三国演义英文版-第127部分

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When　the　drums　were　beating　most　furiously；　suddenly　Guan　Yu　wheeled　round　his　horse　and　fled。　Of　course　Huang　Zhong　followed。　Just　as　the　moment　for　the　feint　arrived；　Guan　Yu　heard　behind　him　a　tremendous　crash　and　turned　to　see　his　pursuer　lying　prone　upon　the　ground。　Huang　Zhong's　steed　had　stumbled　and　thrown　him。
Guan　Yu　turned；　raised　his　sword　in　both　hands；　and　cried　in　a　fierce　tone；　〃I　spare　your　life；　but　quick！　Get　another　horse　and　e　again　to　battle。〃
Huang　Zhong　pulled　his　horse　to　its　feet　hastily；　leapt　upon　its　back；　and　went　into　the　city　at　full　speed。　The　Governor　was　astonished　and　asked　for　an　account　of　the　accident。
〃The　horse　is　too　old；〃　replied　Huang　Zhong。
〃Why　did　you　not　shoot　since　your　aim　is　so　perfect？〃　asked　the　Governor。
〃I　will　try　again　tomorrow；〃　said　Huang　Zhong。　〃I　will　run　away　as　if　overe；　and　so　tempt　him　to　the　drawbridge　and　then　shoot　him。〃
Han　Xuan　gave　the　veteran　a　gray　horse　that　he　usually　rode　himself。　Huang　Zhong　thanked　him　and　retired。
But　Huang　Zhong　could　not　forget　Guan　Yu's　generous　conduct；　nor　could　he　understand　it。　He　could　not　make　up　his　mind　to　shoot　the　man　who　had　spared　his　life。　Yet　if　he　did　not　shoot；　he　betrayed　his　duty　as　a　soldier。　It　was　very　perplexing；　and　the　whole　night　spent　in　thinking　it　over　found　him　still　undecided。
At　daybreak　a　man　came　in　saying　that　Guan　Yu　was　near　the　wall　and　challenging　them　again。　So　Huang　Zhong　gave　order　to　go　out。
Now　Guan　Yu；　having　fought　for　two　days　and　not　having　overe　Huang　Zhong；　was　very　ill　at　ease。　So　he　called　up　all　his　dignity　when　he　went　forth　to　fight　that　day。　When　they　had　got　to　the　thirtieth　bout；　Huang　Zhong　fled　as　if　he　was　overe。　Guan　Yu　pursued。
As　he　rode　away；　Huang　Zhong　thought　in　his　heart；　〃He　spared　me　only　yesterday；　and　I　cannot　bear　to　shoot　him　today。〃
Putting　up　his　sword；　Huang　Zhong　took　his　bow　and　twanged　the　string　only。　No　arrow　flew。　Guan　Yu　dodged；　but　seeing　no　arrow　in　the　air；　he　retook　the　pursuit。　Again　Huang　Zhong　twanged　an　arrowless　bowstring；　and　again　Guan　Yu　dodged；　but　no　arrow　came。
Then　Guan　Yu　said　to　himself；　〃He　cannot　shoot；〃　and　pressed　on　in　pursuit。
As　they　neared　the　city　wall；　the　veteran　stopped　on　the　drawbridge；　fitted　an　arrow；　pulled　the　bow；　and　sent　an　arrow　flying　that　just　hit　the　base　of　the　plume　on　Guan　Yu's　helmet。
The　soldiers　shouted　at　the　display　of　marksmanship。　Guan　Yu　was　taken　aback　and　set　off　for　camp　with　the　arrow　still　sticking。　Then　he　heard　that　Huang　Zhong's　skill　was　said　to　be　equal　to　piercing　a　willow　leaf　at　a　hundred　paces；　and　Guan　Yu　understood　that　he　owed　this　warning　in　the　shape　of　an　arrow　in　his　plume　to　gratitude　for　sparing　the　veteran　the　preceding　day。
Both　withdrew。　But　when　the　veteran　leader　went　up　on　the　wall　to　see　the　Governor；　he　was　at　once　seized。
〃What　have　I　done？〃　cried　Huang　Zhong。
〃I　have　seen　these　last　three　days　that　you　were　fooling　me。　You　were　slack　the　day　before　yesterday；　which　proved　you　had　some　sinister　intention。　Yesterday；　when　your　horse　stumbled　and　he　spared　you；　it　showed　that　you　were　in　league　with　him。　And　today　you　twice　twanged　a　vain　bowstring；　while　at　the　third　shot　you　only　hit　your　opponent's　helmet。　Dare　you　say　there　is　no　secret　understanding　in　all　this？　If　I　do　not　put　you　to　death；　it　will　assuredly　redound　to　my　own　hurt。〃
Han　Xuan　ordered　Huang　Zhong　to　be　executed　outside　the　city　gate。　Han　Xuan　also　met　the　intercession　of　the　officers　by　saying；　〃Anyone　who　pleads　for　the　condemned　shall　be　regarded　as　in　the　plot。〃
The　executioners　had　hustled　the　old　man　out　of　the　city　and　the　sword　was　in　the　air　and　on　the　point　of　descending；　when　a　man　suddenly　dashed　in；　cut　down　the　lictor；　and　rescued　Huang　Zhong。
〃Huang　Zhong　is　our　bulwark！〃　shouted　he。　〃To　destroy　him　is　to　destroy　the　Changsha　people。　This　Governor　is　too　fierce　and　cruel；　too　lightly　values　good　people；　and　is　too　arrogant　toward　his　officers。　We　ought　rather　to　kill　him；　and　those　who　will；　let　them　follow　me。〃
All　eyes　turned　toward　this　bold　speaker；　who　was　bronzed　and　had　eyes　like　the　Cowherd's　star。　Some　of　them　knew　him　as　Wei　Yan；　a　native　of　Yiyang。　He　would　have　followed　Liu　Bei　from　Xiangyang　but；　unable　to　e　up　with　him；　had　gone　into　the　service　of　Han　Xuan。　Han　Xuan　took　exception　to　his　arrogant　carriage　and　lack　of　polish　and　neglected　him。　And　so　Wei　Yan　had　remained　in　the　city　without　office。
After　the　rescue　of　Huang　Zhong；　Wei　Yan　called　upon　the　people　to　make　an　end　of　the　Governor。　He　waved　his　arm　and　shouted　to　the　people。　Soon　he　had　a　following　of　several　hundreds。　Huang　Zhong　could　not　stop　them。　In　a　very　short　time；　Wei　Yan　had　dashed　up　on　the　wall；　and　Han　Xuan　lay　dead。　Taking　his　head；　Wei　Yan　rode　off　out　of　the　city　to　lay　the　bloodstained　trophy　at　the　feet　of　Guan　Yu；　who　forthwith　went　into　the　city　to　restore　confidence。
When　the　people　were　all　quiet；　Guan　Yu　sent　to　request　Huang　Zhong　to　e　to　see　him；　but　the　old　general　pleaded　illness。
Next　Guan　Yu　sent　the　good　news　to　his　brother　and　to　Zhuge　Liang　and　asked　them　to　e。
Soon　after　Guan　Yu　had　left　to　capture　Changsha；　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　had　followed　him　up　with　supports　in　case　of　need。　While　on　the　march；　a　black　flag　was　furled　backwards　and　a　crow　flew　over　from　north　to　south　croaking　thrice　as　it　passed。
〃What　good　or　evil　things　do　these　omens　presage？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
With　hands　hidden　within　his　long　sleeves；　Zhuge　Liang　performed　a　rapid　calculation　on　his　fingers　of　the　auspices　and　replied；　〃Changsha　is　taken　and　a　great　leader　mastered。　We　shall　know　soon　after　noon。〃
Sure　enough　a　simple　soldier　presently　came　galloping　along　with　the　wele　tidings　of　the　capture　of　the　city；　and　saying　that　the　two　city　warriors　who　had　aided　them　were　near　waiting　the　arrival　of　Liu　Bei。　Soon　after　they　arrived；　Liu　Bei　entered　the　city；　where　he　was　escorted　to　the　magistracy　and　heard　the　recital　of　Huang　Zhong's　deeds。
Liu　Bei　went　in　person　to　Huang　Zhong's　house　and　inquired　for　him；　whereupon　Huang　Zhong　came　forth　and　yielded　formally。　Huang　Zhong　requested　to　be　permitted　to　bury　the　remains　of　the　late　Governor　on　the　east　of　the　city。

Lofty　as　is　heaven　above　earth　was　the　spirit　of　the　general；
Who；　even　in　his　old　age；　suffered　sorrows　in　the　south；
Cheerfully　had　he　approached　death；　with　no　thought　of　resentment；
But；　bowing　before　the　conqueror；　he　hung　his　head　and　was　ashamed。
Praise　the　sword；　gleaming　snow…white；　and　the　glory　of　super…human　bravery；
Consider　the　mail…clad　steed　snuffing　the　wind　and　rejoicing　in　the　battle；
That　warrior's　name　shall　stand　high　and　its　brightness　be　undiminished；
While　the　cold　moon　sheds　her　light　on　the　waters　of　River　Xiang。

Liu　Bei　was　generous　toward　the　veteran　leader　who　had　e　under　his　banner。　But　when　Wei　Yan　was　introduced；　Zhuge　Liang　suddenly　ordered　him　to　be　thrust　forth　and　put　to　death。
〃He　has　merit；　he　has　mitted　no　fault；〃　exclaimed　Liu　Bei。　〃Why　slay　him？〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Ingratitude。　To　eat　a　man's　bread　and　slay　him　is　most　disloyal；　to　live　on　his　land　and　offer　his　territory　to　another　is　most　wrong。　He　will　certainly　turn　against　his　new　master。　Wherefore　it　is　well　to　put　him　to　death　and　prevent　him　from　doing　harm。〃
〃If　we　slay　this　man；　others　who　may　wish　to　surrender　will　be　deterred　by　the　danger。　I　pray　you　forgive　him。〃
Zhuge　Liang　pointed　his　finger　at　Wei　Yan　and　said；　〃You　are　pardoned。　You　would　do　well　to　be　perfectly　faithful　to　your　lord　as　well　as　grateful。　Do　not　let　a　single　thought　stray　elsewhere；　or　I　will　have　your　head　by　fair　means　or　foul。〃
Wei　Yan　made　a　low　obeisance。
Having　given　in　with　good　grace；　Huang　Zhong　introduced　a　nephew　of　Liu　Biao；　named　Liu　Pan；　then　living　in　Yuxian　near　by。　Liu　Bei　gave　Liu　Pan　the　governorship　of　Changsha。
All　being　tranquil　at　the　four　territories；　Liu　Bei　and　his　army　returned　to　Jingzhou　City。　The　name　of　Youkou　was　changed　to　Gongan；　and　soon　all　was　prosperous。　Able　people　from　all　sides　came　to　assist　in　the　administration。　Guards　were　placed　at　strategic　points。
When　Zhou　Yu　went　to　Chaisang　to　recover　from　his　wound；　he　left　Gan　Ning　in　mand　at　Baling　and　Ling　Tong　at　Hanyang。　The　fleet　was　shared　between　these　two　places　to　be　ready　to　move　when　required。　The　remainder　of　the　force　was　under　Cheng　Pu；　and　he　went　to　Hefei；　where　Sun　Quan　had　been　since　the　fight　at　the　Red　Cliffs。　Sun　Quan　was　still　fighting　the　northern　army；　and　in　half　a　score　encounters；　small　and　great；　neither　had　gained　a　decided　advantage。　Sun　Quan　could　not　approach　the　city　but　entrenched　himself　about　fifteen　miles　away。
When　Sun　Quan　heard　of　the　ing　of　reinforcements　of　Cheng　Pu；　he　was　very　pleased　and　went　in　person　to　meet　and　wele　the　leaders。　Lu　Su　was　in　advance　of　the　main　body；　and　Sun　Quan　dismounted　and　stood　by　the　roadside　to　greet　him。　As　soon　as　he　saw　this；　Lu　Su　slid　out　of　the　saddle　and　made　his　obeisance。
But　the　officers　were　amazed　at　the　attitude　of　Sun　Quan；　and　still　more　so　when　Sun　Quan　asked　Lu　Su　to　remount　and　ride　by　his　side。
Presently　Sun　Quan　said　secretly　to　Lu　Su；　〃I；　the　Lone　One；　dismounted　to　greet　you　as　you　saw。　Was　that　manifestation　enough　for　you？〃
〃No；〃　replied　Lu　Su。
〃Then　what　further　can　I　do？〃

＇e＇　In　ancient　time；　the　empire　was　divided　into　nine　regions。　The　emperor　was　called　the　Lord　of　Nine　Regions。　More　regions　had　been　created　over　the　time。　In　Three　Kingdoms　period；　there　had　been　more　than　nine　regions。
〃I　want　to　see　your　authority　and　virtue　spread　over　the　four　seas　and　enfold　the　nine　regions*；　and　you　yourself　playing　your　part　as　emperor。　Then　will　my　name　be　inscribed　in　the　annals；　and　I　shall　indeed　be　known。〃
Sun　Quan　clapped　his　hands　and　laughed　gleefully。
When　they　reached　the　camp；　a　banquet　was　prepared　and　the　services　of　the　new　arrivals　were　praised　and　glorified。
The　destruction　of　Hefei　was　one　day　under　discussion；　when　one　came　in　to　say　that　Zhang　Liao　had　sent　a　written　challenge　to　battle。　Sun　Quan　tore　open　the　cover；　and　what　he　read　therein　made　him　very　wrath。
〃This　Zhang　Liao　has　insulted　me　grossly；〃　said　he。　〃He　hears　that　Cheng　Pu　has　arrived　and　sends　a　challenge。　Tomorrow；　O　newly…e　warriors；　you　shall　see　me　fight　with　him。　You　shall　have　no　share　in　the　battle。〃
Orders　were　given　that　next　morning　the　army　would　move　out　of　camp　and　advance　on　Hefei。　Early　in　the　morning；　when　they　had　advanced　about　halfway；　they　met　the　army　of　Cao　Cao　and　prepared　for　battle。　Sun　Quan；　with　helmet　of　gold　and　breastplate　of　silver；　rode　to　the　front　with　Song　Qian　and　Jia　Hua；　each　armed　with　a　halberd　to　support　him　and　guard　him　one　on　each　side。
When　the　third　roll　of　the　drum　ceased；　the　center　of　Cao　Cao's　army　opened　to　allow　the　exit　of　three　warriors；　all　fully　armed。　They　were　Zhang　Liao；　supported　by　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing。　Zhang　Liao；　the　central　figure；　especially　designated　Sun　Quan　as　the　object　of　his　challenge。　Sun　Quan　took　his　spear　and　was　about　to　accept　the　challenge；　from　when　the　ranks　behind　him　came　out　Taishi　Ci；　who　galloped　forth　with　his　spear　ready　to　thrust。　Zhang　Liao　whirled　up　his　sword　to　strike　the　newer；　and　the　two　fought　near　a　hundred　bouts　without　a　decisive　blow。
Then　said　Li　Dian　to　Y