三国演义英文版-第171部分

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〃My　lord；　is　it　that　you　do　not　understand　your　brother　even　after　all　these　years？　He　is　brave　and　steady；　yet　when　we　first　invaded　West　River　Land；　he　released　Yan　Yan；　which　was　not　what　a　mere　brave　would　have　done。　He　is　face　to　face　with　Zhang　He；　and　has　been　for　nearly　two　months；　and　day　after　day　he　drinks　and　rages　and　insults　his　enemy　openly。　He　treats　Zhang　He　with　most　perfect　contempt。　But　this　is　not　only　the　wine　cup；　it　is　a　deep　plan　to　get　the　better　of　Zhang　He。〃
〃This　may　be　so；〃　replied　Liu　Bei；　〃but　let　us　not　rely　upon　it　too　much。　Let　Wei　Yan　go　to　help　him。〃
Zhuge　Liang　sent　Wei　Yan　with　the　wine；　and　the　carts　set　out；　each　flying　a　yellow　flag　with　a　writing　in　large　characters：　Fine　Wine　for　the　Frontier　Army　。
When　Wei　Yan　reached　the　army；　he　handed　over　the　wine；　which　he　said　was　a　gift　from　the　Lord　of　Shu。　And　Zhang　Fei　received　it　with　due　respect。
Zhang　Fei　told　Wei　Yan　and　Lei　Tong　each　to　take　a　thousand　troops　and　move　out　on　the　two　wings；　ready　to　act　when　they　saw　a　red　flag　displayed。　And　then　he　had　the　wine　laid　out　and　called　up　some　soldiers　to　drink　with　a　great　display　of　flags　and　a　rolling　of　drums。
The　spies　reported　all　these　doings　on　the　hill…top；　and　Zhang　He　came　out　to　look　for　himself。　There　he　saw　his　opponent　drinking；　and　two　of　the　soldiers　were　boxing　before　Zhang　Fei　for　his　amusement。
〃He　despises　me　too　much；〃　said　Zhang　He。
And　Zhang　He　gave　orders　to　prepare　for　a　night　attack　on　the　enemy　camp。　His　own　troops　in　Camp　Dangqu　should　do　the　raiding；　and　those　from　Camp　Mengtou　and　Camp　Dangshi　were　to　support　them。
There　was　little　moon　that　night；　and　Zhang　He　took　advantage　of　the　obscurity　to　steal　down　the　side　of　the　hill。　He　got　quite　close　to　the　enemy　camp　and　stood　for　a　time　looking　at　Zhang　Fei　sitting　amid　a　blaze　of　lamps　and　drinking。　Suddenly　Zhang　He　dashed　forward　with　a　yell；　and　at　the　same　moment　his　drums　on　the　hill…top　rolled　out　their　defiance。　Zhang　Fei　never　stirred。　Zhang　He　rushed　at　him　and　delivered　a　mighty　thrust　with　his　spear。　Zhang　Fei　toppled　over………it　was　a　Zhang　Fei　of　straw。　Zhang　He　checked　and　turned　his　steed。　At　that　moment　he　heard　a　string　of　detonations；　and　a　warrior　appeared　before　him　barring　his　way。　It　was　the　real　Zhang　Fei；　as　the　round　head　and　thundering　voice　speedily　made　manifest。
With　the　serpent　halberd　set；　Zhang　Fei　rode　toward　Zhang　He。　The　two　warriors　fought　many　bouts　under　the　gleaming　lights。　No　help　came　to　Zhang　He。　In　vain　he　yearned　for　the　assistance；　which　the　two　camps　were　to　bring　him。　He　did　not　know　that　his　reinforcements　had　been　driven　back　by　Wei　Yan　and　Lei　Tong；　and　that　the　two　camps；　Mengtou　and　Dangshi；　were　now　in　possession　of　his　enemies。　As　the　help　did　not　e；　Zhang　He　was　powerless；　and；　to　add　to　his　disfiture；　the　glare　of　fire　out　in　the　moutains　of　Dangqu　told　him　of　the　seizure　of　his　third　camp　by　Zhang　Fei's　rear　force。　Nothing　could　be　done；　and　Zhang　He　cut　an　alley；　forced　out　of　the　press；　and　fled　to　Wakou　Pass。　The　victory　was　all　to　Zhang　Fei。
The　news　of　the　success　delighted　Liu　Bei；　and　he　knew　then　that　Zhang　Fei's　drinking　had　been　part　of　a　stratagem　to　entice　his　enemy　into　the　open　and　defeat　them。
Zhang　He　reached　Wakou　Pass；　but　with　the　loss　of　two…thirds　of　his　army　of　thirty　thousand　troops。　He　stood　on　defense　and　sent　urgent　messages　to　Cao　Hong　to　e　to　his　rescue。
Cao　Hong　angrily　replied；　〃He　disobeyed　my　orders　and　marched。　He　has　lost　an　important　point　and　now　he　sends　to　me　for　help！〃
While　refusing　aid；　Cao　Hong　sent　to　urge　his　colleague　to　go　out　and　fight。　But　Zhang　He　too　greatly　feared。
At　length　Zhang　He　decided　upon　a　plan　of　action。　He　sent　out　two　parties　into　ambush　and　said　to　them；　〃I　will　pretend　defeat　and　fly。　They　will　follow；　and　you　can　cut　off　their　retreat。〃
When　he　did　march　out；　he　met　Lei　Tong。　The　two　engaged　in　battle；　and　Zhang　He　presently　ran　away。　Lei　Tong　pursued　and　fell　into　the　ambush。　Then　Zhang　He　returned　and　slew　Lei　Tong。　His　troops　went　back　and　told　Zhang　Fei；　who　came　up　to　provoke　another　fight。　Zhang　He　again　tried　his　stratagem；　but　Zhang　Fei　did　not　pursue。　Again　and　again　the　ruse　was　tried；　but　Zhang　Fei　knew　it　was　only　a　ruse　and　simply　retired　to　his　own　camp。
He　said　to　Wei　Yan；　〃Zhang　He　has　passed　the　death　of　Lei　Tong　by　leading　him　into　an　ambush；　and　he　wants　to　inveigle　me　into　another。　What　say　you　to　meeting　trick　with　trick？〃
〃But　how？〃　said　Wei　Yan。
〃Tomorrow　I　will　lead　the　army　forward；　you　following　me　with　some　reliable　soldiers。　When　his　army　e　out　from　their　ambush；　you　can　smite　them；　sending　half　your　men　against　each　party。　We　will　secretly　fill　the　by…roads　with　loads　of　bustibles；　entice　the　enemy　among　them　and　start　a　fire。　In　the　confusion；　I　shall　try　to　capture　Zhang　He。　So　will　we　avenge　our　rade's　death。〃
So　Zhang　Fei　went　out；　and　Zhang　He's　troops　came　and　began　to　fight。　After　a　half　score　bouts；　Zhang　He　ran　away；　and　this　time　Zhang　Fei　pursued。　Zhang　He；　now　fleeing；　now　stopping　to　exchange　a　blow　or　two；　led　Zhang　Fei　through　the　hills　to　a　valley。　Here；　suddenly　changing　front　to　rear　and　rear　to　front；　Zhang　He　halted；　made　a　camp；　and　offered　battle。
It　was　now　the　time　when　Zhang　He　expected　his　hidden　troops　to　appear　and　surround　Zhang　Fei。　But　none　appeared。　He　knew　not　that　his　ambush　had　been　broken　up　by　Wei　Yan's　army　and　driven　into　the　valley　where　the　road　was　filled　with　cartloads　of　bustibles；　and　that　the　valley　even　then　was　all　aflame。
Then　Zhang　Fei　came　to　the　attack；　and　the　rout　was　plete。　Zhang　He；　fighting　desperately；　got　through　to　the　Wakou　Pass　and　there　mustered　the　remnant　of　his　force。　He　strengthened　the　position　and　remained　behind　his　ramparts。
Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan　then　tried　to　take　the　Pass；　but　day　after　day　they　failed。　Zhang　Fei；　seeing　no　hope　of　success；　retired　seven　miles　and　bivouacked。　From　this　point　he　sent　out　scouts　under　Wei　Yan　to　explore　the　country。　While　going　along；　they　observed　some　burden…bearers；　men　and　women；　going　up　a　very　retired　path；　pulling　down　the　creepers；　and　pushing　aside　the　grasses。
〃That　is　the　way　to　take　Wakou　Pass；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　pointing　with　his　whip　to　the　wayfarers。
He　ordered　his　soldiers　not　to　scare　the　people；　but　to　call　a　few　gently　and　bring　them　to　him。　They　soon　had　several　standing　before　their　leader；　who　spoke　to　them　kindly　and　put　them　at　ease。
〃Whence　e　you？〃　asked　Zhang　Fei。
〃We　belong　to　Hanzhong　and　are　going　home。　We　heard　that　you　were　out　fighting　and　the　high　road　to　Langzhong　was　blockaded；　and　so　we　have　e　across　the　Mist　Torrent　and　Zitong　Mountains　and　down　River　Guijin。　We　are　going　to　our　homes　in　Hanzhong。〃
〃Can　one　reach　Wakou　Pass　by　this　road？　And　how　far　is　it？〃
The　country　people　replied；　〃A　small　road　leads　past　to　the　rear　of　the　Pass　from　Zitong　Mountains。〃
For　this　piece　of　information　Zhang　Fei　rewarded　them　by　taking　them　into　his　camp　and　giving　them　a　good　meal。　Then　he　sent　off　Wei　Yan　to　make　a　frontal　attack　on　the　Pass；　while　he　himself　with　five　hundred　light　horse　attacked　it　from　the　rear　by　way　of　Mount　Zitong。
Zhang　He　was　grieved　and　disappointed　that　Cao　Hong　sent　no　help；　and　the　news　of　Wei　Yan's　attack　only　added　to　his　sorrow。　But　he　girded　on　his　armor　and　was　about　to　ride　out　when　they　told　him　that　fires　had　started　at　half　a　dozen　places　behind　the　Pass。　They　most　likely　indicated　soldiers。　However；　he　went　out　to　meet　them；　and；　to　his　horror；　when　the　flags　opened　out；　his　eyes　fell　on　the　figure　of　Zhang　Fei。　Away　he　ran　along　a　by…road。
But　his　steed　was　not　fast；　and　as　Zhang　Fei　pressed　him　close；　Zhang　He　dismounted　and　ran　up　the　mountain　side。　So　Zhang　He　escaped。　He　had；　however；　some　ten　followers；　and　it　was　a　small　and　dejected　party　that　presently　found　its　way　into　Nanzheng。　He　saw　Cao　Hong；　and　Cao　Hong　was　very　angry　at　his　plight。
〃I　told　you　not　to　go；　but　you　were　willful。　And　you　gave　in　your　written　pledge。　You　have　lost　all　your　soldiers；　yet　you　do　not　mit　suicide。　What　will　you　do　next？〃
Cao　Hong　ordered　the　lictors　to　put　Zhang　He　to　death。　But　Marching　General　Guo　Huai；　interceded。
〃An　army　is　easily　raised；　a　leader　is　hard　to　find。　Though　Zhang　He　is　guilty；　he　is　a　great　favorite　with　our　prince。　I　think　you　should　spare　him。　Rather　give　him　mand　of　another　army　and　send　him　to　take　Jiameng　Pass　and　so　hold　up　the　soldiers　at　all　the　stations。　Hanzhong　will　be　tranquil　of　its　own　accord。　If　he　fails　a　second　time；　you　can　punish　him　for　both　faults。〃
Cao　Hong　was　satisfied　to　do　this；　and　instead　of　dealing　with　his　fault；　he　gave　Zhang　He　five　thousand　troops　and　told　him　to　take　Jiameng　Pass。
The　manders　of　the　Pass　were　Meng　Da　and　Huo　Jun。　They　were　at　variance………Meng　Da　desiring　to　go　out　to　meet　Zhang　He；　but　Huo　Jun　being　in　favor　of　defense。　Meng　Da　being　set　on　having　his　way　went　out；　gave　battle；　and　was　defeated。　Huo　Jun　reported　this　to　the　capital；　where　Liu　Bei　at　once　called　in　the　Directing　Instructor　to　ask　advice。　Zhuge　Liang　assembled　all　the　chief　generals　into　the　hall。
〃Jiameng　Pass　is　in　danger。　We　must　get　Zhang　Fei　from　Langzhong　to　drive　off　Zhang　He；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Fa　Zheng　replied；　〃Zhang　Fei　is　encamped　at　Wakou　Pass；　and　Langzhong　is　no　less　important　than　Jiameng　Pass。　I　do　not　think　he　should　be　recalled。　Choose　one　among　the　generals　to　go　and　defeat　Zhang　He。〃
Zhuge　Liang　laughed；　〃Zhang　He　is　renowned　in　Wei。　No　ordinary　leader　will　avail。　Zhang　Fei　is　the　only　man　to　send；　the　only　one　equal　to　the　task。〃
Then　among　the　generals　one　started　up　crying　angrily；　〃Instructor；　why　do　you　thus　despise　us？　I　will　use　what　little　skill　I　have　in　slaying　our　enemy　and　will　lay　his　head　at　the　foot　of　our　standard。〃
The　speaker　was　Veteran　General　Huang　Zhong；　and　all　eyes　centered　on　him。
〃Friend　Huang　Zhong；　you　are　bold　enough；　but　what　about　your　age？　I　fear　you　are　no　match　for　Zhang　He。〃
Huang　Zhong's　white　beard　bristled；　and　he　said；　〃I　know　I　am　old。　But　these　two　arms　can　still　pull　the　four…hundred…fifty…pound　bow；　and　the　vigor　of　my　body　is　not　yet　departed。　Am　I　not　strong　enough　to　meet　such　a　poor　thing　as　Zhang　He？〃
〃General；　you　are　nearly　seventy。　Can　you　still　hold　you　are　not　aged？〃
Huang　Zhong　tore　down　the　hall。　Seizing　one　of　the　great　swords　off　the　rack；　he　whirled　it　as　if　it　flew。　And　the　stiffest　bow　that　hung　on　the　wall；　he　pulled　till　it　snapped。
〃Well；　if　you　will　go；　who　will　second　you？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃I　would　prefer　Veteran　General　Yan　Yan。　And　if　there　is　the　least　anxiety；　well；　here　is　this　hoary　head。〃
Liu　Bei　was　pleased　to　let　these　two　go　to　fight　Zhang　He。　However；　Zhao　Yun　put　in　a　protest。
〃Zhang　He　has　already　got　through　Jiameng　Pass；　so　that　the　fighting　will　be　no　child's　play；　and　the　loss　of　that　Pass　endangers　the　whole　of　Yizhou。　It　is　no　task　to　set　to　a　couple　of　old　men。〃
Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃You　regard　the　two　as　too　old　to　succeed；　but　I　think　the　attainment　of　Hanzhong　depends　upon　these　two。〃
Zhao　Yun　and　many　others　sniggered　as　they　went　from　the　hall。　They　did　not　agree　with　Zhuge　Liang。
In　due　course　the　two　Veteran　Generals　arrived　at　the　Pass。
At　sight　of　them；　Meng　Da　and　Huo　Jun；　the　defenders　of　the　Pass；　laughed　in　their　hearts；　thi