第272部分(第4/7 页)

addle　and　the　arrow　passed　harmlessly　by。

The　next　time　Jiang　Wei　turned；　he　saw　his　pursuer　close　upon　him；　and　already　the　spear　was　threatening　his　life。　But　as　the　youth　thrust；　Jiang　Wei　evaded　the　blow　and　caught　the　shaft　under　his　arm。　Thus　deprived　of　his　weapon；　the　young　man　made　for　his　own　array。

〃What　a　pity！　What　a　great　pity！〃　cried　Jiang　Wei；　turning　to　pursue。

He　followed　the　young　general　close　up　to　the　standard。

But　just　as　he　came　near；　a　warrior　came　to　the　front；　shouting；　〃Jiang　Wei；　you　fool；　do　not　pursue　my　son　when　I；　Deng　Ai；　am　here！〃

Jiang　Wei　was　taken　aback；　so　he　had　only　been　contending　with　Deng　Zhong；　the　son　of　his　real　opponent。　Although　he　was　astonished　at　the　skill　and　vigor　of　the　youth；　he　now　knew　that　a　heavier　task　lay　before　him　and　feared　lest　his　steed　was　then　too　far　spent　for　the　contest。

So　he　said　to　Deng　Ai；　〃Seeing　things　are　so；　let　us　both　hold　off　our　troops　till　the　morrow；　when　we　will　fight。〃

Deng　Ai；　glancing　around；　saw　that　the　place　was　ill…suited　for　him；　so　he　agreed　to　wait；　saying；　〃Let　us　lead　off　our　armies　then；　and　whoever　shall　take　any　secret　advantage　is　a　base　fellow。〃

Both　sides　retired　into　camp；　Deng　Ai　on　the　bank　of　River　Wei；　and　Jiang　Wei　on　the　hills。

Deng　Ai　saw　that　the　army　of　Shu　had　the　advantage　of　position；　so　he　wrote　off　at　once　to　Sima　Wang：

〃General；　we　should　not　give　battle；　but　wait　for　reinforcements。　Meanwhile　the　soldiers　of　Shu　will　be　consuming　their　supply　of　grain；　and　we　will　attack　on　three　sides　when　they　begin　to　be　hungry。　I　send　my　son　Deng　Zhong　to　you　for　further　help　in　the　defense　of　the　city。〃

Jiang　Wei　sent　a　messenger　to　the　Wei　camp　to　deliver　a　letter　of　battle；　the　contes