第280部分(第4/7 页)

so　force　them　to　abandon　the　bridge　in　order　to　protect　the　city。　When　the　bridge　is　clear；　you　can　make　a　dash　for　Saber　Pass　and　plan　for　a　recapture　of　Hanzhong。〃

This　plan　seemed　to　promise　success；　so　Jiang　Wei　ordered　them　to　march　into　the　Konghan　Valley；　making　as　though　they　would　go　to　Yongzhou。

When　Zhuge　Xu；　who　was　at　the　Yinping　Bridge；　heard　this；　he　said　in　great　shock；　〃Yongzhou　is　my　own　city；　and　headquarters　of　the　expedition。　If　it　would　be　lost；　I　would　be　punished！〃

So　Zhuge　Xu　set　off　to　its　relief　by　the　south　road。　He　left　only　a　small　force　at　the　bridge。

Jiang　Wei　marched　along　the　north　road　for　ten　miles　till　he　guessed　that　Zhuge　Xu　had　abandoned　the　bridge；　when　he　reversed　his　course；　making　the　rearguard　the　van。　He　dispersed　the　small　force　left　at　the　bridge　head　and　burned　their　camp。　Zhuge　Xu；　as　he　marched；　saw　the　flames；　and　he　turned　back　to　the　bridge；　but　he　arrived　too　late。　The　army　of　Shu　had　already　crossed；　and　he　dared　not　pursue。

Soon　after　Jiang　Wei　crossed　the　bridge；　he　saw　another　force；　but　this　was　led　by　his　own　generals；　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi。

They　told　him；　〃The　Latter　Ruler；　firm　in　his　faith　in　a　wise　woman；　would　not　send　help　to　defend　the　frontiers。　We　heard　Hanzhong　was　threatened；　and　thus　marched　there　to　its　rescue；　but　then　Zhong　Hui　had　taken　the　Yangping　Pass。　We　also　heard　you　were　surrounded　here；　so　we　came　to　your　help。〃

The　two　armies　amalgamated　and　marched　together。

Liao　Hua　said；　〃We　are　attacked　all　round；　and　the　grain　transportation　is　blocked。　It　seems　to　me　wisest　to　retire　on　the　Saber　Pass　and　plan　other　designs。〃

But　Jiang　Wei　was　doubtful。　Then　they　heard　that　Deng　Ai　and　Zhong　Hui　were　approaching　in　ten　divisions。