第282部分(第3/7 页)

reat　numbers。　We　must　defeat　them；　and　that　quickly；　or　we　are　lost。〃

Then　Military　Inspector　Qiu　Ben　said；　〃Why　not　persuade　their　leader　with　a　letter？〃

Deng　Ai　agreed　and　wrote　a　letter；　which　he　sent　by　the　hand　of　a　messenger。　The　warden　of　the　Shu　camp　gate　led　the　messenger　in　to　see　Zhuge　Zhan；　who　opened　the　letter　and　read：

〃Deng　Ai；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　writes　to　Zhuge　Zhan；　General　of　the　Guard　and　Leader　of　the　army　in　the　field。

〃Now　having　carefully　observed　all　the　talents　of　the　time；　I　see　not　one　of　them　is　equal　to　your　most　honored　father。　From　the　moment　of　his　emergence　from　his　retreat；　he　said　that　the　country　was　to　be　in　tripod　division。　He　conquered　Jingzhou　and　Yizhou　and　Hanzhong　and　thus　established　a　position。　Few　have　been　his　equal　in　all　history。　He　made　six　expeditions　from　Qishan；　and；　if　he　failed；　it　was　not　that　he　lacked　skill………it　was　the　will　of　Heaven。

〃But　now　this　Latter　Ruler　is　dull　and　weak；　and　his　kingly　aura　is　already　exhausted。　I　have　a　mand　from　the　Son　of　Heaven　to　smite　Shu　with　severity；　and　I　already　possess　the　land。　Your　capital　must　quickly　fall。　Why　then　do　you　not　bow　to　the　will　of　Heaven　and　fall　in　with　the　desires　of　people　by　acting　rightly　and　ing　over　to　our　side？　I　will　obtain　the　rank　of　Prince　of　Langye　for　you；　whereby　your　ancestors　will　be　rendered　illustrious。　These　are　no　vain　words　if　happily　you　will　consider　them。〃

The　letter　made　Zhuge　Zhan　furiously　angry。　He　tore　it　to　fragments　and　ordered　the　bearer　thereof　to　be　put　to　death　immediately。　He　also　ordered　the　escort　to　bear　the　head　of　the　messenger　to　the　camp　of　Wei　and　lay　it　before　Deng　Ai。

Deng　Ai　was　very　angry　at　this　insult　and　wished　to　go　forth　at　once　to　battle。　But