三国演义英文版-第136部分

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tion　and　tell　them　I　am　dead。　That　will　cause　them　to　try　a　night　raid　on　the　camp；　and　we　shall　have　an　ambush　ready　for　them。　We　shall　get　Cao　Ren　easily。〃
〃The　plan　seems　excellent；〃　said　Cheng　Pu。
Soon　from　the　tent　there　arose　the　sound　of　wailing　as　for　the　dead。　The　soldiers　around　took　up　the　cry　and　said　one　to　another；　〃The　General　is　dead　of　his　wound；〃　and　they　all　put　on　the　symbols　of　mourning。
Meanwhile　Cao　Ren　was　consulting　with　his　officers。
Said　he；　〃Zhou　Yu　lost　his　temper；　and　that　has　caused　his　wound　to　reopen　and　brought　on　that　flow　of　blood。　You　saw　him　fall　to　the　ground；　and　he　will　assuredly　die　soon。〃
Just　then　there　came　in　one　who　said　that　a　few　men　had　e　over　from　the　enemy　asking　to　be　allowed　to　join　the　army　of　Cao　Ren。　Among　them　were　two　of　Cao　Cao's　men　who　had　been　made　prisoners。　Cao　Ren　sent　for　the　deserters　and　questioned　them。
They　told　him；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yu's　wound　reopened　at　his　anger；　and　he　died　in　the　camp　that　day。　The　leaders　are　all　clothing　in　white　and　in　mourning。　We　desert　because　we　have　been　put　to　shame　by　the　second　in　mand。〃
Pleased　at　this　news；　Cao　Ren　at　once　began　to　arrange　to　make　a　night　attack　on　the　camp　and；　if　possible；　get　the　head　of　the　dead　general　to　send　to　the　capital。
〃Success　depends　upon　promptitude；　so　act　without　delay；〃　said　Chen　Jiao。
Niu　Jin　was　told　off　as　Van　Leader；　Cao　Ren　himself　led　the　center；　while　the　rear　was　manded　by　Cao　Hong　and　Cao　Chun。　Chen　Jiao　and　a　small　force　were　left　to　guard　Nanjun。
At　the　first　watch　they　left　the　city　and　took　the　way　toward　Zhou　Yu's　camp。　When　they　drew　near；　not　a　soldier　was　visible　in　the　camp；　but　flags　and　banners　and　spears　were　all　there；　evidently　to　keep　up　an　appearance　of　preparation。　Feeling　at　once　that　they　had　been　tricked；　they　turned　to　retreat。
But　a　bomb　exploded；　and　this　was　the　signal　for　an　attack　on　all　four　sides。　Han　Dang　and　Jiang　Qin　pressed　in　from　the　east；　Zhou　Tai　and　Pan　Zhang；　from　the　west；　Chen　Wu　and　Lu　Meng；　from　the　north；　and　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng；　from　the　south。　The　result　was　a　severe　defeat　for　the　raiders；　and　the　army　of　Cao　Ren　was　entirely　broken　and　scattered　abroad　so　that　no　one　part　of　the　beaten　army　could　aid　the　other。
Cao　Ren；　with　a　few　horsemen　got　out　of　the　press　and　presently　met　Cao　Hong。　The　two　leaders　ran　away　together；　and　by　the　fifth　watch　they　had　got　near　Nanjun。　Then　they　heard　a　beating　of　drums；　and　Ling　Tong　appeared　barring　the　way。　There　was　a　small　skirmish；　and　Cao　Ren　went　off　at　an　angle。　But　he　fell　in　with　Gan　Ning；　who　attacked　him　vigorously。　Cao　Ren　dared　not　go　back　to　Nanjun；　but　he　made　for　Xiangyang　along　the　main　road。　The　forces　of　the　South　Land　pursued　him　for　a　time　and　then　desisted。
Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　then　made　their　way　to　Nanjun　where　they　were　startled　to　see　flags　on　the　walls　and　every　sign　of　occupation。
Before　they　had　recovered　from　their　surprise；　there　appeared　one　who　cried；　〃Pardon；　General！　I　had　orders　from　the　Directing　Instructor　to　take　this　city。　I　am　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan。〃
Zhou　Yu　was　fiercely　angry　and　gave　orders　to　assault　the　city；　but　the　defenders　sent　down　flights　and　flights　of　arrows；　and　his　troops　could　not　stay　near　the　rampart。　So　he　withdrew　and　took　counsel。　In　the　meantime　he　decided　to　send　Gan　Ning　with　a　force　of　several　thousand　to　capture　Jingzhou　City；　and　Ling　Tong　with　another　army　to　take　Xiangyang。　Nanjun　could　be　taken　later。
But　even　as　these　orders　were　being　given；　the　scouts　came　in　hurriedly　to　report；　saying；　〃After　Nanjun　fell；　Zhuge　Liang；　suddenly　forging　a　military　mission；　induced　the　guards　of　Jingzhou　City　to　leave　it　and　go　to　the　rescue　of　Cao　Ren。　Whereupon　Zhang　Fei　occupied　the　capital。〃
Soon　after　another　messenger　came；　saying；　〃Xiahou　Dun；　at　Xiangyang；　received　from　Zhuge　Liang　dispatches；　supported　by　a　mission　in　due　form；　saying　that　Cao　Ren　was　in　danger　and　needed　help；　whereupon　Xiahou　Dun　marched　off；　and　Guan　Yu　seized　that　city。〃
Thus　the　two　cities　that　Zhou　Yu　wanted　had　fallen；　without　the　least　effort；　into　the　hands　of　his　rival　Liu　Bei。
〃How　did　Zhuge　Liang　get　this　military　mission　with　which　he　has　imposed　on　the　generals？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
Cheng　Pu　replied；　〃He　seized　that　of　Chen　Jiao　and　so　has　got　all　this　region　into　his　power。〃
Zhou　Yu　uttered　a　great　cry；　for　at　that　moment　his　wound　had　suddenly　burst　open。

A　city　falls；　but　not　to　us　the　gain；
The　guerdon　is　another's；　ours　the　pain。

The　next　chapter　will　say　what　befell　Zhou　Yu。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　52　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　52
　Chapter　52
Zhuge　Liang　Negotiates　With　Lu　Su；
Zhao　Yun　Captures　Guiyang。
Zhou　Yu's　anger　at　seeing　that　his　rival；　Zhuge　Liang；　had　surprised　Nanjun；　and　at　hearing　the　same　news　of　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang；　was　but　natural。　And　this　sudden　fit　of　rage　caused　his　wound　to　reopen。　However；　he　soon　recovered。　All　his　officers　besought　him　to　accept　the　situation。
But　he　said；　〃What　but　the　death　of　that　bumpkin　Zhuge　Liang　will　assuage　my　anger？　If　Cheng　Pu　can　but　aid　me　in　an　attack　on　Nanjun；　I　can　certainly　restore　it　to　the　South　Land。〃
Soon　Lu　Su　came　in；　to　whom　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃I　simply　must　fight　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　till　it　is　decided　which　shall　have　the　upper　hand。　I　must　also　recapture　the　cities。　Perhaps　you　can　assist　me。〃
〃It　cannot　be　done；〃　replied　Lu　Su。　〃We　are　now　at　grips　with　Cao　Cao；　and　victory　or　defeat　is　undecided。　Our　lord　has　not　been　successful　in　overing　Hefei。　Do　not　fight　near　home；　or　it　will　be　like　people　of　the　same　household　destroying　each　other。　Should　Cao　Cao　take　advantage　of　this　position　to　make　a　sudden　descent；　we　should　be　in　a　parlous　condition。　Further；　you　must　remember　that　Liu　Bei　and　Cao　Cao　are　united　by　the　bonds　of　old　friendship。　If　the　pressure　bees　too　great；　Liu　Bei　may　relinquish　these　cities；　offer　them　to　Cao　Cao；　and　join　forces　with　him　to　attack　the　south。　That　would　be　a　real　misfortune。〃
〃I　cannot　help　being　angry；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃to　think　that　we　should　have　used　our　resources　for　their　benefit。　They　get　all　the　advantage。〃
〃Well；　let　me　go　and　see　Liu　Bei　and　talk　reason　to　him。　If　I　can　arrive　at　no　understanding；　then　attack　at　once。〃
〃Excellent　proposal！〃　cried　all　present。
So　Lu　Su；　with　his　escort；　went　away　to　Nanjun　to　carry　out　his　proposal　and　try　to　arrange　matters。　He　reached　the　city　wall　and　summoned　the　gate；　whereat　Zhao　Yun　came　out　to　speak　with　him。
〃I　have　something　to　say　to　Liu　Bei；〃　said　he。　〃I　wish　to　see　him。〃
〃My　lord　and　Zhuge　Liang　are　in　Jingzhou；〃　was　the　reply。
Lu　Su　turned　away　and　hasted　to　Jingzhou。　He　found　the　walls　bedecked　with　flags　and　everything　in　excellent　order。　In　his　heart　he　admired　the　sight；　and　thought　what　an　able　person　was　the　mander　of　that　army。
The　guards　reported　his　arrival；　and　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　them　to　throw　wide　the　gate。　Lu　Su　was　led　to　the　government　house　and；　after　the　usual　exchange　of　salutes；　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　visitor　took　their　respective　seats。
Having　finished　the　tea；　Lu　Su　said；　〃My　master；　Marquis　Sun　Quan；　and　the　mander　of　his　army；　Zhou　Yu；　have　sent　me　to　lay　before　the　Imperial　Uncle　their　views。　When　Cao　Cao　led　his　huge　host　southward；　he　gave　out　that　it　was　for　the　conquest　of　the　South　Land。　But　really　his　intention　was　to　destroy　Liu　Bei。　Happily　our　army　was　able　to　repulse　that　mighty　host　and　so　saved　him。　Wherefore　Jingzhou　with　its　nine　territories　of　forty…two　counties　ought　to　belong　to　us。　But　by　a　treacherous　move；　your　master　has　occupied　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang；　so　that　we　have　spent　our　treasure　in　vain　and　our　armies　have　fought　to　no　purpose。　The　Imperial　Uncle　has　reaped　the　benefits　to　the　full。　This　is　not　as　it　should　be。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Lu　Su；　you　are　a　man　of　high　intelligence。　Why　do　you　hold　such　language？　You　know　the　saying　that　all　things　return　to　their　owner。　These　places　have　never　belonged　to　the　South　Land；　but　were　of　the　patrimony　of　Liu　Biao；　and　though　he　is　dead；　his　son　remains。　Should　not　the　uncle　assist　the　nephew　to　recover　his　own？　Could　my　master　have　refrained？〃
〃If　the　nephew　Liu　Qi；　the　rightful　heir；　had　occupied　these　cities；　there　would　have　been　something　to　say。　But　he　is　at　Jiangxia　and　not　here。〃
〃Would　you　like　to　see　him？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
At　the　same　time　he　ordered　the　servants　to　request　Liu　Qi　to　e。　Thereupon　Liu　Qi　at　once　appeared；　supported　by　two　attendants。
Addressing　Lu　Su；　Liu　Qi　said；　〃I　am　too　weak　to　perform　the　correct　ceremonies。　I　pray　you　pardon　me；　Lu　Su。〃
Lu　Su　said　not　a　word。　He　was　too　much　taken　aback。　However；　he　recovered　himself　presently　and　said；　〃But　if　the　heir　had　not　been　here；　what　then？〃
〃The　heir　is　living　but　from　day　to　day。　Should　he　go；　then………there　will　be　something　to　talk　about。〃
〃Should　he　die；　then　you　ought　to　return　these　cities　to　us。〃
〃You　state　the　exact　facts；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Then　a　banquet　was　prepared　and；　that　over；　Lu　Su　took　his　leave。　He　hastened　back　to　his　own　camp　and　gave　Zhou　Yu　an　account　of　his　mission。
〃But　what　is　there　for　us　in　the　chance　of　Liu　Qi's　death？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃He　is　in　his　very　first　youth。　When　will　these　places　fall　to　us？〃
〃Rest　content；　General。　Let　me　guarantee　the　return　of　these　places。〃
〃But　how　can　you？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃Liu　Qi　has　indulged　too　freely　in　wine　and　women。　He　is　a　wreck　and　rotten　to　the　core；　miserably　emaciated　and　panting　for　breath。　I　will　not　give　him　half　a　year's　life。　Then　I　will　go　to　Liu　Bei；　and　he　will　be　unable　to　deny　the　request。〃
But　Zhou　Yu　was　still　unmollified。
Suddenly　came　a　messenger　from　Sun　Quan；　who　said；　〃Our　lord　is　laying　siege　to　Hefei　but　in　several　battles　has　had　no　victory。　He　now　orders　you　to　withdraw　from　here　and　go　to　Hefei　to　help　him。〃
Thereupon　Zhou　Yu　marched　back　to　Chaisang。　Having　reached　home；　he　began　to　give　attention　to　the　recovery　of　his　health。　He　sent　Cheng　Pu　with　the　marine　and　land　forces　to　Hefei　ready　for　Sun　Quan's　call。
Liu　Bei　was　exceedingly　well　satisfied　with　the　possession　of　his　new　region；　and　his　thoughts　turned　to　more　ambitious　schemes。　Then　a　certain　man　came　to　him　to　suggest　a　plan。　This　man　was　Yi　Ji　and；　remembering　the　kindly　feeling　of　other　days；　Liu