While Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were planning how best to outwit each other, but both being against Wei, there suddenly arrived a letter from Sima Zhao, saying, “I am at Changan with an army lest there should be any difficulty in disposing of Deng Ai. I need you to come to discuss state affairs.”
Zhong Hui divined the real purport at once.
“He suspects,” said Zhong Hui. “He knows quite well that my army outnumbers that of Deng Ai many times and I could do what he wishes easily. There is more than that in his coming.”
He consulted Jiang Wei, who said, “When the prince suspects a minister, that minister dies. Have we not seen Deng Ai?”
“This decides me,” replied Zhong Hui. “Success, and the empire is mine; failure, and I go west into Shu to be another Liu Bei, but without his mistakes.”
Jiang Wei said, “Empress Guo of Wei has just died. You can pretend she left you a command to destroy Sima Zhao, the real murderer of the Emperor. Your talents are quite sufficient to conquer the empire.”
“Will you lead the van?” said Zhong Hui. “When success is ours, we will share the spoil.”
“The little I can do, I will do most willingly,” said Jiang Wei. “But I am not sure of the support of all our subordinates.”
“Tomorrow is the Feast of Lanterns, and we can gather in the Palace for the congratulations. There will be grand illuminations, and we will prepare a banquet for the officers, whereat we can kill all those who will not follow us.”
At this, the heart of Jiang Wei leapt with joy. Invitations were sent out in the joint names of the two conspirators, and the feast began. After several courses, suddenly Zhong Hui lifted his cup and broke into wailing.
Everyone asked what was the cause of this grief, and Zhong Hui replied. “The Empress has just died, but before her death she gave me an edict, which is here, recounting the crimes of Sima Zhao and charging him with aiming at the Throne. I am commissioned to destroy him, and you all must join me in the task.”
The guests stared at each other in amazement, but no one uttered a word. Then the host suddenly drew his sword, crying, “Here is death for those who oppose!”
Not one was bold enough to refuse, and, one by one, they all signed a promise to help. As further security, they were all kept prisoners in the Palace under careful guard.
“They are not really with us,” said Jiang Wei. “I venture to request you to bury them.”
“A great pit has been already dug,” replied his brother host. “And I have a lot of clubs ready. We can easily club those who disagree and bury them in the pit.”
As Jiang Wei and Zhong Hui discussed the matter, General Qiu Jian, a man in the confidence of the conspirators, was present. He had once served under Commander Hu Lie, who was one of the imprisoned guests, and thus he found means to warn his former chief.
Hu Lie wept and said, “My son, Hu Yuan, is in command of a force outside the city. He will never suspect Zhong Hui capable of such a crime, and I pray you tell him. If I am to die, it will be with less regret if my son can be told.”
“Kind master, have no anxiety; only leave it to me,” replied Qiu Jian.
He went to Zhong Hui, and said, “Sir, you are holding in captivity a large number of officers, and they are suffering from lack of food and water. Will you not appoint an officer to supply their needs?”
Zhong Hui was accustomed to yield to the wishes of Qiu Jian, and he made no difficulty about this. He told Qiu Jian to see to it himself, only saying, “I am placing great trust in you, and you must be loyal. Our secret must be kept.”
“My lord, you may be quite content. I know how to keep a strict watch when necessary.”
And Qiu Jian allowed to enter into the place of confinement a trusty confidant of Hu Lie, who gave him a letter to his son Hu Yuan.
When Hu Yuan knew the whole story, he was astonished and told his subordinates, and they were greatly enraged. They came to their commander's tent to say: “We would rather die than follow a rebel.”
So Hu Yuan fixed upon the eighteenth day of the month to attempt the rescue. He enlisted the sympathy of Wei Guan and got his army ready. He bade Qiu Jian tell his father what was afoot. Hu Lie then told his fellow-captives.
One day Zhong Hui said to Jiang Wei, “Last night I dreamed a dream, that I was bitten by many serpents. Can you expound the vision?”
Jiang Wei replied, “Dreams of dragons and snakes and scaly creatures are exceedingly auspicious.”
Zhong Hui was only too ready to accept this interpretation. Then he told Jiang Wei that all was ready and they would put the crucial question to each captive.
“I know they are opposed to us, and you would do well to slay them all, and that right quickly,” replied Jiang Wei.
