第276部分(第4/7 页)

nsport　corps。　Then　Jiang　Wei　and　Xiahou　Ba　went　into　the　valleys　in　ambush；　while　Jiang　Shu　was　ordered　to　march　to　the　Xie　Valley；　and　Liao　Hua　and　Zhang　Yi　were　sent　to　capture　Qishan。

The　letter；　apparently　from　Wang　Guan；　was　sufficient　for　Deng　Ai；　and　he　wrote　back　to　say　it　was　agreed。　So　on　the　fifteenth　day；　Deng　Ai　led　out　fifty　thousand　veteran　troops　and　moved　in　sight　near　Yunshan　Valley。　And　the　scouts　saw　endless　carts　of　grain　and　fodder　in　the　distance　zigzagging　through　the　mountains。　When　Deng　Ai　got　closer；　he　distinguished　the　uniforms　of　Wei。

His　staff　urged　him；　saying；　〃It　is　getting　dark；　O　General。　Hurry　to　help　Wang　Guan　escort　the　convoy　out　of　the　valley！〃

〃The　mountains　ahead　are　hazardous；〃　said　the　general。　〃If　by　any　chance　an　ambush　has　been　laid；　we　could　hardly　escape。　We　will　wait　here。〃

But　just　then　two　horsemen　came　up　at　a　gallop　and　said；　〃Just　as　General　Wang　Guan　was　crossing　the　frontier　with　the　convoy；　he　was　pursued；　and　reinforcements　are　urgently　needed！〃

Deng　Ai；　realizing　the　importance　of　the　request；　gave　orders　to　press　onward。　It　was　the　first　watch；　and　a　full　moon　was　shining　as　bright　as　day。　Shouting　was　heard　behind　the　hills；　and　he　could　only　conclude　it　was　the　noise　of　the　battle　in　which　Wang　Guan　was　engaged。

So　Deng　Ai　dashed　over　the　hills。　But　suddenly　a　body　of　troops　came　out　from　the　shelter　of　a　grove　of　trees；　and　at　their　head　rode　the　Shu　leader；　Fu　Qian。

〃Deng　Ai；　you　are　stupid！　You　have　just　fallen　into　the　trap　set　for　you　by　our　general。　Dismount　and　prepare　for　death！〃

Deng　Ai　halted　and　turned　to　flee。　Then　the　wagons　burst　into　flame。　That　flame　was　a　signal；　and　down　came　the　army　of　Shu。

He　heard　shouts　all　round　him；　〃A　t