三国演义英文版-第164部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


Zhang　Lu　could　not　decide　which　to　do。　His　brother；　Zhang　Wei；　maintained　that　burning　everything　and　flight　was　the　only　course。
Zhang　Lu　said；　〃I　have　been　always　loyal　at　heart　and　desired　to　return　to　allegiance　when　circumstances　would　permit。　I　have　been　unable　to　attain　my　desire；　but　now　fight　seems　the　only　course　open　to　me。　However；　the　granaries　and　treasures；　the　public　offices；　and　the　government　property　of　all　kinds　must　be　kept　safe。〃
So　the　public　buildings　were　all　carefully　barred　and　sealed。　The　same　night；　in　the　late　evening；　Zhang　Lu　and　his　family　went　out　through　the　south　gate　and　found　their　way　through。　Cao　Cao　let　them　go　unpursued。　When　Cao　Cao　entered　the　city　and　saw　the　proofs　of　Zhang　Lu's　care　of　the　government　property；　he　passionated　the　Governor's　misfortunes。　He　then　sent　a　messenger　into　Bazhong　to　induce　Zhang　Lu　to　surrender。　Zhang　Lu　was　disposed　to　do　so；　but　his　brother　would　not　hear　of　it。　Yang　Song　wrote　a　secret　letter　to　Cao　Cao　urging　him　to　attack　and　promising　treacherous　aid。
Cao　Cao　presently　attacked；　and　Zhang　Wei　came　out　to　meet　him。　But　his　opponent　was　the　mighty　Xu　Chu；　who　made　short　work　of　him。　The　beaten　soldiers　fled　back　into　the　city；　which　Zhang　Lu　then　decided　to　defend。
As　this　would　not　give　Yang　Song　the　chance　to　carry　out　his　treacherous　scheme；　he　persuaded　his　master；　saying；　〃If　we　stay　passive；　death　will　surely　e。　My　lord　should　go　out　and　fight　the　enemy　to　the　conclusion；　leaving　me　to　defend　the　city。〃
Zhang　Lu　took　this　advice；　although　it　was　opposed　by　Yan　Pu；　and　went　out。　But　before　his　van　got　near　the　enemy；　his　rear　ranks　began　to　desert；　and　Zhang　Lu　retreated。　Cao　Cao　pursued　him　to　the　city　walls；　where　Zhang　Lu　found　the　gates　shut　against　him。
〃Surrender；　O　Zhang　Lu！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
There　being　now　no　way　open；　Zhang　Lu　dismounted；　prostrated　himself；　and　gave　in。　Because　of　this　and　his　care　of　the　public　property；　Cao　Cao　treated　him　with　great　kindness　and　consoled　him　with　the　title　of　General　Who　Guards　the　South。　Yan　Pu　and　many　others　also　were　enrolled　among　the　nobles。　To　each　county　was　appointed　a　Military　mander；　in　addition　to　the　Governor。　All　the　soldiers　were　feasted　and　rewarded。
Then　Yang　Song；　who　had　sold　his　master；　came　and　sued　for　honors。　He　was　condemned　to　public　execution　and　exposure。

Selling　one's　lord　may　make　great　service；
But　the　gains　thereof　are　vanity；
No　glory　clings　to　his　house　but　a　shameful　death；
Wherefore　Yang　Song　is　an　object　of　contempt　forever。

When　the　East　River　Land　was　quite　subdued；　First　Secretary　Sima　Yi　said；　〃The　people　of　Shu　are　not　loyal　to　Liu　Bei　because　of　his　uprooting　the　late　ruler；　Liu　Zhang。　If　on　the　strength　of　your　present　success　you　press　forward；　Liu　Bei　will　bee　as　a　shattered　tile。　The　wise　person　takes　the　occasion　when　it　serves；　and　this　should　not　be　missed。〃
Cao　Cao　sighed；　〃There　is　no　end………as　human　want　has　no　limit：　Now　that　I　have　Hanzhong；　I　am　forced　into　taking　Yizhou。〃
Liu　Ye　supported　his　colleague；　saying；　〃Sima　Yi　spoke　well。　If　you　delay；　Zhuge　Liang　will　have　bee　top　minister；　while　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　the　other　bold　warriors　will　be　at　the　head　of　the　army。　If　the　people　of　Shu　once　settle　down；　and　the　points　of　vantage　are　held；　you　will　not　be　able　to　overe　them。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃My　soldiers　have　marched　far　and　suffered　much。　Beside　we　must　show　pity。〃
Wherefore　he　rested　his　army　for　a　time。
Meanwhile　the　populace　of　Yizhou；　having　heard　of　Cao　Cao's　success　in　the　East　River　Land；　concluded　that　the　West　River　Land　would　suffer　next；　and　fear　spread　among　them。　Whereupon　Liu　Bei　called　in　the　Directing　Instructor　and　asked　his　advice。
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃I　can　make　Cao　Cao　retreat　of　his　own　accord。〃
〃What　is　that　plan？〃
〃A　part　of　Cao　Cao's　army　is　camped　at　Hefei　because　of　the　fear　of　Sun　Quan。　If　now　we　restore　three　territories　of　Jingzhou………Changsha；　Jiangxia；　and　Guiyang………；　and　send　a　specious　person　to　talk；　we　can　make　Sun　Quan　attack　Hefei；　which　will　lead　to　Cao　Cao　going　southward　and　not　looking　to　the　west。〃
〃Who　is　a　fit　person　for　the　messenger？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
And　Yi　Ji　replied；　〃I　will　go。〃
Liu　Bei；　well…satisfied；　wrote　letters　and　prepared　gifts；　with　which　Yi　Ji　went；　calling　in　at　Jingzhou　City　on　the　way　to　tell　Guan　Yu。　Then　he　went　on　to　the　capital　city　of　Jianye　and　saw　Sun　Quan。
After　the　greetings；　Sun　Quan　asked；　〃On　what　business　do　you　e？〃
Yi　Ji　replied；　〃On　a　former　occasion　Zhuge　Jin　would　have　had　the　three　territories　of　Changsha；　Lingling；　and　Guiyang；　but　for　the　absence　of　the　Directing　Instructor；　which　prevented　the　actual　transfer。　Now　I　am　the　bearer　of　letters　giving　Changsha；　Guiyang；　and　Jiangxia　back　to　you。　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　wanted　to　restore　all　the　territories　of　Jingzhou；　including　those　of　Xiangyang；　Nanjun；　and　Lingling。　But　now　that　Cao　Cao　has　got　possession　of　East　River　Land；　there　is　no　place　for　General　Guan　Yu。　Hefei　is　weak；　and　we　hope　you　will　attack　it　so　as　to　make　Cao　Cao　withdraw　to　the　south　and　let　my　master　take　the　East　River　Land；　when　he　will　restore　the　whole　of　the　Jingzhou　Region。〃
〃Go　back　to　the　guest…house；　and　let　me　take　counsel　in　this　matter；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
As　soon　as　Yi　Ji　had　gone；　the　Marquis　of　Wu　turned　to　his　officers　and　asked　what　should　be　done。
Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃All　this　is　because　Liu　Bei　fears　that　Cao　Cao　will　attack　him。　However；　since　Cao　Cao　is　absent　in　Hanzhong；　it　would　be　well　to　seize　the　opportunity　and　attack　Hefei。〃
Sun　Quan　accepted　the　advice。　After　he　had　sent　the　messenger　away；　he　began　to　prepare　for　the　expedition。　He　left　Lu　Su　in　mand　over　the　three　territories　of　Changsha；　Jiangxia；　and　Guiyang。　Then　Sun　Quan　encamped　at　Lukou；　withdrew　Generals　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning；　and　sent　to　Yuhang　for　General　Ling　Tong。
In　a　few　days；　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning　returned。
Lu　Meng　suggested　a　plan；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　has　sent　Zhu　Guang；　Governor　of　Lujiang；　to　camp　at　the　city　of　Huancheng　and　plant　grain　for　the　supply　of　Hefei。　Let　us　first　take　Huancheng　first；　and　then　attack　Hefei。〃
〃This　scheme　is　just　after　my　own　heart；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
So　Sun　Quan　appointed　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning　as　Van　Leaders；　Jiang　Qin　and　Pan　Zhang　as　Rear　Guards；　he　himself　with　Zhou　Tai；　Chen　Wu；　Dong　Xi；　and　Xu　Sheng　manded　the　center。　But　the　manders　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang　were　not　called　to　take　part　in　this　expedition　as　they　were　guarding　certain　especial　places。
The　army　crossed　the　river　and　captured　Hezhou　on　the　way。　Governor　Zhu　Guang　sent　an　urgent　message　to　Hefei　for　help　and　set　himself　to　strengthen　his　fortifications　for　a　siege。　Sun　Quan　went　very　near　the　city　walls　of　Huancheng　to　observe　its　defense；　and　a　flight　of　arrows　greeted　him；　some　striking　his　great　official　parasol。　He　went　back　to　camp　and　asked　his　officers　to　offer　plans　of　attack。
Then　Dong　Xi　said；　〃Pile　up　great　hills　of　earth　and　attack　from　the　summits。〃
Said　Xu　Sheng；　〃Set　up　long　ladders　and　construct　platforms　whence　you　can　look　over　the　city　walls　and　thus　attack。〃
But　Lu　Meng　said；　〃All　such　plans　need　a　long　time　to　prepare；　and　in　the　meantime　the　soldiers　of　Cao　Cao　will　arrive　from　Hefei。　Do　not　try　such　long…drawn…out　schemes；　but　take　advantage　of　the　fine；　fresh　spirit　of　our　newly　arrived　troops　and　attack　impetuously。　Their　elan　will　carry　the　wall。　If　you　attack　tomorrow　at　dawn；　the　city　will　fall　before　noon。〃
So　the　early　meal　was　taken　at　the　fifth　watch；　and　the　army　went　to　the　attack。　The　defenders　sent　down　showers　of　arrows　and　stones。　Gan　Ning　took　an　iron　chain　in　his　hand　and　climbed　up　the　wall。　They　shot　at　him　with　bows　and　crossbows；　but　he　turned　aside　the　arrows　and　bolts；　and　he　threw　the　chain　round　Governor　Zhu　Guang　to　pull　him　down。　Lu　Meng　beat　the　drum　for　the　attack。　The　soldiers　made　a　rush　forward　to　climb　the　wall；　and　they　slew　Zhu　Guang。　His　officers　and　soldiers　gave　in；　and　so　Huancheng　fell　to　Sun　Quan。　It　was　still　a　long　time　to　noon。
In　the　meantime　Zhang　Liao　was　marching　to　the　aid　of　the　city。　Half…way　he　heard　that　the　city　had　fallen；　and　so　he　returned　to　Hefei。
Soon　after　the　conqueror's　entry　into　Huancheng；　Ling　Tong　came　there　with　his　army。　The　next　few　days　were　devoted　to　feasting　the　army。　Special　rewards　were　given　to　the　two　generals　who　had　done　such　good　work　at　the　capture；　and　at　the　banquet　to　the　officers；　Gan　Ning　was　seated　in　the　seat　of　honor；　which　his　colleague；　Lu　Meng；　readily　yielded　to　him　for　his　late　prowess。
But　as　the　cup　of　felicitation　was　passing　round；　Ling　Tong's　thoughts　turned　to　the　enmity　he　bore　Gan　Ning　for　having　slain　his　father；　and　the　praises　which　Lu　Meng　now　heaped　upon　Gan　Ning　filled　Ling　Tong's　heart　with　bitterness。　For　some　time　he　glared　savagely　at　Gan　Ning；　and　then　he　determined　on　revenge。
Drawing　his　sword；　Ling　Tong　suddenly　rose　to　his　feet　and　cried；　〃There　is　nothing　to　amuse　the　assembly。　I　will　give　them　a　display　of　swordsmanship！〃
Gan　Ning　quickly　saw　his　real　intention。　He　pushed　back　his　table　and　laid　hold　of　a　halberd　in　each　hand；　crying；　〃And　you　may　also　watch　an　adept　in　the　use　of　this　weapon！〃
Lu　Meng　saw　the　evil　meaning　of　both；　and　assuming　his　sword　and　shield；　he　hastily　stepped　between　the　two　warriors；　saying；　〃Neither　of　you　gentlemen　is　so　dexterous　as　I。〃
So　he　forced　the　two　batants　asunder；　while　someone　ran　to　tell　Sun　Quan。　The　Marquis　hastily　jumped　into　the　saddle　and　rode　to　the　banquet　hall。　At　sight　of　their　lord；　they　all　three　lowered　their　weapons。
〃I　have　bidden　you　two　to　forget　this　old　enmity；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃Why　do　you　revive　it　today？〃
Ling　Tong　prostrated　himself　in　tears。　Sun　Quan　exhorted　him　to　forget　his　quarrel；　and　once　again　there　was　peace。
The　next　day　the　army　set　out　for　Hefei。
Because　of　the　loss　of　Huancheng；　Zhang　Liao　grieved　greatly。　Cao　Cao　had　sent　by　the　hands　of　Xue　Ti　a　small　casket　sealed　with　his　own　seal　and　bearing　outside　the　words；　〃If　rebels　e；　open　this。〃
So　when　he　received　the　news　of　the　ing　of　a　powerful　army；　Zhang　Liao　opened　the　casket　and　read　the　letter　therein：
〃If　Sun　Quan　es　to　attack　Hefei；　the　two　Generals　Li　Dian　and　Zhang　Liao　are　to　go　out　to　oppose　him；　and　Yue　Jing　is　to　be　left　to　guard　the　walls。〃
Zhang　Liao　sent　the　letter　to　the　two　men　named　therein。
〃What　do　you　think　to　do？〃　said　Yue　Jing。
Zhang　Liao　replied；　〃Our　lord　is　away；　and　Wu　is　ing　to　attack　for　certain。　We　must　go　out　to　repel　them　and　exert　ourselves　to　the　utmost　to　inflict　defeat　upon　their　advanced　guard。　Thus　we　shall　appease　the　fears　of　the　populace；　and　then　we　can　hold　as　best　we　may。〃
But　Li　Dian　was　silent；　for　he　was　ever　unfriendly　to　Zhang　Liao。
Then　seeing　his　colleague　inclined　to　hold　off；　Yue　Jing　said；　〃I　am　for　remaining　on　the　defensive；　since　the　enemy　is　so　much　more　numerous　than　we。〃
〃Gentlemen；　it　seems　you　are　selfish　and　not　devoted　to　the　mon　weal；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃You　may　have　your　private　reasons　for　what　you　do；　but　I　intend　to　go　out　and　try　to　repel　the　enemy。　I　will　fight　them　to　the　death。〃
Thereupon　Zhang　Liao　bade　his　servants　saddle　his　steed。
At　this；　Li　Dian's　better　feelings　were　aroused；　and　he　rose；　saying；　〃How　can　I　be　careless　of　the　mon　weal　and　indulge　my　private　feelings？　I