三国演义英文版-第157部分

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way　through　such　parties　of　the　enemy　as　they　might　meet。　Their　sole　object　was　escape；　so　when　they　fell　upon　Yang　Fu　and　Jiang　Xu；　they　only　fought　to　get　through；　and　in　the　same　way　they　cut　an　alley　through　the　army　under　Yin　Feng　and　Zhao　Ang。　However；　they　lost　most　of　their　few　followers；　and　at　the　end　had　only　some　sixty　horsemen　left。
About　the　fourth　watch　they　came　to　Licheng。　In　the　darkness；　the　gate　guards；　thinking　only　of　the　return　of　their　own　troops；　opened　the　gates　and　unwittingly　let　in　the　enemy。　Once　in　the　city　Ma　Chao　and　his　followers　began　the　slaughter；　and　everyone；　soldier　or　mon　person；　was　slain；　till　the　city　was　swept　clear　from　the　south　gate　to　the　very　center。
Presently　they　came　to　the　residence　of　Jiang　Xu　and　dragged　forth　his　aged　mother。　She　showed　no　sign　of　fear；　but　reviled　Ma　Chao　till　in　his　anger　he　slew　her　with　his　own　sword。　Thence　they　went　to　the　house　of　Yin　Feng　and　Zhao　Ang　and　slew　all　they　found　therein。　The　only　person　who　escaped　the　massacre　was　Lady　Wang；　wife　of　Zhao　Ang；　who　had　acpanied　her　husband。
But　the　city　proved　no　place　of　safety。　Xiahou　Yuan　with　his　army　appeared　the　following　day；　and　Ma　Chao　fled　before　him　to　the　west。　But　ere　he　had　gone　seven　miles；　he　came　face　to　face　with　another　army　drawn　up　in　battle　array。　Yang　Fu　was　the　leader。
Grinding　his　teeth　with　rage；　Ma　Chao　set　his　spear　and　rode　at　Yang　Fu；　while　his　two　generals；　Ma　Dai　and　Pang　De；　attacked　the　rear。　Yang　Fu　was　overe；　and　his　seven　brothers　who　had　gone　with　him　into　the　battle　were　slain。　Yang　Fu　himself　was　wounded　in　five　places；　but　still　fought　on　till　he　was　wounded　down。
However；　Xiahou　Yuan　had　not　left　pursuing　Ma　Chao。　He　came　up　to　the　city；　and　Ma　Chao　fled。　His　army　was　now　reduced　to　the　two　generals　and　about　five　or　six　of　horsemen；　and　these　few　were　left　to　go　their　way。
Cao　Cao's　general；　Xiahou　Yuan；　set　himself　to　restore　order　and　tranquillity　in　the　region　of　Xizhou；　after　which　he　apportioned　its　defense　among　Jiang　Xu　and　other　trustworthy　manders。　The　wounded　leader　Yang　Fu　was　sent　to　the　capital　in　a　carriage。　When　he　arrived　Xuchang；　he　saw　Cao　Cao　who　offered　him　the　title　of　Lordship。
But　Yang　Fu　declined　the　honor；　saying；　〃I　have　neither　the　credit　of　a　successful　defense　nor　the　merit　of　death　with　my　master。　Death　should　be　my　portion　rather　than　honors。　How　could　I　accept　the　offer？〃
Cao　Cao　praised　him　and　insisted　on　granting　the　lordship。
Having　escaped　from　their　pursuers；　Ma　Chao　and　his　few　followers　decided　to　make　for　Hanzhong　and　offer　their　services　to　Governor　Zhang　Lu。　Zhang　Lu　received　them　gladly；　for　he　thought　with　such　help　he　could　certainly　get　possession　of　Yizhou　on　the　west　as　well　as　repel　Cao　Cao　on　the　east。　More　than　this；　he　thought　to　cement　the　friendship　by　giving　Ma　Chao　a　daughter　to　wife。　But　this　displeased　one　of　Zhang　Lu's　generals；　Yang　Bo。
〃The　misfortune　that　befell　Ma　Chao's　wife　and　family　was　entirely　the　fault　of　his　own　misconduct。　Would　you　give　your　daughter　to　such　as　he　to　wife？〃　said　Yang　Bo。
Zhang　Lu　again　considered　the　matter　and　abandoned　his　intention。　But　a　certain　busybody　told　Ma　Chao　what　had　been　proposed　and　that　Yang　Bo　had　defeated　the　scheme。　Whereupon　Ma　Chao　was　very　annoyed　and　sought　to　pass　the　death　of　Yang　Bo。　Yang　Bo　and　his　brother；　Yang　Song；　on　the　other　side　conspired　to　destroy　Ma　Chao。
At　this　time　a　messenger　from　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou　arrived　in　Hanzhong　begging　for　assistance　against　the　invader　Liu　Bei。　Zhang　Lu　refused　help。　But　then　Huang　Quan　came　on　the　same　errand。　He　first　saw　Yang　Song　and　talked　to　him　and　brought　him　to　favor　the　scheme。
Huang　Quan　said；　〃The　East　and　West　River　Lands；　which　stand　next　each　other　as　the　lips　are　close　to　the　teeth；　are　interdependent。　If　Yizhou　is　lost；　Hanzhong　has　little　chance　to　survive。　On　the　other　hand；　once　relieved　by　your　help；　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang　will　reward　twenty　counties　to　Hanzhong　as　pensation。〃
So　Huang　Quan　won　over　Yang　Song；　who　led　him　to　see　his　master。　To　Zhang　Lu　again　Huang　Quan　spoke　forcibly　and　laid　the　matter　before　him　so　cogently　that　Zhang　Lu　promised　his　help。
But　Yan　Pu；　one　of　Zhang　Lu's　officers；　tried　to　dissuade　him；　saying；　〃This　plead　for　help　and　offering　of　twenty　counties　are　only　their　temporary　tactics。　Liu　Zhang　and　you　are　old　enemies。　His　promise　is　not　to　be　trusted。〃
And　another　suddenly　interjected；　saying；　〃Useless　I　may　be；　but　if　you　will　give　me　troops；　I　will　capture　this　Liu　Bei　and　you　will　retain　all　your　land。〃

The　land's　true　lord　goes　west　and　then
Hanzhong　sends　forth　its　bravest　men。

Who　made　this　bold　offer？　The　next　chapter　will　tell。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　65　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　65
　Chapter　65
Ma　Chao　Battles　At　Jiameng　Pass；
Liu　Bei　Takes　The　Protectorship　Of　Yiazhou。
It　was　Yan　Pu　who　thus　opposed　sending　help　to　Liu　Zhang。
Then　Ma　Chao　rose　and　said；　〃I　have　been　the　recipient　of　much　kindness　from　my　lord；　which　I　feel　I　can　never　repay　adequately。　Now　let　me　lead　an　army　to　take　Jiameng　Pass　and　capture　Liu　Bei。　Then；　my　lord；　Liu　Zhang　will　surely　lose　his　twenty　counties；　and　they　shall　be　yours。〃
This　offer　rejoiced　Zhang　Lu；　who　sent　away　Huang　Quan　with　a　promise　to　help。　Then　Zhang　Lu　told　off　twenty　thousand　for　Ma　Chao　to　lead。　Pang　De　was　too　ill　to　take　part　in　the　expedition；　so　he　remained　in　Hanzhong。　Zhang　Lu　ordered　Yang　Bo　to　be　Army　Supervisor。　Ma　Chao　and　Ma　Dai　chose　a　day　to　march　to　Jiameng　Pass。
Meanwhile；　the　messenger　sent　to　Chengdu　by　Fa　Zheng　had　returned　to　Luocheng　to　report：　〃Zheng　Du　advised　Liu　Zhang　to　set　fire　to　all　the　plains　and　valleys　between　the　capital　and　the　invaders；　as　well　as　the　granaries；　to　move　sway　the　people；　and　to　stand　solely　on　the　defensive。〃
This　news　caused　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　great　anxiety；　for　it　would　be　a　grave　danger　to　them。　However；　Fa　Zheng　was　more　sanguine。
〃Do　not　be　anxious；〃　said　he；　〃the　plan　would　be　extremely　harmful；　but　it　will　not　be　carried　out。　Liu　Zhang　will　not　do　that。〃
Surely　enough；　very　soon　they　heard　that　Liu　Zhang　had　not　adopted　the　suggestion；　he　would　not　remove　the　people。　It　was　a　great　relief　to　Liu　Bei
Then　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Now　let　us　capture　Mianzhu　quickly；　for；　that　done；　Chengdu　is　as　good　as　ours。〃
Liu　Bei　therefore　told　off　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　to　advance　first。　When　mander　of　Mianzhu；　Fei　Guan；　heard　of　their　advance；　he　ordered　Li　Yan　to　go　out　to　stop　them；　and　Li　Yan　led　out　three　thousand　troops。　The　two　sides　being　arrayed；　Huang　Zhong　rode　out　and　fought　some　half　hundred　bouts　with　Li　Yan。　Neither　was　able　to　claim　a　victory；　and　so　Zhuge　Liang　from　the　midst　of　the　host　ordered　them　to　beat　the　gongs　to　cease　from　battle。
When　Huang　Zhong　had　got　back　to　his　side　again；　he　said；　〃O　Instructor；　why　did　you　sound　the　retirement　just　as　I　was　getting　the　better　of　my　opponent？〃
〃Because　I　saw　that　Li　Yan　was　not　to　be　overe　by　mere　force。　Tomorrow　you　shall　fight　again；　and　then　you　shall　lead　him　into　the　hills　by　the　ruse　of　pretended　defeat。　There　will　be　a　surprise　awaiting　him。〃
Huang　Zhong　agreed　to　try　this　plan；　and　so　on　the　morrow　accepted　Li　Yan's　challenge　when　it　was　offered。　After　about　the　tenth　bout；　Huang　Zhong　and　his　troops　pretended　to　be　worsted　and　ran。　Li　Yan　pursued　and　was　quickly　lured　into　the　mountains。　Suddenly　his　danger　flashed　into　his　mind；　and　he　turned　to　go　back。
But　he　found　Wei　Yan's　troops　drawn　up　across　his　path。
From　a　hill　top　near　by；　Zhuge　Liang　cried；　〃You　had　better　yield！　If　not；　there　are　bows　and　crossbows　on　both　sides　of　you………all　ready　to　avenge　the　death　of　our　Pang　Tong。〃
Li　Yan　dropped　off　his　horse；　threw　aside　his　armor；　and　offered　submission。　Not　a　soldier　of　his　had　been　hurt。　The　prisoner　was　conducted　to　Liu　Bei；　who　was　very　affable　and　so　won　Li　Yan's　heart　that　Li　Yan　offered　to　try　to　seduce　Fei　Guan　from　his　allegiance。
〃Though　he　is　related　to　Liu　Zhang；　yet　Fei　Guan　and　I　are　very　close　friends。　Let　me　go　and　persuade　him。〃
Wherefore　Li　Yan　was　sent　back　to　the　city　to　induce　his　chief　to　e　over　to　Liu　Bei's　side。　Li　Yan　talked　to　such　effect　of　the　kindness　and　virtues　of　Liu　Bei　that　Fei　Guan　was　won　over；　opened　the　city　gates；　and　admitted　the　invaders。
As　soon　as　Liu　Bei　had　entered　Mianzhu；　he　set　out　his　forces　to　take　the　capital。
While　thus　engaged；　a　hasty　messenger　came　to　tell　of　the　doings　at　Jiameng　Pass：　〃There　suddenly　appeared　an　army　from　the　east　under　Ma　Chao；　Ma　Dai；　and　Yang　Bo。　They　are　attacking；　and　the　Pass　will　certainly　be　lost　if　help　is　not　sent　quickly。〃
〃We　need　both　Zhang　Fei　and　Zhao　Yun　for　this；〃　remarked　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Then　we　could　oppose　successfully。〃
〃But　Zhao　Yun　is　away；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃However；　Zhang　Fei　is　here。　Let　us　send　him　quickly。〃
〃Do　not　say　anything；　my　lord；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Let　me　stir　him　to　fight　his　noblest。〃
But　as　soon　as　Zhang　Fei　heard　of　the　danger；　he　came　rushing　in；　shouting；　〃I　must　say　farewell；　brother！　I　am　off　to　fight　Ma　Chao。〃
However；　Zhuge　Liang　made　as　if　he　heard　not　and　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃That　Ma　Chao　has　invaded　Jiameng　Pass；　and　we　have　no　one　to　drive　him　back。　Nobody　can　stand　up　to　him；　unless　we　can　get　Guan　Yu　from　Jingzhou。　Guan　Yu　could　do　it。〃
〃Why　do　you　despise　me；　O　Instructor？〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。　〃Did　I　not　once　drive　back　a　whole　army　with　my　mere　voice？　Think　you　that　I　mind　a　stupid　fool　like　Ma　Chao？〃
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Yes；　General；　but　when　you　forced　back　the　waters　and　broke　the　bridge　in　the　Long　Slope；　you　succeeded　because　your　enemies　were　doubtful。　If　they　had　known；　you　would　not　have　e　off　so　easily。　Now；　all　the　world　knows　this　Ma　Chao　and　has　heard　about　his　six　battles　at　River　Wei；　and　how　he　made　Cao　Cao　cut　off　his　beard　and　throw　away　his　robe。　Ma　Chao　very　nearly　slew　Cao　Cao　too。　This　is　no　lightsome　task　like　that；　and　even　Guan　Yu　might　fail。〃
〃All　I　care　for　is　to　go；　and　if　I　do　not　overe　this　fellow；　I　will　take　the　consequences。〃
〃Well；　if　you　will　put　that　in　writing；　you　may　lead　the　attack。　And　I　will　ask　our　lord　to　lead　another　army　to　back　you　up　this　time。　He　can　leave　the　defense　of　this　town　to　me　till　Zhao　Yun　returns。〃
〃I　also　want　to　go；〃　said　Wei　Yan。
Wei　Yan　was　allowed　to　go　with　five　hundred　of　light　horse　in　advance　of　Zhang　Fei。　Liu　Bei　marched　third。　Wei　Yan　and　his　scouts　soon　arrived　at　Jiameng　Pass　and　there　fell　in　with　Yang　Bo。　They　engaged；　but　after　a　few　bouts　Yang　Bo　fled。
At　this　success　Wei　Yan　was　seized　with　ambition　to　rival　it　and　try　to　snatch　the　credit　that　would　fall　to　Zhang　Fei。　So　he　pursued。　But　he　presently　came　across　a　line　of　battle　all　drawn　up；　the　mander　being　Ma　Dai。　Wei　Yan；　thinking　it　was　the　redoubtable　Ma　Chao；　rode　toward　him　whirling　his　sword。　Soon　Ma　Dai　turned　and　ran　away；　and　Wei　Yan　followed　him。　However；　Ma　Dai　presently　turned　back　and　shot　an　arrow；　which　wounded　Wei　Yan　in　the　left　arm；　so　that　he　left　the　pursuit　and　turned　his　face　the　other　way。　Then　Ma　Dai　came　after　him　and　chased　Wei　Yan　nearly　up　to　the　Pass。
Here　Ma　Dai　was　suddenly　confronted　by　a　fierce　thunder…roaring　leader　who　dashed　down　from　the　Pass　as　on　a　flying　steed。
It　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　just　arrived。　Hearing　the　n