第279部分(第1/7 页)

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　together。　Deng　Ai　at　once　sent　Zhuge　Xu　with　fifteen　thousand　troops　to　cut　off　Jiang　Wei's　retreat；　and　Wang　Qi　was　to　lead　fifteen　thousand　troops　to　attack　Tazhong　from　the　left；　Qian　Hong　was　to　march　fifteen　thousand　troops　to　attack　Tazhong　from　the　right；　and　Yang　Xin　with　fifteen　thousand　troops　was　to　block　Jiang　Wei　at　Gansong。　Deng　Ai　took　mand　of　a　force　to　go　to　and　fro　and　reinforce　whatever　body　needed　help。

Meanwhile　in　the　camp　of　Zhong　Hui；　all　the　officials　came　out　to　see　him　depart。　It　was　a　grand　sight；　the　gay　banners　shutting　out　the　sun；　breastplates　and　helmets　glittering。　The　soldiers　were　fit　and　the　horses　in　good　condition。　They　all　felicitated　the　leader。

All　save　one；　for　Adviser　Liu　Shi　was　silent。　He　smiled　grimly。

Then　Grand　mander　Wang　Xiang　made　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　said；　〃Do　you　think　these　two………Zhong　Hui　and　Deng　Ai………will　overe　Shu？〃

Said　Liu　Shi；　sighing；　〃With　such　brave　soldiers　and　bold　leaders　and　their　talents；　they　will　overe　Shu　certainly。　Only　I　think　neither　will　ever　e　back。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃

But　Liu　Shi　did　not　reply；　he　only　smiled。　And　the　question　was　not　repeated。

The　armies　of　Wei　were　on　the　march　when　Jiang　Wei　heard　of　the　intended　attack。　He　at　once　sent　up　a　memorial：

Your　Majesty　need　to　make　defensive　arrangements　by　manding　Zhang　Yi；　Left　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　to　guard　the　Yangping　Pass；　and　Liao　Hua；　Right　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　to　guard　the　Yinping　Bridge　in　Yinping。　These　two　places　are　the　most　important　points　upon　which　depend　the　securi