Romance, Chapter 118

Chapter 118. Weeping at the Ancestral Temple, a Prince Dies for Filial Duty; Entering Xichuan, Two Generals Contend for Glory

Now when the Latter Ruler, in Chengdu, heard that Deng Ai had taken Mianzhu and that Zhuge Zhan and his son were already dead, he was greatly alarmed and hastily summoned his civil and military officials to consult. One of his attendant ministers reported, “The people outside the city are fleeing for their lives, helping the old and leading the young, and the sound of their wailing shakes the air.” The Latter Ruler was so frightened that he did not know what to do. Suddenly a mounted scout arrived to report that the Wei troops were nearing the city walls. Many of the officials said, “Our troops are few and our generals scarce; we can hardly meet the enemy. It would be better to abandon Chengdu early and flee to the seven commanderies of Nanzhong.

卻說後主在成都，聞鄧艾取了綿竹，諸葛瞻父子已亡，大驚，急召文武商議。近臣奏曰：“城外百姓，扶老攜幼，哭聲大震，各逃生命。”後主驚惶無措。忽哨馬報到，說魏兵將近城下。多官議曰：“兵微將寡，難以迎敵；不如早棄成都，奔南中七郡。

The land there is rugged and steep and can be defended on its own. We can borrow Man troops there and come back to recover what we have lost; it will not be too late.” The Grand Master of Splendid Happiness Qiao Zhou said, “No. The southern Man have long been rebels, and we have never shown them any kindness. If we go to them now, we are sure to meet with great disaster.” Many officials again spoke up: “Shu and Wu are already allies. Now that things are urgent, we can go to Wu.” Qiao Zhou remonstrated again: “Since ancient times there has never been anyone who became Son of Heaven while lodging in another state. As I reckon it, Wei can swallow Wu, but Wu cannot swallow Wei.

其地險峻，可以自守，就借蠻兵，再來克復未遲。”光祿大夫譙周曰：“不可。南蠻久反之人，平昔無惠；今若投之，必遭大禍。”多官又奏曰：“蜀、吳既同盟，今事急矣，可以投之。”周又諫曰：“自古以來，無寄他國爲天子者。臣料魏能吞吳，吳不能吞魏。

If you declare yourself Wu’s subject, that is one humiliation. If Wu is then swallowed by Wei and Your Majesty must declare yourself Wei’s subject as well, that will be humiliation twice over. It would be better not to go to Wu but to surrender to Wei. Wei is sure to carve out land and enfeoff Your Majesty. Then above, you will still be able to keep the ancestral temples, and below, you will be able to protect the common people and keep them safe. I beg Your Majesty to consider this.” The Latter Ruler could not decide and withdrew into the palace. The next day the debate was as confused as ever. Seeing how urgent matters had become, Qiao Zhou sent up another memorial pressing his case.

若稱臣於吳，是一辱也；若吳被魏所吞，陛下再稱臣於魏，是兩番之辱矣。不如不投吳而降魏。魏必裂土以封陛下，則上能自守宗廟，下可以保安黎民。願陛下思之。”後主未決，退入宮中。次日，衆議紛然。譙周見事急，覆上疏諍之。

The Latter Ruler followed Qiao Zhou’s advice and was about to go out and surrender when suddenly a man stepped out from behind the screen and cursed Qiao Zhou in a harsh voice: “You rotten pedant, clinging to life! How dare you talk so recklessly about the great affairs of the state! Since ancient times, when has there ever been a Son of Heaven who surrendered?” The Latter Ruler looked and saw that it was his fifth son, Liu Chen, the Prince of Beidi. The Latter Ruler had seven sons: the eldest was Liu Xuan, the second Liu Yao, the third Liu Cong, the fourth Liu Zan, the fifth Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi, the sixth Liu Xun and the seventh Liu Qu.

後主從譙周之言，正欲出降；忽屏風後轉出一人，厲聲而罵周曰：“偷生腐儒，豈可妄議社稷大事！自古安有降天子哉！”後主視之，乃第五子北地王劉諶也。後主生七子：長子劉璿，次子劉瑤，三子劉琮，四子劉瓚，五子即北地王劉諶，六子劉恂，七子劉璩。

Of the seven sons, only Liu Chen had been intelligent from childhood, gifted and quick beyond other men; the rest were all weak and meek. The Latter Ruler said to Liu Chen, “All the great ministers now agree that we must surrender. Do you alone, trusting to hot-blooded courage, want the whole city to run with blood?” Liu Chen said, “In the days when the late Emperor was alive, Qiao Zhou never meddled in affairs of state. Now he talks recklessly about great matters and is forever stirring up wild talk. This is utterly unreasonable. As I humbly reckon it, there are still tens of thousands of troops in Chengdu, and Jiang Wei’s whole army is at Jiange. If he learns that Wei troops are attacking the palace, he is sure to come to the rescue. If we strike from within and without, we can win a great victory.

七子中惟諶自幼聰明，英敏過人，餘皆懦善。後主謂諶曰：“今大臣皆議當降，汝獨仗血氣之勇，欲令滿城流血耶？”諶曰：“昔先帝在日，譙周未嘗干預國政；今妄議大事，輒起亂言，甚非理也。臣竊料成都之兵，尚有數萬；姜維全師，皆在劍閣，若知魏兵犯闕，必來救應：內外攻擊，可獲大功。

How can we listen to the words of a rotten pedant and lightly throw away the foundation laid by the late Emperor?” The Latter Ruler rebuked him: “What does a little boy like you know of the times Heaven has appointed?” Liu Chen knocked his head on the ground and wept. “If our strength is exhausted and our position hopeless, and ruin and defeat are upon us,” he said, “then father and sons, sovereign and ministers should turn their backs to the city wall and fight one battle, die together with the state, and so go to meet the late Emperor. That is what we should do. How can we surrender?” The Latter Ruler would not listen. Liu Chen wailed aloud and said, “The late Emperor did not found this enterprise easily. Now to throw it away in a single day! I would rather die than suffer such disgrace!”

豈可聽腐儒之言，輕廢先帝之基業乎？”後主叱之曰：“汝小兒豈識天時！”諶叩頭哭曰：“若勢窮力極，禍敗將及，便當父子君臣背城一戰，同死社稷，以見先帝可也。奈何降乎！”後主不聽。諶放聲大哭曰：“先帝非容易創立基業，今一旦棄之，吾寧死不辱也！”

The Latter Ruler had his attendant ministers push Liu Chen out of the palace gate. Then he ordered Qiao Zhou to draft a letter of surrender and sent Zhang Shao, a Palace Attendant appointed by the Shu court on its own authority, and Deng Liang, Commandant of the Imperial Carriage Horses, together with Qiao Zhou, to carry the jade seal to Luo City and ask to surrender. At that time Deng Ai was sending several hundred armoured horsemen every day to scout around Chengdu. That day, when he saw that the flag of surrender had been raised, Deng Ai was overjoyed. Before long Zhang Shao and the others arrived, and Deng Ai had them brought in. The three men prostrated themselves below the steps and presented the terms of surrender and the jade seal.

後主令近臣推出宮門，遂令譙周作降書，遣私署侍中張紹、駙馬都尉鄧良同譙周齎玉璽來雒城請降。時鄧艾每日令數百鐵騎來成都哨探。當日見立了降旗，艾大喜。不一時，張紹等至，艾令人迎入。三人拜伏於階下，呈上降款玉璽。

Deng Ai opened the letter of surrender and read it. He was overjoyed, accepted the jade seal and treated Zhang Shao, Qiao Zhou, Deng Liang and the others with great honour. Deng Ai wrote a reply and gave it to the three men to take back to Chengdu to set people’s minds at rest. The three men took their leave of Deng Ai and went straight back to Chengdu, where they went in to see the Latter Ruler, presented the reply and told him in detail how well Deng Ai had treated them. The Latter Ruler broke the seal and read it, and he was overjoyed. He at once sent the Minister Coachman Jiang Xian with an edict ordering Jiang Wei to surrender without delay, and sent the Secretariat Gentleman Li Hu to deliver the registers to Deng Ai: in all, two hundred and eighty thousand households, nine hundred and forty thousand men and women, one hundred and two thousand armoured officers and soldiers, forty thousand officials, over four hundred thousand measures of grain in the granaries, two thousand catties each of gold and silver, and two hundred thousand bolts each of brocade, figured silk and coloured silk.

艾拆降書視之，大喜，受下玉璽，重待張紹、譙周、鄧良等。艾作回書，付三人齎回成都，以安人心。三人拜辭鄧艾，徑還成都，入見後主，呈上回書，細言鄧艾相待之善。後主拆封視之，大喜，即遣太僕蔣顯齎敕令姜維早降；遣尚書郎李虎，送文簿與艾：共戶二十八萬，男女九十四萬，帶甲將士十萬二千，官吏四萬，倉糧四十餘萬，金銀各二千斤，錦綺彩絹各二十萬匹。

The rest of the goods were in the storehouses and there was no time to count them all. The first day of the twelfth month was chosen for the sovereign and his ministers to go out and surrender. When Liu Chen, the Prince of Beidi, heard of it, his fury rose to the skies, and he went into the palace wearing his sword. His wife, Lady Cui, asked him, “Great Prince, your face looks strange today. Why is that?” Liu Chen said, “The Wei army is drawing near, and my father the Emperor has already accepted the terms of surrender. Tomorrow the sovereign and his ministers will go out and surrender, and from that moment the state will be destroyed. I mean to die first and go to meet the late Emperor beneath the earth rather than bend my knee to another!”

餘物在庫，不及具數。擇十二月初一日，君臣出降。北地王劉諶聞知，怒氣沖天，乃帶劍入宮。其妻崔夫人問曰：“大王今日顏色異常，何也？”諶曰：“魏兵將近，父皇已納降款，明日君臣出降，社稷從此殄滅。吾欲先死以見先帝於地下，不屈膝於他人也！”

Lady Cui said, “How worthy! How worthy! You have found a fitting death! Let me die first; it will not be too late for you, my Prince, to die after me.” Liu Chen said, “Why should you die?” Lady Cui said, “You, my Prince, die for your father; I die for my husband. The duty is the same. When the husband dies, the wife dies. Why need you ask?” When she had finished speaking, she dashed herself against a pillar and died. Then Liu Chen killed his three sons with his own hand, cut off his wife’s head, and carried it to the temple of Emperor Zhaolie. There he threw himself on the ground and wept: “I am ashamed to see the foundation of our house cast away to others. So I have first killed my wife and children to cut off every tie, and now I will give my life to repay my grandfather!

崔夫人曰：“賢哉！賢哉！得其死矣！妾請先死，王死未遲。”諶曰：“汝何死耶？”崔夫人曰：“王死父，妾死夫：其義同也。夫亡妻死，何必問焉！”言訖，觸柱而死。諶乃自殺其三子，並割妻頭，提至昭烈廟中，伏地哭曰：“臣羞見基業棄於他人，故先殺妻子，以絕掛念，後將一命報祖！

Grandfather, if your spirit is here, know the heart of your grandson!” He wept long and bitterly until blood flowed from his eyes, and then he cut his own throat and died. When the people of Shu heard of it, there was none who did not grieve.

祖如有靈，知孫之心！”大哭一場，眼中流血，自刎而死。蜀人聞知，無不哀痛。

A later poet wrote in praise:
Sovereign and ministers gladly bent the knee;
One son alone was stricken with grief.
Gone is the cause of Xichuan—
But how heroic the Prince of Beidi!
He gave his life to repay his glorious ancestor,
And tearing at his hair he wept to the vault of heaven.
So awe-inspiring, it is as if he still lives—
Who says the Han has perished? When the Latter Ruler heard that the Prince of Beidi had cut his own throat, he had him buried.

後人有詩讚曰：“君臣甘屈膝，一子獨悲傷。
去矣西川事，雄哉北地王！
捐身酬烈祖，搔首泣穹蒼。
凜凜人如在，誰雲漢已亡？
”後主聽知北地王自刎，乃令人葬之。

The next day the Wei army arrived in force. The Latter Ruler, leading the Heir Apparent, the princes and more than sixty of his ministers, with his hands bound behind him and a coffin carried on a cart, went out ten li beyond the north gate and surrendered. Deng Ai raised the Latter Ruler to his feet, untied his bonds with his own hands and burned the coffin, and they rode into the city side by side in their carriages.

次日，魏兵大至。後主率太子諸王，及羣臣六十餘人，面縛輿櫬，出北門十里而降。鄧艾扶起後主，親解其縛，焚其輿櫬，並車入城。

A later poet lamented:
Tens of thousands of Wei troops came pouring into Xichuan;
The Latter Ruler clung to life and failed to take his own.
Huang Hao to the last kept his purpose of deceiving the state;
Jiang Wei in vain possessed the talent to save his age.
How fierce the hearts of the righteous men who kept their loyalty whole!
How pitiable the resolve of the royal grandson who held to his honour!
What Zhaolie built was truly no easy thing;
In a single morning all his achievement turned to ash.

後人有詩嘆曰：“魏兵數萬入川來，後主偷生失自裁。
黃皓終存欺國意，姜維空負濟時才。
全忠義士心何烈，守節王孫志可哀。
昭烈經營良不易，一朝功業頓成灰。
”

Thereupon the people of Chengdu all came out with incense and flowers to welcome them. Deng Ai appointed the Latter Ruler General of Swift Cavalry, and the other civil and military officials each received office according to their rank. He asked the Latter Ruler to return to the palace, put up notices to reassure the people and took over the granaries and storehouses. He also ordered the Minister of Ceremonies Zhang Jun and the Attendant Officer of Yi Province Zhang Shao to win over the soldiers and people of every commandery. He also sent someone to persuade Jiang Wei to submit. At the same time he sent a messenger to Luoyang to report the victory. Hearing that Huang Hao was wicked and treacherous, Deng Ai meant to behead him.

於是成都之人，皆具香花迎接。艾拜後主爲驃騎將軍，其餘文武，各隨高下拜官；請後主還宮，出榜安民，交割倉庫。又令太常張峻、益州別駕張紹，招安各郡軍民。又令人說姜維歸降。一面遣人赴洛陽報捷。艾聞黃皓奸險，欲斬之。

But Huang Hao bribed those around Deng Ai with gold and treasure, and so he escaped. From this time the Han was no more. Because of the fall of the Han, a later poet wrote this poem remembering the Martial Marquis:
Apes and birds still seem to dread his written orders;
Wind and clouds forever stand guard over his palisades.
In vain the great general wielded his divine brush;
In the end the captive king was seen hurried off in the post carriage.
His talents matched Guan Zhong and Yue Yi—truly no shame to them;
But Guan and Zhang were not granted long life—what could be done?
Years ago, passing the shrine at Jinli,
When I had sung the Liangfu Song, regret still lingered without end!

皓用金寶賂其左右，因此得免。自是漢亡。後人因漢之亡，有追思武侯詩曰：“猿鳥猶疑畏簡書，風雲長爲護儲胥。徒令上將揮神筆，終見降王走傳車。管樂有才真不忝，關張無命欲何如！他年錦裏經祠廟，梁父吟成恨有餘！”

Meanwhile the Minister Coachman Jiang Xian reached Jiange, went in to see Jiang Wei, delivered the Latter Ruler’s edict and told him of the surrender. Jiang Wei was so shocked that he could not speak. When the generals in his tent heard it, they were all filled with bitter resentment. Gnashing their teeth and glaring, their beards and hair bristling, they drew their swords and hacked at the rocks, shouting, “We have been fighting to the death. Why should he surrender first?” The sound of their wailing could be heard for dozens of li. Seeing that the men’s hearts still longed for the Han, Jiang Wei soothed them with kind words: “Do not worry, my generals.

且說太僕蔣顯到劍閣，入見姜維，傳後主敕命，言歸降之事。維大驚失語。帳下衆將聽知，一齊怨恨，咬牙怒目，鬚髮倒豎，拔刀砍石大呼曰：“吾等死戰，何故先降耶！”號哭之聲，聞數十里。維見人心思漢，乃以善言撫之曰：“衆將勿憂。

I have a plan by which the House of Han can be restored.” They all asked what it was. Jiang Wei leaned close to his generals’ ears and told them his plan in a low voice. At once he had flags of surrender raised all over Jiange Pass and first sent a man into Zhong Hui’s camp to report that Jiang Wei was coming to surrender with Zhang Yi, Liao Hua, Dong Jue and others. Zhong Hui was delighted and had Jiang Wei escorted into his tent. “Why have you come so late, Boyue?” asked Zhong Hui. Jiang Wei, grave-faced and weeping, said, “The whole army of the state was in my hands. To have come here today is, if anything, quick.”

吾有一計，可復漢室。”衆皆求問。姜維與諸將附耳低言，說了計策。即於劍閣關遍豎降旗，先令人報入鍾會寨中，說姜維引張翼、廖化、董厥等來降。會大喜，令人迎接維入帳。會曰：“伯約來何遲也？”維正色流涕曰：“國家全軍在吾，今日至此，猶爲速也。”

Zhong Hui thought this remarkable. He came down from his seat, they bowed to each other, and he treated Jiang Wei as an honoured guest. Jiang Wei said to Zhong Hui, “I have heard that ever since Huainan your calculations have never missed, and that the greatness of the Sima family is all owing to your strength, General. That is why I am content to bow my head to you. If it were someone like Deng Shizai, I would fight him to the death. How could I agree to surrender to him?” Zhong Hui then broke an arrow as a pledge and swore brotherhood with Jiang Wei, and they grew very close. He let Jiang Wei keep command of his troops as before. Jiang Wei was secretly pleased and sent Jiang Xian back to Chengdu.

會甚奇之，下座相拜。待爲上賓。維說會曰：“聞將軍自淮南以來，算無遺策；司馬氏之盛，皆將軍之力，維故甘心俯首。如鄧士載，當與決一死戰，安肯降之乎？”會遂折箭爲誓，與維結爲兄弟，情愛甚密，仍令照舊領兵。維暗喜，遂令蔣顯回成都去了。

Meanwhile Deng Ai appointed Shi Zuan Imperial Protector of Yi Province, and gave Qian Hong, Wang Qi and others each a province or commandery to govern. He also built a terrace at Mianzhu to celebrate his victory and gave a great feast for all the officials of Shu. When he was half drunk, Deng Ai pointed at the officials and said, “You were lucky to meet me; that is why you are still here today. Had you met another general, you would all have been wiped out.” The officials rose and bowed their thanks. Suddenly Jiang Xian arrived and reported that Jiang Wei had surrendered of his own accord to Zhong, the General Who Guards the West.

卻說鄧艾封師纂爲益州刺史，牽弘、王頎等各領州郡；又於綿竹築臺以彰戰功，大會蜀中諸官飲宴。艾酒至半酣，乃指衆官曰：“汝等幸遇我，故有今日耳。若遇他將，必皆殄滅矣。”多官起身拜謝。忽蔣顯至，說姜維自降鍾鎮西了。

Because of this Deng Ai bitterly hated Zhong Hui. So he wrote a letter and had it carried to Luoyang for Sima Zhao, the Duke of Jin. Sima Zhao received the letter and read it. It said: “I, your servant Ai, humbly hold that in war there are times when one first spreads one’s fame and only afterwards strikes in earnest. Now, riding the momentum of the conquest of Shu to fall upon Wu, this is the moment to roll them up like a mat. But after so great a campaign the officers and men are weary and cannot be used at once. We should keep twenty thousand troops from Longyou and twenty thousand troops of Shu here, have them boil salt and work iron, and at the same time build boats, preparing in advance a plan to sail down with the current. Then, if we send envoys to set out for Wu where its advantage and its danger lie, Wu can be settled without a campaign.

艾因此痛恨鍾會。遂修書令人齎赴洛陽，致晉公司馬昭。昭得書視之。書曰：“臣艾竊謂兵有先聲而後實者，今因平蜀之勢以乘吳，此席捲之時也。然大舉之後，將士疲勞，不可便用；宜留隴右兵二萬、蜀兵二萬，煮鹽興冶，並造舟船，預備順流之計；然後發使，告以利害，吳可不徵而定也。

For now we should treat Liu Shan generously so as to draw in Sun Xiu. If we send Liu Shan straight to the capital, the people of Wu will surely grow suspicious, and it will do nothing to encourage any wish they may have to come over to us. Let us keep him in Shu for the time being and have him reach the capital in the winter of next year. We may now enfeoff Liu Shan as Prince of Fufeng, bestow wealth on him to provide for his attendants, and ennoble his sons as dukes and marquises, to show the favour granted to those who submit. Then the people of Wu will fear our might and cherish our virtue, and will follow at the first word.”

今宜厚待劉禪，以致孫休；若便送禪來京，吳人必疑，則於向化之心不勸。且權留之於蜀，須來年冬月抵京。今即可封禪爲扶風王，錫以資財，供其左右，爵其子爲公侯，以顯歸命之寵：則吳人畏威懷德，望風而從矣。”

When Sima Zhao had finished reading, he strongly suspected that Deng Ai meant to act on his own authority. So he first sent a letter in his own hand to Wei Guan, and then issued an edict conferring honours on Deng Ai: “Deng Ai, General Who Conquers the West, displayed his might and roused his valour, went deep into enemy territory and made the ruler who had usurped a title come to submit with a rope around his neck. His troops were out for no more than a season, his battles did not last a whole day; like clouds swept away, like a mat rolled up, he cleared and settled Ba and Shu. Even Bai Qi’s defeat of mighty Chu and Han Xin’s conquest of fierce Zhao cannot compare with this achievement.

司馬昭覽畢，深疑鄧艾有自專之心，乃先發手書與衛瓘，隨後降封艾詔曰：“徵西將軍鄧艾耀威奮武，深入敵境，使僭號之主，繫頸歸降；兵不逾時，戰不終日，雲徹席捲，蕩定巴、蜀；雖白起破強楚，韓信克勁趙，不足比勳也。

Let Deng Ai therefore be made Grand Commandant, with an increase of twenty thousand households to his fief, and let his two sons be enfeoffed as village marquises, each with a fief of a thousand households.” When Deng Ai had received the edict, the Army Supervisor Wei Guan took out Sima Zhao’s handwritten letter and gave it to him. The letter said that the measures Deng Ai had proposed must wait until they had been reported to the throne and an answer received; they must not be carried out on his own authority. Deng Ai said, “When a general is in the field, there are commands of the sovereign he does not accept. I have received an edict giving me sole charge of this campaign. How can I be hindered?” So he wrote another letter and had the messenger who had come carry it back to Luoyang.

其以艾爲太尉，增邑二萬戶，封二子爲亭侯，各食邑千戶。”鄧艾受詔畢，監軍衛瓘取出司馬昭手書與艾。書中說鄧艾所言之事，須候奏報，不可輒行。艾曰：“將在外，君命有所不受。吾既奉詔專征，如何阻當？”遂又作書，令來使齎赴洛陽。

At that time everyone at court was saying that Deng Ai surely meant to rebel, and Sima Zhao grew all the more suspicious and wary. Suddenly the messenger returned and presented Deng Ai’s letter. Sima Zhao broke the seal and read it. It said: “I, Ai, received the command to campaign in the west, and the chief villain has already submitted. I must act as circumstances require in order to settle those who have newly come over. If I wait for the state’s orders, the journeys back and forth along the road will drag on for days and months. The principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals is that when a grandee is beyond the borders and there is something he can do to secure the altars of the state and benefit the realm, he may act on his own.

時朝中皆言鄧艾必有反意，司馬昭愈加疑忌。忽使命回，呈上鄧艾之書。昭拆封視之。書曰：“艾銜命西征，元惡既服，當權宜行事，以安初附。若待國命，則往復道途，延引日月。《春秋》之義：大夫出疆，有可以安社稷、利國家，專之可也。

Now Wu has not yet submitted, and its position is bound up with that of Shu. I must not cling to the usual rules and so miss the moment for action. The art of war says: advance without seeking fame, retreat without avoiding blame. Though I lack the integrity of the ancients, I will never, to spare myself suspicion, do harm to the state. I report my situation first in this way, and will carry out what is feasible.”

今吳未賓，勢與蜀連，不可拘常以失事機。兵法：進不求名，退不避罪。艾雖無古人之節，終不自嫌以損於國也。先此申狀，見可施行。”

When Sima Zhao had read it, he was greatly alarmed and hastily conferred with Jia Chong. “Deng Ai is so proud of his achievement that he has grown arrogant and does whatever he pleases,” he said. “The signs of rebellion are plain. What are we to do?” Jia Chong said, “My lord, why not ennoble Zhong Hui so as to keep him in check?” Sima Zhao followed this advice. He sent an envoy with an edict appointing Zhong Hui Minister over the Masses, and at the same time ordered Wei Guan to supervise the armies on both routes. He gave Wei Guan a letter in his own hand, instructing him to watch Deng Ai together with Zhong Hui and guard against any treachery.

司馬昭看畢大驚，忙與賈充計議曰：“鄧艾恃功而驕，任意行事，反形露矣。如之奈何？”賈充曰：“主公何不封鍾會以制之？”昭從其議，遣使齎詔封會爲司徒，就令衛瓘監督兩路軍馬，以手書付瓘，使與會伺察鄧艾，以防其變。

Zhong Hui received the edict and read it. It said: “Zhong Hui, General Who Guards the West, has been invincible wherever he has turned, and no strong foe has stood before him. He has brought the many cities under control and netted all who fled and scattered. The powerful commanders of Shu have come to submit with their hands bound. His plans have left nothing out, and none of his undertakings has failed. Let Zhong Hui therefore be made Minister over the Masses and raised to the rank of county marquis, with an increase of ten thousand households to his fief, and let two of his sons be enfeoffed as village marquises, each with a fief of a thousand households.” As soon as he had received his honours, Zhong Hui invited Jiang Wei to confer with him. “Deng Ai’s achievement is greater than mine,” he said, “and he has been given the office of Grand Commandant as well. Now Lord Sima suspects that Deng Ai means to rebel, so he has made Wei Guan Army Supervisor and ordered me by edict to keep Deng Ai in check.

會接讀詔書。詔曰：“鎮西將軍鍾會所向無敵，前無強梁，節制衆城，網羅迸逸；蜀之豪帥，面縛歸命；謀無遺策，舉無廢功。其以會爲司徒，進封縣侯，增邑萬戶，封子二人亭侯，邑各千戶。”鍾會既受封，即請姜維計議曰：“鄧艾功在吾之上，又封太尉之職；今司馬公疑艾有反志，故令衛瓘爲監軍，詔吾制之。

What is your view, Boyue?” Jiang Wei said, “I have heard that Deng Ai is of humble birth and as a boy raised calves on a farm. Now by sheer luck he has come by a byway from Yinping, clinging to trees and hanging over cliffs, and achieved this great success. It did not come from any fine plan; he truly owes it to the great good fortune of the state. Had you, General, not been holding me off at Jiange, how could Deng Ai have achieved it? Now he wants to make the ruler of Shu Prince of Fufeng; that is a bid to win over the hearts of the people of Shu. His intention to rebel is plain without being spoken.

伯約有何高見？”維曰：“愚聞鄧艾出身微賤，幼爲農家養犢，今僥倖自陰平斜徑，攀木懸崖，成此大功；非出良謀，實賴國家洪福耳。若非將軍與維相拒於劍閣，艾安能成此功耶？今欲封蜀主爲扶風王，乃大結蜀人之心，其反情不言可見矣。

The Duke of Jin is right to suspect him.” Zhong Hui was greatly pleased by these words. Jiang Wei went on, “Please send your attendants away. I have something to tell you in secret.” Zhong Hui ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Jiang Wei took a map from his sleeve and handed it to Zhong Hui, saying, “Long ago, when the Martial Marquis came out of his thatched cottage, he presented this map to the late Emperor, saying, ‘The land of Yi Province has a thousand li of fertile plains; its people are many and the state is rich. It can be the base of a hegemony.’ Because of this the late Emperor went on to found his state at Chengdu. Now that Deng Ai has come here, how could he not be driven mad?”

晉公疑之是也。”會深喜其言。維又曰：“請退左右，維有一事密告。”會令左右盡退。維袖中取一圖與會，曰：“昔日武侯出草廬時，以此圖獻先帝，且曰：益州之地，沃野千里，民殷國富，可爲霸業。先帝因此遂創成都。今鄧艾至此，安得不狂？”

Zhong Hui was delighted and, pointing at the map, asked about the lie of the mountains and rivers. Jiang Wei explained each point. Zhong Hui then asked, “What plan should I use to get rid of Deng Ai?” Jiang Wei said, “While the Duke of Jin is suspicious and wary of him, you should quickly send up a memorial setting out the evidence of Deng Ai’s rebellion. The Duke of Jin is sure to order you, General, to punish him, and you can take him at a single stroke.” Zhong Hui did as he said and at once sent a man with a memorial to Luoyang, saying that Deng Ai was wielding power as he pleased, behaving without restraint and making friends with the people of Shu, and would surely rebel sooner or later.

會大喜，指問山川形勢。維一一言之。會又問曰：“當以何策除艾？”維曰：“乘晉公疑忌之際，當急上表，言艾反狀；晉公必令將軍討之。一舉而可擒矣。”會依言，即遣人齎表進赴洛陽，言鄧艾專權恣肆，結好蜀人，早晚必反矣。

At this all the officials at court, civil and military, were alarmed. Zhong Hui also had men intercept Deng Ai’s memorials on the road and rewrite them in Deng Ai’s hand in arrogant terms, to bear out what he himself had said.

於是朝中文武皆驚。會又令人於中途截了鄧艾表文，按艾筆法，改寫傲慢之辭，以實己之語。

When Sima Zhao saw Deng Ai’s memorials, he was furious. He at once sent a man to Zhong Hui’s army with orders for Zhong Hui to arrest Deng Ai. He also sent Jia Chong with thirty thousand troops into the Xie Valley, and Sima Zhao himself set out on campaign together with Cao Huan, the Ruler of Wei, in the imperial carriage. Shao Ti, Clerk of the Western Bureau, remonstrated: “Zhong Hui’s troops outnumber Deng Ai’s six to one. It is quite enough to have Zhong Hui arrest Deng Ai now. Why must Your Lordship go in person?” Sima Zhao laughed and said, “Have you forgotten what you said in the past?

司馬昭見了鄧艾表章，大怒，即遣人到鍾會軍前，令會收艾；又遣賈充引三萬兵入斜谷，昭乃同魏主曹奐御駕親征。西曹掾邵悌諫曰：“鍾會之兵，多艾六倍，當今會收艾足矣，何必明公自行耶？”昭笑曰：“汝忘了舊日之言耶？

You once said that Zhong Hui would surely rebel later. My purpose on this journey is not Deng Ai at all; it is really Zhong Hui.” Shao Ti laughed and said, “I was afraid Your Lordship had forgotten it, so I asked. Now that you have this in mind, you must keep it absolutely secret and not let it leak out.” Sima Zhao agreed with him and set out with a great army. At this time Jia Chong also suspected that Zhong Hui might turn traitor, and he secretly warned Sima Zhao. Sima Zhao said, “If I had sent you, should I suspect you too? When I reach Chang’an, all will become clear.”

汝曾道會後必反。吾今此行，非爲艾，實爲會耳。”悌笑曰：“某恐明公忘之，故以相問。今既有此意，切宜祕之，不可泄漏。”昭然其言，遂提大兵起程。時賈充亦疑鍾會有變，密告司馬昭。昭曰：“如遣汝，亦疑汝耶？吾到長安，自有明白。”

Spies were quick to inform Zhong Hui that Sima Zhao had already reached Chang’an. In alarm Zhong Hui sent for Jiang Wei to discuss how to arrest Deng Ai.

早有細作報知鍾會，說昭已至長安。會慌請姜維商議收艾之策。

Indeed:
No sooner was a surrendered general taken in, in Western Shu,
Than great armies were seen on the move at Chang’an.
By what plan Jiang Wei broke Deng Ai will be told in the next chapter.

正是：纔看西蜀收降將，又見長安動大兵。
不知姜維以何策破艾，且看下文分解。