第277部分(第3/7 页)

e　platitude　of　war。　But　I　am　not　worried　yet　about　our　recent　defeats；　for　a　total　victory　will　surely　e　in　this　expedition　if　all　of　you　strive　your　best。　But　remember；　no　mutiny！　He　who　talks　of　retreat　will　suffer　death。〃

Then　Zhang　Yi　said；　〃With　so　many　troops　of　Wei　here；　their　camp　at　Qishan　must　be　undefended。　I　propose；　General；　that　while　you　continue　the　contest　here　with　Deng　Ai；　I　go　to　try　to　capture　the　nine　camps。　If　I　succeed；　Changan　will　be　at　our　mercy。〃

The　second　division　of　the　army　was　detached　to　march　on　Qishan；　and　Jiang　Wei　went　down　to　Houxia　to　provoke　Deng　Ai　into　fighting。　The　challenge　this　time　was　accepted　forthwith。　Deng　Ai　led　his　troops　out　and　engaged　with　Jiang　Wei　in　a　fight；　but　after　thirty　bouts　without　a　decision；　both　retired　to　their　camps。

For　days　after　this；　Jiang　Wei　challenged　again　and　again；　but　Deng　Ai　declined　and　would　not　fight。　The　Shu　soldiers　howled　abuse　and　hurled　insults　at　their　opponents；　but　all　without　effect。

Then　Deng　Ai　thought　within　him；　〃There　must　be　some　reason　for　this　persistence。　I　think　they　have　sent　an　army　to　try　to　seize　Qishan　while　they　hold　me　here。　Shi　Zuan　and　the　force　there　are　insufficient；　and　I　shall　have　to　go　to　the　rescue。〃

Deng　Ai　called　his　son　Deng　Zhong；　and　said；　〃Hold　this　place　most　carefully。　Let　them　challenge　as　they　may；　do　not　go　out。　Tonight　I　go　to　the　help　of　Qishan。〃

It　was　night；　and　Jiang　Wei　was　in　his　tent；　intent　upon　his　plans；　when　he　was　disturbed　by　a　great　shouting　and　drumming。　They　told　him　Deng　Ai　had　suddenly　appeared。　The　generals　asked　leave　to　go　out　to　fight。

〃Let　no　one　move！〃　said　Jiang　Wei。

The　fact　was　Deng　Ai　had　only　made　a　demonstration　at　the　camp　of　Shu　on　his　way　to　reinforce