三国演义英文版-第28部分

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ed　him　to　share　the　seat　with　her。　He　mounted；　but　sat　rigidly　upright；　never　even　glancing　in　her　direction。　They　traveled　thus　for　some　miles　when　she　thanked　him　and　alighted。
Just　as　she　left　she　said；　〃I　am　the　Goddess　of　Fire　from　the　Southern　Land。　I　am　on　my　way　to　execute　a　decree　of　the　Supreme　God　to　burn　your　dwelling；　but　your　extreme　courtesy　has　so　deeply　touched　me　that　I　now　warn　you。　Hasten　homeward；　remove　your　valuables；　for　I　must　arrive　tonight。〃
Thereupon　she　disappeared。　Mi　Zhu　hastily　finished　his　journey　and；　as　soon　as　he　arrived；　moved　everything　out　of　his　house。　Sure　enough　that　night　a　fire　started　in　the　kitchen　and　involved　the　whole　house。　After　this　he　devoted　his　wealth　to　relieving　the　poor　and　forting　the　afflicted。　Tao　Qian　gave　him　the　magistracy　office　he　then　held。
The　plan　Mi　Zhu　proposed　was　this：　〃I　will　go　to　Beihai　and　beg　Governor　Kong　Rong　to　help。　Another　should　go　to　Qingzhou　on　a　similar　mission　to　get　the　help　from　Imperial　Protector　Tien　Kai。　If　the　armies　of　these　two　places　march　on　Cao　Cao；　he　will　certainly　retire。〃
Tao　Qian　accepted　the　plan　and　wrote　two　letters。　He　asked　for　a　volunteer　to　go　to　Qingzhou；　and　a　certain　Chen　Deng　offered　himself　and；　after　he　had　left；　Mi　Zhu　was　formally　entrusted　with　the　mission　to　the　north。　Meanwhile　Tao　Qian　and　his　generals　would　hold　the　city　as　they　could。
Kong　Rong　was　a　native　of　Qufu　in　the　old　state　of　Lu。　He　was　one　of　the　twentieth　generation　in　descent　from　the　great　Teacher　Confucius。　Kong　Rong　had　been　noted　as　a　very　intelligent　lad；　somewhat　precocious。　When　ten　years　old　he　had　gone　to　see　Li　Ying；　the　Governor　of　Henan；　but　the　doorkeeper　demurred　to　letting　him　in。
But　when　Kong　Rong　said；　〃I　am　Minister　Li　Ying's　intimate　friend；〃　he　was　admitted。
Li　Ying　asked　Kong　Rong　what　relations　had　existed　between　their　families　that　might　justify　the　term　intimate。
The　boy　replied；　〃Of　old　my　ancestor　Confucius　questioned　your　ancestor；　the　Taoist　sage　Laozi；　concerning　ceremonies。　So　our　families　have　known　each　other　for　many　generations。〃
Li　Ying　was　astonished　at　the　boy's　ready　wit。
Presently　High　Minister　Chen　Wei　visited；　to　whom　Li　Ying　told　the　story　of　his　youthful　guest。　〃He　is　a　wonder；　this　boy；〃　said　Li　Ying；　pointing　to　Kong　Rong。
Chen　Wei　replied；　〃It　does　not　follow　that　a　clever　boy　grows　up　into　a　clever　man。〃
The　lad　took　him　up　at　once　saying；　〃By　what　you　say；　Sir；　you　were　certainly　one　of　the　clever　boys。〃
The　minister　adviser　and　the　governor　all　laughed；　saying；　〃The　boy　is　going　to　be　a　noble　vessel。〃
Thus　from　boyhood　Kong　Rong　was　famous。　As　a　man　he　rose　to　be　an　Imperial　mander　and　was　sent　as　Governor　to　Beihai；　where　he　was　renowned　for　hospitality。　He　used　to　quote　the　lines：

〃Let　the　rooms　be　full　of　friends；
And　the　cups　be　full　of　wine。
That　is　what　I　like。〃

After　six　years　at　Beihai　the　people　were　devoted　to　him。　The　day　that　Mi　Zhu　arrived；　Kong　Rong　was；　as　usual；　seated　among　his　guests；　and　the　messenger　was　ushered　in　without　delay。　In　reply　to　a　question　about　the　reason　of　the　visit；　Mi　Zhu　presented　Tao　Qian's　letter　which　said　that　Cao　Cao　was　pressing　on　Xuzhou　City　and　the　Imperial　Protector　prayed　for　help。
Then　said　Kong　Rong；　〃Your　master　and　I　are　good　friends；　and　your　presence　here　constrains　me　to　go　to　his　aid。　However；　I　have　no　quarrel　with　Cao　Cao　either；　so　I　will　first　write　to　him　to　try　to　make　peace。　If　he　refuses　my　offer；　then　I　must　set　the　army　in　motion。〃
〃Cao　Cao　will　not　listen　to　proposals　of　peace：　He　is　too　certain　of　his　strength；〃　said　Mi　Zhu。
Kong　Rong　wrote　his　letter　and　also　gave　orders　to　muster　his　troops。　Just　at　this　moment　happened　another　rising　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　ten　thousand　of　them；　and　the　ruffians　began　to　rob　and　murder　at　Beihai。　It　was　necessary　to　deal　with　them　first；　and　Kong　Rong　led　his　army　outside　the　city。
The　rebel　leader；　Guan　Hai；　rode　out　to　the　front；　saying；　〃I　know　this　county　is　fruitful　and　can　well　spare　ten　thousand　carts　of　grain。　Give　me　that　and　we　retire；　refuse；　and　we　will　batter　down　the　city　walls　and　destroy　every　soul。〃
Kong　Rong　shouted　back；　〃I　am　a　servant　of　the　great　Hans；　entrusted　with　the　safety　of　their　land。　Think　you　I　will　feed　rebels　？〃
Guan　Hai　whipped　his　steed；　whirled　his　sword　around　his　head　and　rode　forward。　Zong　Bao；　one　of　Kong　Rong's　generals；　set　his　spear　and　rode　out　to　give　battle；　but　after　a　very　few　bouts　Zong　Bao　was　cut　down。　Soon　the　soldiers　fell　into　panic　and　rushed　pell…mell　into　the　city　for　protection。　The　rebels　then　laid　siege　to　the　city　on　all　sides。　Kong　Rong　was　very　down…hearted；　and　Mi　Zhu；　who　now　saw　no　hope　for　the　success　of　his　mission；　was　grieved　beyond　words。
The　sight　from　the　city　wall　was　exceeding　sad；　for　the　rebels　were　there　in　enormous　numbers。　One　day　standing　on　the　wall；　Kong　Rong　saw　afar　a　man　armed　with　a　spear　riding　hard　in　among　the　Yellow　Scarves　and　scattering　them　before　him　like　chaff　before　the　wind。
Before　long　the　man　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　wall　and　called　out；　〃Open　the　gate！〃
But　the　defenders　would　not　open　to　an　unknown　man；　and　in　the　delay　a　crowd　of　rebels　gathered　round　the　rider　along　the　edge　of　the　moat。　Suddenly　wheeling　about；　the　warrior　dashed　in　among　them　and　bowled　over　a　dozen　at　which　the　others　fell　back。　At　this　Kong　Rong　ordered　the　wardens　to　open　the　gates　and　let　the　stranger　enter。　As　soon　as　he　was　inside；　he　dismounted；　laid　aside　his　spear；　ascended　the　wall；　and　made　humble　obeisance　to　the　Governor。
〃My　name　is　Taishi　Ci；　and　I　am　from　the　county　of　Laihuang。　I　only　returned　home　yesterday　from　the　north　to　see　my　mother；　and　then　I　heard　that　your　city　was　in　danger　from　a　rebel　attack。　My　mother　said　you　had　been　very　kind　to　her　and　told　me　I　should　try　to　help。　So　I　set　out　all　alone；　and　here　I　am。〃
This　was　cheering。　Kong　Rong　already　knew　Taishi　Ci　by　reputation　as　a　valiant　fighting　man；　although　they　two　had　never　met。　The　son　being　far　away　from　his　home；　Kong　Rong　had　taken　his　mother；　who　dwelt　a　few　miles　from　the　city；　under　his　especial　protection　and　saw　that　she　did　not　suffer　from　want。　This　had　won　the　old　lady's　heart　and　she　had　sent　her　son　to　show　her　gratitude。
Kong　Rong　showed　his　appreciation　by　treating　his　guest　with　the　greatest　respect；　making　him　presents　of　clothing　and　armor；　saddles　and　horses。
Presently　said　Taishi　Ci；　〃Give　me　a　thousand　soldiers；　and　I　will　go　out　and　drive　off　these　fellows。〃
〃You　are　a　bold　warrior；　but　they　are　very　numerous。　It　is　a　serious　matter　to　go　out　among　them；〃　said　Kong　Rong。
〃My　mother　sent　me　because　of　your　goodness　to　her。　How　shall　I　be　able　to　look　her　in　the　face　if　I　do　not　raise　the　siege？　I　would　prefer　to　conquer　or　perish。〃
〃I　have　heard　Liu　Bei　is　one　of　the　heroes　in　the　world。　If　we　could　get　his　help；　there　would　be　no　doubt　of　the　result。　But　there　is　no　one　to　send。〃
〃I　will　go　as　soon　as　I　have　received　your　letter。〃
So　Kong　Rong　wrote　letters　and　gave　them　to　his　helper。
Taishi　Ci　put　on　his　armor；　mounted　his　steed；　attached　his　bow　and　quiver　to　his　girdle；　took　his　spear　in　his　hand；　tied　his　packed　haversack　firmly　to　his　saddle　bow；　and　rode　out　at　the　city　gate。　He　went　quite　alone。
Along　the　moat　a　large　party　of　the　besiegers　were　gathered；　and　they　came　to　intercept　the　solitary　rider。　But　Taishi　Ci　dashed　in　among　them　and　cut　down　several　and　so　finally　fought　his　way　through。
Guan　Hai；　hearing　that　a　rider　had　left　the　city；　guessed　what　his　errand　would　be　and　followed　Taishi　Ci　with　a　party　of　horsemen。　Guan　Hai　spread　them　out　so　that　the　messenger　rider　was　entirely　surrounded。　Then　Taishi　Ci　laid　aside　his　spear；　took　his　bow；　adjusted　his　arrows　one　by　one　and　shot　all　round　him。　And　as　a　rider　fell　from　his　steed　with　every　twang　of　Taishi　Ci's　bowstring；　the　pursuers　dared　not　close　in。
Thus　he　got　clear　away　and　rode　in　hot　haste　to　Liu　Bei。　Taishi　Ci　reached　Pingyuan；　and　after　greeting　his　host　in　proper　form　he　told　how　Kong　Rong　was　surrounded　and　had　sent　him　for　help。　Then　he　presented　the　letter　which　Liu　Bei　read。
〃And　who　are　you？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃I　am　Taishi　Ci；　a　fellow　from　Laihuang。　I　am　not　related　by　ties　of　kin　to　Kong　Rong；　nor　even　by　ties　of　neighborhood；　but　I　am　by　the　bonds　of　sentiment　and　I　share　his　sorrows　and　misfortunes。　The　Yellow　Scarves　have　invested　his　city；　and　he　is　distressed　with　none　to　turn　to；　and　destruction　is　very　near。　You　are　known　as　humane；　righteous；　and　eager　to　help　the　distressed。　Therefore　at　his　mand　I　have　braved　all　dangers　and　fought　my　way　through　his　enemies　to　pray　you　save　him。〃
Liu　Bei　smiled；　saying；　〃And　does　he　know　there　is　a　Liu　Bei　in　this　world？〃
So　Liu　Bei；　together　with　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　told　off　three　thousand　troops　and　set　out　to　help　raise　the　siege。　When　the　rebel　leader　Guan　Hai　saw　these　new　forces　arriving；　he　led　out　his　army　to　fight　them；　thinking　he　could　easily　dispose　of　so　small　a　force。
The　brothers　and　Taishi　Ci　with　them　sat　on　their　horses　in　the　forefront　of　their　array。　Guan　Hai　hastened　forward。　Taishi　Ci　was　ready　to　fight；　but　Guan　Yu　had　opened　the　bat。　He　rode　forth　and　the　two　steeds　met。　The　soldiers　set　up　a　great　noise。　After　a　few　bouts　Guan　Yu's　green…dragon　saber　rose　and　fell；　and　with　the　stroke　fell　the　rebel　leader。
This　was　the　signal　for　Zhang　Fei　and　Taishi　Ci　to　take　a　share；　and　they　advanced　side　by　side。　With　their　spears　ready　they　dashed　in；　and　Liu　Bei　urged　forward　his　force。　The　besieged　Governor　saw　his　doughty　rescuers　laying　low　the　rebels　as　tigers　among　a　flock　of　sheep。　None　could　withstand　them；　and　he　then　sent　out　his　own　troops　to　join　in　the　battle　so　that　the　rebels　were　between　two　armies。　The　rebels'　force　was　pletely　broken　and　many　troops　surrendered；　while　the　remainder　scattered　in　all　directions。
The　victors　were　weled　into　the　city；　and　as　soon　as　possible　a　banquet　was　prepared　in　their　honor。　Mi　Zhu　was　presented　to　Liu　Bei。　Mi　Zhu　related　the　story　of　the　murder　of　Cao　Song　by　Zhang　Kai；　Cao　Cao's　vengeful　attack　on　Xuzhou；　and　his　ing　to　beg　for　assistance。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　a　kindly　man　of　high　character；　and　it　is　a　pity　that　he　should　suffer　this　wrong　for　no　f