三国演义英文版-第173部分

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　Nanzheng。　If　we　could　get　Dingjun　Mountain；　we　could　be　quite　easy　about　the　whole　region　of　Hanzhong。　Think　you　that　you　are　equal　to　taking　Dingjun　Mountain？〃
To　this　harangue　of　Liu　Bei；　the　veteran　nobly　answered　that　he　was　willing　to　try　and　was　ready　to　start　when　they　would。
Said　Zhuge　Liang　hastily；　〃Do　not　be　hasty。　You　are　brave　enough；　General；　but　Xiahou　Yuan　is　a　man　of　different　stamp　from　Zhang　He。　Xiahou　Yuan　is　a　real　strategist　and　tactician；　so　much　so　that　Cao　Cao　relies　upon　him　as　his　defense　against　Xiliang。　It　was　he　who　was　set　to　defend　Changan　when　threatened　by　Ma　Chao。　Now　he　is　in　Hanzhong；　and　Cao　Cao　puts　his　whole　confidence　in　him　and　his　skill　as　a　leader。　You　have　overe　Zhang　He；　but　it　is　not　certain　you　will　conquer　this　man。　I　think　I　must　send　down　to　Jingzhou　for　Guan　Yu　for　this　task。〃

＇e＇　Lian　Po　was　the　mander…in…chief　of　Zhao；　who　made　Zhao　a　powerful　state。　Liu　Xiangru；　the　Prime　Minister；　was　his　good　friend。　。。。。。
Huang　Zhong　hotly　replied；　〃Old　Lian　Po*　was　eighty　years　old　and　yet　he　ate　a　bushel　of　rice　and　ten　pounds　of　flesh；　so　that　his　vigor　frightened　the　nobles　and　not　one　dared　encroach　upon　the　borders　of　the　state　of　Zhao。　I　am　not　yet　seventy。　You　call　me　old；　O　Instructor；　then　I　will　not　take　any　helper；　but　go　out　simply　with　my　own　three　thousand　troops；　and　we　will　lay　Xiahou　Yuan's　head　at　your　feet。〃
Zhuge　Liang　refused　to　allow　him　to　go；　Huang　Zhong　insisted。　At　last　Zhuge　Liang　consented；　but　said　he　would　send　an　overseer。

They　put　upon　his　mettle　the　man　who　was　to　go；
Youth's　vigor　may　be　lesser　worth　than　age's　powers；　we　know。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　who　the　overseer　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　71　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　71
　Chapter　71
At　Opposite　Hill；　Huang　Zhong　Scores　A　Success；
On　The　River　Han；　Zhao　Yun　Conquers　A　Host。
〃If　you　are　really　determined　to　undertake　this　expedition；　I　shall　send　Fa　Zheng　with　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　veteran　leader。　〃You　will　have　to　discuss　everything　with　him。　I　shall　also　dispatch　supports　and　reinforcements。〃
Huang　Zhong　agreed；　and　the　expedition　set　out。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　explained　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　purposely　tried　to　spur　on　the　old　general　that　he　will　really　exert　himself；　else　he　fears　he　will　not　do　much。　But　he　will　need　reinforcement。〃
After　this；　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　Zhao　Yun　to　march　after　the　first　army　and　help；　if　help　was　needed。　So　long　as　the　old　man　was　victorious；　Zhao　Yun　was　to　do　nothing；　if　he　was　in　difficulties；　then　Zhao　Yun　was　to　rescue。
Also；　three　thousand　troops　under　Liu　Feng　and　Meng　Da　were　sent　out　among　the　hills　to　take　position　at　strategic　points　and　set　up　many　banners　and　make　a　brave　show　in　order　to　spread　the　impression　of　huge　forces；　and　so　frighten　and　perplex　the　enemy。　In　addition；　Zhuge　Liang　sent　to　Xiabian　Pass　to　tell　Ma　Chao　what　part　to　play　in　the　campaign。　Yan　Yan　was　to　hold　Langzhong　and　Baxi　in　place　of　Zhang　Fei　and　Wei　Yan；　who　also　went　in　expedition　in　Hanzhong。
The　refugees；　Zhang　He　and　Xiahou　Shang；　reached　Xiahou　Yuan's　camp　and　told　their　doleful　tale；　〃Tiandang　Mountain　has　been　captured；　and　Xiahou　De　and　Han　Hao　have　died　with　the　loss。　Liu　Bei　is　about　to　invade　Hanzhong。　Send　a　swift　messenger　to　inform　the　Prince　of　Wei　and　ask　for　help。〃
The　news　was　sent　to　Cao　Hong；　who　bore　it　quickly　to　Capital　Xuchang。
Cao　Cao　lost　no　time　in　calling　a　council。
Then　High　Minister　Liu　Ye　said；　〃The　loss　of　Hanzhong　would　shake　the　whole　Middle　Land。　You；　O　Prince；　must　not　shrink　from　toil　and　hardship；　but　must　yourself　go　to　lead　the　army。〃
〃This　state　of　things　es　of　my　not　heeding　your　words　before；　gentle　Sir；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　then　repentant。
However；　Cao　Cao　hastily　prepared　and　issued　an　edict　to　raise　an　army　of　four　hundred　thousand　troops　which　he　would　lead。
The　army　was　ready　in　the　seventh　month；　the　early　autumn；　in　the　twenty…third　year　（AD　218）；　and　marched　in　three　divisions。　The　leading　division　was　under　Xiahou　Dun；　Cao　Cao　manded　the　center；　and　Cao　Xiu　was　the　rear　guard。
Cao　Cao　rode　a　white　horse；　beautifully　caparisoned。　His　guards　were　clad　in　embroidered　silk。　They　carried　the　huge　red　parasol　woven　of　silk　and　gold　threads。　Beside　him　in　two　lines　were　the　symbols　of　kingly　dignity；　the　golden　melons；　silver　axes；　stirrups；　clubs；　spears；　and　lances；　banderoles　embroidered　with　the　sun　and　moon；　dragon　and　phoenix；　all　were　borne　aloft。　His　imperial　escort　of　twenty…five　thousand　stout　warriors　led　by　bold　officers；　marched　in　five　columns　of　five　thousand　each；　under　banners　of　the　five　colors；　blue；　yellow；　red；　white；　and　black。　The　five　panies　made　a　brave　show　as　they　marched；　each　column　under　its　own　flag　with　soldiers　in　armors　and　horses　in　caparisons　all　of　one　color　and　all　glittering　in　the　sun。
As　they　debouched　through　Tong　Pass；　Cao　Cao　noticed　in　the　distance　a　thick　wood；　very　luxuriant；　and　asked　those　near　him　what　it　was　called。
〃This　place　is　the　Indigo　Field；〃　they　replied。　〃And　in　that　wood　is　the　estate　of　the　late　Minister　Cai　Yong。　His　daughter；　Cai　Yan；　and　her　present　husband；　Dong　Si；　live　there。〃

＇e＇　There　is　a　drawing　by　Zhang　Yu　titled　〃Cai　Yan　Returns　to　Her　Homeland〃。　。。。。。
Now　Cao　Cao　and　Cai　Yong　had　been　excellent　friends　at　one　time。　Cai　Yong's　daughter　had　been　first　married　to　Wei　Zhongdao。　Then　she　was　abducted　by　the　frontier　tribes　and　taken　away　to　the　north；　where　she　had　borne　two　sons。　She　had　posed　a　ballad　called　〃Eighteen　Stanzas　for　the　Mongol　Flageolet；〃　which　was　widespread　to　the　empire。　Cao　Cao　had　been　moved　by　pity　for　her　sorrows　and　sent　a　messenger　with　a　thousand　ounces　of　gold　to　ransom　her。　The　Prince　of　the　frontier　Xiongnu　State；　Ce　Xian　the　Khan；　overawed　by　Cao　Cao's　strength；　had　restored　her　to　Cai　Yong。　Then　Cao　Cao　gave　her　in　marriage　to　Dong　Si。*
Ordering　his　escort　to　march　on；　Cao　Cao　went　up　to　the　gate　with　only　a　few　attendants；　dismounted；　and　inquired　after　the　lady　of　the　house。　At　this　time　Dong　Si　was　absent　at　his　post；　and　the　lady　was　alone。　As　soon　as　she　heard　who　her　visitor　was；　she　hastened　to　wele　him　and　led　him　into　the　reception　room。　When　Cao　Cao　was　seated　and　she　had　performed　the　proper　salutations；　she　stood　respectfully　at　his　side。　Glancing　round　the　room；　Cao　Cao　saw　a　rubbing　of　a　tablet　hanging　on　the　wall。　So　he　got　up　to　read　it；　and　asked　his　hostess　about　it。
〃It　is　a　tablet　of　Cao　E；　or　the　fair　Lady　Cao。　In　the　time　of　the　Emperor　He　（AD　100）；　in　the　Xiongnu　State　there　was　a　certain　magician　named　Cao　Xu；　who　could　dance　and　sing　like　the　very　Spirit　of　Music。　On　the　fifth　of　the　fifth　month　he　was　out　in　a　boat；　and　being　intoxicated；　fell　overboard　and　was　drowned。　He　had　a　daughter；　Cao　E；　then　fourteen　years　of　age。　She　was　greatly　distressed　and　sought　the　body　of　her　father　for　seven　days　and　nights；　weeping　all　the　while。　Then　she　threw　herself　into　the　waves；　and　five　days　later　she　floated　to　the　surface　with　her　father's　body　in　her　arms。　The　villagers　buried　them　on　the　bank；　and　the　magistrate　reported　the　occurrence　to　the　Emperor　as　a　worthy　instance　of　daughterly　affection　and　remarkable　piety。
〃A　later　magistrate　had　the　story　inscribed　by　Handan　Chun　in　memory　of　the　event。　At　that　time　Handan　Chun　was　only　thirteen；　but　the　position　of　the　inscription　was　so　perfect　that　neither　jot　nor　tittle　could　be　added；　and　yet　he　had　written　it　impromptu　without　revision。　The　stone　was　set　up　beside　the　grave；　and　both　inscription　and　story　were　the　admiration　of　all　the　people　of　that　day。　My　father　went　to　see　it。　It　was　evening；　but　in　the　obscurity　he　felt　out　the　inscription　with　his　fingers。　He　got　hold　of　a　pencil　and　wrote　eight　large　characters　on　the　reverse　of　the　stone　and；　later；　some　person　recutting　the　stone　engraved　these　eight　words　as　well。〃
Cao　Cao　then　read　the　eight　words；　they　formed　an　enigma。　Literally　they　read；　〃yellow　silk；　young　wife；　a　daughter's　child；　pestle　and　mortar。〃
〃Can　you　explain？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　his　hostess。
〃No；　although　it　is　a　writing　of　my　father's；　thy　handmaid　cannot　interpret　it；〃　she　replied。
Turning　to　the　strategists　of　his　staff；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Can　anyone　of　you　explain　it？〃
But　no　one　made　any　reply。　Suddenly；　they　heard　one　voice；　〃I　have　grasped　the　meaning　of　it。〃
The　man　who　said　he　had　fathomed　the　meaning　was　First　Secretary　Yang　Xiu。
〃Do　not　tell　me　yet。　Let　me　think　it　out；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Soon　after　they　took　leave　of　the　lady；　went　out　of　the　farm；　and　rode　on。　About　one　mile　from　the　farm；　the　meaning　suddenly　dawned　upon　Cao　Cao。
He　laughingly　turned　to　Yang　Xiu；　saying；　〃Now；　you　may　try。〃
〃This　is　the　solution　of　the　enigma；〃　said　Yang　Xiu。　〃'Yellow　silk'　is　silk　threads　of　natural　color；　and　the　character　for　'silk'　placed　beside　that　for　'color'　forms　a　word　meaning　'finally；　decidedly'。　The　'young　wife'　is　a　'little　female'；　and　the　character　for　'female'　with　'little'；　or　'few'；　placed　beside　it　forms　a　word　meaning　'admirable；　fine'。　The　'daughter's　child'　is　'daughter'　and　'child'；　which　side　by　side　make　the　word　'good'。　And　a　'pestle　and　mortar'　suggest　pounding　together　the　five　bitter　herbs　in　a　receptacle：　The　character　for　'receptacle'　and　'bitter'　form　a　word　meaning　'to　tell'。　So　the　four　words　are　'Decidedly　fine　and　well　told。'〃
Cao　Cao　was　astonished　at　Yang　Xiu's　cleverness；　and　said；　〃Just　what　I　made　it。〃
Those　around　greatly　wondered　at　Yang　Xiu's　ingenuity　and　knowledge。
In　less　than　a　day　they　reached　Nanzheng；　where　Cao　Hong　weled　them。　He　told　the　tale　of　Zhang　He's　misfortunes。
〃To　suffer　defeat　is　no　crime；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃That　and　victory　are　things　that　happen　constantly　in　war。〃
〃Liu　Bei　has　sent　Huang　Zhong　to　take　Dingjun　Mountain；〃　said　Cao　Hong。　〃Xiahou　Yuan；　hearing　you　were　ing；　O　Prince；　has　been　defending　the　position　and　not　going　out　to　give　battle。〃
〃But　standing　always　on　the　defensive　is　showing　weakness；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Thereupon　he　bade　a　man　carry　an　authority　ensign　to　the　Mountain　mander　and　so　order　him　to　attack　the　enemy。
〃Xiahou　Yuan　is　very　stern　and　inflexible；　and　he　may　be　carried　too　far　and　fall　victim　to　some　vile　ruse；〃　said　Liu　Ye。
Wherefore　the　Prince　wrote　a　letter　to　him　to　acpany　the　authority　ensign。　And　when　the　messenger　arrived　and　the　letter　was　opened；　it　read：
〃Every　leader　must　exercise　a　bination　of　inflexibility　and　yielding。　Boldness　is　not　the　only　thing　that　counts；　if　he　makes　it　so；　then　is　he　a　mere　creature　to　fight。　Now　I　am　camped　at　Nanzheng　ready　to　watch　the　deeds　of　your　admirable　prowess　and　capacity；　and　all　I　have　to　say　is；　'Do　not　disgrace　your　previous　reputation。'〃
The　letter　pleased　the　mander　mightily。　Having　sent　away　the　bearer；　Xiahou　Yuan　called　in　Zhang　He　to　consult。
〃The　Prince　has　a　great　army　at　Nanzheng　ready　to　destroy　Liu　Bei。　We　have　been　on　the　defense　here　long　enough；　and　it　is　time　we　rendered　some　solid　service。　Tomorrow　I　am　going　out　to　battle；　and　hope　to　capture　Huang　Zhong。〃
〃Your　opponent　bines　ready　resource　with　boldness　and　prevision；〃　said　Zhang　He。　〃Beside；　he　has　Fa　Zheng　to　aid　him；　and　you　must　be　cautious；　for　the　country　is　very　difficult　and　dangerous。　You　had　better　keep　on　the　defensive。〃
〃How　shall　we　be　able　to　look　our　pri