front to parley。
〃You have challenged me to a contest。 Now draw up your army for me to see；〃 said Jiang Wei。
Sima Wang did so and arrayed the eight diagrams。
〃That is what we know as the Octagon；〃 said Jiang Wei。 〃But it is nothing wonderful； only a sort of array fit for a brigand's raid。〃
〃You also have only stolen another man's tactics；〃 replied his adversary。
〃How many modifications of this are there？〃 asked Jiang Wei。
〃Since I have arranged this； naturally I know the variations； of which there are nine nines； making eighty…one。〃
〃Try them。〃
Sima Wang returned to his array and evolved many； finally riding out and asking his opponent if he recognized them。
〃My formation admits of three hundred and sixty…five variations。 You are but a frog in a well and know nothing of the deeper mysteries。〃
Now Sima Wang knew that so many variations were possible； but had not studied them。 However； he put on a bold air and said contemptuously； 〃I do not believe you。 Prove it！〃
〃Go and call Deng Ai；〃 replied Jiang Wei。 〃I will display them to him。〃
〃General Deng Ai has excellent plans and does not think much of such tactics。〃
〃What plans？ I suppose you mean a plan to keep me here while he tries a surprise attack in the rear。〃
Sima Wang was aghast。 He made a sudden dash forward； and a melee began。 Jiang Wei made a signal with his whip； and his force poured in from both wings。 The troops of Wei were seized with sudden panic； threw down their weapons and fled。
Now Deng Ai had hurried on Zheng Lun to make the first attack。 As Zheng Lun turned the corner of the hill； a bomb exploded。 At once the drums rolled and an ambush discovered itself。 Liao Hua was in mand。 Neither side stayed to parley； and the leaders engaged in single bat。 In the first encounter Liao Hua cut Zheng Lun down。
Deng Ai had not expected such preparation； and he hastened to withdraw。 Then Zhang Yi came forth and attacked on the other side。 The army of Wei was worsted。 Deng Ai fought his way out； but he bore four arrow wounds upon his body。 He got to the river； where he found Sima Wang； and they discussed how to get away。
But Sima Wang proposed another form of attack。
〃Recently the Ruler of Shu has had a favorite； Eunuch Huang Hao； in whom he places all his trust and with whom he spends his time in one round of pleasure。 Let us use the eunuch to sow distrust between the Emperor and his general and so get Jiang Wei recalled。 In that way we shall retrieve our defeat。〃
So Deng Ai assembled his advisers and asked who could go into Shu and get into munication with Huang Hao。
Dang Jun volunteered at once。 Deng Ai entrusted gold and pearls and precious things to him； and sent him into Shu to win the treacherous alliance of the eunuch。 As Dang Jun went； he also disseminated reports that Jiang Wei was angry and intended to go over to Wei。
These rumors became the mon talk in Chengdu； and everyone believed them。 Huang Hao carried them to the Emperor； and a messenger was sent to call the general to the capital。
Meanwhile Jiang Wei tried every day to bring the enemy to give battle； but they remained obstinately behind their defenses。 Jiang Wei began to think some evil scheme was afoot； when suddenly he was recalled by Imperial Edict。 Although ignorant of the reason； he could not disobey； and when he began the retreat； Deng Ai and Sima Wang knew that their plot had succeeded。 They broke camp and set out to attack the retreating army。
＇e＇ Yue Yi was a general of Yan。 Yue Yi helped Yan overe Qi； which was a dominant state during the Warring States period。 But he fell victim to court slanderers。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Yue Fei （AD 1103…1142） a great general during the Song Dynasty。 During his time； northern China was invaded by the Jin （northeast） armies。 Yue Fei； as mander of the northern expedition； was winning victories； when the emperor recalled him because the emperor feared Yue Fei's growing power and that Jin would release his father and brother （both former emperors）。 Yue Fei was later executed due to false charges。 。。。。。
Because of court intrigues
Yue Yi* and Yue Fei* failed。
How matters went will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 114 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Driving To The South Gate； Cao Mao Plunges Into Death；
Abandoning Stores； Jiang Wei Defeats The Wei Army。
When the order to retreat was given； Liao Hua said； 〃A leader in the field is independent and need not obey even the mand of his prince。〃
Zhang Yi said； 〃The country begins to resent these many years of war。 Rather take the occasion of the victory you have just won to return and pacify the people。〃
〃It is good；〃 said Jiang Wei。
A systematic and orderly retirement began。 The army of Wei； loth to forgo an opportunity； followed； but the absence of the least confusion gave them no chance。
As he saw his enemy disappearing in perfect order； Deng Ai sighed； 〃Jiang Wei is a worthy inheritor of the warlike methods of Zhuge Liang。〃
Deng Ai did not pursue but returned to his camp on Qishan。
On his return to Chengdu； Jiang Wei had audience with the Latter Ruler； whereat he inquired； saying； 〃Your Majesty has manded me to return for an important reason？〃
The Latter Ruler replied； 〃Because you have been so long on the frontier； Noble Sir。 I thought the soldiers must be weary。 There was no other reason。〃
〃Your Majesty； thy servant had got his camps on Qishan and was on the eve of plete success。 To leave off thus in the middle just played into the hands of our enemies。 Surely Deng Ai found means of sowing distrust in me。〃
The Latter Ruler sat lost in thought； and silent。
Jiang Wei continued； 〃I am pledged to destroy those rebels and prove my devotion to my country。 Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of mean persons till distrust grows in your heart。〃
〃I do not distrust you；〃 said the Latter Ruler after a long pause。 〃You may return into Hanzhong and await the next favorable opportunity。〃
Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself into Hanzhong to the army。
Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success。
Deng Ai and Sima Wang rejoiced； saying； 〃In the River Lands； trouble is not far off when the ruler and his servants do not live in harmony。〃
They sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to tell his own story to Sima Zhao； who also rejoiced； for he ardently desired to subdue Shu。
On this matter Sima Zhao consulted Jia Chong； mander of the Center Guard。
〃What do you think of an attack upon Shu？〃
〃Not to be considered；〃 said Jia Chong。 〃The Emperor does not trust you； and your departure would be the beginning of trouble for you。 Last year； when a yellow dragon was seen in the Ningling well and all the officers were felicitating the Emperor upon such a very auspicious occurrence； the Emperor said； 'It is not auspicious； just the reverse。 The dragon symbolizes the ruler。 To be neither in heaven； nor on earth among the people； but to be in a well； is a dark portent and bodes evil。' He wrote some verses； and one stanza undoubtedly points to you； my lord。 It reads：
〃The dragon like a prisoner is；
No longer leaps he in the abyss。
He soars not to the Milky Way
Nor can he in the meadows play；
But coiled within a dismal well；
With slimy creatures he must dwell；
Must close his jaws； his claws retract；
Alas！ Quite like myself in fact。〃
The recital of the poem annoyed Sima Zhao。
〃This fellow is very like Cao Fang； and if I do not remove him he will hurt me；〃 said he。
〃I will see to it for you；〃 said Jia Chong。
In the fifth year of Sweet Dew； in Wei calendar （AD 261）； during the fourth month； in summer； Sima Zhao had the effrontery to go to court armed。 However； the Ruler of Wei received him with exaggerated courtesy。
The courtiers said； 〃The services of the Regent Marshal are so magnificent； and his virtue so high that he should be rewarded with the title 'Duke of Jin' and the Nine Dignities。〃
Cao Mao hung his head and kept silent。
And Sima Zhao himself said discontentedly； 〃My father and my brother have all given great services to Wei； and yet I deserves not being a mere Duke of Jin？〃
〃Should I dare not do what you requested？〃 said Cao Mao。
〃That poem about the Lurking Dragon called us slimy creatures。 What sort of politeness is that？〃 said Sima Zhao。
The Ruler of Wei had nothing to say； and the haughty minister left the chamber； smiling cruelly。
Cao Mao retired； taking with him Minister Wang Jing； Adviser Wang Shen； and General of the Cavalry Wang Ye； and they went to a privy chamber to consult。 Cao Mao was very sad。
He said； 〃There is no doubt that Sima Zhao intends to usurp the throne………everybody knows that。 But I will not sit thereon patiently awaiting the indignity of being pushed off。 Cannot you gentlemen help me to kill him？〃
〃He may not be slain；〃 said Wang Jing。 〃That will not do。 In the old state of Lu； King Zhao could not bear with the Ji family； and ran away； thus losing his country。 But this Sima Zhao and his family have been in power very long and have innumerable supporters； many of whom are quite independent of any act of his whether loyal or disloyal。 They support him under any conditions。 Your Majesty's guards are few and weak and incapable………not the ones for any desperate effort。 It would be most lamentable if Your Majesty could not bear this trial。 The correct course is to wait and not act hastily。〃
〃If I can bear this； what cannot I bear？〃 said Cao Mao。 〃But I will do something； and if I die； what matters？〃
He went into the private apartments and spoke to the Empress Dowager。
Wang Shen； Wang Jing； and Wang Ye sat outside talking。
〃This matter is ing to a head； and unless we want to be put to death and all our loved ones with us； we had better go and warn Sima Zhao；〃 said Wang Shen。
This advice angered Wang Jing； and he said； 〃The prince's sorrow is the minister's shame； and a shamed minister dies。 Dare you contemplate treachery？〃
Wang Jing would have nothing to do with this visit to Sima Zhao； but the other two went to the Prime Minister's palace to betray their prince。
Shortly after； Cao Mao appeared； called the officer of the guard； Jiao Bo； and bade him muster his force； as many as he could。 Jiao Bo got together about three hundred； and this little force marched out to the beating of a drum as