三国演义英文版-第173部分

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So　Huang　Quan　won　over　Yang　Song；　who　led　him　to　see　his　master。　To　Zhang　Lu　again　Huang　Quan　spoke　forcibly　and　laid　the　matter　before　him　so　cogently　that　Zhang　Lu　promised　his　help。
But　Yan　Pu；　one　of　Zhang　Lu's　officers；　tried　to　dissuade　him；　saying；　〃This　plead　for　help　and　offering　of　twenty　counties　are　only　their　temporary　tactics。　Liu　Zhang　and　you　are　old　enemies。　His　promise　is　not　to　be　trusted。〃
And　another　suddenly　interjected；　saying；　〃Useless　I　may　be；　but　if　you　will　give　me　troops；　I　will　capture　this　Liu　Bei　and　you　will　retain　all　your　land。〃

The　land's　true　lord　goes　west　and　then
Hanzhong　sends　forth　its　bravest　men。

Who　made　this　bold　offer？　The　next　chapter　will　tell。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　65　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　65
　Chapter　65
Ma　Chao　Battles　At　Jiameng　Pass；
Liu　Bei　Takes　The　Protectorship　Of　Yiazhou。
It　was　Yan　Pu　who　thus　opposed　sending　help　to　Liu　Zhang。
Then　Ma　Chao　rose　and　said；　〃I　have　been　the　recipient　of　much　kindness　from　my　lord；　which　I　feel　I　can　never　repay　adequately。　Now　let　me　lead　an　army　to　take　Jiameng　Pass　and　capture　Liu　Bei。　Then；　my　lord；　Liu　Zhang　will　surely　lose　his　twenty　counties；　and　they　shall　be　yours。〃
This　offer　rejoiced　Zhang　Lu；　who　sent　away　Huang　Quan　with　a　promise　to　help。　Then　Zhang　Lu　told　off　twenty　thousand　for　Ma　Chao　to　lead。　Pang　De　was　too　ill　to　take　part　in　the　expedition；　so　he　remained　in　Hanzhong。　Zhang　Lu　ordered　Yang　Bo　to　be　Army　Supervisor。　Ma　Chao　and　Ma　Dai　chose　a　day　to　march　to　Jiameng　Pass。
Meanwhile；　the　messenger　sent　to　Chengdu　by　Fa　Zheng　had　returned　to　Luocheng　to　report：　〃Zheng　Du　advised　Liu　Zhang　to　set　fire　to　all　the　plains　and　valleys　between　the　capital　and　the　invaders；　as　well　as　the　granaries；　to　move　sway　the　people；　and　to　stand　solely　on　the　defensive。〃
This　news　caused　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　great　anxiety；　for　it　would　be　a　grave　danger　to　them。　However；　Fa　Zheng　was　more　sanguine。
〃Do　not　be　anxious；〃　said　he；　〃the　plan　would　be　extremely　harmful；　but　it　will　not　be　carried　out。　Liu　Zhang　will　not　do　that。〃
Surely　enough；　very　soon　they　heard　that　Liu　Zhang　had　not　adopted　the　suggestion；　he　would　not　remove　the　people。　It　was　a　great　relief　to　Liu　Bei
Then　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Now　let　us　capture　Mianzhu　quickly；　for；　that　done；　Chengdu　is　as　good　as　ours。〃
Liu　Bei　therefore　told　off　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　to　advance　first。　When　mander　of　Mianzhu；　Fei　Guan；　heard　of　their　advance；　he　ordered　Li　Yan　to　go　out　to　stop　them；　and　Li　Yan　led　out　three　thousand　troops。　The　two　sides　being　arrayed；　Huang　Zhong　rode　out　and　fought　some　half　hundred　bouts　with　Li　Yan。　Neither　was　able　to　claim　a　victory；　and　so　Zhuge　Liang　from　the　midst　of　the　host　ordered　them　to　beat　the　gongs　to　cease　from　battle。
When　Huang　Zhong　had　got　back　to　his　side　again；　he　said；　〃O　Instructor；　why　did　you　sound　the　retirement　just　as　I　was　getting　the　better　of　my　opponent？〃
〃Because　I　saw　that　Li　Yan　was　not　to　be　overe　by　mere　force。　Tomorrow　you　shall　fight　again；　and　then　you　shall　lead　him　into　the　hills　by　the　ruse　of　pretended　defeat。　There　will　be　a　surprise　awaiting　him。〃
Huang　Zhong　agreed　to　try　this　plan；　and　so　on　the　morrow　accepted　Li　Yan's　challenge　when　it　was　offered。　After　about　the　tenth　bout；　Huang　Zhong　and　his　troops　pretended　to　be　worsted　and　ran。　Li　Yan　pursued　and　was　quickly　lured　into　the　mountains。　Suddenly　his　danger　flashed　into　his　mind；　and　he　turned　to　go　back。
But　he　found　Wei　Yan's　troops　drawn　up　across　his　path。
From　a　hill　top　near　by；　Zhuge　Liang　cried；　〃You　had　better　yield！　If　not；　there　are　bows　and　crossbows　on　both　sides　of　you………all　ready　to　avenge　the　death　of　our　Pang　Tong。〃
Li　Yan　dropped　off　his　horse；　threw　aside　his　armor；　and　offered　submission。　Not　a　soldier　of　his　had　been　hurt。　The　prisoner　was　conducted　to　Liu　Bei；　who　was　very　affable　and　so　won　Li　Yan's　heart　that　Li　Yan　offered　to　try　to　seduce　Fei　Guan　from　his　allegiance。
〃Though　he　is　related　to　Liu　Zhang；　yet　Fei　Guan　and　I　are　very　close　friends。　Let　me　go　and　persuade　him。〃
Wherefore　Li　Yan　was　sent　back　to　the　city　to　induce　his　chief　to　e　over　to　Liu　Bei's　side。　Li　Yan　talked　to　such　effect　of　the　kindness　and　virtues　of　Liu　Bei　that　Fei　Guan　was　won　over；　opened　the　city　gates；　and　admitted　the　invaders。
As　soon　as　Liu　Bei　had　entered　Mianzhu；　he　set　out　his　forces　to　take　the　capital。
While　thus　engaged；　a　hasty　messenger　came　to　tell　of　the　doings　at　Jiameng　Pass：　〃There　suddenly　appeared　an　army　from　the　east　under　Ma　Chao；　Ma　Dai；　and　Yang　Bo。　They　are　attacking；　and　the　Pass　will　certainly　be　lost　if　help　is　not　sent　quickly。〃
〃We　need　both　Zhang　Fei　and　Zhao　Yun　for　this；〃　remarked　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Then　we　could　oppose　successfully。〃
〃But　Zhao　Yun　is　away；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃However；　Zhang　Fei　is　here。　Let　us　send　him　quickly。〃
〃Do　not　say　anything；　my　lord；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Let　me　stir　him　to　fight　his　noblest。〃
But　as　soon　as　Zhang　Fei　heard　of　the　danger；　he　came　rushing　in；　shouting；　〃I　must　say　farewell；　brother！　I　am　off　to　fight　Ma　Chao。〃
However；　Zhuge　Liang　made　as　if　he　heard　not　and　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃That　Ma　Chao　has　invaded　Jiameng　Pass；　and　we　have　no　one　to　drive　him　back。　Nobody　can　stand　up　to　him；　unless　we　can　get　Guan　Yu　from　Jingzhou。　Guan　Yu　could　do　it。〃
〃Why　do　you　despise　me；　O　Instructor？〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。　〃Did　I　not　once　drive　back　a　whole　army　with　my　mere　voice？　Think　you　that　I　mind　a　stupid　fool　like　Ma　Chao？〃
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Yes；　General；　but　when　you　forced　back　the　waters　and　broke　the　bridge　in　the　Long　Slope；　you　succeeded　because　your　enemies　were　doubtful。　If　they　had　known；　you　would　not　have　e　off　so　easily。　Now；　all　the　world　knows　this　Ma　Chao　and　has　heard　about　his　six　battles　at　River　Wei；　and　how　he　made　Cao　Cao　cut　off　his　beard　and　throw　away　his　robe。　Ma　Chao　very　nearly　slew　Cao　Cao　too。　This　is　no　lightsome　task　like　that；　and　even　Guan　Yu　might　fail。〃
〃All　I　care　for　is　to　go；　and　if　I　do　not　overe　this　fellow；　I　will　take　the　consequences。〃
〃Well；　if　you　will　put　that　in　writing；　you　may　lead　the　attack。　And　I　will　ask　our　lord　to　lead　another　army　to　back　you　up　this　time。　He　can　leave　the　defense　of　this　town　to　me　till　Zhao　Yun　returns。〃
〃I　also　want　to　go；〃　said　Wei　Yan。
Wei　Yan　was　allowed　to　go　with　five　hundred　of　light　horse　in　advance　of　Zhang　Fei。　Liu　Bei　marched　third。　Wei　Yan　and　his　scouts　soon　arrived　at　Jiameng　Pass　and　there　fell　in　with　Yang　Bo。　They　engaged；　but　after　a　few　bouts　Yang　Bo　fled。
At　this　success　Wei　Yan　was　seized　with　ambition　to　rival　it　and　try　to　snatch　the　credit　that　would　fall　to　Zhang　Fei。　So　he　pursued。　But　he　presently　came　across　a　line　of　battle　all　drawn　up；　the　mander　being　Ma　Dai。　Wei　Yan；　thinking　it　was　the　redoubtable　Ma　Chao；　rode　toward　him　whirling　his　sword。　Soon　Ma　Dai　turned　and　ran　away；　and　Wei　Yan　followed　him。　However；　Ma　Dai　presently　turned　back　and　shot　an　arrow；　which　wounded　Wei　Yan　in　the　left　arm；　so　that　he　left　the　pursuit　and　turned　his　face　the　other　way。　Then　Ma　Dai　came　after　him　and　chased　Wei　Yan　nearly　up　to　the　Pass。
Here　Ma　Dai　was　suddenly　confronted　by　a　fierce　thunder…roaring　leader　who　dashed　down　from　the　Pass　as　on　a　flying　steed。
It　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　just　arrived。　Hearing　the　noise　of　battle　below　the　Pass；　Zhang　Fei　had　e　to　learn　what　it　meant　and　saw　the　arrow　wound　of　Wei　Yan。　Soon　Zhang　Fei　was　in　the　saddle　and　off　to　the　rescue。　But　before　he　engaged；　he　would　ascertain　if　the　foe　was　worthy　of　his　steel。
〃Who　are　you？　Tell　your　name；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　〃then　I　may　fight　with　you。〃
〃I　am　Ma　Dai　of　Xiliang。〃
〃As　you　are　not　Ma　Chao；　go　away　quickly；　for　you　are　no　match　for　me。　You　may　bid　Ma　Chao　himself　e；　and　tell　him　that　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan　is　here。〃
〃How　dare　you　treat　me　with　contempt？〃　cried　Ma　Dai　in　hot　anger；　and　he　came　galloping　up　with　his　spear　set　ready　to　thrust。　But　after　a　half　score　bouts　he　fled。
Zhang　Fei　was　about　to　pursue　when　a　rider　came　up　to　him　hastily；　crying；　〃Do　not　pursue；　my　brother。〃
The　rider　was　Liu　Bei；　and　Zhang　Fei　stopped。　The　two　returned　together　to　the　Pass。
〃I　knew　your　impulsive　temper；　and　so　I　followed　you。　Since　you　have　got　the　better　of　him；　you　may　well　rest　and　recuperate　for　the　fight　tomorrow　with　Ma　Chao。〃
The　rolling　of　drums　at　dawn　next　day　declared　the　arrival　of　Ma　Chao。　Liu　Bei　looked　at　the　array　from　a　point　of　vantage　and　saw　Ma　Chao　emerge　from　the　shadow　of　his　great　standard。　Ma　Chao　wore　a　lion　helmet；　and　his　belt　was　clasped　with　the　shaggy　head　of　a　wild　beast。　His　breastplate　was　silver　and　his　robe　of　white。　As　his　dress　and　bearing　were　so　extraordinary；　so　were　his　abilities　superior。　And　Liu　Bei　looked　at　him；　sighing　admiringly。
〃He　justifies　what　people　say；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃Handsome　Ma　Chao。〃
Zhang　Fei　was　for　going　down　at　once；　but　his　brother　once　more　checked　him；　saying；　〃No；　not　yet。　Avoid　the　first　keenness　of　his　fighting　ardor。〃
Thus　below　was　Ma　Chao　challenging　Zhang　Fei；　while；　above；　Zhang　Fei　was　fretting　at　being　unable　to　settle　Ma　Chao。　Time　after　time　Zhang　Fei　was　setting　out；　but　each　time　his　brother　checked　him。　And　so　it　continued　till　past　midday；　when　Liu　Bei；　noticing　signs　of　fatigue　and　weariness　among　Ma　Chao's　army；　decided　that　it　was　time　to　let　Zhang　Fei　try　his　fortune。　Whereupon　Liu　Bei　chose　out　five　hundred　horsemen　to　acpany　his　brother　and　let　the　party　go。
Ma　Chao　seeing　Zhang　Fei　ing　with　so　small　a　force；　signaled　with　his　spear　to　his　array　to　retire　a　bowshot；　and　Zhang　Fei's　troops　halted。　When　all　his　troops　had　taken　their　places；　Zhang　Fei　set　serpent　halberd　and　rode　out。
〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　shouted　Zhang　Fei。　〃I　am　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan！〃
Ma　Chao　replied；　〃My　family　having　been　noble　for　many　generations。　I　am　not　likely　to　know　any　rustic　dolts！〃
This　reply　upset　Zhang　Fei；　and　in　a　moment　the　two　steeds　were　rushing　toward　each　other；　both　men　with　poised　spears。　The　fight　began　and　continued　for　a　hundred　bouts。　Neither　had　the　advantage。
〃A　veritable　tiger　of　a　leader；〃　sighed　Liu　Bei。
But　Liu　Bei　felt　that　Zhang　Fei　was　running　a　risk；　wherefore　he　sounded　the　gong　as　a　signal　to　cease　the　fight。　And　each　drew　off　to　his　own　side。　Zhang　Fei　rested　his　steed　fo