三国演义英文版-第45部分

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Cao　Cao　laid　hold　of　the　sword　by　his　side　and　made　to　take　his　own　life。　All　hastened　to　prevent　him。
Guo　Jia　said；　〃In　ancient　days；　the　days　of　the　Spring　and　Autumn　history；　the　laws　were　not　applied　to　those　of　the　most　important。　You　are　the　supreme　leader　of　a　mighty　army　and　must　not　wound　yourself。〃
Cao　Cao　pondered　for　a　long　time。　At　last　he　said；　〃Since　there　exists　the　reason　just　quoted；　I　may　perhaps　escape　the　death　penalty。〃
Then　with　his　sword　he　cut　off　his　hair　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　saying；　〃I　cut　off　the　hair　as　touching　the　head。〃
Then　he　sent　messengers　to　exhibit　the　hair　throughout　the　whole　army；　saying；　〃The　Prime　Minister；　having　trodden　down　some　corn；　ought　to　have　lost　his　head　by　the　terms　of　the　order；　now　here　is　his　hair　cut　off　as　an　attack　on　the　head。〃
This　deed　was　a　stimulus　to　discipline　all　through　the　army　so　that　not　a　person　dared　be　disobedient。　A　poet　wrote：

A　myriad　soldiers　march　along　and　all　are　brave　and　bold；
And　their　myriad　inclinations　by　one　leader　are　controlled。
That　crafty　leader　shore　his　locks　when　forfeit　was　his　head；
O　full　of　guile　were　thou；　Cao　Cao；　as　everyone　has　said。

On　the　first　news　of　the　approach　of　Cao　Cao　with　an　army；　Zhang　Xiu　wrote　to　Liu　Biao　for　help。　Then　Zhang　Xiu　led　out　his　troops；　with　his　two　generals；　Lei　Xu　and　Zhang　Xian。
When　the　array　was　plete　Zhang　Xiu　took　his　station　in　front　and　pointing　at　Cao　Cao　railed　at　him；　saying；　〃O　false　and　pretended　supporter　of　benevolence　and　justice！　O　shameless　one！　You　are　just　a　beast　of　the　forest；　and　absolutely　devoid　of　humanity。〃
This　annoyed　Cao　Cao　who　sent　out　Xu　Chu　against　the　insulter。　Zhang　Xian　came　to　meet　him　and　fell　in　the　third　bout。　Thence　Zhang　Xiu's　troops　fled　and　were　pursued　to　the　very　walls　of　Nanyang；　only　managing　to　get　within　just　before　the　pursuit　came　up。　The　city　was　then　closely　besieged。
Seeing　the　moat　was　so　wide　and　deep　that　approach　to　the　wall　would　be　difficult；　Cao　Cao's　manders　began　to　fill　up　the　ditch　with　earth。　Then　with　sand　bags；　brushwood；　and　bundles　of　grass　they　built　a　great　mound　near　the　wall　and　on　this　erected　steps　so　that　they　could　look　over　into　the　city。
Cao　Cao　rode　round　the　city　closely　inspecting　the　defenses。　Three　days　later　he　issued　an　order　to　make　a　mound　of　earth　and　brushwood　at　the　northwest　corner；　as　he　would　mount　the　walls　at　that　point。　He　was　observed　from　within　the　city　by　Jia　Xu。
Jia　Xu　went　to　Zhang　Xiu　and　said；　〃I　know　what　Cao　Cao　intends；　and　I　can　defeat　him　by　a　countermove。〃

Even　amongst　the　very　foremost
There　is　one　who　leads　the　way；
Someone　sees　through　your　devices；
Be　as　crafty　as　ye　may。

What　the　counter…move　was　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　18　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　18
　Chapter　18
Giving　Counsels；　Jia　Xu　Directs　A　Great　Victory；
Braving　Battlefield；　Xiahou　Dun　Loses　An　Eye。
Jia　Xu；　as　he　had　guessed　the　enemy's　intention；　had　also　devised　a　countermove。　So　he　went　to　his　chief　and　said；　〃I　saw　Cao　Cao　very　carefully　reconnoitering　round　about　the　city。　He　certainly　noticed　that　the　southeast　corner　of　the　wall　had　been　lately　restored　with　mud　bricks　of　a　different　kind；　and　that　the　fencing　barrier　is　badly　out　of　repair。　He　will　try　to　effect　an　entrance　there。　Wherefore　he　is　making　a　feint　attack　at　the　opposite　point。　He　is　piling　up　straw　and　making　ostentatious　preparations　whereby　to　cajole　us　into　withdrawing　from　the　real　point　of　attack　to　defend　the　northwest。　His　troops　will　scale　the　walls　in　the　darkness　and　try　to　enter　at　the　southeast。〃
〃Supposing　your　surmise　correct；　what　do　you　advise？〃　asked　Zhang　Xiu。
〃The　countermove　is　plain。　You　issue　an　order　for　our　best　and　bravest　soldiers　to　fill　their　bellies；　to　take　only　the　lightest　outfit　and　conceal　themselves　in　the　houses　near　the　southeast　corner。　Then　disguise　the　townspeople　as　soldiers　and　send　them　to　pretend　to　defend　the　northwest。　Tonight　we　will　let　the　enemy　climb　up　the　walls　and　enter　the　city　and；　once　they　are　fairly　within；　give　the　signal　and　the　concealed　soldiers　will　rush　out　upon　them。　We　may　even　capture　Cao　Cao　himself。〃
The　stratagem　was　decided　upon。
Soon　the　scouts　told　Cao　Cao：　〃The　defenders　of　the　city　have　moved　to　the　northwest　where　noisy　preparations　for　defense　are　going　on。　The　opposite　corner　is　left　undefended。〃
〃They　have　fallen　into　my　trap！〃　said　Cao　Cao　gleefully。
He　ordered　his　troops　to　prepare　shovels　and　hooks　and　all　the　gear　needed　for　scaling　walls；　and　all　day　they　kept　up　the　attack　on　the　northwest　angle。
But　at　the　second　watch　they　dispatched　the　veterans　to　the　opposite　corner；　where　they　climbed　the　wall；　broke　up　the　fencing　barrier；　and　got　into　the　city　apparently　without　disturbing　any　of　the　guards。　There　was　no　sign　of　life　anywhere　as　they　entered。　But　just　as　they　were　leaving　the　wall；　suddenly　a　bomb　exploded　and　they　found　themselves　in　an　ambush。　They　turned　to　retire；　but　Zhang　Xiu　immediately　fell　on　the　rear　and　began　a　slaughter。　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　totally　defeated　and　fled　out　of　the　gate　into　the　country。　Zhang　Xiu　kept　up　the　pursuit　till　daybreak；　when　he　retired　into　the　city　again。
Cao　Cao　then　rallied　his　army　and　mustered　his　soldiers。　He　had　lost　fifty　thousand　and　much　baggage；　while　two　of　his　generals；　Lu　Qian　and　Yu　Jin　were　wounded。
Cao　Cao　being　thus　worsted；　Jia　Xu　advised　Zhang　Xiu　to　write　off　to　Liu　Biao　to　cut　off　Cao　Cao's　retreat　so　that　he　might　be　utterly　destroyed。
Liu　Biao　was　preparing　an　army　for　this　purpose；　when　a　scout　came　to　say　that　Sun　Ce　had　encamped　in　the　river　at　Hukou。
Kuai　Liang　said；　〃This　move　of　Sun　Ce　in　the　river　is　part　of　Cao　Cao's　strategy；　and　there　will　be　never…ending　regret　if　Cao　Cao　is　allowed　to　escape。　An　immediate　expedition　is　necessary。〃
Wherefore　Liu　Biao　moved　out　with　his　army　to　Anzhong　to　block　Cao　Cao；　leaving　Huang　Zu　to　hold　Jingzhou's　points　of　vantage。　Zhang　Xiu；　having　been　informed　of　the　movement　of　Liu　Biao；　went　with　Jia　Xu　to　smite　Cao　Cao　on　the　rear。
In　the　meantime　Cao　Cao's　army；　marching　very　leisurely；　had　arrived　at　Xiangyang。
Walking　one　day　beside　River　Yu；　he　suddenly　uttered　a　great　cry；　and　when　his　officers　asked　the　reason　thereof；　he　replied；　〃I　remembered　that　here；　only　a　year　ago；　I　lost　my　great　general：　Dian　Wei。　Is　that　not　a　reason　to　grieve？〃
Thereupon　Cao　Cao　gave　orders　to　halt；　while　he　should　make　a　great　sacrifice　and　mourn　for　his　lost　leader。　At　the　ceremony　he　himself　burned　incense　and　wailed　and　prostrated　himself。　The　army　was　much　affected　by　his　devotion。　After　the　sacrifices　to　the　lost　hero；　he　sacrificed　to　the　names　of　his　nephew　Cao　Amin　and　his　eldest　son　Cao　Ang；　both　of　whom　had　died　at　the　same　time。　He　also　sacrificed　to　his　lost　soldiers　and　even　to　his　Dawan　steed　which　had　been　killed　by　an　arrow。
Next　day　Xun　Yu　wrote　to　tell　Cao　Cao　that　Liu　Biao　had　gone　to　help　Zhang　Xiu　and　was　camped　at　Anzhong；　thereby　cutting　his　road　of　retreat。
Cao　Cao　replied　to　the　letter；　saying；　〃I　have　been　marching　only　a　short　distance　each　day　and　of　course　knew　of　the　pursuit。　But　my　plans　are　laid　and；　as　I　am　near　Anzhong；　my　enemy　will　be　broken。　You　need　not　have　any　fears。〃
Then　Cao　Cao　hastened　his　march　till　he　came　near　where　Liu　Biao　had　taken　position。　Zhang　Xiu　still　shortened　the　distance。　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　men　during　the　night　to　open　a　secret　way　through　a　pass；　where　he　laid　an　ambush。
With　the　first　light　of　dawn　Liu　Biao　and　Zhang　Xiu　met。　As　Cao　Cao's　force　looked　small；　they　thought　he　had　retired　so　they　boldly　advanced　into　the　pass　to　smite　him。　Then　the　ambush　was　opened；　and　both　the　attackers'　forces　were　cut　up。　The　fighting　ended；　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　went　outside　the　pass　and　encamped。
The　two　leaders　on　the　other　side　restored　order　among　their　beaten　troops　and　then　held　a　conference。
〃How　could　we　have　foreseen　such　a　wicked　ruse？〃　said　Liu　Biao。
〃Let　us　try　again；〃　said　Zhang　Xiu。
Wherefore　they　joined　forces　at　Anzhong。
But　Xun　Yu　discovered　through　his　spies　that　Yuan　Shao　was　preparing　an　attack　on　Capital　Xuchang；　so　he　at　once　wrote　to　Cao　Cao　who；　much　disturbed　by　this　news；　set　out　homeward　right　away。　When　Zhang　Xiu　heard　this　through　his　scouts；　he　wished　to　follow　the　retreating　army。
Jia　Xu　opposed　it　and　said；　〃It　will　lead　to　a　defeat。〃
However；　Liu　Biao　said；　〃It　is　wrong　to　lose　such　a　chance。〃
And　so　finally　pursuit　was　decided　upon。　They　had　not　marched　more　than　four　miles　before　they　came　upon　Cao　Cao's　rearguard；　who　fought　with　great　vigor　and　bravery　so　that　the　pursuers　were　beaten　off　and　went　home　disfited。
Zhang　Xiu　said　to　Jia　Xu；　〃This　defeat　es　from　my　not　following　your　advice。〃
〃Now　set　your　army　in　order　and　pursue；〃　said　Jia　Xu。
〃But　we　have　just　suffered　defeat！〃　cried　both　leaders。　〃Do　you　now　counsel　pursuit？〃
〃Yes；　and　the　result　will　be　a　great　victory　if　you　go　now。　I　will　venture　my　head　on　that；〃　said　Jia　Xu。
Zhang　Xiu　had　confidence；　but　Liu　Biao　was　afraid　and　would　not　acpany　him。　So　one　army　only　started　in　pursuit。
However；　this　was　enough。　Cao　Cao's　rear…guard　was　thoroughly　routed　and　abandoned　their　wagons　and　their　baggage　in　their　hasty　flight。　Zhang　Xiu　pursued；　but　suddenly　a　troop　came　out　from　the　shelter　of　some　hills　and　checked　him。　Fearful　to　try　further；　he　hastened　back　to　Anzhong。
The　other　general；　Liu　Biao；　asked　the　adviser　to　explain　his　apparent　inconsistency；　saying；　〃When　our　veteran　and　brave　soldiers　were　going　to　pursue　those　who　retreated；　you　said　our　men　would　lose　the　day；　and　when　defeated　men　pursued　the　victors；　you　foretold　victory。　You　were　right　in　both　cases；　but　we　wish　you　would　enlighten　us。〃
〃It　is　easy　to　explain。　You；　Generals；　although　skilled　leaders；　are　not　a　match　for　our　enemy。　Though　Cao　Cao　had　lost　a　battle；　he　had　able　generals　to　keep　the　rear　and　guard　against　pursuit。　Our　soldiers　are　good；　but　not　a　match　for　them。　That　is　how　I　knew。　For　as　much　as　Cao　Cao's　hurried　retreat　was　due　to　trouble　in　the　capital；　and　he　had　beaten　off　our　attack；　I　knew　he　would　retire　at　his　utmost　speed　and　not　take　his　usual　precautions。　I　ventured　to　take　advantage　of　his　laxity。〃
Liu　Biao　and　Zhang　Xiu　could　not　but　affirm　his　plete　understanding　of　the　conditions。　On　the　advice　of　Jia　Xu　then　Liu　Biao　returned　to　Jingzhou；　while　Zhang　Xiu　took　up　his　position　at　Xiangyang　so　that　each　strengthened　the　other　as　the　lips　protect　the　teeth　from　cold。
When　Cao　Cao；　during　his　retreat；　heard　that　his　army　was　being　pursued；　he　hastily　turned　back　to　support　the　rearguard。　Then　he　saw　the　pursuing　army　draw　off。
The　soldiers　of　the　beaten　rearguard　said；　〃Had　it　not　been　for　the　troops　that　came　out　of　the　hills；　we　should　all　have　been　lost。〃
〃What　troops？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　in　surprise。
The　leader　of　the　troops　then　advanced；　slung　his　spear　and；　dismounting；　made　a　low　obeisance。　He　was　Li　Tong；　Imperial　mander；　from　Jiangxia。
Cao　Cao　asked　him　why　he　had　e。
Li　Tong　replied；　〃I　was　in　mand　at　Runan　when　I　heard　of　the　struggle　going　on；　so　I　came　to　lend　you　any　help　I　could。〃
To　show　his　gratitude；　Cao　Cao　conferred　upon　Li　Tong　the　title　Lord　Who　Renders　High　Services；　and　confirmed　him　in　his　mand　as