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 speech is gold and jewels！〃 said Jiang Wei； gratefully。
Without loss of time； Jiang Wei memorialized the Throne and obtained the Latter Ruler's consent。 Then he returned to Hanzhong； assembled his officers； and told them his plans。
〃Our many expeditions have failed to achieve success owing to lack of supplies。 Now I am about to take eighty thousand troops to Tazhong to form a cantonment and grow wheat and corn ready for the next expedition。 You are spent with much fighting and may now repose while collecting grain and guarding Hanzhong。 The armies of Wei are from home and have to drag their grain over the mountains。 They will be worn out with the labor and must soon retire。 That will be the time to smite them； and success must be ours。〃
Hu Ji was set over Hanshou； Wang Han of Yuecheng； Jiang Bin over Hancheng； and Jiang Shu and Fu Qian went to guard the passes。 After these arrangements had been made； Jiang Wei went off to Tazhong to grow grain and mature his plans。
Deng Ai heard of these dispositions and discovered that the armies of Shu were distributed in forty camps； each connected with the next like the joints of a huge serpent。 He sent out his spies to survey the country； and they made a map which was sent to the capital。
But when the Duke of Jin； Sima Zhao； saw the memorial and the map； he was very angry。
〃This Jiang Wei has invaded our country many times； and we have been unable to destroy him。 He is the one sorrow of my heart。〃
Said Jia Chong； 〃He has carried on the work of Zhuge Liang only too thoroughly； and it is hard to force him back。 What you need is some crafty brave to assassinate him； so remove this constant menace of war。〃
But Assistant Xun Xu said； 〃That is not the way。 Liu Shan； the Ruler of Shu； is steeped in dissipation and has given all his confidence to one favorite； Eunuch Huang Hao。 The higher officers of state are concerned solely with their own safety； and Jiang Wei has gone to Tazhong only that he may save his life。 If you send an able leader and a strong army； victory is certain。 Where is the need for an assassin's dagger？〃
〃These are excellent words；〃 said Sima Zhao； with a laugh； 〃but if I would attack Shu； where is the leader？〃
〃Deng Ai is the ablest leader of the day；〃 said Xun Xu。 〃Give him Zhong Hui as his second； and the thing is done。〃
〃Exactly what I think！〃 said Sima Zhao。
So he summoned Zhong Hui and said to him； 〃I desire to send you as leader against Wu： Can you go？〃
〃My lord's design is not against Wu； but Shu；〃 was his reply。
〃How well you know my inmost thought！〃 said Sima Zhao。 〃But how would you conduct an expedition against Shu？〃
〃Thinking that my lord would desire to attack Shu； I have already prepared plans。 Here they are。〃
He laid out his maps； and thereon were shown the camps； and storehouses； and roads all plete。
Sima Zhao was highly pleased。
〃You are an excellent leader；〃 said he。 〃What say you to going with Deng Ai？〃
〃The River Lands is large； and there is space for more than one set of operations。 Deng Ai can be sent along another line。〃
Zhong Hui was given the title of General Who Conquers the West and the insignia of a mander…in…Chief over the forces of the Land Within the Passes and control of the armies of Qingzhou； Xuzhou； Yanzhou； Yuzhou； Jingzhou； and Yangzhou。 At the same time a mission with authority ensign was sent to Deng Ai giving him mand of the forces beyond the pass； with the title of General Who Conquers the West。 And the time for an attack on Shu was settled。
When Sima Zhao was settling the plans in the court； Deng Dun； General of the Front Army； said； 〃Why are you sending our armies into a distant and dangerous country and thus inviting trouble？ Jiang Wei has invaded this country many times； and the wars have cost us many lives。 We should rather seek safety in defense。〃
〃I am sending a righteous army against an unrighteous ruler。 How dare you oppose my designs？〃
Sima Zhao ordered the executioners to put Deng Dun to death forthwith； and they soon returned to lay his head at the foot of the steps。 This frightened all those present； and they turned pale。
Sima Zhao said； 〃It is six years since I conquered the east； and the six years have been spent in preparation。 I have long intended to reduce both Wu and Shu。 Now I will destroy Shu； and then like a flood I will descend upon Wu and conquer that。 That is the method 'destroy Guo to capture Yu'。 I can tell very nearly what forces they have in Shu。 There are eighty or ninety thousand troops in the garrison of Capital Chengdu； forty or fifty thousand on the frontier； while Jiang Wei has about sixty thousand in his cantonments。 Against them we can pit one hundred thousand troops beyond the pass under Deng Ai； enough to hold Jiang Wei and keep him from moving east； and Zhong Hui has two or three hundred thousand veterans within the pass。 And they will march in three divisions through Luo Valley and straight into Hanzhong。 Liu Shan； the Ruler of Shu； is an oblivious fool with his frontier cities in ruins； the populace and officials quaking with fear。 The state will not last long。〃
The assembly praised this perspicacity。
Zhong Hui marched as soon as he received his seal of office。 Lest his real object should be known； he gave out that his force was directed against Wu。 To give color to the pretense； he had many large ships built in Qingzhou； Yanzhou； Yuzhou； Jingzhou； and Yangzhou。 He also sent Tang Zi along the coastal regions of Dengzhou and Laizhou to collect vessels。
Even his chief； Sima Zhao； was deceived and called him to ask： 〃I manded you to invade the Riverlands by land march。 Why are you collecting ships？〃
Zhong Hui replied； 〃If Shu hears that we intend to attack the west； they will ask assistance from Wu。 So I pretend to attack Wu； and Wu will not dare to move under a year。 When Shu is beaten； the ships will be ready and useful for an expedition into the east。〃
Sima Zhao was pleased。 The day chosen for the march was the third day of the seventh month in the fourth year of Wonderful Beginning； in Wei calendar （AD 264）。 Sima Zhao escorted his leader out of the city for three miles and then took his leave。
Shao Ti； Minister of the Western Affairs； whispered a word of warning。
〃My lord has sent Zhong Hui with a large army against Shu。 I think he is too ambitious to be trusted with such powers？〃
〃Think you I do not know？〃 said Sima Zhao。
〃Then why have you sent him alone and without a colleague？〃
Sima Zhao said a few words to Shao Ti which put his doubts at rest。
Zhong Hui went alone； although his master knew；
Occasion serving； he would be untrue。
The next chapter will tell the reader what Shao Ti heard。
Main Next to Chapter 116 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 116
Chapter 116
On Hanzhong Roads； Zhong Hui Divides The Army；
In Dingjun Mountain； The Martial Lord Shows His Apparition。
The words whispered in the ear of Shao Ti proved Sima Zhao's subtlety。
Said Sima Zhao； 〃This morning the officers all maintained that Shu should not be attacked； because they are timid。 If I let them lead the army； they would surely be defeated。 You saw Zhong Hui was set upon his plan； and he is not afraid。 Shu must therefore be beaten； and then the Shu people's hearts will be torn。 Beaten leaders cannot boast； and the officers of a broken state are no fit guardians of its welfare。 When Zhong Hui turns against us； the people of Shu cannot support him。 Further； our troops being victors； they will wish to return home and will not follow their leader into revolt。 Hence there is nothing to be feared。 I know this； as you do； but it must remain our secret。〃
Shao Ti showed his admiration for Sima Zhao。
In his camp； just prior to his march； Zhong Hui assembled his officers； among them were Army Inspector Wei Guan； Assistant General Hu Lie； Generals Tian Xu； Tian Zhang； Yuan Xing； Qiu Jian； Xiahou Xian； Wang Mai； Huangfu Kai； Gou Ai； and others； some eighty of them。
〃Firstly I want a Leader of the Van；〃 said Zhong Hui。 〃He must be skilled in making roads and repairing bridges。〃
〃I will take that post；〃 said a voice； and the speaker was Xu Yi； son of the Tiger Leader Xu Chu。
〃Nobody is fitter！〃 cried all present。
〃You shall have the seal；〃 said Zhong Hui。 〃You are lithe and strong and have the renown of your father to maintain。 Beside； all your colleagues remend you。 Your force shall be five thousand of cavalry and a thousand of footmen。 You are to march into Hanzhong in three divisions； the center you will lead through the Xie Valley； the other two passing through the Luo and Ziwu Valleys。 You must level and repair the roads； put the bridges in order； bore tunnels and break away rocks。 Use all diligence； for any delay will entail punishment。〃
Xu Yi was told to set out immediately； and his chief would follow with one hundred thousand troops。
In West Valley Land； as soon as Deng Ai received his orders to attack Shu； he sent Sima Wang to keep the Qiangs in check。 Next he summoned Zhuge Xu； Imperial Protector of Yongzhou； Wang Qi； Governor of Tianshui； Qian Hong； Governor of Longxi； and Yang Xin； Governor of Jincheng； and soon soldiers gathered in the West Valley Land like clouds。
One night Deng Ai dreamed a dream wherein he was climbing a lofty mountain on the way into Hanzhong。 Suddenly a spring of water gushed out at his feet and boiled up with great force so that he was alarmed。
He awoke all in a sweat and did not sleep again； but sat awaiting the dawn。 At daybreak he summoned his guard Shao Yuan； who was skilled in the Book of Changes； told him the dream and asked the interpretation。
Shao Yuan replied； 〃According to the book； 'water on a mountain' signifies the diagram Jian； whereunder we find that the southwest augurs well； but the northeast is unpropitious。 Confucius said of Jian that it meant advantage in the southwest； that is； success； but the northeast spelt failure； that is； there was no road。 In this expedition； General； you will overe Shu； but you will not have a road to return。〃
Deng Ai listened； growing more and more sad as the interpretation of his dream was unfolded。
Just then came dispatches from Zhong Hui asking him to advance into Hanzhong t