第281部分(第1/7 頁)

each　other。　But　the　visitor　did　not　like　the　look　on　the　faces　of　his　host's　guards。　He　decided　to　find　out　what　Zhong　Hui　was　thinking。

〃The　capture　of　Hanzhong　is　a　piece　of　excellent　fortune　for　the　state；〃　said　Deng　Ai。　〃The　capture　of　Saber　Pass　can　now　be　acplished　easily。〃

〃What　is　your　own　idea；　General？〃　asked　Zhong　Hui。

Deng　Ai　tried　to　evade　answering　the　question；　admitting　he　had　no　good　suggestion。　But　Zhong　Hui　pressed　him　to　reply。

Finally　he　said；　〃In　my　simple　opinion　one　might　proceed　by　by…roads　from　the　pass　through　the　Yinping　Mountains　to　Deyang　in　Hanzhong；　and　thence　make　a　surprise　march　to　Chengdu。　Jiang　Wei　must　go　to　its　defense；　and　you；　General；　can　take　the　Saber　Pass。〃

〃A　very　good　plan；〃　said　Zhong　Hui。　〃You　may　start　forthwith；　and　I　will　wait　here　till　I　hear　news　of　your　success。〃

They　drank；　and　Deng　Ai　took　his　leave。　Zhong　Hui　went　back　to　his　own　tent　filled　with　contempt　for　Deng　Ai's　plan。　which　he　thought　impracticable。

〃They　say　Deng　Ai　is　able。　I　think　he　is　of　most　ordinary　capacity；〃　said　he　to　his　officers。

〃But　why？〃　said　they。

〃Because　the　by…roads　by　Yinping　Mountains　are　impassable；　nothing　but　lofty　cliffs　and　steep　hills。　A　hundred　defenders　at　a　critical　point　could　cut　all　munications；　and　Deng　Ai's　army　would　starve　to　death。　I　shall　go　by　the　direct　road；　and　there　is　no　fear　about　the　result。　I　shall　overe　Shu。〃

So　he　prepared　scaling　ladders　and　stone…throwing　machines　and　set　himself　to　besiege　Saber　Pass。

Deng　Ai　went　out　to　the　main　gate　of　the　court。　While　mounting；　he　said　to　his　followers；　〃What　did　Zhong　Hui　think　of　me？〃

〃He　looked　as　though　he　held　a　poor　opinion　of　what　you　had　said；　General；　and　disagreed　with　yo