三国演义英文版-第30部分

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Placing　Liu　Bei　in　the　seat　of　highest　honor；　Tao　Qian　bowed　before　him　and　then　addressed　the　assembly；　〃I　am　old　and　feeble；　and　my　two　sons　lack　the　ability　to　hold　so　important　an　office　as　this。　The　noble　Liu　Bei　is　a　descendant　of　the　imperial　house。　He　is　of　lofty　virtue　and　great　talent。　Let　him　then　take　over　the　rule　of　this　region；　and　only　too　willingly　I　shall　retire　to　have　leisure　to　nurse　my　health。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　came　at　the　request　of　Governor　Kong　Rong；　because　it　was　the　right　thing　to　do。　Xuzhou　is　saved；　but　if　I　take　it；　surely　the　world　will　say　I　am　a　wicked　man。〃
Mi　Zhu　said；　〃You　may　not　refuse。　The　House　of　Han　is　falling；　their　realm　is　crumbling；　and　now　is　the　time　for　doughty　deeds　and　signal　services。　This　is　a　fertile　region；　well　populated　and　rich；　and　you　are　the　man　to　rule　over　it。〃
〃But　I　cannot　accept；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　a　great　sufferer；〃　said　Chen　Deng；　〃and　cannot　see　to　matters。　You　may　not　decline；　Sir。〃
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃Yuan　Shu　belongs　to　a　family　of　rulers；　who　have　held　the　highest　offices　of　state　four　times　in　three　generations。　The　multitude　people　respects　him。　Why　not　invite　him　to　this　task？〃
〃Because　Yuan　Shu　is　a　drying　skeleton　in　a　dark　tomb：　Not　worth　talking　about。　This　opportunity　is　a　gift　from　Heaven；　and　you　will　never　cease　to　regret　its　loss；〃　said　Kong　Rong。
So　spoke　Kong　Rong；　but　still　Liu　Bei　obstinately　refused。
Tao　Qian　besought　him　with　tears；　saying；　〃I　shall　die　if　you　leave　me；　and　there　will　be　none　to　close　my　eyes。〃
〃Brother；　you　should　accept　the　offer　thus　made；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃Why　so　much　fuss？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃We　have　not　taken　the　place。　It　is　he　who　wishes　to　give　it　you。〃
〃You　all　persuade　me　to　do　what　is　wrong；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Seeing　he　could　not　persuade　Liu　Bei；　Tao　Qian　then　said；　〃As　you　are　set　in　determination；　perhaps　you　will　consent　to　encamp　at　Xiaopei。　It　is　only　a　little　town；　but　thence　you　can　keep　watch　and　ward　over　the　region。〃
They　all　with　one　voice　prayed　Liu　Bei　to　consent；　so　he　gave　in。　The　feast　of　victory　being　now　ended；　the　time　came　to　say　farewell。　When　Zhao　Yun　took　his　leave；　Liu　Bei　held　his　hands　alternately　while　dashing　away　the　falling　tears。　Kong　Rong　and　Tien　Kai　went　home　to　their　own　places。
When　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　took　up　their　abode　in　Xiaopei；　they　first　repaired　the　defenses；　and　then　they　put　out　proclamations　in　order　to　calm　the　inhabitants。
In　the　meantime　Cao　Cao　had　marched　toward　his　own　region。
Cao　Ren　met　and　told　him；　〃Lu　Bu　is　very　powerful；　and　he　has　Chen　Gong　as　adviser。　Yanzhou　is　as　good　as　lost；　with　the　exception　of　three　counties　which　have　been　vigorously　and　desperately　defended　by　Xun　Yu　and　Cheng　Yu。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　own　that　Lu　Bu　is　a　bold　fighter　but　nothing　more；　he　has　no　craft。　So　we　need　not　fear　him　seriously。〃
Then　he　gave　orders　to　make　a　strong　camp　till　they　could　think　out　some　victorious　plan。
Lu　Bu；　knowing　of　Cao　Cao's　return；　called　two　of　his　subordinate　generals；　Xue　Lan　and　Li　Fang；　to　him　and　assigned　to　them　the　task　of　holding　the　city　of　Yanzhou；　saying；　〃I　have　long　waited　for　opportunity　to　employ　your　skill。　Now　I　give　you　ten　thousand　soldiers；　and　you　are　to　hold　the　city　while　I　go　forth　to　attack　Cao　Cao。〃
They　accepted。
But　Chen　Gong；　the　strategist；　came　in　hastily；　saying；　〃General；　you　are　going　away；　whither？〃
〃I　am　going　to　camp　my　troops　at　Puyang；　that　vantage　point。〃
〃You　are　making　a　mistake；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃The　two　you　have　chosen　to　defend　this　city　are　unequal　to　the　task。　For　this　expedition　remember　that　about　sixty　miles　due　south；　on　the　treacherous　road　to　the　Taishan　Mountains；　is　a　very　advantageous　position　where　you　should　place　your　best　men　in　ambush。　Cao　Cao　will　hasten　homeward　by　double　marches　when　he　hears　what　has　happened。　If　you　strike　when　half　his　troops　have　gone　past　this　point；　you　may　seize　him。〃
Said　Lu　Bu；　〃I　am　going　to　occupy　Puyang　and　see　what　develops。　How　can　you　guess　my　big　plan？〃
So　Lu　Bu　left　Xue　Lan　in　mand　at　Yanzhou　and　went　away。
Now　when　Cao　Cao　approached　the　dangerous　part　of　the　road　near　the　Taishan　Mountains；　Guo　Jia　warned　him　to　take　care　as　there　was　doubtless　an　ambush。
But　Cao　Cao　laughed；　saying；　〃We　know　all　Lu　Bu's　dispositions。　Xue　Lan　is　keeping　the　city。　Do　you　think　Lu　Bu　has　laid　an　ambush？　I　shall　tell　Cao　Ren　to　besiege　Yanzhou；　and　I　shall　go　to　Puyang。〃
In　Puyang；　when　Chen　Gong　heard　of　the　enemy's　approach；　he　spoke；　saying；　〃The　enemy　will　be　fatigued　with　long　marches；　so　attack　quickly　before　they　have　time　to　recover。〃
Lu　Bu　replied；　〃I；　a　single　horseman；　am　afraid　of　none。　I　e　and　go　as　I　will。　Think　you　I　fear　this　Cao　Cao？　Let　him　settle　his　camp；　I　will　take　him　after　that。〃
Now　Cao　Cao　neared　Puyang；　and　he　made　a　camp。　The　next　day　he　led　out　his　manders；　and　they　arrayed　their　armies　in　open　country。　Cao　Cao　took　up　his　station　on　horseback　between　the　two　standards；　watching　while　his　opponents　arrived　and　formed　up　in　a　circular　area。
Lu　Bu　was　in　front；　followed　by　eight　of　his　generals；　all　strong　men：　Zhang　Liao　of　Mayi；　backed　by　Hao　Meng；　Cao　Xing；　and　Cheng　Lian；　Zang　Ba　of　Huaying；　backed　by　Wei　Xu；　Song　Xian；　and　Hou　Cheng。　They　led　an　army　of　fifty　thousand　in　total。
The　drums　began　their　thunderous　roll；　and　Cao　Cao；　pointing　to　his　opponent；　said；　〃You　and　I　had　no　quarrel；　why　then　did　you　invade　my　land？〃
〃The　empire　of　Han　is　the　possession　of　all。　What　is　your　special　claim？〃　said　Lu　Bu。
So　saying；　Lu　Bu　ordered　Zang　Ba　to　ride　forth　and　challenge。　From　Cao　Cao's　side　the　challenge　was　accepted　by　Yue　Jing。　The　two　steeds　approached　each　other；　two　spears　were　lifted　both　together；　and　they　exchanged　near　thirty　blows　with　no　advantage　to　either。　Then　Xiahou　Dun　rode　out　to　help　his　colleague　and；　in　reply；　out　went　Zhang　Liao　from　Lu　Bu's　side。　And　they　four　fought。
Then　fierce　anger　seized　upon　Lu　Bu。　Setting　his　trident　halberd；　he　urged　his　Red　Hare　forward　to　where　the　fight　was　waging。　Seeing　him　approach；　Xiahou　Dun　and　Yue　Jing　both　fled；　but　Lu　Bu　pressed　on　after　them；　and　Cao　Cao's　army　lost　the　day。　Retiring　ten　miles；　they　made　a　new　camp。　Lu　Bu　called　in　and　mustered　his　troops。
The　day　having　gone　against　him；　Cao　Cao　called　a　council；　and　Yu　Jin　said；　〃From　the　hill　tops　today　I　saw　a　camp　of　our　enemies　on　the　west　of　Puyang。　They　were　but　few　men　therein；　and　tonight　after　today's　victory；　it　will　not　be　defended。　Let　us　attack；　and　if　we　can　take　the　camp；　we　shall　strike　fear　into　the　heart　of　Lu　Bu。　This　is　our　best　plan。〃
Cao　Cao　thought　so　too。　He　and　six　of　his　generals………Cao　Hong；　Li　Dian；　Mao　Jie；　Lu　Qian；　Yu　Jin；　and　Dian　Wei………and　twenty　thousand　horse　and　foot　left　that　night　by　a　secret　road　for　the　camp。
In　his　camp　Lu　Bu　was　rejoicing　for　that　day's　victory；　when　Chen　Gong　reminded　him；　saying；　〃The　western　camp　is　importance　point；　and　it　might　be　attacked。〃
But　Lu　Bu　replied；　〃The　enemy　will　not　dare　approach　after　today's　defeat。〃
〃Cao　Cao　is　a　very　able　mander；〃　replied　Chen　Gong。　〃You　must　keep　a　good　lookout　for　him　lest　he　attack　our　weak　spot。〃
So　arrangements　were　made　for　defense。　Generals　Gao　Shun；　Wei　Xu；　and　Hou　Cheng　were　ordered　to　march　there。
At　dusk　Cao　Cao　reached　the　camp　and　began　an　immediate　attack　on　all　four　sides。　The　defenders　could　not　hold　him　off。　They　ran　in　all　directions；　and　the　camp　was　captured。　Near　the　fourth　watch；　when　the　defending　party　came；　Cao　Cao　sallied　forth　to　meet　them　and　met　Gao　Shun。　Another　battle　then　began　and　waged　till　dawn。　About　that　time　a　rolling　of　drums　was　heard　in　the　west；　and　they　told　Cao　Cao　that　Lu　Bu　himself　was　at　hand。　Thereupon　Cao　Cao　abandoned　the　attack　and　fled。
Gao　Shun；　Wei　Xu；　and　Hou　Cheng　pursued　him；　Lu　Bu　taking　the　lead。　Cao　Cao's　two　generals；　Yu　Jin　and　Yue　Jing；　attacked　the　pursuers　but　could　not　check　them。　Cao　Cao　went　away　north。　But　from　behind　some　hills　came　out　Zhang　Liao　and　Zang　Ba　to　attack。　Lu　Qian　and　Cao　Hong　were　sent　to　stop　the　attackers；　but　Lu　Qian　and　Cao　Hong　were　both　defeated。　Cao　Cao　sought　safety　in　the　west。　Here　again　his　retreat　was　met　by　Lu　Bu's　four　generals；　Hao　Meng；　Cao　Xing；　Cheng　Lian；　and　Song　Xian。
The　fight　became　desperate。　Cao　Cao　dashed　at　the　enemy's　array。　The　din　was　terrible。　Arrows　fell　like　pelting　rain　upon　them；　and　they　could　make　no　headway。
Cao　Cao　was　desperate　and　cried　out　in　fear；　〃Who　can　save　me？〃
Then　from　the　crush　dashed　out　Dian　Wei　with　his　double　spears；　crying；　〃Fear　not；　my　lord！〃
Dian　Wei　leapt　from　his　steed；　leaned　his　double　spears　against　a　wall　and　laid　hold　of　a　handful　of　battle…axes。　Turning　to　his　followers　he　said；　〃When　the　ruffians　are　at　ten　paces；　call　out　to　me。〃
Then　he　set　off　with　mighty　strides；　plunging　forward；　careless　of　the　flying　arrows。　Lu　Bu's　horsemen　followed；　and　when　they　got　near；　Dian　Wei's　followers　shouted；　〃Ten　paces！〃
〃Five；　then　call！〃　shouted　back　Dian　Wei；　and　went　on。
Presently；　〃Five　paces！〃
Then　Dian　Wei　spun　round　and　flung　the　battle…axes。　With　every　fling　a　man　fell　from　the　saddle　and　never　a　battle…ax　missed。
Having　thus　slain　ten　or　so　the　remainder　fled；　and　Dian　Wei　quickly　remounted　his　steed；　set　his　twin　spears　and　rushed　again　into　the　fight　with　a　vigor　that　none　could　withstand。　One　by　one　his　opponents　yielded；　and　he　was　able　to　lead　Cao　Cao　safely　out　of　the　press　of　battle。　Cao　Cao　and　his　manders　went　to　their　camp。
But　as　evening　fell；　the　noise　of　pursuit　fell　on　their　ears；　and　soon　appeared　Lu　Bu　himself。
〃Cao　Cao；　you　rebel；　do　not　flee！〃　shouted　Lu　Bu　as　he　approached　with　his　halberd　ready　for　a　thrust。
All　stopped　and　looked　in　each　others'　faces：　The　soldiers　were　weary；　their　steeds　spent。　Fear　smote　them；　and　they　looked　around　for　some　place　of　refuge。

You　may　lead　your　lord　safely　out　of　the　press；
But　what　if　the　enemy　follow？

We　cannot　say　here　what　Cao　Cao's　fate　was；　but　the　next　chapter　will　relate。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　12　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　12
　Chapter　12
Tao　Qian　Thrice　Offers　Xuzhou　To　Liu　Bei；
Cao　Cao　Retakes　Yanzhou　From　Lu　Bu。
The　last　chapter　closed　with　Cao　Cao　in　great　danger。　However；　help　came。　Xiahou　Dun　with　a　body　of　soldi