三国演义英文版-第15部分

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＇e＇　Yan　was　a　state　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Located　in　the　northeast；　and　north　of　Qi。　。。。。。
〃Stay；　O　twice　bastard！〃　roared　he；　〃I；　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan*；　await　you！〃
Seeing　this　opponent；　Lu　Bu　left　the　pursuit　of　Gongsun　Zan　and　engaged　the　new　adversary。　Zhang　Fei　was　elated；　and　he　rode　forth　with　all　his　energies。　They　two　were　worthily　matched；　and　they　exchanged　half　a　hundred　bouts　with　no　advantage　to　either　side。　Then　Guan　Yu；　impatient；　rode　out　with　his　huge　and　weighty　green…dragon　saber　and　attacked　Lu　Bu　on　the　other　flank。　The　three　steeds　formed　a　triangle　and　their　riders　battered　away　at　each　other　for　thirty　bouts；　yet　still　Lu　Bu　stood　firm。
Then　Liu　Bei　rode　out　to　his　brothers'　aid；　his　double　swords　raised　ready　to　strike。　The　steed　with　the　flowing　mane　was　urged　in　at　an　angle；　and　now　Lu　Bu　had　to　contend　with　three　surrounding　warriors　at　whom　he　struck　one　after　another；　and　they　at　him；　the　flashing　of　the　warriors'　weapons　looking　like　the　revolving　lamps　suspended　at　the　new　year。　And　the　warriors　of　the　eight　armies　gazed　rapt　with　amazement　at　such　a　battle。
But　Lu　Bu's　guard　began　to　weaken　and　fatigue　seized　him。　Looking　hard　in　the　face　of　Liu　Bei；　Lu　Bu　feigned　a　fierce　thrust　thus　making　Liu　Bei　suddenly　draw　back。　Then；　lowering　his　halberd；　Lu　Bu　dashed　through　the　angle　thus　opened　and　got　away。
But　was　it　likely　they　would　allow　him　to　escape？　They　whipped　their　steeds　and　followed　hard。　The　soldiers　of　the　eight　armies　cracked　their　throats　with　thunderous　cheers　and　all　dashed　forward；　pressing　after　Lu　Bu　as　he　made　for　the　shelter　of　the　Tiger　Trap　Pass。　And　first　among　his　pursuers　were　the　three　brothers。
An　ancient　poet　has　told　of　this　famous　fight　in　these　lines：

The　fateful　day　of　Han　came　in　the　reigns　of　Huan　and　Ling；
Their　glory　declined　as　the　sun　sinks　at　the　close　of　day。
Dong　Zhuo；　infamous　minister　of　state；　pulled　down　the　youthful　Bian。
It　is　true　the　new　Xian　was　a　weakling；　too　timid　for　his　times。
Then　Cao　Cao　proclaimed　abroad　these　wicked　deeds；
And　the　great　lords；　moved　with　anger；　assembled　their　forces。
In　council　met　they　and　chose　as　their　oath…chief　Yuan　Shao；
Pledged　themselves　to　maintain　the　ruling　house　and　tranquillity。
Of　the　warriors　of　that　time　matchless　Lu　Bu　was　the　boldest。
His　valor　and　prowess　are　sung　by　all　within　the　four　seas。
He　clothed　his　body　in　silver　armor　like　the　scales　of　a　dragon；
On　his　head　was　a　golden　headdress　with　pheasant　tails；
About　his　waist　a　shaggy　belt；　the　clasp；　two　wild　beasts'　heads　with　gripping　jaws；
His　flowing；　embroidered　robe　fluttered　about　his　form；
His　swift　courser　bounded　over　the　plain；　a　mighty　wind　following；
His　terrible　trident　halberd　flashed　in　the　sunlight；　bright　as　a　placid　lake。
Who　dared　face　him　as　he　rode　forth　to　challenge？
The　bowels　of　the　confederate　lords　were　torn　with　fear　and　their　hearts　trembled。
Then　leaped　forth　Zhang　Fei；　the　valiant　warrior　of　the　north；
Gripped　in　his　mighty　hand　the　long　serpent　halberd；
His　mustache　bristled　with　anger；　standing　stiff　like　wire。
His　round　eyes　glared；　lightning　flashes　darted　from　them。
Neither　quailed　in　the　fight；　but　the　issue　was　undecided。
Guan　Yu　stood　out　in　front；　his　soul　vexed　within　him；
His　green…dragon　saber　shone　white　as　frost　in　the　sunlight；
His　bright　colored　fighting　robe　fluttered　like　butterfly　wings；
Demons　and　angels　shrieked　at　the　thunder　of　his　horse　hoofs；
In　his　eyes　was　fierce　anger；　a　fire　to　be　quenched　only　in　blood。
Next　Liu　Bei　joined　the　battle；　gripping　his　twin　sword　blades；
The　heavens　themselves　trembled　at　the　majesty　of　his　wrath。
These　three　closely　beset　Lu　Bu　and　long　drawn　out　was　the　battle；
Always　he　warded　their　blows；　never　faltering　a　moment。
The　noise　of　their　shouting　rose　to　the　sky；　and　the　earth　reechoed　it；
The　heat　of　battle　ranged　to　the　frozen　pole　star。
Worn　out；　feeling　his　strength　fast　ebbing；　Lu　Bu　thought　to　flee；
He　glanced　at　the　hills　around　and　thither　would　fly　for　shelter；
Then；　reversing　his　halberd　and　lowering　its　lofty　point；
Hastily　he　fled；　loosing　himself　from　the　battle；
With　head　low　bent；　he　gave　the　rein　to　his　courser；
Turned　his　face　away　and　fled　to　Tiger　Trap　Pass。

The　three　brothers　maintained　the　pursuit　to　the　Pass。　Looking　up　they　saw　an　immense　umbrella　of　black　gauze　fluttering　in　the　west　wind。
〃Certainly　there　is　Dong　Zhuo；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。　〃What　is　the　use　of　pursuing　Lu　Bu？　Better　far　seize　the　chiefest　rebel　and　so　pluck　up　the　evil　by　the　roots！〃
And　he　whipped　up　his　steed　toward　the　Pass。

To　quell　rebellion　seize　the　leader　if　you　can；
If　you　need　a　wondrous　service　then　first　find　a　wondrous　man。

The　following　chapters　will　unfold　the　result　of　the　battle。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　6　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　6
　Chapter　6
Burning　The　Capital；　Dong　Zhuo　mits　An　Atrocity；
Hiding　The　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal；　Sun　Jian　Breaks　Faith。
Zhang　Fei　rode　hard　up　to　the　Pass；　but　the　defenders　sent　down　stones　and　arrows　like　rain　so　that　he　could　not　enter；　and　he　returned。　The　eight　lords　all　joined　in　felicitations　to　the　three　brothers　for　their　services；　and　the　story　of　victory　was　sent　to　Yuan　Shao；　who　ordered　Sun　Jian　to　make　an　immediate　advance。
Thereupon　Sun　Jian　with　two　trusty　generals；　Cheng　Pu　and　Huang　Gai；　went　over　to　the　camp　of　Yuan　Shu。
Tracing　figures　on　the　ground　with　his　staff；　Sun　Jian　said；　〃Dong　Zhuo　and　I　had　no　personal　quarrel。　Yet　now　I　have　thrown　myself　into　the　battle　regardless　of　consequences；　exposed　my　person　to　the　risk　of　wounds　and　fought　bloody　battles　to　their　bitter　end。　And　why？　That　I　might　be　the　means　of　ridding　my　country　of　a　rebel　and………for　the　private　advantage　of　your　family。　Yet　you；　heeding　the　slanderous　tongue　of　certain　counselor；　formerly　withheld　the　supplies　absolutely　necessary　to　me；　and　so　I　suffered　defeat。　How　can　you　explain；　General？〃
Yuan　Shu；　confused　and　frightened；　had　no　word　to　reply。　He　ordered　the　death　of　the　slanderer　to　placate　Sun　Jian。
Then　suddenly　they　told　Sun　Jian；　〃Some　officer　has　e　riding　down　from　the　Pass　to　see　you；　General。　He　is　in　the　camp。〃
Sun　Jian　therefore　took　his　leave　and　returned　to　his　own　camp；　where　he　found　the　visitor　was　Li　Jue；　one　of　the　much　trusted　manders　of　Dong　Zhuo。
〃Wherefore　e　you？〃　said　Sun　Jian。
Li　Jue　replied；　〃You　are　the　one　person　for　whom　my　master　has　respect　and　admiration；　and　he　sends　me　to　arrange　a　matrimonial　alliance　between　the　two　families。　He　wishes　that　his　daughter　may　bee　the　wife　of　your　son。〃
〃What！　Dong　Zhuo；　that　rebel　and　renegade；　that　subverter　of　the　Throne！　I　wish　I　could　destroy　his　nine　generations　as　a　thank…offering　to　the　empire！　Think　you　I　would　be　willing　to　have　an　alliance　with　such　a　family？　I　will　not　slay　you　as　I　ought；　but　go；　and　go　quickly！　Yield　the　Pass　and　I　may　spare　your　lives。　If　you　delay；　I　will　grind　your　bones　to　powder　and　make　mincemeat　of　your　flesh！〃
Li　Jue　threw　his　arms　over　his　head　and　ran　out。　He　returned　to　his　master　and　told　him　what　a　rude　reception　he　had　met　with。　Dong　Zhuo　asked　his　adviser　Li　Ru　how　to　reply　to　this。
Li　Ru　said；　〃Lu　Bu's　late　defeat　had　somewhat　blunted　the　edge　of　our　army's　desire　for　battle。　It　would　be　well　to　return　to　the　capital　and　remove　the　Emperor　to　Changan；　as　the　street　children　had　been　lately　singing：

〃A　Han　on　the　west；　a　Han　on　the　east。
The　deer　（emperor）　in　Changan　shall　worry　least。〃

Li　Ru　continued；　〃If　you　think　out　this　couplet；　it　applies　to　the　present　juncture。　Half　the　first　line　refers　to　the　founder　of　the　dynasty；　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　who　became　ruler　in　the　western　city　of　Changan；　which　was　the　capital　during　twelve　reigns。　The　other　half　corresponds　to　Liu　Xiu　the　Latter　Han　Founder　who　ruled　from　Luoyang；　the　eastern　capital　during　twelve　latter　reigns。　The　revolution　of　the　heavens　brings　us　back　to　this　starting　moment。　Thus　if　you　remove　to　Changan；　there　will　be　no　need　for　anxiety。〃
Dong　Zhuo　was　exceedingly　pleased　and　said；　〃Had　you　not　spoken　thus；　I　should　not　have　understood！〃
Then　taking　Lu　Bu　with　him；　Dong　Zhuo　started　at　once　for　Capital　Luoyang。
Here　he　called　all　the　officials　to　a　great　council　in　the　Palace　and　addressed　them；　〃After　two　centuries　of　rule　here；　the　royal　fortune　has　been　exhausted；　and　I　perceive　that　the　aura　of　rule　has　migrated　to　Changan；　whither　I　now　desire　to　move　the　court。　All　you　had　better　pack　up　for　the　journey。〃

＇e＇　The　Land　Within　the　Passes；　or　Guanzhong；　was　the　area　surrounding　Changan。
＇e＇　In　the　ending　years　of　Wang　Mang's　usurpation；　rebels　ran　the　country。　The　Red　Eyebrows　rebels　were　one　of　the　most　active　of　the　robber　bands。　They　finally　captured　Changan；　and　Wang　Mang　was　killed　in　the　fighting。　。。。。。
Yang　Biao；　Minister　of　the　Interior；　said；　〃I　pray　you　reflect。　The　Land　Within　the　Passes*　is　all　destruction。　There　is　no　reason　to　renounce　the　ancestral　temples　and　abandon　the　imperial　tombs　here。　I　fear　the　people　will　be　alarmed。　It　is　easy　to　alarm　them　but　difficult　to　pacify　them。〃
〃Do　you　oppose　the　state　plans？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　angrily。
Another　official；　Grand　mander　Huang　Wan；　supported　his　colleague；　〃In　the　era　of　Remencement　（AD　23…25）；　Fan　Chong　of　the　Red　Eyebrows　rebels　burned　Changan　to　the　ground　and　reduced　the　place　to　broken　tiles*。　The　inhabitants　scattered　all　but　a　few。　It　is　wrong　to　abandon　these　palaces　here　for　a　wasteland。〃
Dong　Zhuo　replied；　〃The　East　of　the　Pass　is　full　of　sedition；　and　all　the　empire　is　in　rebellion。　The　city　of　Changan　is　protected　by　the　Yaohan　Mountains　and　the　Hangu　Pass。　Moreover；　it　is　near　Longyou；　whence　can　be　easily　brought　timber；　stone；　brick；　and　building　materials。　In　a　month　or　so　palaces　can　be　erected。　So　an　end　to　your　wild　words！〃
Yet　Minister　of　Works　Xun　Shuang　raised　another　protest　against　disturbing　the　people；　but　Dong　Zhuo　overbore　him　also。
〃How　can　I　stop　to　consider　a　few　mon　people　when　my　scheme　affects　the　empire？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
That　day　the　three　objectors………Yang　Biao；　Huang　Wan；　and　Xun　Shuang………were　removed　from　their　offices　and　reduced　to　the　rank　of　moners。
As　Dong　Zhuo　went　out　to　get　into　his　coach；　he　met　two　other　officers　who