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Deng Ai requested the Latter Ruler to issue one more proclamation from the Palace to reassure the people, and then the conquerors took formal possession of the state and its granaries and storehouses. Two officers — Governor of Yiazhou Zhang Shao and Minister Zhang Jun — were sent into the counties and territories to explain the new situation and pacify malcontents, and another messenger was sent to exhort Jiang

Wei to yield peaceably. A report of the success was sent to Luoyang.

Huang Hao, the eunuch whose evil counsels had wrought such ruin to his master, was looked upon as a danger, and Deng Ai decided to put him to death. However, Huang Hao was rich, and by means of bribes he escaped the death penalty.

Thus perished the House of Han. Reflecting on its end a poet recalled the exploits of Zhuge Liang the Martial Lord, and he wrote a poem.

The denizens of tree-tops, apes and birds,

Most lawless of crested things, yet knew

And feared his mordant pen. The clouds and winds

Conspired to aid him to defend his lord.

But nought awaited the leader's precepts, wise

To save; with base content the erstwhile king

Too soon surrendered, yielding all but life.

In gifts Zhuge Liang was peer with

Guan Zhong and Yue Yi,

His hapless death compared with

Zhang Fei's and Guan Yu's;

Sad sight, his temple on the river's brink!

It wrings the heart more than the tearful verse

Of the Liangfu songs he most loved.

In due time Jiang Xian reached the Saber Pass, and gave Jiang Wei the Latter Ruler's command to surrender to the invaders. Jiang Wei was dumb with amazement at the order; his officers ground their teeth with rage and mortification. Their hair stood on end with anger; they drew their swords and slashed at stones in their wrath, shouting, “While we are fighting to our death, the Latter Ruler has yielded!”

The roar of their angry lamentation was heard for miles. But Jiang Wei soothed them with kindly words, saying, “Generals, grieve not; even yet I can restore the House of Han.”

“How?” cried they.

And he whispered low in their ears.

The flag of surrender fluttered over the ramparts of Saber Pass, and a messenger went to Zhong Hui's camp. When Jiang Wei and his generals drew near, Zhong Hui went out to meet them.

“Why have you been so long in coming?” said Zhong Hui.

Jiang Wei looked him straight in the face and said, without a tremor, but through falling tears, “The whole armies of the state are under me, and I am here far too soon.”

Zhong Hui wondered about this firm remark, and said nothing more. The two saluted each other and took their seats, Jiang Wei being placed in the seat of honor.

Jiang Wei said, “I hear that every detail of your plans, from the time you left the South of River Huai till now, has been accomplished. The good fortune of the Sima family is owing to you, and so I am the more content to bow my head and yield to you. Had it been Deng Ai, I should have fought to the death, for I would not have surrendered to him.”

Then Zhong Hui broke an arrow in twain, and they two swore close brotherhood. Their friendship became close-knit. Jiang Wei was continued in command of his own army, at which he secretly rejoiced. And Jiang Xian went back to Chengdu.

As conqueror, Deng Ai arranged for the administration of the newly-gained territory. He made Shi Zuan Imperial Protector of Yiazhou and appointed Qian Hong, Yang Xin, and many others to various posts. He also built a tower in Mianzhu in commemoration of his conquest.

At a great banquet, where most of the guests were people of the newly-conquered land, Deng Ai drank too freely and in his cups became garrulous.

With a patronizing wave of his hand, he said to his guests, “You are lucky in that you have had to do with me. Things might well have been otherwise, and you might all have been put to death, if you surrender to other leader.”

The guests rose in a body and expressed their gratitude. Just at that moment Jiang Xian arrived from his visit to Jiang Wei to say that Jiang Wei and his army had surrendered to Zhong Hui. Deng Ai thereupon conceived a great hatred for Zhong Hui, and soon after he wrote to Luoyang a letter something like this:

“I would venture to remark that misleading rumors of war should precede actual attack. Now that Shu has been