三国演义英文版-第121部分

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e　valley。　A　force　was　arrayed　before　them　and　at　the　head　was　the　man　of　ancient　Yan；　Zhang　Fei；　seated　on　his　steed　with　his　great　spear　leveled。
〃Whither　would　you　flee；　O　rebel？〃　shouted　he。
The　soldiers　grew　cold　within　at　the　sight　of　the　terrible　warrior。　Xu　Chu；　mounted　on　a　bare…backed　horse；　rode　up　to　engage　him；　and　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　galloped　up　to　his　aid。　The　three　gathered　about　Zhang　Fei　and　a　melee　began；　while　Cao　Cao　made　off　at　top　speed。　The　other　leaders　set　off　after　him；　and　Zhang　Fei　pursued。　However；　Cao　Cao　by　dint　of　hard　riding　got　away；　and　gradually　the　pursuers　were　out…distanced。　But　many　had　received　wounds。
As　they　were　going。　the　soldiers　said；　〃There　are　two　roads　before　us。　Which　shall　we　take？〃
〃Which　is　the　shorter？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃The　high　road　is　the　more　level；　but　it　is　fifteen　miles　longer　than　the　bye　road　which　goes　to　Huarong　Valley。　Only　the　latter　road　is　narrow　and　dangerous；　full　of　pits　and　difficult。〃
Cao　Cao　sent　men　up　to　the　hill　tops　to　look　around。
They　returned；　saying：　〃There　are　several　columns　of　smoke　rising　from　the　hills　along　the　bye　road。　The　high　road　seems　quiet。〃
Then　Cao　Cao　bade　them　lead　the　way　along　the　bye　road。
〃Where　smoke　arises　there　are　surely　soldiers；〃　remarked　the　officers。　〃Why　go　this　way？〃
〃Because　the　'Book　of　War'　says　that　the　hollow　is　to　be　regarded　as　solid；　and　the　solid　as　hollow。　That　fellow　Zhuge　Liang　is　very　subtle　and　has　sent　people　to　make　those　fires　so　that　we　should　not　go　that　way。　He　has　laid　an　ambush　on　the　high　road。　I　have　made　up　my　mind；　and　I　will　not　fall　a　victim　to　his　wiles。〃
〃O　Prime　Minister；　your　conclusions　are　most　admirable。　None　other　can　equal　you；〃　said　the　officers。
And　the　soldiers　were　sent　along　the　bye　road。　They　were　very　hungry　and　many　almost　too　weak　to　travel。　The　horses　too　were　spent。　Some　had　been　scorched　by　the　flames；　and　they　rode　forward　resting　their　heads　on　their　whips。　The　wounded　struggled　on　to　the　last　of　their　strength。　All　were　soaking　wet　and　all　were　feeble。　Their　arms　and　accouterments　were　in　a　deplorable　state；　and　more　than　half　had　been　left　upon　the　road　they　had　traversed。　Few　of　the　horses　had　saddles　or　bridles；　for　in　the　confusion　of　pursuit　they　had　been　left　behind。　It　was　the　time　of　greatest　winter　cold；　and　the　suffering　was　indescribable。
Noticing　that　the　leading　party　had　stopped；　Cao　Cao　sent　to　ask　the　reason。
The　messenger　returned；　saying；　〃The　rain　water　collected　in　the　pits　makes　the　ground　a　mire；　and　the　horses　cannot　not　move。〃
Cao　Cao　raged。　He　said；　〃When　soldiers　e　to　hills；　they　cut　a　road；　when　they　happen　upon　streams；　they　bridge　them。　Such　a　thing　as　mud　cannot　stay　an　army。〃
So　he　ordered　the　weak　and　wounded　to　go　to　the　rear　and　e　on　as　they　could；　while　the　robust　and　able　were　to　cut　down　trees；　and　gather　herbage　and　reeds　to　fill　up　the　holes。　And　it　was　to　be　done　without　delay；　or　death　would　be　the　punishment　of　the　disobedient　or　remiss。
So　the　soldiers　dismounted　and　felled　trees　and　cut　bamboos；　and　they　leveled　the　road。　And　because　of　the　imminence　and　fear　of　pursuit；　a　party　of　one　hundred　under　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Chu；　and　Xu　Huang　was　told　off　to　hasten　the　workers　and　slay　any　that　idled。
The　soldiers　made　their　way　along　the　shallower　parts；　but　many　fell；　and　cries　of　misery　were　heard　the　whole　length　of　the　way。
〃What　are　you　howling　for？〃　cried　Cao　Cao。　〃The　number　of　your　days　is　fixed　by　fate。　Anyone　who　howls　shall　be　put　to　death。〃
The　remnant　of　the　army；　now　divided　into　three；　one　to　march　slowly；　a　second　to　fill　up　the　waterways　and　hollows；　and　a　third　to　escort　Cao　Cao；　gradually　made　its　way　over　the　precipitous　road。　When　the　going　improved　a　little　and　the　path　was　moderately　level；　Cao　Cao　turned　to　look　at　his　following　and　saw　he　had　barely　three　hundred　soldiers。　And　these　lacked　clothing　and　armor　and　were　tattered　and　disordered。
But　he　pressed　on；　and　when　the　officers　told　him　the　horses　were　quite　spent　and　must　rest；　he　replied；　〃Press　on　to　Jingzhou；　and　there　we　shall　find　repose。〃
So　they　pressed　on。　But　they　had　gone　only　one　or　two　miles　when　Cao　Cao　flourished　his　whip　and　broke　once　again　into　loud　laughter。
〃What　is　there　to　laugh　at？〃　asked　the　officers。
〃People　say　those　two；　Zhou　Yu　and　Zhuge　Liang；　are　able　and　crafty。　I　do　not　see　it。　They　are　a　couple　of　incapables。　If　an　ambush　had　been　placed　here；　we　should　all　be　prisoners。〃
Cao　Cao　had　not　finished　this　speech　when　the　explosion　of　a　bomb　broke　the　silence；　and　a　pany　of　five　hundred　troops　with　swords　in　their　hands　appeared　and　barred　the　way。　The　leader　was　Guan　Yu；　holding　his　green…dragon　saber；　bestriding　the　Red　Hare。　At　this　sight；　the　spirits　of　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　left　them；　and　they　gazed　into　each　others'　faces　in　panic。
〃Now　we　have　but　one　course；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃We　must　fight　to　the　death。〃
〃How　can　we？〃　said　the　officers。　〃Though　the　leaders　may　have　some　strength　left；　the　horses　are　spent。〃
Cheng　Yu　said；　〃I　have　always　heard　that　Guan　Yu　is　haughty　to　the　proud　but　kindly　to　the　humble；　he　despises　the　strong；　but　is　gentle　with　the　weak。　He　discriminates　between　love　and　hate　and　is　always　righteous　and　true。　You；　O　Prime　Minister；　have　shown　him　kindness　in　the　past。　If　you　will　remind　him　of　that；　we　shall　escape　this　evil。〃
Cao　Cao　agreed　to　try。　He　rode　out　to　the　front；　bowed　low　and　said；　〃General；　I　trust　you　have　enjoyed　good　health。〃
〃I　had　orders　to　await　you；　O　Prime　Minister；〃　replied　Guan　Yu；　bowing　in　return；　〃and　I　have　been　expecting　you　these　many　days。〃
〃You　see　before　you　one　Cao　Cao………defeated　and　weak。　I　have　reached　a　sad　pass；　and　I　trust　you；　O　General；　will　not　forget　the　kindness　of　former　days。〃
〃Though　indeed　you　were　kind　to　me　in　those　days；　yet　I　slew　your　enemies　for　you　and　relieved　the　siege　of　Baima。　As　to　the　business　of　today；　I　cannot　allow　private　feelings　to　outweigh　public　duty。〃
〃Do　you　remember　my　six　generals；　slain　at　the　five　passes？　The　noble　person　values　righteousness。　You　are　well　versed　in　the　histories　and　must　recall　the　action　of　Yu　Gong；　the　archer；　when　he　released　his　master　Zi　Zhuo；　for　he　determined　not　to　use　Zi　Zhuo's　teaching　to　kill　Zi　Zhuo。〃
Guan　Yu　was　indeed　a　very　mountain　of　goodness　and　could　not　forget　the　great　kindness　he　had　received　at　Cao　Cao's　hands；　and　the　magnanimity　Cao　Cao　had　shown　over　the　deeds　at　the　five　passes。　He　saw　the　desperate　straits　to　which　his　benefactor　was　reduced；　and　tears　were　very　near　to　the　eyes　of　both。　He　could　not　press　Cao　Cao　hard。
He　pulled　at　the　bridle　of　his　steed　and　turned　away　saying　to　his　followers；　〃Break　up　the　formation！〃
From　this　it　was　evident　that　his　design　was　to　release　Cao　Cao；　who　then　went　on　with　his　officers。　When　Guan　Yu　turned　to　look　back；　they　had　all　passed。　He　uttered　a　great　shout；　and　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　jumped　off　their　horses　and　knelt　on　the　ground　crying　for　mercy。　But　he　also　had　pity　for　them。　Then　Zhang　Liao；　whom　he　knew　well；　came　along　and　was　allowed　to　go　free　also。

Cao　Cao；　his　army　lost；　fled　to　the　Huarong　Valley；
There　in　the　throat　of　the　gorge　met　he　Guan　Yu。
Grateful　was　Guan　Yu；　and　mindful　of　former　kindness；
Wherefore　slipped　he　the　bolt　and　freed　the　imprisoned　dragon。

Having　escaped　this　danger；　Cao　Cao　hastened　to　get　out　of　the　valley。　As　the　throat　opened　out；　he　glanced　behind　him　and　saw　only　forty…seven　horsemen。　As　evening　fell；　they　reached　Jiangling；　and　they　came　upon　an　army　that　they　took　to　be　more　enemies。
Cao　Cao　thought　the　end　had　surely　e；　but　to　his　delight　they　were　his　own　soldiers　and　he　regained　all　his　confidence。
Cao　Ren；　who　was　the　leader；　said；　〃I　heard　of　your　misfortunes；　my　lord；　but　I　was　afraid　to　venture　far　from　my　charge；　else　I　would　have　met　you　before。〃
〃I　thought　I　would　never　see　you　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
The　fugitives　found　repose　in　the　city；　where　Zhang　Liao　soon　joined　them。　He　also　praised　the　magnanimity　of　Guan　Yu。
When　Cao　Cao　mustered　the　miserable　remnant　of　his　officers；　he　found　nearly　all　were　wounded　and　he　bade　them　rest。　Cao　Ren　poured　the　wine　of　consolation　whereby　his　master　might　forget　his　sorrows。
As　Cao　Cao　drank　among　his　familiars；　he　became　exceedingly　sad。
Wherefore　they　said；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　when　you　were　in　the　cave　of　the　tiger　and　trying　to　escape；　you　showed　no　sign　of　sorrow。　Now　that　you　are　safe　in　a　city；　where　you　have　food　and　the　horses　have　forage；　where　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　prepare　for　revenge；　suddenly　you　lose　heart　and　grieve。　Why　thus？〃
Replied　Cao　Cao；　〃I　am　thinking　of　my　friend　Guo　Jia：　Had　he　been　alive；　he　would　not　have　let　me　suffer　this　loss。〃
He　beat　his　breast　and　wept；　saying；　〃Alas　for　Guo　Jia！　I　grieve　for　Guo　Jia！　I　sorrow　for　Guo　Jia！〃
The　reproach　shamed　the　advisers；　who　were　silent。
Next　day　Cao　Cao　called　Cao　Ren　and　said；　〃I　am　going　to　the　capital　to　prepare　another　army　for　revenge。　You　are　to　guard　this　region　and；　in　case　of　necessity；　I　leave　with　you　a　sealed　plan。　You　are　only　to　open　the　cover　when　hard…pressed；　and　then　you　are　to　act　as　directed。　The　South　Land　will　not　dare　to　look　this　way。〃
〃Who　is　to　guard　Hefei　and　Xiangyang？〃
〃Jingzhou　is　particularly　your　care；　and　Xiahou　Dun　is　to　hold　Xiangyang。　As　Hefei　is　most　important；　I　am　sending　Zhang　Liao　thither　with　good　aids　of　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing。　If　you　get　into　difficulties；　send　at　once　to　tell　me。〃
Having　made　these　dispositions；　Cao　Cao　set　off　at　once　with　a　few　followers。　He　took　with　him　the　officers　who　had　e　over　to　his　side　when　Jingzhou　fell　into　his　hands。
Cao　Ren　placed　Cao　Hong　in　charge　of　Yiling　and　Jiangling。
After　having　allowed　the　escape　of　Cao　Cao；　Guan　Yu　found　his　way　back　to　headquarters。　By　this　time　the　other　detachments　had　returned　bringing　spoil　of　horses　and　weapons　and　supplies　of　all　kinds。　Only　Guan　Yu　came　back　empty…handed。　When　he　arrived；　Zhuge　Liang　was　with　his　brother　congratulating　him　on　his　success。　When　Guan　Yu　was　announced；　Zhuge　Liang　got　up　and　went　to　wele　him；　bearing　a　cup　of　wine。
〃Joy！　O　General；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃You　have　done　a　deed　that　overtops　the　world。　You　have　removed　the　empire's　worst　foe　and　ought　to　have　been　met　at　a　distance　and　felicitated。〃
Guan　Yu　muttered　inaudibly；　and　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃I　hope　it　is　not　because　we　have　omitted　to　wele　you　on　the　road　that　you　seem　sad。〃
Turning　to　those　about　him；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　not　tell　us　Guan　Yu　was　ing？〃
〃I　am　here　to　ask　for　death；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃Surely　Cao　Cao　came　through　the　valley？〃
〃Yes；　he　came　that　way；　and　I　could　not　help　it。　I　let　him　go。〃
〃Then　whom　have　you　captured？〃
〃No　one。〃
〃Then　you　remembered　the　old　kindness　of　Cao　Cao　and　so　allowed　him　to　escape。　But　your　acceptance　of　the　task　with　its　conditions　is　here。　You　will　have　to　suffer　the　penalty。〃
Zhuge　Liang　called　in　the　lictors　and　told　them　to　take　away　Guan　Yu　and　put　him　to　death。

Guan　Yu　risked　life　when　he　spared
Cao　Cao　in　direst　need；
And　age…long　admiration　gained
For　kindly　deed。

What　actually　befell　will　he　seen　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　51　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　51
　Chapter　51
Cao　Ren　Fights　The　South　Land's　Troops；
Zhuge　Liang　A