Said Sima Shi； 〃The responsibility of power is heavy； but we must bear it： There is no possible relief。 You must continue my plans and maintain my policy yourself； and you must be exceedingly careful how you entrust any other with power； lest you bring about the destruction of our whole clan。〃
Then Sima Shi handed the seal of office to Sima Zhao； weeping the while。 Sima Zhao would ask some questions still； but with a deep groan as his eye popped out Sima Shi died。 It was the second month of the second year of Right Origin （AD 256）。
Sima Zhao put on mourning for his brother and informed the Ruler of Wei； Cao Mao； of the death。 By special edict Sima Zhao was ordered to remain at Xuchang so as to guard against any attack from Wu。 This order was unpleasing to its recipient； but he felt doubtful what to do。
Sima Zhao took counsel with Zhong Hui； who said； 〃The death of your brother has disturbed the country。 If you remain here； some shifting of power at the capital will surely work to your disadvantage。 It will be too late for regrets then。〃
Wherefore Sima Zhao left Xuchang and camped on River Luo。 This move alarmed Cao Mao。
Then Grand mander Wang Su advised； saying； 〃Sima Zhao has succeeded the office of his late brother。 It is well that Your Majesty should placate him with a new title。〃
So Cao Mao sent Wang Su with an edict creating Sima Zhao Regent Marshal； with control of the Secretariat。 Sima Zhao came to Luoyang to thank the Emperor for these honors and stayed。 Henceforward all matters and the whole government were under Sima Zhao's hand。
When news of these things came to Chengdu； Jiang Wei thought the time had e to make another bid for the empire； so he wrote a memorial to the Latter Ruler：
〃Sima Shi having just died； his brother； Sima Zhao； who succeeds； will be unable to leave Luoyang until he has consolidated his position。 Wherefore I crave permission to attack Wei。〃
The Latter Ruler agreed and bade him raise an army。 So he went into Hanzhong to prepare for the expedition。
However； Zhang Yi； General Who Conquers the West； was opposed to the expedition and said； 〃Shu is not a big country； and its resources are not too abundant。 Thus a far expedition should be avoided。 The state policy should rather be the improvement of conditions at home。 Thinking well for the soldiers and the people is the way to preserve the country。〃
〃You are mistaken；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃Before our great Minister Zhuge Liang emerged from his reed hut in the wilds and undertook the affairs of a state； the three kingdoms were already a fact。 Six times he led armies to try to gain the northern portion of the empire； but failed to attain his desire。 Unhappily he died leaving his design unacplished。 But he bequeathed to me the legacy of his intention； and I must be a loyal and worthy executor。 If I die in the attempt； I will perish without regret。 Now is our opportunity； and if we miss it； shall we find a better？〃
〃What you say is the real truth；〃 said Xiahou Ba。 〃Let us send first some light horse out by Baohan to capture Nanan and thereby settle that county。〃
Then said Zhang Yi； 〃Procrastination and delay have been hitherto the causes of our failure。 We ought to obey the precepts of the books of war； strike where the enemy is unprepared and appear where he does not expect us。 A rapid march and a sudden blow will find Wei unready； and we shall succeed。〃
So Jiang Wei led an army of fifty thousand troops out by Baohan。 When he reached River Yao； the spies reported his arrival to Wang Jing； Imperial Protector of Yongzhou； who led out seventy thousand troops against him。 Jiang Wei gave certain orders to Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba； and after they had marched； he drew up the main body by River Yao。
Wang Jing rode out to parley。
〃Wu； Shu； and Wei are now actually established as a tripod。 Why then have you invaded our borders these many times？〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃Because Sima Shi deposed his prince without cause； and it behooves the neighboring countries to punish such a crime。 Moreover； your country is a rival state。〃
Then Wang Jing turned and said to four of his generals； Zhang Ming； Hua Yong； Liu Dan； and Zhu Fang； 〃You see that the enemy is drawn up with a river at his back； so that his troops must conquer or drown。 Though Jiang Wei is bold； you four can fight him at the same time and pursue if he retires。〃
The four rode out two and two。 Jiang Wei stood through a few encounters； but then moved backward toward his camp。 At this； Wang Jing led on his main body to smite。 Jiang Wei fled toward the river。
As he drew near he shouted； 〃Danger； O Generals！ Now do your utmost！〃
His generals turned on the foe and fought with such vigor that the Wei army was defeated； and； as they turned away； Zhang Yi and Xiahou Ba fell upon their rear。 Soon the Wei army was hemmed in； and Jiang Wei rushed in among the host of Wei and threw them into utter confusion。 They trod each other down in the press； and many fell into the river。 Dead bodies lay about over several miles。
Wang Jing and a hundred horsemen forced their way out and fled to Didao； where they entered within the walls and barred the gates。
After Jiang Wei had rewarded and feasted his army； he was for attacking Didao； but Zhang Yi was against this。
〃General； you have won a great victory； which will bring you fame。 If you attempt more； things may go astray； and you will only add legs to your sketch of a serpent。〃
Said Jiang Wei； 〃When our army were defeated not long ago； they still desired to overrun the whole north。 Now our opponents have been overe； and that has broken the spirit of their army； and this city can be easily captured。 Do not damp the spirit of the soldiers。〃
So it was decided to attack Didao despite further remonstrances of Zhang Yi。
Chen Tai； General Who Conquers the West and mander of Yongzhou； was just about to set out to avenge the defeat of Wang Jing when Deng Ai； Imperial Protector of Yanzhou； arrived with his army。 Chen Tai weled him； and when Deng Ai had said he had e by imperial edict to assist to defeat the army of Shu； Chen Tai asked his plans。
Deng Ai replied； 〃They are victors on River Yao。 If they enlist the aid of the Qiangs to cause a diversion in the West Valley Land and the Land Within the Passes and also obtain the support of the four counties； it will be a misfortune for us。 If they do not think of that； but try to take Didao； they will only fritter away their energies against a place too strongly fortified for them to capture。 Let us now array our force along the Xiangling Mountain； and then we can advance and smite them。 We shall get a victory。〃
〃That is well said！〃 cried Chen Tai。
Then twenty cohorts of fifty soldiers each were told off to find their way secretly to the southeast of Didao and there hide in the valleys。 They were then to display many ensigns and sound trumpets as if they were a very large force； and make huge fires at night； so as to cause anxiety among the enemy。 And thus they waited for the troops of Shu to e； while Chen Tai and Deng Ai marched with forty thousand troops against the Shu army。
The army of Shu had marched to Didao and begun the siege around the whole circuit of the walls。 At the end of many days the fall of the city seemed no nearer； and Jiang Wei began to fret。 He could think of no plan likely to succeed。
One eventide a horseman came in to report： 〃Two armies are approaching rapidly； and the names on the banners were General Who Conquers the West Chen Tai and Imperial Protector of Yanzhou Deng Ai 。〃
Jiang Wei called in his colleague Xiahou Ba； who said； 〃I have spoken to you of Deng Ai many times。 He is perspicacious； valiant； resourceful； and has always delighted in the study of military topography。 As he is ing； we shall have to put forth all our energies。〃
Jiang Wei replied； 〃We will attack before he can get a foothold and while his soldiers are fatigued with the march。〃
So Zhang Yi was left to carry on the siege while the two leaders went out to meet the new armies。 Jiang Wei went against Deng Ai； and Xiahou Ba against Chen Tai。
Before Jiang Wei had marched far； the stillness was broken by the roar of a bomb； and at once all about the Shu army arose the rolling of drums and the blare of trumpets； soon followed by flames that shot up to the very sky。 Jiang Wei rode to the front and saw the ensigns of Wei all about him。
〃I have fallen into a trap set by Deng Ai！〃 cried he。
He sent orders to Xiahou Ba and Zhang Yi to withdraw immediately while he would cover their retreat。 When they had retired； he followed them into Hanzhong； harassed all along the road by the sounds of marching soldiers and glimpses of enemy banners。 But these enemies never attacked。 It was only after the army had retreated to Saber Pass that Jiang Wei knew all this was make…believe。
He camped in Zhongti。 For his services and success on River Yao； Jiang Wei was rewarded with the rank of Regent Marshal。 As soon as the ceremonies connected with his promotion were ended； he began again to talk of an expedition against Wei。
Remember enough is as good as a feast；
Having sketched a good snake don't add legs to the beast；
And in fighting remember that others are bold；
And tigers have claws though their teeth may be old。
The result of the new expedition will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 111 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Deng Ai Outwits Jiang Wei；
Zhuge Dan Battles Sima Zhao。
Jiang Wei camped at Zhongti。 The army of Wei camped outside Didao。 Wang Jing weled Chen Tai and Deng Ai and prepared a banquet to celebrate the raising of the siege and also rewarded the army with gifts。 Then Chen Tai sent up a memorial to the Ruler of Wei； Cao Mao； eulogizing the magnificent services of Deng Ai； who was rewarded with the title General Who Pacifies the West。 For the time； Deng Ai was left in the west。 He and Chen Tai placed their men in cantonments in Yongzhou； Liangzhou； and the counties round about。
After Deng Ai had rendered his thanks to the Emperor； Chen Tai spread a great feast in his honor； and in congratulating his guest； said； 〃Jiang Wei slipped off in the night because he was broken； and he will never dare to return。〃
〃I think he will；〃 replied Deng Ai； smiling。 〃I can give five reasons why he should。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃First； although the soldiers of Shu have retired； they have the self…possessed and confident look of holding the victory； our soldiers are really weak and broken。 Second； the soldiers of Shu were trained and inspirited by Zhuge Liang and are easy to mobilize； our generals are all of different periods of service； and our army indifferently trained。 Third； the Shu soldiers often use boats for traveling； and so they move at leisure and the troops arrive fresh； ours do all their journeys on land； and they arrive fatigued with marching。 Fourth； again； Didao； Longxi； Nanan； and Qishan are all places suitable for defense or use as battle fields； and thus the army of Shu can conceal their intentions and strike where they will； we have to remain on guard at many points； thus dividing our forces； when they concentrate； they have only to reckon with a part of our force。 And fifth； if they e out by way of Longxi and Nanan； they have the grain of the Qiangs to depend upon； and if they