三国演义英文版-第131部分

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e　left　to　guard　the　camp。　Cheng　Pu　was　greatly　impressed　with　Zhou　Yu's　ordering　of　the　grand　attack。
Then　came　a　messenger　bearing　a　mandate　from　Sun　Quan　making　Lu　Xun　Leader　of　the　Van。　He　was　ordered　to　go　to　Qichun。　Sun　Quan　himself　would　support　Lu　Xun。　Zhou　Yu　also　sent　two　mand　units；　one　to　the　Western　Hills　to　make　fire　signals；　and　the　other　to　the　Southern　Hills　to　hoist　flags。
So　all　being　prepared　they　waited　for　dusk。
Liu　Bei　was　at　Xiakou　anxiously　awaiting　the　return　of　his　adviser。　Then　appeared　a　fleet；　led　by　Liu　Qi；　who　had　e　to　find　out　how　matters　were　progressing。
Liu　Bei　sent　to　call　him　to　the　battle　tower　and　said；　〃The　southeast　wind　had　begun　to　blow；　and　that　Zhao　Yun　had　gone　to　meet　Zhuge　Liang。〃
Not　long　after　a　single　sail　was　seen　ing　up　before　the　wind；　and　Liu　Bei　knew　it　was　Zhuge　Liang；　the　Directing　Instructor　of　the　Army。
So　Liu　Bei　and　Liu　Qi　went　down　to　meet　the　boat。　Soon　the　vessel　reached　the　shore；　and　Zhuge　Liang　and　Zhao　Yun　disembarked。
Liu　Bei　was　very　glad；　and　after　they　had　inquired　after　each　other's　well…being；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃There　is　no　time　to　tell　of　any　other　things　now。　Are　the　soldiers　and　ships　ready？〃
〃They　have　long　been　ready；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。　〃They　only　await　you　to　direct　how　they　are　to　be　used。〃
The　three　then　went　to　the　tent　and　took　their　seats。
Zhuge　Liang　at　once　began　to　issue　orders：　〃Zhao　Yun；　with　three　thousand　troops　is　to　cross　the　river　and　go　to　the　Black　Forest　by　the　minor　road。　He　will　choose　a　dense　jungle　and　prepare　an　ambush。　Tonight；　after　the　fourth　watch；　Cao　Cao　will　hurry　along　that　way。　When　half　his　troops　have　passed；　the　jungle　is　to　be　fired。　Cao　Cao　will　not　be　wholly　destroyed　but　many　will　perish。〃
〃There　are　two　roads；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃One　leads　to　the　southern　regions　and　the　other　to　Jingzhou。　I　do　not　know　by　which　he　will　e。〃
〃The　south　road　is　too　dangerous。　Cao　Cao　will　certainly　pass　along　the　Jingzhou　road；　so　that　he　may　get　away　to　Xuchang。〃
Then　Zhao　Yun　went　away。
Next　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Zhang　Fei；　〃You　will　take　three　thousand　troops　over　the　river　to　cut　the　road　to　Yiling。　You　will　ambush　in　the　Hulu　Valley。　Cao　Cao；　not　daring　to　go　to　South　Yiling；　will　go　to　North　Yiling。　Tomorrow；　after　the　rain；　he　will　halt　to　refresh　his　troops。　As　soon　as　the　smoke　is　seen　to　rise　from　their　cooking　fires；　you　will　fire　the　hill　side。　You　will　not　capture　Cao　Cao；　but　you　will　render　excellent　service。〃
So　Zhang　Fei　left。　Next　was　called　Mi　Zhu；　Mi　Fang；　and　Liu　Feng。　They　were　to　take　mand　of　three　squadrons　and　go　along　the　river　to　collect　beaten　soldiers　and　their　weapons。
The　three　left。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Liu　Qi；　〃The　country　around　Wuchang　is　very　important；　and　I　wish　you　to　take　mand　of　your　own　troops　and　station　them　at　strategic　points。　Cao　Cao；　being　defeated；　will　flee　thither；　and　you　will　capture　him。　But　you　are　not　to　leave　the　city　without　the　best　of　reasons。〃
And　Liu　Qi　took　leave。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　wish　you　to　remain　quietly　and　calmly　in　Fankou；　in　a　high　tower；　to　watch　Zhou　Yu　work　out　his　great　scheme　this　night。〃
All　this　time　Guan　Yu　has　been　silently　waiting　his　turn；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said　no　word　to　him。
When　Guan　Yu　could　bear　this　no　longer；　he　cried；　〃Since　I　first　followed　my　brother　to　battle　many　years　ago；　I　have　never　been　left　behind。　Now　that　great　things　are　afoot；　is　there　no　work　for　me？　What　is　meant　by　it？〃
〃You　should　not　be　surprised。　I　wanted　you　for　service　at　a　most　important　point；　only　that　there　was　a　something　standing　in　the　way　that　prevented　me　from　sending　you；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃What　could　stand　in　the　way？　I　wish　you　would　tell　me。〃
〃You　see　Cao　Cao　was　once　very　kind　to　you；　and　you　cannot　help　feeling　grateful。　Now　when　his　soldiers　have　been　beaten；　he　will　have　to　flee　along　the　Huarong　Road。　If　I　sent　you　to　guard　it；　you　would　have　to　let　him　pass。　So　I　will　not　send　you。〃
〃You　are　most　considerate；　Instructor。　But　though　it　is　true　that　he　treated　me　well；　yet　I　slew　two　of　his　most　redoubtable　opponents；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；　by　way　of　repayment；　beside　raising　a　siege。　If　I　happened　upon　him　on　this　occasion；　I　should　hardly　let　him　go。〃
〃But　what　if　you　did？〃
〃You　could　deal　with　me　by　military　rules。〃
〃Then　put　that　in　writing。〃
So　Guan　Yu　wrote　a　formal　undertaking　and　gave　the　document　to　Zhuge　Liang。
〃What　happens　if　Cao　Cao　does　not　pass　that　way？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃I　will　give　you　a　written　engagement　that　he　will　pass。〃　Then　Zhuge　Liang　continued；　〃On　the　hills　by　the　Huarong　Valley；　you　are　to　raise　a　heap　of　wood　and　grass　to　make　a　great　column　of　smoke　and　mislead　Cao　Cao　into　ing。〃
〃If　Cao　Cao　sees　a　smoke；　he　will　suspect　an　ambush　and　will　not　e；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃You　are　very　simple；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Do　you　not　know　more　of　war's　ruses　than　that？　Cao　Cao　is　an　able　leader；　but　you　can　deceive　him　this　time。　When　he　sees　the　smoke；　he　will　take　it　as　a　subterfuge　and　risk　going　that　way。　But　do　not　let　your　kindness　of　heart　rule　your　conduct。〃
Thus　was　his　duty　assigned　Guan　Yu；　and　he　left；　taking　his　adopted　son　Guan　Ping；　his　general　Zhou　Cang；　and　five　hundred　swordsmen。
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃His　sense　of　rectitude　is　very　profound。　I　fear　if　Cao　Cao　should　e　that　way；　my　brother　will　let　him　pass。〃
〃I　have　consulted　the　stars　lately；　and　the　rebel　Cao　Cao　is　not　fated　to　e　to　his　end　yet。　I　have　purposely　designed　this　manifestation　of　kindly　feeling　for　Guan　Yu　to　acplish　and　so　act　handsomely。〃
〃Indeed　there　are　few　such　far…seeing　humans　as　you　are；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
The　two　then　went　to　Fankou　whence　they　might　watch　Zhou　Yu's　evolutions。　Sun　Qian　and　Jian　Yong　were　left　on　guard　of　Xiakou。
Cao　Cao　was　in　his　great　camp　in　conference　with　his　advisers　and　awaiting　the　arrival　of　Huang　Gai。　The　southeast　wind　was　very　strong　that　day；　and　Cheng　Yu　was　insisting　on　the　necessity　for　precaution。
But　Cao　Cao　laughed；　saying；　〃The　Winter　Solstice　depends　upon　the　sun　and　nothing　else。　There　is　sure　to　be　a　southeast　wind　at　some　one　or　other　of　its　recurrences。　I　see　nothing　to　wonder　at。〃
Just　then　they　announced　the　arrival　of　a　small　boat　from　the　other　shore　with　a　letter　from　Huang　Gai。　The　bearer　of　the　letter　was　brought　in　and　presented　it。　Cao　Cao　read　it：
〃Zhou　Yu　has　kept　such　strict　watch　that　there　has　been　no　chance　of　escape。　But　now　some　grain　is　ing　down　river；　and　I；　Huang　Gai；　have　been　named　as　escort　mander　which　will　give　me　the　opportunity　I　desire。　I　will　slay　one　of　the　known　generals　and　bring　his　head　as　an　offering　when　I　e。　This　evening　at　the　third　watch；　if　boats　are　seen　with　dragon　toothed　flags；　they　will　be　the　grain　boats。〃
This　letter　delighted　Cao　Cao　who；　with　his　officers；　went　to　the　naval　camp　and　boarded　a　great　ship　to　watch　for　the　arrival　of　Huang　Gai。
In　the　South　Land；　when　evening　fell；　Zhou　Yu　sent　for　Cai　He　and　bade　the　soldiers　bind　him。
The　unhappy　man　protested；　saying；　〃I　have　mitted　no　crime！〃
But　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃What　sort　of　a　fellow　are　you；　think　you；　to　e　and　pretend　to　desert　to　my　side？　I　need　a　small　sacrifice　for　my　flag；　and　your　head　will　serve　my　purpose。　So　I　am　going　to　use　it。〃
Cai　He　being　at　the　end　of　his　tether　unable　to　deny　the　charge　suddenly　cried；　〃Two　of　your　own　side；　Kan　Ze　and　Gan　Ning；　are　also　in　the　plot！〃
〃Under　my　directions！〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
Cai　He　was　exceedingly　repentant　and　sad；　but　Zhou　Yu　bade　them　take　Cai　He　to　the　river　bank　where　the　black　standard　had　been　set　up　and　there；　after　the　pouring　of　a　libation　and　the　burning　of　paper；　Cai　He　was　beheaded；　his　blood　being　a　sacrifice　to　the　flag。
This　ceremony　over；　the　ships　started；　and　Huang　Gai　took　his　place　on　the　third　ship。　He　merely　wore　breast　armor　and　carried　a　keen　blade。　On　his　flag　were　written　four　large　characters　Van　Leader　Huang　Gai　。　With　a　fair　wind　his　fleet　sailed　toward　the　Red　Cliffs。
The　wind　was　strong　and　the　waves　ran　high。　Cao　Cao　in　the　midst　of　the　central　squadron　eagerly　scanned　the　river　which　rolled　down　under　the　bright　moon　like　a　silver　serpent　writhing　in　innumerable　folds。　Letting　the　wind　blow　full　in　his　face；　Cao　Cao　laughed　aloud　for　he　was　now　to　obtain　his　desire。
Then　a　soldier　pointing　to　the　river　said；　〃The　whole　south　is　one　mass　of　sails；　and　they　are　ing　up　on　the　wind。〃
Cao　Cao　went　to　a　higher　point　and　gazed　at　the　sails　intently；　and　his　officers　told　him　that　the　flags　were　black　and　dragon　shaped；　and　indented；　and　among　them　there　flew　one　very　large　banner　on　which　was　a　name　Huang　Gai。
〃That　is　my　friend；　the　deserter！〃　said　he　joyfully。　〃Heaven　is　on　my　side　today。〃
As　the　ships　drew　closer；　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃Those　ships　are　treacherous。　Do　not　let　them　approach　the　camp。〃
〃How　know　you　that？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
And　Cheng　Yu　replied；　〃If　they　were　laden　with　grain；　they　would　lie　deep　in　the　water。　But　these　are　light　and　float　easily。　The　southeast　wind　is　very　strong；　and　if　they　intend　treachery；　how　can　we　defend　ourselves？〃
Cao　Cao　began　to　understand。　Then　he　asked　who　would　go　out　to　stop　the　approaching　fleet；　and　Wen　Ping　volunteered；　saying；　〃I　am　well　used　to　the　waters。〃
Thereupon　Wen　Ping　sprang　into　a　small　light　craft　and　sailed　out；　followed　by　ten　cruisers　which　came　at　his　signal。
Standing　in　the　prow　of　his　ship；　Wen　Ping　called　out　to　those　advancing　toward　them；　〃You　southern　ships　are　not　to　approach！　Such　are　the　orders　of　the　Prime　Minister。　Stop　there　in　mid　stream！〃
The　soldiers　all　yelled　to　them　to　lower　their　sails。　The　shout　had　not　died　away　when　a　bowstring　twanged；　and　Wen　Ping　rolled　down　into　the　ship　with　an　arrow　in　the　left　arm。　Confusion　reigned　on　his　ship；　and　all　the　others　hurried　back　to　their　camp。
When　the　ships　were　about　a　mile　of　distant；　Huang　Gai　waved　his　sword　and　the　leading　ships　broke　forth　into　fire；　which；　under　the　force　of　the　strong　wind；　soon　gained　strength　and　the　ships　became　as　fiery　arrows。　Soon　the　whole　twenty　dashed　into　the　naval　camp。
All　Cao　Cao's　ships　were　gathered　there；　and　as　they　were　firmly　chained　together　not　one　could　escape　from　the　others　and　flee。　There　was　a　roar　of　bombs　and　fireships　came　on　from　all　sides　at　once。　The　face　of　the　three　rivers　was　speedily　covered　with　fire　whic