三国演义英文版-第65部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


n　Chou　pursued　along　the　river　bank。　Suddenly　he　saw　ing　toward　him　with　banners　fluttering　in　the　breeze；　a　small　party　of　horse；　and　the　leader　carried　a　great　sword。
〃Stop！〃　cried　Guan　Yu；　for　it　was　he；　and　he　attacked　at　once。
At　the　third　bout　Wen　Chou's　heart　failed　him；　and　he　wheeled　and　fled；　following　the　windings　of　the　river。　But　Guan　Yu's　steed　was　fast　and　soon　caught　up。　One　blow；　and　the　hapless　Wen　Chou　fell。
When　Cao　Cao　saw　from　the　mound　that　the　leader　of　the　enemy　had　fallen；　he　gave　the　signal　for　a　general　onset；　and　half　of　the　northern　army　were　drowned　in　the　river。　And　the　carts　with　supplies　and　all　the　horses　were　quickly　recovered。
Now　Guan　Yu；　at　the　head　of　a　few　horsemen；　was　thrusting　here　and　striking　there　at　the　moment　when　Liu　Bei；　with　the　thirty　thousand　reserve　troops；　appeared　on　the　battle　field　on　the　other　bank　of　the　river。　At　once　they　told　him　that　the　red…faced；　long…bearded　warrior　was　there　and　had　slain　Wen　Chou。　Liu　Bei　hastily　pressed　forward　to　try　to　get　a　look　at　the　warrior。　He　saw　across　the　river　a　body　of　horse　and　the　banners　bore　the　words　Guan　Yu；　Lord　of　Hanshou　。
〃Then　it　is　my　brother；　and　he　is　really　with　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　secretly　thanking　God　that　Guan　Yu　was　safe。
Liu　Bei　made　an　attempt　to　wait　about　till　he　could　call　to　Guan　Yu；　but　a　great　mass　of　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　came　rushing　down；　and　he　was　forced　to　retire。
Yuan　Shao；　bringing　reinforcements；　reached　Guandu　and　built　a　stockade。
Two　advisers；　Guo　Tu　and　Shen　Pei；　went　in　to　see　him　and　said；　〃Again　that　fellow　Guan　Yu　has　been　in　the　battle。　He　killed　Wen　Chou。　Liu　Bei　pretends　ignorance　of　him。〃
Their　master　was　angry　and　railed　at　Liu　Bei；　〃The　long…cared　rebel！　How　dare　he　do　such　a　thing？〃
Soon　Liu　Bei　appeared。　Again　Yuan　Shao　ordered　him　out　to　instant　execution。
〃What　crime　have　I　mitted？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃You　sent　your　brother　to　slay　one　of　my　generals。　Is　that　no　crime？〃
〃Pray　let　me　explain　before　I　die。　Cao　Cao　hated　me　and　has　always　done　so。　Now　he　has　found　out　where　I　am　and；　fearing　that　I　may　help　you；　has　got　my　brother　to　destroy　your　two　generals；　feeling　sure　that　when　you　heard　of　it；　you　would　be　angry　and　put　me　to　death。　You　cannot　fail　to　see　this。〃
〃What　he　says　is　sense；〃　said　Yuan　Shao；　turning　to　his　advisers；　〃and　you　two　nearly　brought　on　me　the　reproach　of　injuring　the　good。〃
Yuan　Shao　ordered　his　attendants　to　retire　and　asked　Liu　Bei　to　e　and　sit　by　him。
Liu　Bei　came；　saying；　〃I　am　deeply　thankful；　Illustrious　Sir；　for　your　great　kindness；　for　which　I　can　never　be　sufficiently　grateful。　Now　I　desire　to　send　some　confidential　messenger　with　a　secret　letter　to　my　brother　to　tell　him　where　I　am；　and　I　am　sure　he　will　e　without　a　moment's　delay。　He　will　help　you　to　destroy　Cao　Cao　to　make　up　for　having　destroyed　your　two　officers。　Do　you　approve　of　this？〃
〃If　I　got　Guan　Yu；　he　would　be　ten　times　better　than　the　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　that　I　have　lost；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
So　Liu　Bei　prepared　a　letter。　But　there　was　no　one　to　take　it。　Yuan　Shao　ordered　the　army　to　withdraw　to　Wuyang；　where　they　made　a　large　camp。　For　some　time　nothing　was　done。
Then　Cao　Cao　sent　Xiahou　Dun　to　defend　the　strategic　points　at　Guandu　while　he　led　the　bulk　of　the　army　back　to　the　capital。　There　he　gave　many　banquets　in　honor　of　the　services　of　Guan　Yu；　and　then　he　told　Lu　Qian　that　putting　the　supplies　in　the　front　of　the　army　had　been　meant　as　a　bait　to　draw　the　enemy　to　destruction。
〃Only　Xun　You　understood　that；〃　said　Cao　Cao　in　conclusion。
Everyone　present　praised　his　ingenuity。　Even　while　the　banquet　was　proceeding；　there　arrived　news　of　a　rising　of　Yellow　Scarves　rebels　at　Runan　led　by　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du。　They　were　very　strong；　and　Cao　Hong　had　been　defeated　in　several　engagements。　Now　he　begged　for　help。
Guan　Yu　hearing　this　said；　〃I　should　like　to　have　the　opportunity　of　performing　some　service　by　destroying　these　rebels。〃
〃You　have　already　rendered　noble　services　for　which　you　have　not　been　properly　requited。　I　could　hardly　trouble　you　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　have　been　idle　too　long。　I　shall　get　ill；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Cao　Cao　then　let　him　to　go　and　gave　him　fifty　thousand　troops　with　Yu　Jin　and　Yue　Jing　as　generals　under　him。　They　were　to　leave　soon。
Then　Xun　Yu　said　privily　to　his　master；　〃He　always　cherishes　the　idea　of　returning　to　Liu　Bei。　He　will　leave　you　if　he　hears　any　news。　Do　not　let　him　go　on　this　expedition。〃
〃If　he　does　well　this　time；　I　will　not　let　him　go　into　battle　again；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
In　due　time　the　force　led　by　Guan　Yu　drew　near　the　rebels　in　Runan　and　made　their　camp。　One　night；　just　outside　his　camp；　two　spies　were　caught　and　taken　in　to　Guan　Yu　who　in　one　of　them　recognized　Sun　Qian。　The　attendants　being　dismissed；　Guan　Yu　questioned　Sun　Qian。
〃After　we　lost　sight　of　each　other；　I　have　heard　not　a　word　of　you。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃After　I　escaped；　I　drifted　hither　and　thither　till　I　had　the　good　fortune　to　reach　Runan；　and　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du；　the　Yellow　Scarves　leaders；　took　me　in。　But　why　are　you　with　Cao　Cao；　General？　And　where　are　your　sisters…in…law？　Are　they　well？〃
Guan　Yu　told　him　all　that　had　happened。
〃I　have　heard　lately　that　Liu　Bei　is　with　Yuan　Shao。　I　would　have　liked　to　go　and　join　him；　but　I　have　not　found　a　convenient　opportunity。　Now　the　two　men　I　am　with　have　taken　the　side　of　Yuan　Shao　against　Cao　Cao。　By　good　luck　you　were　ing　here；　so　I　got　mand　of　a　small　party　of　scouts　to　be　able　to　see　you　and　tell　you。　Presently　our　two　leaders　will　pretend　to　be　defeated　and　you；　and　the　two　ladies；　can　go　over　to　Yuan　Shao。　And　you　will　see　your　brother。〃
〃Since　he　is　there；　I　certainly　must　go　at　once　to　see　him。　But　it　is　a　misfortune　that　I　have　slain　two　of　Yuan　Shao's　generals。　I　fear　things　are　not　in　my　favor；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃Let　me　go　first　and　see　how　the　land　lies。　I　will　e　back　and　tell　you。〃
〃I　would　risk　a　myriad　deaths　to　see　my　brother；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃But　I　must　go　to　say　farewell　to　Cao　Cao。〃
Sun　Qian　was　sent　away　that　night；　and　next　day　Guan　Yu　led　out　his　army　to　offer　battle。　Gong　Du；　in　armor；　went　out　to　the　front　of　the　line　of　battle；　and　Guan　Yu　said；　〃You　people；　why　have　you　risen　against　the　government？〃
〃Why　do　you　blame　us　when　you　have　turned　your　back　on　your　own　lord？〃　replied　Gong　Du。
〃How　have　I　turned　my　back　on　my　lord？〃
〃Liu　Bei　is　with　Yuan　Shao；　and　you　are　with　Cao　Cao。　What　is　that？〃
Guan　Yu　could　not　reply；　but　he　whirled　round　his　sword　and　rode　forward。　Gong　Du　fled；　and　Guan　Yu　followed。　Gong　Du　turned　and　said　to　Guan　Yu；　〃Do　not　forget　your　old　chief's　kindness。　Now　attack　as　soon　as　you　can；　and　I　will　give　up　the　defense。〃
Guan　Yu　understood　and　urged　on　his　troops。　The　leaders　of　the　rebels　pretended　they　were　worsted；　and　they　all　scattered。　So　Runan　was　retaken。　Having　pacified　the　people；　Guan　Yu　quickly　led　his　army　back　to　the　capital；　where　he　was　met　by　Cao　Cao　and　congratulated　on　his　success　and　feasted。
When　this　was　all　over；　Guan　Yu　went　to　the　dwelling　of　his　sisters…in…law　to　pay　his　respects　at　their　gate。
〃Have　you　been　able　to　get　any　news　of　Uncle　Liu　Bei　in　your　two　expeditions？〃　asked　Lady　Gan。
〃None；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
As　he　retired　from　the　door；　he　heard　sounds　of　bitter　weeping　within。
〃Alas！　He　is　dead；〃　said　they。　〃Our　brother…in…law　thinks　we　shall　be　greatly　distressed；　and　thus；　he　hides　the　truth　from　us。〃
One　of　the　old　soldiers；　who　acted　as　guard；　hearing　the　sounds　of　perpetual　grief；　took　pity　on　them　and　said；　〃Do　not　weep；　ladies。　Your　lord　is　with　Yuan　Shao　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River。〃
〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　said　they。
〃I　went　out　with　General　Guan　Yu；　and　one　of　the　soldiers　told　me。〃
The　two　ladies　summoned　Guan　Yu　and　reproached　him；　saying；　〃Uncle　Liu　Bei　never　betrayed　you；　and　yet　you　remain　here　enjoying　the　bounty　of　Cao　Cao　and　forgetting　the　old　times。　And　you　tell　us　falsehoods。〃
Guan　Yu　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃My　brother　really　is　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　but　I　dared　not　tell　you；　lest　it　should　bee　known。　Something　must　be　done；　but　done　carefully；　and　it　needs　time。〃
〃Brother…in…law；　you　should　hasten；〃　said　Lady　Gan。
Guan　Yu　withdrew　feeling　that　he　must　evolve　some　scheme　of　departure　without　further　loss　of　time。　It　caused　him　much　uneasiness。
Yu　Jin；　having　found　out　that　Liu　Bei　was　in　the　north；　told　Cao　Cao；　who　at　once　sent　Zhang　Liao　to　find　out　Guan　Yu's　intentions。
Zhang　Liao　entered　jauntily　and　congratulated　Guan　Yu；　saying；　〃They　tell　me　you　obtained　news　of　your　brother　in　the　battlefield。　I　felicitate　you。〃
〃My　lord　was　there　indeed；　but　I　met　him　not。　I　see　nothing　to　be　glad　about。〃
〃Is　there　any　difference　between　the　relationship　of　you　two　and　that　of　any　other　two　brothers？〃
Guan　Yu　replied；　〃You　and　I　stand　in　the　relationship　of　friends。　Liu　Bei　and　I　are　friends　and　brothers　beside；　and　prince　and　minister　in　addition　to　both。　Our　relationship　cannot　be　discussed　in　usual　terms。〃
〃Well；　now　that　you　know　where　your　brother　is；　are　you　going　to　him？〃
〃How　can　I　go　back　on　what　I　said　before？　I　am　sure　you　will　explain　fully　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃
Zhang　Liao　went　back　and　told　his　master；　who　said；　〃I　must　find　a　way　to　keep　him　here。〃
While　Guan　Yu　was　pondering　over　his　difficulties；　they　told　him　that　a　friend　had　e　to　inquire　for　him。　The　visitor　was　introduced　but　Guan　Yu　did　not　recognize　him。
〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃I　am　Chen　Zhen　of　Nanyang；　in　the　service　of　Yuan　Shao。〃
In　great　perturbation；　Guan　Yu　sent　away　the　attendants　and；　they　being　gone；　said；　〃There　is　some　special　reason　for　your　visit？〃
For　reply　Chen　Zhen　drew　out　a　letter　and　handed　it　to　his　host；　who　recognized　that　it　was　from　his　brother　Liu　Bei。　The　letter　read：
〃I；　the　writer；　and　you；　Sir；　pledged　ourselves　in　the　Peach　Garden　to　die　together。　Why　then　are　we　apart　and　yet　alive；　our　kindly　feelings　destroyed；　our　sense　of　right　outraged？　If　you　desire　to　obtain　fame　and　acquire　riches　and　honor；　I　will　offer　my　head　without　hesitation　so　that　your　achievement　is　fulfilled。　More　might　be　said；　but　I　await　your　mands　with　great　anxiety。〃
Guan　Yu　finished　the　letter　with　a　bitter　cry。
〃I　always　wanted　to　find　my　brother；　but　I　did　not　know　where　he　was。　How　can　he　think　such　evil　of　me？〃　said　he。
〃Liu　Bei　looks　for　you　very　eagerly。　If　you　are　still　bound　by　the　old　pledge；　you　should　go　quickly；〃　said　Chen　Zhen。
〃Anyone　born　into　the　world　without　the　essential　virtue　of　sincerity　is　no　true　human。　I　came　here　openly　and　can　go　in　no　other　way。　Now　will　I　write　a　letter　which　I　will　ask　you　to　bear　to　my　brother；　that　as　soon　as　I　can　take　leave　of　Cao　Cao；　I　will　bring　the　ladies　and　e　to　him。〃
〃But　what　if　Cao　Cao　refuse　to　let　you　go？〃　said　Chen　Zhen。
〃Then　would　I　rather　die。　I　will　not　remain　here。〃
〃Then；　Sir；　quickly　write　your　letter　and　relieve　your　brother　from　his　anxiety。〃
So　Guan　Yu　wrote　like　this：
〃I；　the　humble　one；　know　full　well　that　a　human　of　principle　does　not　betray　and　a　human　of　loyalty　despises　death。　I　have　been　a　student　in　my　youth　and　know　somewhat　of　the　proprieties。　I　sigh　and　weep　at　the　memory　of　the　fraternal　affection　that　made　Yangjue　Ai　and　Zuo　Botao　die　rather　than　separate。　I　was　in　charge　of　Xiapi；　but　the　p