第277部分(第2/7 页)

d　Taoyang。　As　he　drew　near；　he　noticed　the　place　seemed　to　have　no　defenses；　not　a　flag　staff　reared　its　head。　The　gates　stood　wide　open。

He　was　too　wary　to　go　straight　in　however；　and　said；　〃Is　there　any　ruse　in　there？〃

His　generals　said；　〃We　think　the　city　was　deserted　when　they　heard　your　army　ing。　A　few　people　were　running　away　along　the　southern　road。〃

Xiahou　Ba　rode　south　and　saw　there　that　the　northwest　road；　at　a　little　distance　from　the　city；　was　crowded　with　fugitives。

〃The　city　is　really　empty；〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。

He　led　the　way　in　all　ready　to　fight；　and　the　troops　followed。　As　they　came　near　to　the　curtain　wall；　however；　a　bomb　exploded。　At　this　sound　the　drums　beat；　trumpets　blared；　and　flags　suddenly　appeared。　At　the　same　moment　the　drawbridge　rose。

〃Caught！〃　said　Xiahou　Ba。

As　he　turned　to　retire；　the　arrows　and　stones　flew　down　in　clouds；　and　under　these　Xiahou　Ba　and　many　of　his　soldiers　lost　their　lives。

Most　able　strategist　and　brave；

Xiahou　Ba；　outwitted　here

By　Deng　Ai；　more　prudent　still；　and　slain；

Deserves　a　pitying　tear。

The　flights　of　arrows　from　the　ramparts　was　followed　by　a　sortie；　which　broke　up　the　force　of　Shu　entirely；　and　the　troops　fled。　However；　Jiang　Wei　came　up　and　drove　Sima　Wang　back　into　the　city。　The　army　of　Shu　camped　beside　the　walls。　Jiang　Wei　was　very　grieved　at　the　loss　of　Xiahou　Ba。

That　night　Deng　Ai　came　up　secretly　and　attacked　the　Shu　camp。　At　the　same　time　the　defenders　within　the　city　made　a　sortie。　Jiang　Wei　could　not　resist　the　double　attack；　and　left　the　field。　He　marched　some　seven　miles　and　camped。

Twice　beaten；　the　soldiers　of　Shu　were　very　downcast。

Jiang　Wei　tried　to　console　them；　saying；　〃Loss　or　gain　is　th