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ly　capable　man；　so　that　you　must　exert　yourself　to　the　very　utmost。〃
Jiang　Wei　was　annoyed。　Said　he；　〃The　late　Prime　Minister　made　six　attempts；　all　for　the　state。　I　have　attacked　eight　times。　Was　anyone　of　those　attacks　to　serve　my　private　ends？　This　time　I　go　to　attack　Taoyang；　and　no　one　shall　say　me　nay。　I　will　punish　opposition　with　death。〃
Jiang　Wei　left　Liao　Hua　in　charge　of　the　base　in　Hanzhong　and　marched　with　three　hundred　thousand　troops　to　Taoyang。　His　movements　were　reported　in　the　Qishan　camps；　and　Deng　Ai's　spies　confirmed　the　news。
It　happened　that　Sima　Wang　was　with　Deng　Ai　discussing　military　matters；　and　the　former；　when　he　heard　it；　said；　〃That　move　is　a　decoy：　He　does　not　mean　it。　What　he　really　intends　is　an　attack　on　Qishan。〃
〃However；　he　has　really　gone　to　Taoyang；〃　said　Deng　Ai。
〃How　can　you　know？〃
〃Formerly　Jiang　Wei　has　always　opened　with　a　march　to　those　parts　of　the　country　where　we　have　stored　supplies。　Taoyang　has　no　stores；　so　he　thinks　we　shall　not　have　taken　care　for　its　defense　as　we　shall　concentrate　our　efforts　on　Qishan。　But；　if　he　can　take　that　place；　he　can　collect　stores　there；　and　get　into　touch　with　the　Qiang　tribespeople　and　finally　work　out　some　grand　plan。〃
〃Supposing　this　true；　what　should　we　do？〃
〃I　advise　the　abandonment　of　this　place　and　a　march　in　two　bodies　toward　Taoyang。　I　know　a　small　town　called　Houxia；　eight　miles　from　Taoyang；　which　is　the　throat　of　the　place。　You　go　to　Taoyang；　hide　your　force；　and　open　the　gates。　Then　act　as　I　shall　tell　you　presently。　I　will　lie　in　wait　at　Houxia。　We　shall　score　a　victory。〃
Deng　Ai　gave　Shi　Zuan　the　mand　of　the　camps　in　Qishan　when　the　main　body　left。
Meanwhile　Xiahou　Ba　led　the　van　of　the　Shu　army　toward　Taoyang。　As　he　drew　near；　he　noticed　the　place　seemed　to　have　no　defenses；　not　a　flag　staff　reared　its　head。　The　gates　stood　wide　open。
He　was　too　wary　to　go　straight　in　however；　and　said；　〃Is　there　any　ruse　in　there？〃
His　generals　said；　〃We　think　the　city　was　deserted　when　they　heard　your　army　ing。　A　few　people　were　running　away　along　the　southern　road。〃
Xiahou　Ba　rode　south　and　saw　there　that　the　northwest　road；　at　a　little　distance　from　the　city；　was　crowded　with　fugitives。
〃The　city　is　really　empty；〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。
He　led　the　way　in　all　ready　to　fight；　and　the　troops　followed。　As　they　came　near　to　the　curtain　wall；　however；　a　bomb　exploded。　At　this　sound　the　drums　beat；　trumpets　blared；　and　flags　suddenly　appeared。　At　the　same　moment　the　drawbridge　rose。
〃Caught！〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。
As　he　turned　to　retire；　the　arrows　and　stones　flew　down　in　clouds；　and　under　these　Xiahou　Ba　and　many　of　his　soldiers　lost　their　lives。

Most　able　strategist　and　brave；
Xiahou　Ba；　outwitted　here
By　Deng　Ai；　more　prudent　still；　and　slain；
Deserves　a　pitying　tear。

The　flights　of　arrows　from　the　ramparts　was　followed　by　a　sortie；　which　broke　up　the　force　of　Shu　entirely；　and　the　troops　fled。　However；　Jiang　Wei　came　up　and　drove　Sima　Wang　back　into　the　city。　The　army　of　Shu　camped　beside　the　walls。　Jiang　Wei　was　very　grieved　at　the　loss　of　Xiahou　Ba。
That　night　Deng　Ai　came　up　secretly　and　attacked　the　Shu　camp。　At　the　same　time　the　defenders　within　the　city　made　a　sortie。　Jiang　Wei　could　not　resist　the　double　attack；　and　left　the　field。　He　marched　some　seven　miles　and　camped。
Twice　beaten；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　were　very　downcast。
Jiang　Wei　tried　to　console　them；　saying；　〃Loss　or　gain　is　the　platitude　of　war。　But　I　am　not　worried　yet　about　our　recent　defeats；　for　a　total　victory　will　surely　e　in　this　expedition　if　all　of　you　strive　your　best。　But　remember；　no　mutiny！　He　who　talks　of　retreat　will　suffer　death。〃
Then　Zhang　Yi　said；　〃With　so　many　troops　of　Wei　here；　their　camp　at　Qishan　must　be　undefended。　I　propose；　General；　that　while　you　continue　the　contest　here　with　Deng　Ai；　I　go　to　try　to　capture　the　nine　camps。　If　I　succeed；　Changan　will　be　at　our　mercy。〃
The　second　division　of　the　army　was　detached　to　march　on　Qishan；　and　Jiang　Wei　went　down　to　Houxia　to　provoke　Deng　Ai　into　fighting。　The　challenge　this　time　was　accepted　forthwith。　Deng　Ai　led　his　troops　out　and　engaged　with　Jiang　Wei　in　a　fight；　but　after　thirty　bouts　without　a　decision；　both　retired　to　their　camps。
For　days　after　this；　Jiang　Wei　challenged　again　and　again；　but　Deng　Ai　declined　and　would　not　fight。　The　Shu　soldiers　howled　abuse　and　hurled　insults　at　their　opponents；　but　all　without　effect。
Then　Deng　Ai　thought　within　him；　〃There　must　be　some　reason　for　this　persistence。　I　think　they　have　sent　an　army　to　try　to　seize　Qishan　while　they　hold　me　here。　Shi　Zuan　and　the　force　there　are　insufficient；　and　I　shall　have　to　go　to　the　rescue。〃
Deng　Ai　called　his　son　Deng　Zhong；　and　said；　〃Hold　this　place　most　carefully。　Let　them　challenge　as　they　may；　do　not　go　out。　Tonight　I　go　to　the　help　of　Qishan。〃
It　was　night；　and　Jiang　Wei　was　in　his　tent；　intent　upon　his　plans；　when　he　was　disturbed　by　a　great　shouting　and　drumming。　They　told　him　Deng　Ai　had　suddenly　appeared。　The　generals　asked　leave　to　go　out　to　fight。
〃Let　no　one　move！〃　said　Jiang　Wei。
The　fact　was　Deng　Ai　had　only　made　a　demonstration　at　the　camp　of　Shu　on　his　way　to　reinforce　Qishan。
Then　Jiang　Wei　said　to　his　officers；　〃The　attack　of　Deng　Ai　was　a　feint。　He　has　certainly　gone　to　relieve　Qishan。〃
So　Jiang　Wei　decided　to　go　to　the　aid　of　Zhang　Yi。　He　left　Fu　Qian　to　guard　the　camp；　and　he　marched　away　with　three　thousand　troops。
Zhang　Yi　was　then　actually　attacking　the　Wei　position　on　Qishan。　Shi　Zuan　had　few　troops；　and　it　looked　as　though　the　defenders　must　soon　give　in；　when　the　sudden　appearance　of　Deng　Ai　made　all　the　difference。　The　onslaught　of　Deng　Ai's　force　drove　off　Zhang　Yi；　and　he　was　forced　to　take　refuge　behind　the　hills。　No　road　was　open　to　him。　When　things　looked　worst；　he　saw　the　Wei　soldiers　suddenly　falling　back　in　confusion。
〃General　Jiang　Wei　has　e！〃　they　told　him。
Zhang　Yi　took　the　opportunity　to　return　to　the　attack；　and　the　tables　were　turned。　Deng　Ai　lost　the　fight　and　retired　into　his　camp；　which　Jiang　Wei　surrounded　and　attacked　vigorously。
In　Chengdu　the　Latter　Ruler　fell　daily　more　and　more　under　the　malign　influence　of　Huang　Hao；　who　encouraged　him　in　every　form　of　self…indulgence　and　ministered　to　every　desire　for　luxury　and　dissipation。　Government　was　left　to　look　after　itself。
At　that　time　High　Minister　Liu　Yang　had　a　very　beautiful　wife；　Lady　Hu。　One　day　she　went　into　the　Palace　to　visit　the　Empress；　who　kept　her　there　a　whole　month。　Liu　Yang　was　not　without　suspecting　an　intrigue　with　the　Latter　Ruler　and　took　a　brutal　revenge。　He　bound　Lady　Hu；　and　made　five　hundred　of　his　soldiers　shame　her　to　the　last　degree　by　beating　her　on　the　face　with　their　boots。　She　swooned　many　times。
The　story　got　to　the　ears　of　the　Latter　Ruler；　and　he　ordered　the　officials　concerned　to　investigate　and　decide　the　crime　and　its　punishment。
The　judges　found　that：　〃Soldiers　are　not　proper　persons　to　administer　a　punishment　to　a　woman；　and　the　face　is　not　a　portion　of　the　body　to　be　mortified：　The　author　of　this　crime　ought　to　be　put　to　death。〃
Wherefore　Liu　Yang　was　beheaded。
As　time　went　on　the　Latter　Ruler　indulged　in　unbridled　sensuality；　and　gradually　all　good　people　left　the　government；　giving　place　to　the　meanest；　who　soon　swarmed　there。
Among　the　sycophants　of　Huang　Hao　was　Yan　Yun；　General　of　the　Right　Army；　whose　lack　of　merit　had　not　stood　in　the　way　of　preferment。
Hearing　of　Jiang　Wei's　defeats　at　Qishan；　Yan　Yun　got　his　friend　Huang　Hao　to　propose　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　saying；　〃Jiang　Wei　should　be　recalled　as　he　has　not　been　able　to　score　a　decisive　victory。　Yan　Yun　can　be　sent　to　replace　him。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　agreed；　and　the　edict　was　issued。
One　day；　as　Jiang　Wei　was　working　out　his　plan　of　attack　on　the　camps　of　Wei；　three　edicts　came；　all　to　the　same　effect；　recalling　him　to　the　capital。　Disobedience　being　out　of　the　question；　Jiang　Wei　ceased　all　operations　and　sent　the　Taoyang　force　back　first。　Then　gradually　he　and　Zhang　Yi　withdrew　with　the　others。
Deng　Ai　in　his　camp　wondered　at　the　rolling　of　drums　one　night；　but　next　day　he　heard　that　the　Shu　camps　were　empty。　However；　he　suspected　some　ruse　and　did　not　pursue。
Arrived　in　Hanzhong；　the　army　halted；　and　Jiang　Wei　went　on　to　the　capital　in　pany　with　the　messenger　who　had　brought　his　orders。　Here　he　waited　ten　days；　and　still　the　Latter　Ruler　held　no　court。　He　began　to　suspect　mischief。
One　day　near　a　Palace　gate　he　met　Secretary　General　Xi　Zheng；　and　asked；　〃Do　you　know　the　reason　for　my　recall？〃
〃What　General！　Do　you　not　know？　Huang　Hao　wanted　to　push　Yan　Yun　into　favor；　so　he　intrigued　for　your　recall。　Now　they　have　found　out　Deng　Ai　is　too　clever　to　be　tackled；　and　so　they　are　not　fighting　any　more。〃
〃I　shall　certainly　have　to　put　this　eunuch　fellow　out　of　the　way；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。
〃Hush！　You　are　the　successor　of　the　Martial　Lord；　Zhuge　Liang；　the　man　to　whom　he　bequeathed　his　unfinished　task。　You　are　too　important　to　act　hastily　or　indiscreetly。　If　the　Emperor　withdrew　his　support；　it　would　go　ill　with　you。〃
〃Sir；　what　you　say　is　true；〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。
However；　soon　after　this　Jiang　Wei；　with　a　small　party；　got　into　the　Palace。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　enjoying　himself　with　Huang　Hao　in　the　gardens。　They　told　Huang　Hao；　who　at　once　hid　himself　among　the　rocks　by　a　pond。
Jiang　Wei　approached　his　master　and　prostrated　himself；　saying；　〃Why　did　Your　Majesty　recall　me？　I　had　the　enemy　in　my　power　at　Qishan　when　the　triple　edicts　came。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　hummed　and　hawed；　but　made　no　reply。　Then　Jiang　Wei　began　his　real　grievance。

＇e＇　Zhang　Rang　was　one　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants。　Zhang　Rang　won　such　influence　that　Emperor　Ling　called　him　〃Foster　Father〃。　Zhang　Rang　plotted　the　murder　of　He　Jin；　that　caused　Dong　Zhou　to　seize　the　capital。　（chapter　3）
＇e＇　Zhao　Gao　a　court　eunuch　serving　the　First　Emperor。　Zhao　Gao　killed　the　eldest　son　and　supported　the　second　son　for　the　throne　after　the　First　Emperor's　death　（BC　209）。　In　the　final　days　of　Qin　Dynasty；　Zhao　Gao　killed　the　Second　Emperor　and　placed　the　First　Emperor's　grandson　on　the　throne　（BC　206）。　。。。。。
〃This　Huang　Hao　is　wicked　and　artful　and　seems　to　have　the　last　say　in　everything。　The　times　of　the　Emperor　Ling　and　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants　have　returned。　Your　Majesty　may　recall　Zhang　Rang*　recently　or　Zhao　Gao*　in　the　old　time。　If　you　will　only　slay　this　man；　the　court　will　be　purified；　and　you　may　return　gloriously　to　the　home　of　your　fathers。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　smiled；　saying；　〃Huang　Hao　is　but　a　minor　servant；　one　who　runs　errands　for　me。　If　he　tried　to　do　as　you　say；　he　could　not。　I　always　wondered　why　Dong　Yun　seemed　to　hate　poor　Huang　Hao　so　much。　Now　you　are　the　same。　I　pray　you；　Noble　Sir；　take　no　notice　of　him。〃
〃Unless　Your　Majesty　gets　rid　of　him；　evil　is　very　close；〃　said　Jiang　Wei；　beating　his　head　upon　the　ground。
The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃If　you　love　anyone；　you　want　him　to　live；　if　you　dislike　him；　you　desire　his　death。　Can　you　not　bear　with　my　one　poor　eunuch？〃
The　Latter　Ruler　bade　one　of　the　attendants　go　and　call　Huang　Hao。　When　Huang　Hao　approached　the　pavilion；　the　Latter　Ruler　told　him　to　ask　pardon　of　Jiang　Wei。
Huang　Hao　prostrated　himself　and　wept；　saying；　〃I　am　always　in　attendance　upon　the　Sacred　One………that　is　all　I　do。　I　never　meddle　in　state　affairs。　I　pray　you；　General；　pay　no　heed　to　what　people　say。　If　you　desire　my　death；　I　am　in　your　hands；　but　pity　me。〃
And　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。　Jiang　Wei　went　away　in　ill　humor。　Outside　he　sought　his　friend　Xi　Zheng　and　told　him　what　had　happened。
〃General；　you　are　in　grave　danger；〃　said　Xi　Zheng。　〃And　if　you　fall；　the　country　falls　with　you。〃
〃Can　you　advise　me？〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃How　can　I　secure　the　state　and　myself？〃
Xi　Zheng　replied；　〃There　is　a　place　of　refuge　for　you　in　the　West　Valley　Land；　and　that　is　Tazhong。　It　is　a　rich　county；　and　you　can　make　a　cantonment　there　like　the　Martial　Lord　did。　Request　the　Emperor　to　let　you　go　thither。　You　can　gather　in　corn　and　wheat　for　your　armies；　you　can　secure　all　the　west　of　Longyou；　you　can　keep　Wei　from　troubling　Hanzhong；　you　will　retain　your　military　authority；　so　that　no　one　will　dare　intrigue　against　you；　and　you　will　be　safe。　Thus　you　can　ensure　the　safety　of　the　state　and　yourself。　You　should　lose　no　time。〃
〃Your　sp