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In Chengdu the Latter Ruler fell daily more and more under the malign influence of Huang Hao； who encouraged him in every form of self…indulgence and ministered to every desire for luxury and dissipation。 Government was left to look after itself。
At that time High Minister Liu Yang had a very beautiful wife； Lady Hu。 One day she went into the Palace to visit the Empress； who kept her there a whole month。 Liu Yang was not without suspecting an intrigue with the Latter Ruler and took a brutal revenge。 He bound Lady Hu； and made five hundred of his soldiers shame her to the last degree by beating her on the face with their boots。 She swooned many times。
The story got to the ears of the Latter Ruler； and he ordered the officials concerned to investigate and decide the crime and its punishment。
The judges found that： 〃Soldiers are not proper persons to administer a punishment to a woman； and the face is not a portion of the body to be mortified： The author of this crime ought to be put to death。〃
Wherefore Liu Yang was beheaded。
As time went on the Latter Ruler indulged in unbridled sensuality； and gradually all good people left the government； giving place to the meanest； who soon swarmed there。
Among the sycophants of Huang Hao was Yan Yun； General of the Right Army； whose lack of merit had not stood in the way of preferment。
Hearing of Jiang Wei's defeats at Qishan； Yan Yun got his friend Huang Hao to propose to the Latter Ruler； saying； 〃Jiang Wei should be recalled as he has not been able to score a decisive victory。 Yan Yun can be sent to replace him。〃
The Latter Ruler agreed； and the edict was issued。
One day； as Jiang Wei was working out his plan of attack on the camps of Wei； three edicts came； all to the same effect； recalling him to the capital。 Disobedience being out of the question； Jiang Wei ceased all operations and sent the Taoyang force back first。 Then gradually he and Zhang Yi withdrew with the others。
Deng Ai in his camp wondered at the rolling of drums one night； but next day he heard that the Shu camps were empty。 However； he suspected some ruse and did not pursue。
Arrived in Hanzhong； the army halted； and Jiang Wei went on to the capital in pany with the messenger who had brought his orders。 Here he waited ten days； and still the Latter Ruler held no court。 He began to suspect mischief。
One day near a Palace gate he met Secretary General Xi Zheng； and asked； 〃Do you know the reason for my recall？〃
〃What General！ Do you not know？ Huang Hao wanted to push Yan Yun into favor； so he intrigued for your recall。 Now they have found out Deng Ai is too clever to be tackled； and so they are not fighting any more。〃
〃I shall certainly have to put this eunuch fellow out of the way；〃 said Jiang Wei。
〃Hush！ You are the successor of the Martial Lord； Zhuge Liang； the man to whom he bequeathed his unfinished task。 You are too important to act hastily or indiscreetly。 If the Emperor withdrew his support； it would go ill with you。〃
〃Sir； what you say is true；〃 replied Jiang Wei。
However； soon after this Jiang Wei； with a small party； got into the Palace。 The Latter Ruler was enjoying himself with Huang Hao in the gardens。 They told Huang Hao； who at once hid himself among the rocks by a pond。
Jiang Wei approached his master and prostrated himself； saying； 〃Why did Your Majesty recall me？ I had the enemy in my power at Qishan when the triple edicts came。〃
The Latter Ruler hummed and hawed； but made no reply。 Then Jiang Wei began his real grievance。
＇e＇ Zhang Rang was one of the Ten Regular Attendants。 Zhang Rang won such influence that Emperor Ling called him 〃Foster Father〃。 Zhang Rang plotted the murder of He Jin； that caused Dong Zhou to seize the capital。 （chapter 3）
＇e＇ Zhao Gao a court eunuch serving the First Emperor。 Zhao Gao killed the eldest son and supported the second son for the throne after the First Emperor's death （BC 209）。 In the final days of Qin Dynasty； Zhao Gao killed the Second Emperor and placed the First Emperor's grandson on the throne （BC 206）。 。。。。。
〃This Huang Hao is wicked and artful and seems to have the last say in everything。 The times of the Emperor Ling and the Ten Regular Attendants have returned。 Your Majesty may recall Zhang Rang* recently or Zhao Gao* in the old time。 If you will only slay this man； the court will be purified； and you may return gloriously to the home of your fathers。〃
The Latter Ruler smiled； saying； 〃Huang Hao is but a minor servant； one who runs errands for me。 If he tried to do as you say； he could not。 I always wondered why Dong Yun seemed to hate poor Huang Hao so much。 Now you are the same。 I pray you； Noble Sir； take no notice of him。〃
〃Unless Your Majesty gets rid of him； evil is very close；〃 said Jiang Wei； beating his head upon the ground。
The Latter Ruler replied； 〃If you love anyone； you want him to live； if you dislike him； you desire his death。 Can you not bear with my one poor eunuch？〃
The Latter Ruler bade one of the attendants go and call Huang Hao。 When Huang Hao approached the pavilion； the Latter Ruler told him to ask pardon of Jiang Wei。
Huang Hao prostrated himself and wept； saying； 〃I am always in attendance upon the Sacred One………that is all I do。 I never meddle in state affairs。 I pray you； General； pay no heed to what people say。 If you desire my death； I am in your hands； but pity me。〃
And tears ran down his cheeks。 Jiang Wei went away in ill humor。 Outside he sought his friend Xi Zheng and told him what had happened。
〃General； you are in grave danger；〃 said Xi Zheng。 〃And if you fall； the country falls with you。〃
〃Can you advise me？〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃How can I secure the state and myself？〃
Xi Zheng replied； 〃There is a place of refuge for you in the West Valley Land； and that is Tazhong。 It is a rich county； and you can make a cantonment there like the Martial Lord did。 Request the Emperor to let you go thither。 You can gather in corn and wheat for your armies； you can secure all the west of Longyou； you can keep Wei from troubling Hanzhong； you will retain your military authority； so that no one will dare intrigue against you； and you will be safe。 Thus you can ensure the safety of the state and yourself。 You should lose no time。〃
〃Your speech is gold and jewels！〃 said Jiang Wei； gratefully。
Without loss of time； Jiang Wei memorialized the Throne and obtained the Latter Ruler's consent。 Then he returned to Hanzhong； assembled his officers； and told them his plans。
〃Our many expeditions have failed to achieve success owing to lack of supplies。 Now I am about to take eighty thousand troops to Tazhong to form a cantonment and grow wheat and corn ready for the next expedition。 You are spent with much fighting and may now repose while collecting grain and guarding Hanzhong。 The armies of Wei are from home and have to drag their grain over the mountains。 They will be worn out with the labor and must soon retire。 That will be the time to smite them； and success must be ours。〃
Hu Ji was set over Hanshou； Wang Han of Yuecheng； Jiang Bin over Hancheng； and Jiang Shu and Fu Qian went to guard the passes。 After these arrangements had been made； Jiang Wei went off to Tazhong to grow grain and mature his plans。
Deng Ai heard of these dispositions and discovered that the armies of Shu were distributed in forty camps； each connected with the next like the joints of a huge serpent。 He sent out his spies to survey the country； and they made a map which was sent to the capital。
But when the Duke of Jin； Sima Zhao； saw the memorial and the map； he was very angry。
〃This Jiang Wei has invaded our country many times； and we have been unable to destroy him。 He is the one sorrow of my heart。〃
Said Jia Chong； 〃He has carried on the work of Zhuge Liang only too thoroughly； and it is hard to force him back。 What you need is some crafty brave to assassinate him； so remove this constant menace of war。〃
But Assistant Xun Xu said； 〃That is not the way。 Liu Shan； the Ruler of Shu； is steeped in dissipation and has given all his confidence to one favorite； Eunuch Huang Hao。 The higher officers of state are concerned solely with their own safety； and Jiang Wei has gone to Tazhong only that he may save his life。 If you send an able leader and a strong army； victory is certain。 Where is the need for an assassin's dagger？〃
〃These are excellent words；〃 said Sima Zhao； with a laugh； 〃but if I would attack Shu； where is the leader？〃
〃Deng Ai is the ablest leader of the day；〃 said Xun Xu。 〃Give him Zhong Hui as his second； and the thing is done。〃
〃Exactly what I think！〃 said Sima Zhao。
So he summoned Zhong Hui and said to him； 〃I desire to send you as leader against Wu： Can you go？〃
〃My lord's design is not against Wu； but Shu；〃 was his reply。
〃How well you know my inmost thought！〃 said Sima Zhao。 〃But how would you conduct an expedition against Shu？〃
〃Thinking that my lord would desire to attack Shu； I have already prepared plans。 Here they are。〃
He laid out his maps； and thereon were shown the camps； and storehouses； and roads all plete。
Sima Zhao was highly pleased。
〃You are an excellent leader；〃 said he。 〃What say you to going with Deng Ai？〃
〃The River Lands is large； and there is space for more than one set of operations。 Deng Ai can be sent along another line。〃
Zhong Hui was given the title of General Who Conquers the West and the insignia of a mander…in…Chief over the forces of the Land Within the Passes and control of the armies of Qingzhou； Xuzhou； Yanzhou； Yuzhou； Jingzhou； and Yangzhou。 At the same time a mission with authority ensign was sent to Deng Ai giving him mand of the forces beyond the pass； with the title of General Who Conquers the West。 And the time for an attack on Shu was settled。
When Sima Zhao was settling the plans in the court； Deng Dun； General of the Front Army； said； 〃Why are you sending our armies into a distant and dangerous country and thus inviting trouble？ Jiang Wei has invaded this country many times； and the wars have cost us many lives。 We should rather seek safety in defense。〃
〃I am sending a righteous army against an unrighteous ruler。 How dare you oppose my designs？〃
Sima Zhao ordered the executioners to put Deng Dun to death forthwith； and they soon returned to lay his head at the foot of the steps。 This frightened all those present； and they turned pale。
Sima Zhao said； 〃It is six years since I conquered the east； and the six years have been spent in preparation。 I have long intended to reduce both Wu and Shu。 Now I will destroy Shu； and then like a flood I will descend upon Wu and conquer that。 That is the method 'destroy Guo to capture Yu'。 I can tell very nearly what forces they have in Shu。 There are eighty or ninety thousand troops in the garrison of Capital Chengdu； forty or fifty thousand on the frontier； while Jiang Wei has about sixty thousand in his cantonments。 Against them we can pit one hundred thousand troops beyond the pass under Deng Ai； enough to hold Jiang Wei and keep him from moving east； and Zhong Hui has two or three hundred thousand veterans within the pass。 And they will march in three divisions through Luo Valley and straight into Hanzhong。 Liu Shan； the Ruler of Shu； is an oblivious fool with his frontier cities in ruins； the populace and officials quaking with fear。 The state will not last long。〃
The assembly praised this perspicacity。
Zhong Hui marched as soon as he received his seal of office。 Lest his real object should be known； he gave out that his force was directed against Wu。 To give color to the pretense； he had many large ships built in Qingzhou； Yanzhou； Yuzhou； Jingzhou； and Yangzhou。 He also sent Tang Zi along the coastal regions of Dengzhou and Laizhou to collect vessels。
Even his chief； Sima Zhao； was deceived and called him to ask： 〃I manded you to invade the Riverlands by land march。 Why are you collecting ships？〃
Zhong Hui replied； 〃If Shu hears that we intend to attack the west； they will ask assistance from Wu。 So I pretend to attack Wu； and Wu will not dare to move under a year。 When Shu is beaten； the ships will be ready and useful for an expedition into the east。〃
Sima Zhao was pleased。 The day chosen for the march was the third day of the seventh month in the fourth year of Wonderful Beginning； in Wei calendar （AD 264）。 Sima Zhao escorted his leader out of the city for three miles and then took his leave。
Shao Ti； Minister of the Western Affairs； whispered a word of warning。
〃My lord has sent Zhong Hui with a large army against Shu。 I think he is too ambitious to be trusted with such powers？〃
〃Think you I do not know？〃 said Sima Zhao。
〃Then why have you sent him alone and without a colleague？〃
Sima Zhao said a few words to Shao Ti which put his doubts at rest。
Zhong Hui went alone； although his master knew；
Occasion serving； he would be untrue。
The next chapter will tell the reader what Shao Ti heard。
Main Next to Chapter 116 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 116
Chapter 116
On Hanzhong Roads； Zhong Hui Divides The Army；
In Dingjun Mountain； The Martial Lord Shows His Apparition。
The words whispered in the ear of Shao Ti proved Sima Zhao's subtlety。
Said Sima Zhao； 〃This morning the officers all maintained that Shu should not be attacked； because they are timid。 If I let them lead the army； they would surely b