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ng　Xin　had　no　stomach　for　a　fight　with　Jiang　Wei　and　made　for　the　hills。　Jiang　Wei　followed　till　he　came　to　a　precipice　down　which　the　enemy　were　hurling　boulders　and　logs　of　wood　so　that　he　could　not　pass。
Jiang　Wei　turned　to　go　back　to　the　battlefield　he　had　just　left；　but　on　the　way　he　met　the　defeated　Shu　army；　for　Deng　Ai　had　crushed　his　generals。　Jiang　Wei　joined　them　but　was　surrounded　by　the　Wei　forces。　Presently　he　got　clear　with　a　sudden　rush　and　hastened　to　the　great　camp。
Next　came　the　news：　〃Zhong　Hui　has　defeated　the　Yangping　Pass；　Jiang　Shu　has　surrendered；　while　Fu　Qian　has　fallen　in　the　field。　Hanzhong　is　now　in　the　possession　of　Wei。　Wang　Han　of　Yuecheng　and　Jiang　Bin　of　Hancheng　has　also　opened　their　gates　and　yielded　to　the　invaders　at　the　loss　of　Hanzhong。　Hu　Ji　has　gone　to　Chengdu　for　help。〃
This　greatly　troubled　Jiang　Wei；　so　he　broke　camp　and　set　out　for　Hanzhong。　That　night　the　Shu　army　reached　the　Frontier　River　Pass。　An　army　under　Yang　Xin　barred　his　way；　and　again　Jiang　Wei　was　forced　to　fight。　He　rode　out　in　a　great　rage；　and　as　Yang　Xin　fled；　he　shot　at　him　thrice；　but　his　arrows　missed。
Throwing　aside　his　bow；　he　gripped　his　spear　and　set　off　in　pursuit；　but　his　horse　tripped　and　fell；　and　Jiang　Wei　lay　on　the　ground。　Yang　Xin　turned　to　slay　his　enemy　now　that　he　was　on　foot；　but　Jiang　Wei　thrust　Yang　Xin's　horse　in　the　head。　Other　Wei　troops　came　up　rescued　Yang　Xin。
Mounting　another　steed　of　his　follower；　Jiang　Wei　was　just　setting　out　again　in　pursuit　when　they　reported　that　Deng　Ai　was　ing　against　his　rear。　Realizing　that　he　could　not　cope　with　this　new　force；　Jiang　Wei　collected　his　troops　in　order　to　retreat　into　Hanzhong。
However；　the　scouts　reported：　〃Zhuge　Xu；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yongzhou；　is　holding　Yinping　Bridge；　our　retreat　path。〃
So　Jiang　Wei　halted　and　made　a　camp　in　the　mountains。　Advance　and　retreat　seemed　equally　impossible。
He　cried　in　anguish；　〃Heaven　is　destroying　me！〃
Then　said　Ning　Sui；　one　of　his　generals；　〃If　our　enemies　are　blocking　Yinping　Bridge；　they　can　only　have　left　a　weak　force　in　Yongzhou。　We　can　make　believe　to　be　going　thither　through　the　Konghan　Valley　and　so　force　them　to　abandon　the　bridge　in　order　to　protect　the　city。　When　the　bridge　is　clear；　you　can　make　a　dash　for　Saber　Pass　and　plan　for　a　recapture　of　Hanzhong。〃
This　plan　seemed　to　promise　success；　so　Jiang　Wei　ordered　them　to　march　into　the　Konghan　Valley；　making　as　though　they　would　go　to　Yongzhou。
When　Zhuge　Xu；　who　was　at　the　Yinping　Bridge；　heard　this；　he　said　in　great　shock；　〃Yongzhou　is　my　own　city；　and　headquarters　of　the　expedition。　If　it　would　be　lost；　I　would　be　punished！〃
So　Zhuge　Xu　set　off　to　its　relief　by　the　south　road。　He　left　only　a　small　force　at　the　bridge。
Jiang　Wei　marched　along　the　north　road　for　ten　miles　till　he　guessed　that　Zhuge　Xu　had　abandoned　the　bridge；　when　he　reversed　his　course；　making　the　rearguard　the　van。　He　dispersed　the　small　force　left　at　the　bridge　head　and　burned　their　camp。　Zhuge　Xu；　as　he　marched；　saw　the　flames；　and　he　turned　back　to　the　bridge；　but　he　arrived　too　late。　The　army　of　Shu　had　already　crossed；　and　he　dared　not　pursue。
Soon　after　Jiang　Wei　crossed　the　bridge；　he　saw　another　force；　but　this　was　led　by　his　own　generals；　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi。
They　told　him；　〃The　Latter　Ruler；　firm　in　his　faith　in　a　wise　woman；　would　not　send　help　to　defend　the　frontiers。　We　heard　Hanzhong　was　threatened；　and　thus　marched　there　to　its　rescue；　but　then　Zhong　Hui　had　taken　the　Yangping　Pass。　We　also　heard　you　were　surrounded　here；　so　we　came　to　your　help。〃
The　two　armies　amalgamated　and　marched　together。
Liao　Hua　said；　〃We　are　attacked　all　round；　and　the　grain　transportation　is　blocked。　It　seems　to　me　wisest　to　retire　on　the　Saber　Pass　and　plan　other　designs。〃
But　Jiang　Wei　was　doubtful。　Then　they　heard　that　Deng　Ai　and　Zhong　Hui　were　approaching　in　ten　divisions。
Jiang　Wei　was　disposed　to　stand；　but　Liao　Hua　said；　〃This　country　of　White　Water　is　laced　with　by…roads　and　is　too　narrow　and　difficult　to　fight　in　with　any　hope　of　success。　It　would　be　better　to　retreat　to　the　Saber　Pass。　If　we　loss　that　pass；　all　paths　will　be　closed　to　us。〃
At　last　Jiang　Wei　consented；　and　the　march　began。　But　as　they　neared　the　pass；　they　heard　drums　rolling　and　saw　flags　fluttering；　which　told　them　that　the　pass　was　held。

Hanzhong；　that　strong　defense；　is　lost；
And　storm　clouds　gather　round　Saber　Pass。

What　force　was　at　the　pass　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　117　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　117
　Chapter　117
Deng　Ai　Gets　Through　The　Yinping　Mountains；
Zhuge　Zhan　Falls　In　The　Battlefield　Of　Mianzhu。
When　Dong　Jue；　General　Who　Upholds　the　State；　heard　of　the　invasion　of　Wei　in　ten　divisions；　he　brought　to　the　frontier　twenty　thousand　troops　to　Saber　Pass。　And　when　the　dust　showed　an　approaching　army；　Dong　Jue　thought　it　wise　to　go　to　the　Pass　lest　the　ing　armies　should　be　enemies　to　be　stopped。
But　Dong　Jue　found　that　the　newers　were　Jiang　Wei；　Liao　Hua；　and　Zhang　Yi。　He　let　them　pass　through。　Then　he　gave　them　the　news　from　the　capital；　bad　news　of　the　deeds　of　both　the　Latter　Ruler　and　Huang　Hao。　His　tears　fell　as　he　told　the　tales。
〃But　do　not　grieve；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃So　long　as　I　live；　I　will　not　allow　Wei　to　e　and　conquer　Shu。　Now　we　must　defend　this　pass；　and　then　evolve　a　strategy。〃
They　kept　good　guard　at　Saber　Pass；　while　they　discussed　future　plans。
〃Though　we　are　holding　this　pass；　yet　Chengdu　is　well…nigh　empty　of　soldiers；〃　said　Dong　Jue。　〃If　it　was　attacked；　it　would　go　crack！〃
Jiang　Wei　replied；　〃The　natural　defenses　of　Chengdu　are　excellent：　It　is　hard　to　cross　over　the　mountains　and　climb　the　steep　roads。　No　one　needs　fear。〃
Soon　after　this；　Zhuge　Xu　appeared　at　the　pass　challenging　the　defenders。　Jiang　Wei　forthwith　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　five　thousand　troops　and　went　down　to　meet　the　Wei　army。　He　gained　an　easy　victory；　slaying　many　of　the　enemy　and　taking　much　spoil　in　horses　and　weapons。
While　Jiang　Wei　went　back　to　the　pass；　the　defeated　Zhuge　Xu　made　his　way　to　Zhong　Hui's　camp；　seven　miles　away；　to　confess　his　failure。　His　general　was　very　angry。
〃My　orders　to　you　were　to　hold　Yinping　Bridge　so　as　to　stop　Jiang　Wei；　and　you　lost　it。　Now　without　any　orders　you　attack　and　are　defeated。〃
〃Jiang　Wei　played　so　many　deceitful　tricks。　He　pretended　to　be　going　to　take　Yongzhou；　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　e　out　and　defeat　my　troops。〃
Zhuge　Xu　pleaded　thus；　but　he　was　sentenced　to　die。
Now　Wei　Guan；　Army　Inspector；　said；　〃Zhuge　Xu　is　really　a　subordinate　of　Deng　Ai　and；　admitting　that　he　is　in　fault；　his　punishment　should　not　have　been　pronounced　by　you；　O　mander。〃
But　Zhong　Hui　swaggeringly　replied；　〃I　have　a　mand　from　the　Emperor　and　orders　from　the　Prime　Minister　to　attack　Shu。　If　Deng　Ai　himself　offended；　I　would　behead　him。〃
However；　other　leaders　interceded　for　Zhuge　Xu；　and　Zhong　Hui　did　not　put　him　to　death；　but　sent　him　a　caged　prisoner　to　the　capital　to　be　judged。　The　surviving　soldiers　were　added　to　Zhong　Hui's　army。
This　insolent　speech　of　Zhong　Hui　was　duly　repeated　to　Deng　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　Deng　Zhong　endeavored　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。〃
Deng　Ai　saw　his　son　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　ing　was　announced；　Zhong　Hui　asked　his　staff；　〃How　many　soldiers　are　following　Deng　Ai？〃
〃He　has　only　some　twenty　horsemen；〃　they　replied。
Zhong　Hui　had　a　large　body　of　guards　drawn　up　about　his　tent；　and　then　gave　orders　that　his　visitor　should　be　led　in。　Deng　Ai　dismounted；　and　the　two　men　saluted　each　other。　But　the　visitor　did　not　like　the　look　on　the　faces　of　his　host's　guards。　He　decided　to　find　out　what　Zhong　Hui　was　thinking。
〃The　capture　of　Hanzhong　is　a　piece　of　excellent　fortune　for　the　state；〃　said　Deng　Ai。　〃The　capture　of　Saber　Pass　can　now　be　acplished　easily。〃
〃What　is　your　own　idea；　General？〃　asked　Zhong　Hui。
Deng　Ai　tried　to　evade　answering　the　question；　admitting　he　had　no　good　suggestion。　But　Zhong　Hui　pressed　him　to　reply。
Finally　he　said；　〃In　my　simple　opinion　one　might　proceed　by　by…roads　from　the　pass　through　the　Yinping　Mountains　to　Deyang　in　Hanzhong；　and　thence　make　a　surprise　march　to　Chengdu。　Jiang　Wei　must　go　to　its　defense；　and　you；　General；　can　take　the　Saber　Pass。〃
〃A　very　good　plan；〃　said　Zhong　Hui。　〃You　may　start　forthwith；　and　I　will　wait　here　till　I　hear　news　of　your　success。〃
They　drank；　and　Deng　Ai　took　his　leave。　Zhong　Hui　went　back　to　his　own　tent　filled　with　contempt　for　Deng　Ai's　plan。　which　he　thought　impracticable。
〃They　say　Deng　Ai　is　able。　I　think　he　is　of　most　ordinary　capacity；〃　said　he　to　his　officers。
〃But　why？〃　said　they。
〃Because　the　by…roads　by　Yinping　Mountains　are　impassable；　nothing　but　lofty　cliffs　and　steep　hills。　A　hundred　defenders　at　a　critical　point　could　cut　all　munications；　and　Deng　Ai's　army　would　starve　to　death。　I　shall　go　by　the　direct　road；　and　there　is　no　fear　about　the　result。　I　shall　overe　Shu。〃
So　he　prepared　scaling　ladders　and　stone…throwing　machines　and　set　himself　to　besiege　Saber　Pass。
Deng　Ai　went　out　to　the　main　gate　of　the　court。　While　mounting；　he　said　to　his　followers；　〃What　did　Zhong　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　Chengdu。　So　I　shall　take　it！〃
He　was　received　at　his　own　camp　by　Shi　Zuan　and　his　son　Deng　Zhong；　and　a　party　of　others　of　his　generals；　and　they　asked　what　the　conversation　had　been　about。
〃I　told　Zhong　Hui　simple　truth；　but　he　thinks　I　am　just　a　mon　person　of　no　ability　to　speak　of。　He　regards　the　capture　of　Hanzhong　as　an　inparable　feat　of　arms。　Where　would　he　have　been　if　I　had　not　held　up　Jiang　Wei　at　Tazhong？　But　I　think　the　capture　of　Chengdu　will　beat　that　of　Hanzhong。〃
That　night　the　camp　was　broken　up；　and　Deng　Ai　set　his　army　out　upon　a　long　march　along　the　mountainous　paths。　At　twenty　miles　from　Saber　Pass　they　made　a　camp。　The　scouts　told　Zhong　Hui　of　his　movement；　and　Zhong　Hui　laughed　at　the　attempt。
From　his　camp　Deng　Ai　sent　a　letter　to　Sima　Zhao。
Then　he　called　his　officers　to　his　tent　and　asked　them；　saying；　〃I　am　going　to　make　a　dash　for　Chengdu　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。　Deng　Zhong　and　three　thousand　troops　went　first　to　improve　the　road。　His　troops　wore　no　armor；　but　they　had　axes　and　boring　tools。　They　were　to　level　roads　and　build　bridges。
Next　went　thirty　thousand　troops　furnished　with　dry　grain　and　ropes。　At　every　one　hundred　miles　they　were　to　make　a　post　of　three　thousand。
In　autumn　of　that　year；　they　left　Yinping；　and　in　the　tenth　month　they　were　in　most　precipitous　country　of　the　Yinping　Mountains。　They　had　taken　twenty　days　to　travel　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles。　They　were　in　an　uninhabited　country。　After　garrisoning　the　various　posts　on　the　way；　they　had　only　two　thousand　soldiers　left。　Before　them　stood　a　range　named　Heaven　Cliffs；　which　no　horse　could　ascend。　Deng　Ai　climbed　up　on　foot　to　see　his　son　and　the　troops　with　him　opening　up　a　road。　They　were　exhausted　with　fatigue　and　weeping。
Deng　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　labor　has　been　in　vain。〃
Deng　Ai　said；　〃We　have　got　over　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles；　and　just　beyond　is　Jiangyou。　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　Chengdu。〃
They　all　said　they　would　go　on。　So　they　came　to　the　prec