第279部分(第2/7 页)

ty　of　Hanzhong。　Send　also　to　engage　the　help　of　Wu。　I；　thy　humble　servant；　shall　gather　soldiers　in　Tazhong　ready　for　the　march。〃

That　year　in　Shu　the　reign…style　had　been　changed　from　Wonderful　Sight；　the　fifth　year；　to　Joyful　Prosperity；　the　first　year　（AD　263）。　When　the　memorial　of　Jiang　Wei　came　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　it　found　him　as　usual　amusing　himself　with　his　favorite　Huang　Hao。

He　read　the　document　and　said　to　the　eunuch；　〃Here　Jiang　Wei　says　that　the　Wei　armies　under　Deng　Ai　and　Zhong　Hui　are　on　the　way　against　us。　What　shall　we　do？〃

〃There　is　nothing　of　the　sort。　Jiang　Wei　only　wants　to　get　a　name　for　himself；　and　so　he　says　this。　Your　Majesty　need　feel　no　alarm；　for　we　can　find　out　the　truth　from　a　certain　wise　woman　I　know。　She　is　a　real　prophetess。　May　I　call　her？〃

The　Latter　Ruler　consented；　and　a　room　was　fitted　up　for　the　seance。　They　prepared　therein　incense；　flowers；　paper；　candles；　sacrificial　articles　and　so　on；　and　then　Huang　Hao　went　with　a　chariot　to　beg　the　wise　woman　to　attend　upon　the　Latter　Ruler。

She　came　and　was　seated　on　the　Dragon　Couch。　After　the　Latter　Ruler　had　kindled　the　incense　and　repeated　the　prayer；　the　wise　woman　suddenly　let　down　her　hair；　dropped　her　slippers；　and　capered　about　barefoot。　After　several　rounds　of　this；　she　coiled　herself　up　on　a　table。

Huang　Hao　then　said；　〃The　spirit　has　now　descended。　Send　everyone　away　and　pray　to　her。〃

So　the　attendants　were　dismissed；　and　the　Latter　Ruler　entreated　the　wise　woman。

Suddenly　she　cried　out；　〃I　am　the　guardian　spirit　of　the　West　River　Land。　Your　Majesty；　rejoices　in　tranquillity；　why　do　you　inquire　about　other　matters？　Within　a　few　years　the　land　of　Wei　shall　e　under　you；　wherefore　you　need　not　be　sorrowful。〃

She　the