三国演义英文版-第57部分

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Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　deploy　troops　along　the　Yellow　River；　Cao　Ren　to　quarter　the　main　force　at　Guandu。　Then　Cao　Cao　with　an　army　marched　back　to　Capital　Xuchang。
The　five　legions　sent　against　Liu　Bei　went　into　camp　thirty…five　miles　from　Xuzhou。　The　camp　made　an　imposing　display　of　the　banners　of　the　Prime　Minister；　but　no　attacks　followed。　Their　spies　were　very　busy　north　of　the　river　to　get　news　of　Cao　Cao's　movement。　On　the　defensive　side；　Liu　Bei；　as　he　was　uncertain　of　the　strength　of　the　force　against　him；　dared　not　move。
Suddenly　orders　came　for　the　Cao　Cao's　army　to　attack；　and　then　discord　showed　itself。
Liu　Dai　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　orders　an　attack：　You　advance。〃
Wang　Zhong　replied；　〃You　were　named　first。〃
〃I　am　the　mander…in…Chief。　It　is　not　my　place　to　go　first。〃
〃I　will　go　with　you　in　joint　mand；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。
〃Let　us　cast　lots；　and　he　upon　whom　the　lot　falls　must　go；〃　said　Liu　Dai。
They　drew　lots；　and　it　fell　to　Wang　Zhong；　who　advanced　toward　Xuzhou　with　half　the　force。
When　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　threatened　attack；　he　called　Chen　Deng　to　consult。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃There　is　dissension　in　Yuan　Shao's　camp　at　Liyang；　so　they　do　not　advance。　We　do　not　know　where　Cao　Cao　is；　but　his　own　banner　is　not　displayed　in　his　Liyang's　camp。　Why　then　is　it　shown　here？〃
Chen　Deng　replied；　〃His　tricks　take　a　hundred　forms。　It　must　be　that　he　regards　the　north　as　more　important　and　has　gone　there　to　look　after　its　defense。　He　dares　not　show　his　flag　there；　and　I　feel　sure　it　is　only　meant　to　mislead　us。　He　is　not　here。〃
Liu　Bei　then　asked　whether　one　of　his　brothers　would　find　out　the　truth；　and　Zhang　Fei　volunteered　to　go。
〃I　fear　you　are　unsuited　for　this；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃You　are　too　impetuous。〃
〃If　Cao　Cao　is　there；　I　will　haul　him　over　here；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃Let　me　go　first　and　find　out；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃If　you　go；　I　shall　feel　more　at　ease；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　Guan　Yu　set　out　with　three　thousand　soldiers　to　reconnoiter。　It　was　then　early　winter；　and　snow　was　falling　from　a　gloomy　sky。　They　marched　regardless　of　the　snow　and　came　near　Wang　Zhong's　camp　with　arms　all　ready　to　attack。　Guan　Yu　summoned　Wang　Zhong　to　a　parley。
〃The　Prime　Minister　is　here。　Why　do　you　not　surrender？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。
〃Beg　him　to　e　to　the　front；　for　I　would　speak　with　him；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
〃Is　he　likely　to　e　out　to　see　such　as　you；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。
Guan　Yu　angrily　dashed　forward；　and　Wang　Zhong　set　his　spear　to　meet　him。　Guan　Yu　rode　till　he　came　close　to　his　antagonist；　then　suddenly　wheeled　away。　Wang　Zhong　went　after　him　and　followed　up　a　slope。　Just　as　they　passed　the　crest；　Guan　Yu　suddenly　wheeled　again；　shouted；　and　came　on　flourishing　the　mighty　sword。　Wang　Zhong　could　not　withstand　that　and　fled。　But　Guan　Yu；　changing　the　huge　sword　to　his　left　hand；　with　his　right　laid　hold　of　his　victim　by　the　straps　of　his　breastplate；　lifted　him　out　of　the　saddle；　and　rode　away　to　his　own　lines　with　the　captive　laid　across　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　Wang　Zhong's　army　scattered。
The　captive　was　sent　to　Xuzhou；　where　he　was　summoned　into　the　presence　of　Liu　Bei。
〃Who　are　you？　What　office　do　you　hold？　How　dare　you　falsely　display　the　ensigns　of　the　Prime　Minister？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃What　do　you　mean　by　falsely　when　I　simply　obeyed　my　orders？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。　〃My　master　wanted　to　produce　the　impression　that　he　was　present。　Really　he　was　not　there。〃
Liu　Bei　treated　him　kindly；　giving　him　food　and　clothing；　but　put　him　in　prison　till　his　colleague　could　be　captured。
Guan　Yu　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　knew　you　had　peaceful　intentions　in　your　mind；　therefore；　I　captured　Wang　Zhong　instead　of　slaying　him。〃
〃I　was　afraid　of　Zhang　Fei's　hasty　and　impulsive　temper；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃He　would　have　slain　this　man。　So　I　could　not　send　him。　There　is　no　advantage　in　killing　people　of　this　sort；　and　while　alive　they　are　often　useful　in　amicable　settlements。〃
Here　Zhang　Fei　said；　〃You　have　got　this　Wang　Zhong；　now　I　will　go　and　get　the　other　man。〃
〃Be　careful；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Liu　Dai　was　once　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　and　he　was　one　of　the　nobles　who　met　at　Tiger　Trap　Pass　to　destroy　Dong　Zhuo。　He　is　not　to　be　despised。〃
〃I　do　not　think　him　worth　talking　about　so　much。　I　will　bring　him　in　alive　just　as　Second　Brother　did　this　other。〃
〃I　fear　that　if　his　life　be　lost；　it　may　upset　our　designs；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　I　kill　him；　I　will　forfeit　my　own　life；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
So　he　was　given　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　off　quickly。
The　capture　of　his　colleague　made　Liu　Dai　careful。　He　strengthened　his　defenses　and　kept　behind　them。　He　took　no　notice　of　the　daily　challenges　and　continual　insults　which　began　with　Zhang　Fei's　arrival。
After　some　days　Zhang　Fei　evolved　a　ruse。　He　issued　orders　to　prepare　to　rush　the　enemy's　camp　at　night；　but　he　himself　spent　the　day　drinking。　Pretending　to　be　very　intoxicated；　he　held　a　court…martial；　and　one　soldier　was　severely　flogged　for　a　breach　of　discipline。
The　man　was　left　bound　in　the　midst　of　the　camp；　Zhang　Fei　saying；　〃Wait　till　I　am　ready　to　start　tonight：　You　shall　be　sacrificed　to　the　flag。〃
At　the　same　time　he　gave　secret　orders　to　the　custodians　to　let　the　man　escape。　The　man　found　his　opportunity；　crept　out　of　camp；　and　went　over　to　the　enemy；　to　whom　he　betrayed　the　plan　of　a　night　attack。　As　the　man　bore　signs　of　savage　punishment；　Liu　Dai　was　the　more　disposed　to　credit　his　desertion　and　tale。　So　Liu　Dai　made　his　arrangements；　putting　the　greater　part　of　his　troops　in　ambush　outside　his　camp　so　that　it　was　empty。
That　night；　having　divided　his　army　into　three　parties；　Zhang　Fei　went　to　attack　the　camp。　A　few　men　were　ordered　to　advance　directly；　dash　in　and　set　fire　going。　Two　larger　bodies　of　troops　were　to　go　round　to　the　rear　of　the　camp　and　attack　when　they　saw　the　fire　well　started。　At　the　third　watch；　Zhang　Fei；　with　his　veterans；　went　to　cut　off　Liu　Dai's　road　to　the　rear。
The　thirty　men　told　off　to　start　a　conflagration　made　their　way　into　the　camp　and　were　successful。　When　the　flames　arose；　the　ambushing　troops　rushed　out　but　only　to　find　themselves　attacked　on　both　sides。　This　confused　them；　and　as　they　knew　nothing　of　the　number　of　their　assailants；　they　were　panic　stricken　and　scattered。
Liu　Dai；　with　a　pany　of　footmen　got　clear　of　the　fight　and　fled；　but　he　went　straight　toward　Zhang　Fei。　Escape　was　impossible；　and　the　two　men　rode　up　each　to　attack　the　other。　Zhang　Fei　captured　his　opponent；　and　the　men　surrendered。　Zhang　Fei　sent　news　of　this　success　to　his　brothers。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Hitherto　Zhang　Fei　has　been　rather　violent；　but　this　time　he　has　acted　wisely；　and　I　am　very　pleased。〃
They　rode　out　to　wele　Zhang　Fei。
〃You　said　I　was　too　rough。　How　now？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　to　his　brothers。
〃If　I　had　not　put　you　on　your　mettle；　you　would　not　have　evolved　this　stratagem；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Zhang　Fei　laughed。　Then　appeared　the　captive　Liu　Dai；　in　bonds。
Liu　Bei　at　once　dismounted　and　loosed　the　cords；　saying；　〃My　young　brother　was　rather　hasty；　but　you　must　pardon　him。〃
So　Liu　Dai　was　freed。　He　was　taken　into　the　city；　his　colleague　was　released；　and　both　were　cared　for。
Liu　Bei　said　to　them；　〃I　could　not　help　putting　Deputy　Imperial　Protector　Che　Zhou　to　death　when　he　tried　to　kill　me；　but　Cao　Cao　took　it　as　disaffection　and　sent　you　two　generals　to　punish　me。　I　have　received　much　kindness　from　him　and　certainly　would　not　show　ingratitude　by　killing　you。　I　wish　you　to　speak　for　me　and　explain　when　you　get　back。〃
〃We　are　deeply　grateful　that　you　spare　our　lives；　and　we　will　certainly　do　so　in　gratitude　for　what　our　wives　and　children　owe　you。〃
Next　day　the　two　leaders　and　their　army　were　allowed　to　depart　unscathed。　But　before　they　had　got　three　miles　from　the　boundary；　they　heard　a　mighty　shouting　and　there　appeared　Zhang　Fei　barring　the　road。
〃My　brother　made　a　mistake　in　letting　you　go。　He　did　not　understand。　How　could　he　give　freedom　to　two　rebels？〃
This　made　the　two　men　quake　with　fear；　but　as　the　fierce　eyed　warrior　with　uplifted　sword　was　bearing　down　upon　them；　they　heard　another　man　galloping　up　and　shouting；　〃Do　not　behave　so　disgracefully！〃
The　newer　was　Guan　Yu；　and　his　appearance　relieved　the　unhappy　men　of　all　fear。
〃Why　do　you　stop　them　since　our　brother　set　them　free？〃　cried　Guan　Yu。
〃If　they　are　let　go　today；　they　will　surely　e　back；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。
〃Wait　till　they　do；　then　you　may　kill　them；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
The　two　leaders　with　one　voice　cried；　〃Even　if　the　Prime　Minister　slay　our　whole　clans；　we　will　never　e　again。　We　pray　you　pardon　us。〃
Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃If　Cao　Cao　himself　had　e；　I　would　have　slain　him。　Not　a　breastplate　should　have　gone　back。　But　for　this　time　I　leave　you　your　heads。〃
Clapping　their　hands　to　their　heads　the　two　men　scuttled　off　while　the　two　brothers　returned　to　the　city。
〃Cao　Cao　will　certainly　e；〃　said　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。
Sun　Qian　said；　〃This　is　not　a　city　that　can　hold　out　for　long。　We　should　send　part　of　our　forces　to　Xiaopei　and　guard　Xiapi　as　a　corner　stone　of　our　position。〃
Liu　Bei　agreed　and　told　off　Guan　Yu　to　guard　Xiapi　whither　he　also　sent　his　two　wives；　Lady　Gan　and　Lady　Mi。　The　former　was　a　native　of　Xiapi；　the　latter　was　Mi　Zhu's　younger　sister。
Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Mi　Fang　were　left　to　defend　Xuzhou；　and　Liu　Bei　with　Zhang　Fei　went　to　Xiaopei。
The　two　released　leaders；　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong；　hastened　home　to　Cao　Cao　and　explained　to　him　that　Liu　Bei　was　not　disaffected。
But　their　master　was　exceeding　angry　with　them；　crying；　〃You　shameful　traitors；　what　use　are　you？〃
He　roared　to　the　guards　to　take　them　away　to　instant　execution。

How　can　a　hare　or　a　deer　expect
To　conquer　in　tiger　strife？
Minnows　and　shrimps　that　with　dragons　contend
Already　have　done　with　life。

The　fate　of　the　two　leaders　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　23　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　23
　Chapter　23
Mi　Heng　Slips　His　Garment　And　Rails　At　Traitors；
Ji　Ping　Pledges　To　Kill　The　Prime　Minister。
At　the　close　of　the　last　chapter　the　two　unsuccessful　leaders；　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong；　were　in　danger　of　death。
However；　Kong　Rong　remonstrated　with　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃You　knew　these　two　were　no　match　for　Liu　Bei；　and　if　you　put　them　to　death　because　they　failed；　you　will　lose　the　hearts　of　your　people。〃
Wherefore　the　death　sentence　was　not　executed；　but　they　were　deprived　of　rank　and　status。
Cao　Cao　next　proposed　to　lead　an　army　himself　to　attack　Liu　Bei；　but　Kong　Rong　advised；　〃The　weather　is　too　inclement。　We　must　wait　the　return　of　spring。　In　the　interval；　we　better　use　the　time　to　arrange　peace　with　Zhang　Xiu　and　Liu　Biao；　before　launching　an　expedition　against　Xuzhou。〃
Wherefore　Liu　Ye　was　sent　to　Zhang　Xiu　and　in　due　time　reached　Xiangyang。　He　first　had　an　interview　with　Jia　Xu；　Zhang　Xiu's　adviser；　whereat　he　dwelt　upon　Cao　Cao's　virtues　so　that　Jia　Xu　was　impressed。　Jia　Xu　kept　Liu　Ye　as　a　guest　and　undertook　to　smooth　his　way。
Soon　after　Liu　Ye　saw　Zhang　Xiu　and　spoke　of　the　advantages　of　ing　to　terms　with　Cao　Cao。　While　the　discussion　was　in　progress；　a　messenger　from　Yuan　Shao　was　announced；　and　he　was　called　in。　He　presented　letters　and；　when　they　also　proposed　terms　of　peace；　Jia　Xu　asked　what　their　success　had　been　lately　against　Cao　Cao。
〃The　war　had　ceased　for