第272部分(第6/7 页)

　Jiang　Wei　decided　to　retreat　while　he　could。　He　sent　all　his　stores　and　baggage　away　first　with　the　footmen；　and　kept　the　cavalry　to　cover　the　retirement。

The　spies　reported　his　movements　to　Deng　Ai；　who　said；　〃He　has　gone　because　he　knew　that　the　main　army　would　soon　be　upon　him。　Let　him　go；　and　do　not　follow。　If　we　pursue；　he　will　play　us　some　evil　trick。〃

Scouts　were　sent　to　keep　in　touch　with　the　retreating　army；　and　when　they　returned　they　reported　that　preparations　of　dry　woods　and　straws　had　been　made　in　the　Luo　Valley　to　check　any　pursuit　with　fire。

The　officers　praised　the　prescience　of　Deng　Ai；　〃General；　your　calculation　is　superhuman！〃

When　Deng　Ai　reported　these　matters　to　the　capital；　Sima　Zhao　was　very　pleased　and　confer　more　rewards。

The　Prime　Minister　of　Wu；　Sun　Chen；　was　greatly　angered　by　the　desertion　of　so　many　of　his　soldiers　and　officers　to　Wei；　and　revenged　himself　by　putting　their　families　to　death。　The　Ruler　of　Wu；　Sun　Liang；　disapproved　of　these　acts　of　cruelty；　but　he　was　powerless。

The　young　Emperor　was　of　an　ingenious　turn　of　mind。　One　day　he　went　to　the　West　Park　to　eat　of　the　newly　ripened　plums。　He　bade　one　of　the　eunuchs　bring　some　honey。　It　was　brought；　but　there　were　mouse　droppings　in　it。　The　Ruler　of　Wu　called　the　storekeeper　and　blamed　him　for　carelessness。

The　storekeeper　said；　〃We　are　very　careful　to　keep　the　stores　in　good　order；　and　the　honey　cannot　not　possibly　have　been　fouled　in　the　storehouse。〃

〃Has　anyone　asked　you　for　honey　lately？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wu。

〃One　of　the　eunuchs　asked　for　some　a　few　days　ago。　I　refused　him。〃

The　Ruler　of　Wu　called　the　named　eunuch　and　said；　〃You　defiled　the　honey　out　of　spite。〃

The　man　denied　it。

〃It　is　very　e