out　fifty　thousand　veteran　troops　and　moved　in　sight　near　Yunshan　Valley。　And　the　scouts　saw　endless　carts　of　grain　and　fodder　in　the　distance　zigzagging　through　the　mountains。　When　Deng　Ai　got　closer；　he　distinguished　the　uniforms　of　Wei。
His　staff　urged　him；　saying；　〃It　is　getting　dark；　O　General。　Hurry　to　help　Wang　Guan　escort　the　convoy　out　of　the　valley！〃
〃The　mountains　ahead　are　hazardous；〃　said　the　general。　〃If　by　any　chance　an　ambush　has　been　laid；　we　could　hardly　escape。　We　will　wait　here。〃
But　just　then　two　horsemen　came　up　at　a　gallop　and　said；　〃Just　as　General　Wang　Guan　was　crossing　the　frontier　with　the　convoy；　he　was　pursued；　and　reinforcements　are　urgently　needed！〃
Deng　Ai；　realizing　the　importance　of　the　request；　gave　orders　to　press　onward。　It　was　the　first　watch；　and　a　full　moon　was　shining　as　bright　as　day。　Shouting　was　heard　behind　the　hills；　and　he　could　only　conclude　it　was　the　noise　of　the　battle　in　which　Wang　Guan　was　engaged。
So　Deng　Ai　dashed　over　the　hills。　But　suddenly　a　body　of　troops　came　out　from　the　shelter　of　a　grove　of　trees；　and　at　their　head　rode　the　Shu　leader；　Fu　Qian。
〃Deng　Ai；　you　are　stupid！　You　have　just　fallen　into　the　trap　set　for　you　by　our　general。　Dismount　and　prepare　for　death！〃
Deng　Ai　halted　and　turned　to　flee。　Then　the　wagons　burst　into　flame。　That　flame　was　a　signal；　and　down　came　the　army　of　Shu。
He　heard　shouts　all　round　him；　〃A　thousand　ounces　of　gold　for　anyone　who　captures　Deng　Ai；　and　a　lordship　of　ten　thousand　households　as　well！〃
Terrified；　Deng　Ai　dropped　his　arms；　threw　aside　his　armor；　slipped　from　his　steed；　mingled　with　the　footmen；　and　with　them　scrambled　up　the　hills。　The　generals　of　Shu　only　looked　for　him　among　the　mounted　leaders；　never　guessing　that　he　had　got　away　among　the　mon　soldiers。　So　he　was　not　captured。
Jiang　Wei　gathered　in　his　victorious　army　and　went　to　meet　Wang　Guan　and　his　convoy。
Having　made　all　arrangements；　as　he　thought；　plete；　Wang　Guan　was　patiently　awaiting　the　development　of　his　scheme。
But　suddenly　a　trusted　subordinate　came　and　told　him；　〃The　ruse　has　been　discovered；　and　Deng　Ai　has　already　suffered　defeat！〃
Wang　Guan　sent　out　some　scouts；　and　the　report　was　confirmed；　with　the　addition　that　the　Shu　armies　were　ing　against　him。　Moreover；　clouds　of　dust　were　rising。　There　was　no　way　of　escape；　so　Wang　Guan　ordered　his　troops　to　set　fire　to　the　convoy；　and　soon　huge　flames　were　rising　high　into　the　air。
〃The　case　is　desperate；〃　cried　Wang　Guan。　〃It　is　a　fight　to　the　death！〃
He　led　his　force　westward；　but　the　army　of　Shu　came　in　pursuit。　Jiang　Wei　thought　Wang　Guan　would　try　at　all　costs　to　get　back　to　his　own　side；　but　instead；　Wang　Guan　went　on　toward　Hanzhong。　As　his　troops　were　too　few　to　risk　a　battle；　Wang　Guan　ordered　them　to　burn　and　destroy　all　military　stations　and　even　the　Plank　Trail　as　he　went。　Fearing　the　loss　of　Hanzhong；　Jiang　Wei　made　all　haste　along　the　by…roads　after　Wang　Guan。　Surrounded　on　all　sides；　Wang　Guan　jumped　into　the　Black　Dragon　River　and　so　died。　Those　of　his　soldiers　who　survived　were　slain　by　Jiang　Wei。
Though　a　victory　had　been　won　and　Wang　Guan　killed；　it　was　costly。　Many　wagons　and　much　grain　had　been　lost；　and　the　Plank　Trail　had　been　destroyed。　Jiang　Wei　led　his　army　into　Hanzhong。
Deng　Ai　made　his　way　back　to　Qishan。　From　there　he　reported　his　defeat　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei　and　asked　for　degradation　as　a　penalty。　However；　Sima　Zhao　saw　that　Deng　Ai　had　rendered　good　services；　so　he　did　not　degrade　the　general；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　sent　him　magnificent　gifts；　which　Deng　Ai　distributed　to　the　families　of　the　soldiers　who　had　been　killed。　Sima　Zhao　also　sent　him　fifty　thousand　troops　as　reinforcement　lest　Shu　should　attack　again。
Jiang　Wei　set　about　the　restoration　of　the　Plank　Trail　ready　for　the　next　expedition。

Repair　the　roads　for　marching　feet　to　tread；
The　strife　will　only　cease　when　all　are　dead。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　who　won。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　115　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　115
　Chapter　115
Listening　To　Slander；　The　Latter　Ruler　Recalls　His　Army；
Living　In　Farms；　Jiang　Wei　Avoids　Disaster。
In　the　autumn　of　the　fifth　year　of　Wonderful　Sight；　in　Shu…Han　calendar　（AD　262）；　Jiang　Wei　was　occupied　with　preparations　for　the　renewal　of　an　attack：　Mending　the　hill　roads；　gathering　stores；　and　mobilizing　his　boats　on　the　waterways　of　Hanzhong。　These　things　done；　he　memorized　the　Throne；　asking　permission　to　go　again　to　the　attack：
〃Although　I　have　not　been　wholly　victorious　nor　acplished　great　things；　yet　I　have　put　fear　into　the　hearts　of　the　Wei　armies。　Our　soldiers　have　been　long　under　training；　and　they　must　now　be　used；　or　the　army　will　go　to　pieces　for　lack　of　exercise。　The　soldiers　are　ready　to　die；　the　officers　prepared　for　all　risks；　and　I　am　determined　to　conquer　or　perish。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　did　not　consent　at　once。
As　he　was　hesitating；　Qiao　Zhou　stood　forth　and　said；　〃I　have　observed　the　heavens。　I　have　seen　the　leadership　stars　in　Shu　dull　and　obscured。　This　expedition　will　be　disastrous；　and　I　hope　Your　Majesty　will　not　approve。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃Let　us　see　the　results　of　this　campaign。　If　it　fails；　then　the　war　shall　cease。〃
Qiao　Zhou　tried　to　dissuade　the　Latter　Ruler　two　or　three　more　times；　but　he　failed。　In　despair　he　withdrew　to　his　home；　and　retired　on　the　pretext　of　illness。
As　the　final　preparations　were　being　made；　Jiang　Wei　said　to　Liao　Hua；　〃We　are　pledged　to　get　through　to　the　Middle　Land　this　time。　What　do　you　advise　to　start　with？〃
〃I　dare　not　presume　to　advise　you；　General。　For　years　we　have　been　fighting　and　giving　the　people　no　rest。　In　Deng　Ai　we　find　a　most　formidable　and　resourceful　opponent　and　an　extraordinarily　capable　man；　so　that　you　must　exert