第279部分(第3/7 頁)

n　fell　to　the　ground　as　in　a　swoon；　and　it　was　some　time　before　she　revived。　The　Latter　Ruler　was　well　satisfied　with　her　prophesy　and　gave　her　large　presents。　Further；　he　thereafter　believed　all　she　told　him。　The　immediate　result　was　that　Jiang　Wei's　memorial　remained　unanswered；　and　as　the　Latter　Ruler　was　wholly　given　to　pleasure；　it　was　easy　for　Huang　Hao　to　intercept　all　urgent　memorials　from　the　mander。

Meanwhile　Zhong　Hui　was　hastening　toward　Hanzhong。　The　Van　Leader　Xu　Yi　was　anxious　to　perform　some　startling　exploit；　and　so　he　led　his　force　to　Nanzheng。

He　said　to　his　officers；　〃If　we　can　take　this　pass；　then　we　can　march　directly　into　Hanzhong。　The　defense　is　weak。〃

A　dash　was　made　for　the　fort；　each　one　vying　with　the　rest　to　be　first。　But　the　mander　of　Nanzheng　was　Lu　Xu；　and　he　had　had　early　information　of　the　ing　of　his　enemies。　So　on　both　sides　of　the　bridge　he　posted　soldiers　armed　with　multiple　bows　and　crossbows。　As　soon　as　the　attacking　force　appeared；　the　signal　was　given　by　a　clapper　and　a　terrific　discharge　of　arrows　and　bolts　opened。　Many　troops　of　Wei　fell；　and　the　army　of　Xu　Yi　was　defeated。

Xu　Yi　returned　and　reported　his　misfortune。　Zhong　Hui　himself　went　with　a　hundred　armored　horsemen　to　see　the　conditions。　Again　the　machine　bows　let　fly　clouds　of　missiles；　and　Zhong　Hui　turned　to　flee。

Lu　Xu　led　out　five　hundred　troops　to　pursue。　As　Zhong　Hui　crossed　the　bridge　at　a　gallop；　the　roadway　gave；　and　his　horse's　hoof　went　through　so　that　he　was　nearly　thrown。　The　horse　could　not　free　its　hoof；　and　Zhong　Hui　slipped　from　his　back　and　fled　on　foot。　As　he　ran　down　the　slope　of　the　bridge；　Lu　Xu　came　at　him　with　a　spear；　but　one　of　Zhong　Hui's　followers；　Xun　Kai　by　name；　shot　an　arrow　at　Lu　Xu　and　brought　him　to　th