第285部分(第5/7 页)

his　interpretation。　Then　he　told　Jiang　Wei　that　all　was　ready　and　they　would　put　the　crucial　question　to　each　captive。

〃I　know　they　are　opposed　to　us；　and　you　would　do　well　to　slay　them　all；　and　that　right　quickly；〃　replied　Jiang　Wei。

〃Good；〃　replied　Zhong　Hui。

He　bade　Jiang　Wei　with　several　ruffians　kill　the　Wei　leaders　among　the　captives。　But　just　as　Jiang　Wei　was　starting　to　carry　out　these　instructions；　he　was　seized　with　a　sudden　spasm　of　the　heart；　so　severe　that　he　fainted。　He　was　raised　from　the　earth　and　in　time　revived。　Just　as　he　came　to；　a　tremendous　hubbub　arose　outside　the　Palace。　Zhong　Hui　at　once　sent　to　inquire　what　was　afoot；　but　the　noise　waxed　louder　and　louder；　sounding　like　the　rush　of　a　multitude。

〃The　officers　must　be　raging；〃　said　Zhong　Hui。　〃We　would　best　slay　them　at　once！〃

But　they　told　him：　〃The　outside　soldiers　are　in　the　Palace！〃

Zhong　Hui　bade　them　close　the　doors　of　the　Hall　of　Audience；　and　he　sent　his　own　troops　upon　the　roof　to　pelt　the　ining　soldiers　with　tiles。　Many　were　slain　on　either　side　in　the　melee。　Then　a　fire　broke　out。　The　assailants　broke　open　the　doors。　Zhong　Hui　faced　them　and　slew　a　few；　but　others　shot　at　him　with　flights　of　arrows；　and　he　fell　and　died。　They　hacked　off　his　head。

Jiang　Wei　ran　to　and　fro　slaying　all　he　met　till　another　heart　spasm　seized　him。

〃Failed！〃　he　shrieked；　〃But　it　is　the　will　of　Heaven！〃

He　put　an　end　to　his　own　life。　He　was　fifty…nine。

Many　hundreds　were　slain　within　the　Forbidden　City。　Wei　Guan　presently　ordered　that　the　soldiers　were　to　be　led　back　to　their　various　camps　to　await　the　orders　of　the　Duke　of　Jin。

The　soldiers　of　Wei；　burning　for　revenge　of　his　many　invasions；　hacked　the　dead　body　of　Jiang　Wei　to　piece