三国演义英文版-第30部分

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on　to　plundering　the　surrounding　country。　They　wanted　him　to　go　against　it　without　loss　of　time。
〃With　our　soldiers　fresh　from　victory；　the　city　will　fall　at　a　tap　of　the　drum；〃　said　they。
So　Cao　Cao　marched　the　army　straight　to　the　city。　An　attack　was　quite　unexpected　but　the　two　leaders；　Xue　Lan　and　Li　Fang；　hurried　out　their　few　soldiers　to　fight。　Xu　Chu；　the　latest　recruit；　said　he　wished　to　capture　these　two　and　he　would　make　of　them　an　introductory　gift。
The　task　was　given　him　and　he　rode　forth。　Li　Fang　with　his　halberd　advanced　to　meet　Xu　Chu。　The　bat　was　brief　as　Li　Fang　fell　in　the　second　bout。　His　colleague　Xue　Lan　retired　with　his　troops。　But　he　found　the　drawbridge　had　been　seized　by　Li　Dian；　so　that　he　could　not　get　shelter　within　the　city。　Xue　Lan　led　his　men　toward　Juye。　But　Lu　Qian　pursued　and　killed　him　with　an　arrow。　His　soldiers　scattered　to　the　four　winds。　And　thus　Yanzhou　was　recaptured。
Next　Cheng　Yu　proposed　an　expedition　to　take　Puyang。　Cao　Cao　marched　his　army　out　in　perfect　order。　The　van　leaders　were　Dian　Wei　and　Xu　Chu；　Xiahou　Dun　and　Xiahou　Yuan　led　the　left　wing；　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing　led　the　right　wing；　Yu　Jin　and　Lu　Qian　guarded　the　rear。　Cao　Cao　himself　manded　the　center。
When　they　approached　Puyang；　Lu　Bu　wished　to　go　out　in　person　and　alone　to　attack；　but　his　adviser　Chen　Gong　protested；　saying；　〃General；　you　should　not　go　out　until　the　arrival　of　the　other　officers。〃
〃Whom　do　I　fear？〃　said　Lu　Bu。
So　he　threw　caution　to　the　winds　and　went　out　of　the　city。　He　met　his　foes　and　he　began　to　revile　them。　The　redoubtable　Xu　Chu　went　to　fight　with　him；　but　after　twenty　bouts　neither　batant　was　any　the　worse。
〃He　is　not　the　sort　that　one　man　can　overe；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
And　he　sent　Dian　Wei　to　attack　Lu　Bu　from　another　direction。　Lu　Bu　stood　the　double　onslaught。　Soon　after　the　flank　manders　joined　in………Xiahou　Dun　and　Xiahou　Yuan　attacking　the　left；　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing　surrounding　the　right。　Lu　Bu　had　six　opponents。　These　proved　really　too　many　for　him　so　he　turned　his　horse　and　rode　back　to　the　city。
But　when　the　members　of　the　Tian　family　saw　him　ing　back　beaten；　they　raised　the　drawbridge。
Lu　Bu　shouted；　〃Open　the　gates！　Let　me　in！〃
But　the　Tians　said；　〃We　have　gone　over　to　Cao　Cao！〃
This　was　hard　to　hear　and　the　beaten　man　abused　them　roundly　before　he　left。　Chen　Gong　got　away　through　the　east　gate　taking　with　him　the　general's　family。
Thus　Puyang　came　into　Cao　Cao's　hands；　and　for　their　present　services　the　Tian　family　were　pardoned　their　previous　fault。
However；　Liu　Ye　said；　〃Lu　Bu　is　a　savage　beast。　If　let　alive；　he　will　be　a　great　danger。　Hunt　him　down！〃
Liu　Ye　was　ordered　to　keep　Puyang。　Wherefore　Cao　Cao　determined　to　follow　Lu　Bu　to　Dingtao　whither　he　had　gone　for　refuge。
Lu　Bu；　Zhang　Miao；　and　Zhang　Chao　were　assembled　in　the　city。　Gao　Shun　and　other　generals　were　out　foraging。　Cao　Cao　army　arrived　but　did　not　attack　for　many　days；　and　presently　he　withdrew　fifteen　miles　and　made　a　stockade。　It　was　the　time　of　harvest；　and　he　set　his　soldiers　to　cut　the　wheat　for　food。　The　spies　reported　this　to　Lu　Bu　who　came　over　to　see。　But　when　he　saw　that　Cao　Cao's　stockade　lay　near　a　thick　wood；　he　feared　an　ambush　and　retired。　Cao　Cao　heard　that　Lu　Bu　had　e　and　gone　and　guessed　the　reason。
〃He　fears　an　ambush　in　the　wood；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃We　will　set　up　flags　there　and　deceive　him。　There　is　a　long　embankment　near　the　camp　but　behind　it　there　is　no　water。　There　we　will　lay　an　ambush　to　fall　upon　Lu　Bu　when　he　es　to　burn　the　wood。〃
So　Cao　Cao　hid　all　his　soldiers　behind　the　embankment　except　half　a　hundred　drummers；　and　he　got　together　many　peasants　to　loiter　within　the　stockade　as　though　it　was　not　empty。
Lu　Bu　rode　back　and　told　Chen　Gong　what　he　had　seen。
〃This　Cao　Cao　is　very　crafty　and　full　of　wiles；〃　said　the　adviser。　〃Do　not　act。〃
〃I　will　use　fire　this　time　and　burn　out　his　ambush；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Next　morning　Lu　Bu　rode　out；　and　there　he　saw　flags　flying　everywhere　in　the　wood。　He　ordered　his　troops　forward　to　set　fire　on　all　sides。　But　to　his　surprise　no　one　rushed　out　to　make　for　the　stockade。　Still　he　heard　the　beating　of　drums　and　doubt　filled　his　mind。　Suddenly　he　saw　a　party　of　soldiers　move　out　from　the　shelter　of　the　stockade。　He　galloped　over　to　see　what　it　meant。
Then　the　signal…bombs　exploded；　out　rushed　the　troops　and　all　their　leaders　dashed　forward。　Xiahou　Dun；　Xiahou　Yuan；　Xu　Chu；　Dian　Wei；　Li　Dian；　and　Yue　Jing　all　attacked　at　once。　Lu　Bu　was　at　a　loss　and　fled　into　the　open　country。　One　of　his　generals；　Cheng　Lian；　was　killed　by　an　arrow　of　Yue　Jing。　Two　thirds　of　his　troops　were　lost；　and　the　beaten　remainder　went　to　tell　Chen　Gong　what　had　e　to　pass。
〃We　had　better　leave；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃An　empty　city　cannot　be　held。〃
So　Chen　Gong　and　Gao　Shun；　taking　their　chief's　family　with　them；　abandoned　Dingtao。　When　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　got　into　the　city；　they　met　with　no　resistance。　Zhang　Chao　mitted　suicide　by　burning　himself。　Zhang　Miao　fled　to　Yuan　Shu。
Thus　the　whole　northeast　fell　under　the　power　of　Cao　Cao。　He　immediately　tranquilized　the　people　and　rebuilt　the　cities　and　their　defenses。
Lu　Bu　in　his　retreat　fell　in　with　his　generals；　and　Chen　Gong　also　rejoined　him；　so　that　he　was　by　no　means　broken。
〃I　have　but　small　army；〃　said　Lu　Bu；　〃but　still　enough　to　break　Cao　Cao。〃
And　so　he　retook　the　backward　road。　Indeed：

Thus　does　fortune　alternate；　victory；　defeat；
The　happy　conqueror　today；　tomorrow；　must　retreat？

What　was　the　fate　of　Lu　Bu　will　appear　later。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　13　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　13
　Chapter　13
Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　Duel　In　Changan；
The　Emperor　Establishes　Anyi　The　New　Capital。
The　last　chapter　told　of　the　defeat　of　Lu　Bu；　and　his　gathering　the　remnant　of　his　army　at　Dingtao。　When　all　his　generals　had　joined　him；　he　began　to　feel　strong　enough　to　try　conclusions　with　Cao　Cao　once　again。
Said　Chen　Gong；　who　was　opposed　to　this　course；　〃Cao　Cao　is　too　strong　right　now。　Seek　some　place　where　we　can　rest　a　time　before　trying。〃
〃Suppose　I　went　to　Yuan　Shao；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃Send　first　to　make　inquiries。〃
Lu　Bu　agreed。
The　news　of　the　fighting　between　Cao　Cao　and　Lu　Bu　had　reached　Jizhou；　and　one　of　Yuan　Shao's　advisers；　Shen　Pei；　warned　him；　saying；　〃Lu　Bu　is　a　savage　beast。　If　he　gets　possession　of　Yanzhou；　he　will　certainly　attempt　to　add　this　region　to　it。　For　your　own　safety　you　should　help　to　crush　him。〃
Wherefore　Yuan　Shao　sent　Yan　Liang　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　destroy　Lu　Bu。　The　spies　heard　this　and　at　once　told　Lu　Bu；　who　was　greatly　disturbed　and　called　in　Chen　Gong。
〃Go　over　to　Liu　Bei；　who　has　lately　succeeded　to　Xuzhou。〃
Hence　Lu　Bu　went　thither。
Hearing　this；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃Lu　Bu　is　a　hero；　and　we　will　receive　him　with　honor。〃
But　Mi　Zhu　was　strongly　against　receiving　him；　saying；　〃He　was　a　cruel；　bloodthirsty　beast。〃
But　Liu　Bei　replied；　〃How　would　misfortune　have　been　averted　from　Xuzhou　if　he　had　not　attacked　Yanzhou？　He　cannot　be　our　enemy　now　that　he　es　seeking　an　asylum。〃
〃Brother；　your　heart　is　really　too　good。　Although　it　may　be　as　you　say；　yet　it　would　be　well　to　prepare；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
The　new　Imperial　Protector　with　a　great　following　met　Lu　Bu　ten　miles　outside　the　city　gates；　and　the　two　chiefs　rode　in　side　by　side。　They　proceeded　to　the　residence　and　there；　after　the　elaborate　ceremonies　of　reception　were　over；　they　sat　down　to　converse。
Said　Lu　Bu；　〃After　Wang　Yun　and　I　plotted　to　slay　Dong　Zhuo　and　my　misfortune　in　the　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si's　sedition；　I　drifted　about　from　one　place　to　another；　and　none　of　the　nobles　east　of　the　Huashang　Mountains　seemed　willing　to　receive　me。　When　Cao　Cao　with　wicked　ambition　invaded　this　region　and　you；　Sir；　came　to　its　rescue；　I　aided　you　by　attacking　Yanzhou　and　thus　diverting　a　portion　of　his　force。　I　did　not　think　then　that　I　should　be　the　victim　of　a　vile　plot　and　lose　my　leaders　and　my　soldiers。　But　now　if　you　will；　I　offer　myself　to　you　that　we　may　together　acplish　great　designs。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃When　the　late　Tao　Qian　died；　there　was　no　one　to　administer　Xuzhou；　and　so　I　assumed　that　task　for　a　time。　Now　since　you　are　here；　General；　it　is　most　suitable　that　I　step　down　in　your　favor。〃
Whereupon　Liu　Bei　handed　the　insignia　and　the　seal　of　authority　to　Lu　Bu。　Lu　Bu　was　on　the　point　of　accepting　them；　when　he　saw　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　who　stood　behind　the　Imperial　Protector；　glaring　at　him　with　angry　eyes。
So　Lu　Bu　put　on　a　smile　and　said；　〃I　may　be　something　of　a　fighting　man；　but　I　could　not　rule　a　great　region　like　this。〃
Liu　Bei　repeated　his　offer。　But　Chen　Gong　said；　〃The　strong　guest　does　not　oppress　his　host。　You　need　not　fear；　Lord　Liu　Bei。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　desisted。　Banquets　were　held　and　dwelling　places　prepared　for　the　guest　and　his　retinue。
As　soon　as　convenient；　Lu　Bu　returned　the　feast。　Liu　Bei　went　with　his　two　brothers。　Half　through　the　banquet　Lu　Bu　requested　Liu　Bei　to　retire　to　one　of　the　inner　private　rooms；　whither　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　followed　him。　There　Lu　Bu　bade　his　wife　and　daughter　bow　as　to　their　benefactor。　Here　also　Liu　Bei　showed　excessive　modesty。
Lu　Bu　said；　〃Good　younger　brother；　you　need　not　be　so　very　modest。〃
Zhang　Fei　heard　what　Lu　Bu　said；　and　his　eyes　glared；　crying；　〃What　sort　of　a　man　are　you　that　dares　call　our　brother　'younger　brother'？　He　is　one　of　the　ruling　family………a　jade　leaf　on　a　golden　branch。　e　out；　and　I　will　fight　you　three　hundred　bouts　for　the　insult。〃
Liu　Bei　hastily　checked　the　impulsive　one；　and　Guan　Yu　persuaded　him　to　go　away。　Then　Liu　Bei　apologized；　saying；　〃My　poor　brother　talks　wildly　after　he　has　been　drinking。　I　hope　you　will　not　blame　him。〃
Lu　Bu　nodded；　but　said　nothing。　Soon　after　the　guests　departed。　But　as　the　host　escorted　Liu　Bei　to　his　carriage；　he　saw　Zhang　Fei　galloping　up　armed　as　for　a　fray。
〃Lu　Bu；　you　and　I　will　fight　that　duel　of　three　hundred　bouts！〃　shouted　Zhang　Fei。
Liu　Bei　bade　Guan　Yu　check　him。　Next　day　Lu　Bu　came　to　take　leave　of　his　host。
〃You；　O　Lord；　kindly　received　me；　but　I　fear　your　brothers　and　I　cannot　agree。　So　I　will　seek　some　other　asylum。〃
〃General；　if　you　go；　the　blame　is　mine。　My　rude　brother　has　offended　and　must　eventually　apologize。　In　the　meantime　what　think　you　of　a　temporary　sojourn　at　the　town　where　I　was　encamped　for　some　time；　Xiaopei？　The　place　is　small　and　mean；　but　it　is　near；　and　I　will　see　to　it　that　you　are　supplied　with　all　you　need。〃
Lu　Bu　thanked　him　and　accepted　this　offer。　He　led　his　troops　there　and　took　up　residence。　After　he　had　gone；　Liu　Bei　buried　his　annoyance；　and　Zhang　Fei　did　not　again　refer　to　the　matter。
That　Cao　Cao　had　subdued　the　east　of　the　Huashang　Mountains　has　been　stated　before。　He　memorialized　the　Throne　and　was　rewarded　with　the　title　of　General　Who　Exhibits　Firm　Virtue　and　Lord　of　Feiting。　At　this　time　the　rebellious　Li　Jue　was　manding　the　court；　and　he　had　made　himself　Regent　Marshal；　and　his　colleague　Guo　Si　styled　himself　Grand　mander。　Their　conduct　was　abominable　but　no　one　dared　to　criticize　them。
Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　and　Minister　Zhu　Jun　privately　talked　with　Emperor　Xian　and　said；　〃Cao　Cao　has　two　hundred　thousand　troops　and　many　capable　advisers　and　leaders。　It　would　be　well　for　the　empire　if　he　would　lend　his　support　to　the　imperial　family　and　hel