第279部分(第4/7 页)

e　earth。

Seeing　this　lucky　hit；　Zhong　Hui　turned　back　and　signaled　to　his　force　to　make　an　attack。　They　came　on　with　a　dash；　the　defenders　were　afraid　to　shoot；　as　their　own　troops　were　mingled　with　the　enemy；　and　soon　Zhong　Hui　crushed　the　defense　and　possessed　the　pass。　The　defenders　scattered。

The　pass　being　captured；　Xun　Kai　was　well　rewarded　for　the　shot　that　had　saved　his　general's　life。　He　was　promoted　to　Assistant　General　and　received　presents　of　a　horse　and　a　suit　of　armor。

Xu　Yi　was　called　to　the　tent；　and　Zhong　Hui　blamed　him　for　the　lack　of　care　in　his　task；　saying；　〃You　were　appointed　Leader　of　the　Van　to　see　that　the　roads　were　put　in　repair；　and　your　special　duty　was　to　see　that　the　bridges　were　in　good　condition。　Yet　on　the　bridge　just　now　my　horse's　hoof　was　caught；　and　I　nearly　fell。　Happily　Xun　Kai　was　by；　or　I　had　been　slain。　You　have　been　disobedient　and　must　bear　the　penalty。〃

The　delinquent　was　sentenced　to　death。

The　other　generals　tried　to　beg　him　off；　pleading；　〃His　father　is　Xu　Chu　who　had　rendered　good　services　to　the　state！〃

〃How　can　discipline　be　maintained　if　the　laws　are　not　enforced？〃　said　Zhong　Hui。

The　sentence　was　carried　out；　and　the　unhappy　Xu　Yi's　head　was　exposed　as　a　warning。　This　severity　put　fear　into　the　hearts　of　the　officers。

On　the　side　of　Shu；　Wang　Han　manded　at　Yuecheng；　and　Jiang　Bin　was　in　Hancheng。　As　the　enemy　came　in　great　force；　they　dared　not　go　out　to　meet　them；　but　stood　on　the　defensive　with　the　gates　of　the　cities　closed。

Zhong　Hui　issued　an　order；　〃Speed　is　the　soul　of　war：　No　halts。〃

Li　Du　was　ordered　to　lay　siege　to　Yuecheng；　and　Xun　Kai　was　to　surround　Hancheng。　The　main　army　under　Zhong　Hui　would　capture　the　Yangping　Pass。

The　Shu