第278部分(第5/7 页)

ill　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。　He