三国演义英文版-第106部分

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Liu　Qi　thanked　him。　Then　he　called　to　his　people　to　restore　the　ladder；　and　he　escorted　Zhuge　Liang　down　to　the　level　ground。
Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　Liu　Bei　and　related　the　whole　interview。　The　young　man　soon　acted　on　the　advice　given　him；　but　his　father　would　not　at　first　consent　to　let　him　go。
To　settle　his　doubts　Liu　Biao　sent　for　Liu　Bei；　who　said；　〃Jiangxia　is　important；　and　your　son　is　the　most　suitable　man　to　defend　it。　You　must　let　him　go。　The　southeast　will　be　defended　by　your　son。　The　northwest　I　will　look　after。〃
〃I　hear　that　Cao　Cao　has　been　training　a　naval　force；　and　I　am　afraid　he　has　intentions　against　us。　We　must　be　on　our　guard。〃
〃I　know　all　about　it。　You　need　feel　no　anxiety；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
He　took　leave　of　his　relative　and　went　home　while　Liu　Qi　received　mand　of　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　to　guard　Jiangxia。
At　this　time　Cao　Cao　suppressed　the　three　highest　officers　of　state　and　exercised　their　functions　himself　as　the　Prime　Minister。　He　appointed　as　his　general　secretaries　Mao　Jie　and　Cui　Yan；　and　as　literary　secretary　Sima　Yi。　Sima　Yi　of　Henei　was　grandson　of　Sima　Juan；　Governor　of　Yingchuan；　son　of　Sima　Fang；　Governor　of　Jingzhao；　and　younger　brother　of　Sima　Lang；　Secretary　General。
Cao　Cao　then　called　his　officers　to　a　council　to　discuss　an　expedition　against　the　south。
Xiahou　Dun　opened　the　debate；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　drilling　his　army　at　Xinye；　and　is　a　source　of　danger。　He　should　be　destroyed。〃
Accordingly　Xiahou　Dun　was　appointed　manding　General；　and　four　assistants………Yu　Jin；　Li　Dian；　Xiahou　Lan；　and　Han　Hao………were　given　him。　With　these　he　led　one　hundred　thousand　troops　to　Bowang；　whence　he　could　observe　Xinye。
Xun　Yu　was　opposed　to　this　and　said；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　famous　warrior；　and　he　has　lately　taken　to　himself　as　his　Directing　Instructor　Zhuge　Liang。　Caution　is　needed。〃
Xiahou　Dun　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　mean　rat。　I　will　certainly　take　him　prisoner。〃
〃Do　not　despise　him；〃　said　Xu　Shu。　〃Remember　he　has　Zhuge　Liang　to　help　him；　and　so　he　is　like　a　tiger　who　has　grown　wings。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃Who　is　this　Zhuge　Liang？〃
〃He　has　taken　a　Taoist　cognomen　of　Sleeping　Dragon。　He　is　a　perfect　genius；　god　and　devil　bined；　the　greatest　marvel　of　the　age。　Do　not　despise　him。〃
〃How　does　he　stand　as　pared　with　you？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃There　is　no　parison。　I　am　a　mere　glow…worm　spark；　he　is　the　glory　of　the　full　moon；〃　replied　Xu　Shu。
〃You　are　mistaken；〃　replied　Xiahou　Dun。　〃This　Zhuge　Liang　of　yours　is　of　no　account。　Who　would　fear　him？　If　I　do　not　take　him　and　his　master　prisoners　in　the　first　battle；　then　here　is　my　head；　a　free　gift　to　our　lord；　the　Prime　Minister。〃
〃Hasten　to　fort　me　with　news　of　victory；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Xiahou　Dun　hastened　to　depart。
The　advent　of　Zhuge　Liang　and　the　extravagant　deference　shown　him　did　not　please　Liu　Bei's　sworn　brothers　who　grumbled；　saying；　〃He　is　very　young；　although　he　is　clever　and　learned。　Our　brother　really　treats　him　too　well。　We　have　not　seen　any　evidence　of　his　wonderful　skill。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃You　do　not　know　his　worth。　I　have　him　as　if　the　fish　has　got　into　the　water　again。　Pray　do　not　discuss　this　matter　further；　my　brothers。〃
They　withdrew；　silent　but　dissatisfied。
One　day　a　man　presented　Liu　Bei　with　a　yak's　tail；　and　he　at　once　put　it　in　his　cap　as　an　ornament。　Zhuge　Liang　came　in　and　noticed　it　at　once。
〃Then　you　have　renounced　all　ambitions；　my　lord。　You　are　just　going　to　attend　to　this　sort　of　thing；〃　Zhuge　Liang　quietly　remarked。
Liu　Bei　snatched　off　his　cap　and　flung　it　away；　saying；　〃I　was　only　amusing　myself　with　the　thing。〃
〃How　do　you　think　you　stand　pared　with　Cao　Cao？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Inferior。〃
〃Yes；　your　army　is　less　than　ten　thousand；　and　the　chances　are　ten　thousand　to　one　that　he　will　attack。　How　can　we　meet　him？〃
〃I　am　greatly　distressed　about　it；　but　I　see　no　way。〃
〃You　might　recruit；　and　I　will　train　them。　Then　we　might　be　able　to　oppose　him。〃
So　recruiting　began　and　three　thousand　were　enlisted。　Zhuge　Liang　set　about　drilling　them　diligently。
Soon　they　heard　that　Xiahou　Dun　was　leading　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　troops　against　them。
When　he　heard　it；　Zhang　Fei　said　to　his　brother；　Guan　Yu；　〃We　will　get　this　Zhuge　Liang　to　go　and　fight　them。〃
Just　at　that　moment　they　were　summoned　to　their　brother；　who　asked　their　advice。
〃Why　not　send　the　'Water；'　brother？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃For　method　I　rely　on　Zhuge　Liang；　but　for　action　I　put　my　faith　in　you；　my　brothers。　Are　you　going　to　fail　me？〃
They　went　out；　and　Zhuge　Liang　was　called。
〃I　fear　your　brothers　will　not　obey　me；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Wherefore；　if　I　am　to　direct　the　campaign；　you　must　give　me　a　seal　of　office　and　a　sword　of　authority。〃
So　Liu　Bei　gave　him　both。　Armed　with　these　ensigns　of　power；　Zhuge　Liang　assembled　the　officers　to　receive　their　orders。
〃We　will　go　just　to　see　what　he　will　do；〃　said　Zhang　Fei　to　Guan　Yu。
In　the　assembly　Zhuge　Liang　spoke；　saying；　〃On　the　left　of　Bowang　are　Yushan　Hills。　On　the　right　is　Anlin　Forest。　There　we　will　prepare　an　ambush。　Guan　Yu　will　go　to　Yushan　Hills　with　one　thousand　soldiers。　He　is　to　remain　there　quiescent　till　the　enemy　has　passed；　but　when　he　sees　a　flame　in　the　south；　that　will　be　the　signal　to　attack。　He　will　first　burn　their　baggage　train。　Zhang　Fei　will　go　to　a　valley　behind　Anlin　Forest。　When　he　sees　the　signal；　he　is　to　go　to　the　old　stores　depot　at　Bowang　and　burn　that。　Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping　will　take　five　hundred　soldiers　each　to　the　south；　prepare　bustibles　and　be　ready　with　them　beyond　Bowang　Slope。　The　enemy　will　arrive　about　dusk；　and　then　the　two　generals　can　start　the　blare。　Zhao　Yun；　now　recalled　from　Fancheng；　is　to　lead　the　attack；　but　he　is　to　lose　and　not　win。　And　our　lord　is　to　mand　the　reserve。　See　that　each　one　obeys　these　orders　and　let　there　be　no　mistakes。〃
Then　said　Guan　Yu；　〃All　of　us　are　to　go　out　to　meet　the　enemy；　but　I　have　not　yet　heard　what　you　are　going　to　do。〃
〃I　am　going　to　guard　the　city。〃
Zhang　Fei　burst　into　a　laugh；　〃We　are　to　go　out　to　bloody　battle；　and　you　are　to　stay　quietly　at　home　quite　fortable。〃
〃Here　is　the　sword　and　here　the　seal！〃　replied　the　strategist；　displaying　the　emblems　of　authority。　〃Disobedience　of　orders　will　be　death。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Do　you　not　understand　that　the　plans　elaborated　in　a　little　chamber　decide　success　over　thousands　of　miles？　Do　not　disobey　the　mand；　my　brothers。〃
Zhang　Fei　went　out　smiling　cynically。
Guan　Yu　remarked；　〃Let　us　await　the　result。　If　he　fails；　then　we　can　look　to　it。〃
The　brothers　left。　None　of　the　officers　understood　anything　of　the　general　line　of　strategy　and；　though　they　obeyed　orders；　they　were　not　without　doubts　and　misgivings。
Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃You　may　now　lead　your　soldiers　to　the　hills　and　camp　till　the　enemy　shall　arrive　tomorrow　evening。　Then　you　are　to　abandon　the　camp　and　move　away　retreating　till　the　signal　is　seen。　Then　you　will　advance　and　attack　with　all　force。　Mi　Zhu；　Mi　Fang；　and　I　will　guard　the　city。〃
In　the　city　Zhuge　Liang　prepared　banquets　to　celebrate　the　victory　and　also　prepared　the　books　to　record　exceptional　services。
Liu　Bei　noted　all　these　things；　but　his　heart　was　also　troubled　not　a　little。
Cao　Cao's　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　troops　in　due　course　reached　Bowang。　Then　half　of　them；　the　veterans；　were　told　off　for　the　first　attack；　and　the　remainder　were　to　guard　the　baggage　train　and　supplies。　Thus　they　marched　in　two　divisions。　The　season　was　autumn　and　a　chilly　wind　began　to　blow。
They　pressed　forward。　Presently　they　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　ahead　of　them；　and　Xiahou　Dun　ordered　the　ranks　to　be　reformed。　He　questioned　the　guides　as　to　the　name　of　the　place。
〃The　place　in　front　is　Bowang　Slope；　and　behind　us　is　the　River　Luo；〃　was　the　reply。
Then　Xiahou　Dun　rode　to　the　front　to　reconnoiter；　leaving　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　finish　setting　out　the　battle　array。
Presently　Xiahou　Dun　began　to　laugh　and；　when　they　asked　the　cause　of　this　merriment；　he　replied；　〃Xu　Shu　praised　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　very　skies　as　something　more　than　human。　But　now　that　I　see　how　he　has　placed　his　soldiers　and　the　stuff　he　has　put　into　his　vanguard；　it　seems　to　me　that　he　is　sending　dogs　or　sheep　against　tigers　and　leopards。　I　bragged　a　little　when　I　said　I　would　take　him　prisoner；　but　I　am　going　to　make　good　my　boast。〃
Then　he　rode　forward　at　full　speed。
Zhao　Yun　rode　to　meet　him；　and　Xiahou　Dun　opened　a　volley　of　abuse；　〃You　lot；　followers　of　Liu　Bei；　are　only　like　wraiths　following　devils！〃
This　angered　Zhao　Yun　and　a　bat　began。　In　a　little　time　Zhao　Yun　turned　and　retreated　as　if　he　was　worsted。　Xiahou　Dun　pressed　after　him　and　kept　up　the　chase　for　some　three　miles。　Then　Zhao　Yun　suddenly　turned　again　and　offered　fight；　but　only　to　retreat　after　a　few　passes。
Seeing　these　tactics　Han　Hao；　one　of　Xiahou　Dun's　generals；　rode　up　to　his　chief　and　urged　him　to　use　caution；　saying；　〃I　fear　he　is　trying　to　lead　us　into　an　ambush。〃
〃With　such　antagonists　as　these；　I　should　not　fear　even　Ten　Ambushes；〃　replied　Xiahou　Dun；　pressing　forward　eagerly。
Just　as　he　reached　the　slope；　he　heard　the　roar　of　a　bomb　and　out　came　Liu　Bei　to　attack。
〃Here　is　your　ambush！〃　said　Xiahou　Dun；　laughing。　〃I　will　get　to　Xinye　this　evening　before　I　have　done。〃
Xiahou　Dun　urged　his　soldiers　forward；　and　his　opponents　retired　in　measure　as　he　advanced。　As　evening　came　on；　thick　clouds　overcast　the　whole　sky。　The　wind　increased　but　the　leader　still　urged　his　troops　after　the　retreating　foe。
The　two　generals　in　the　rear　came　to　a　narrow　part　of　the　road　with　reeds　and　rushes　thick　all　round　them。
〃Those　who　despise　the　enemy　are　beaten；〃　said　Li　Dian　to　Yu　Jin。　〃Away　south　there　the　roads　are　narrow；　and　streams　and　mountains　make　the　country　difficult。　The　forests　are　dense；　and　if　the　enemy　used　fire　we　should　be　lost。〃
〃You　are　right；〃　replied　Yu　Jin。　〃I　will　get　on　and　warn　the　manding　General。　Perhaps　he　will　stop。　You　can　halt　those　who　e　up。〃
Yu　Jin　rode　forward　shouting　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　〃Halt　the　train！〃
Xiahou　Dun　saw　him　ing　up　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。
Yu　Jin　said；　〃The　roads　here　are　narrow　and　difficult。　Around　us　are　thick　forests。　What　if　they　use　fire？〃
Xiahou　Dun's　ferocity　had　then　somewhat　abated　and　he　turned　his　steed　toward　his　main　body。
Then　there　arose　a　shout