三国演义英文版-第42部分

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Liu　Yao　had　a　defeat。　The　greater　portion　of　his　force　surrendered；　and　the　number　of　those　slain　exceeded　ten　thousand。　Liu　Yao　himself　fled　to　Yuzhang　and　sought　safety　with　Liu　Biao；　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou。
An　attack　on　Moling　was　the　next　move。　As　soon　as　Sun　Ce　arrived　at　the　moat；　he　summoned　mander　Xue　Li　to　surrender。　Someone　let　fly　a　furtive　arrow　from　the　wall　which　wounded　Sun　Ce　in　the　left　thigh　so　severely　that　he　fell　from　his　steed。　Hastily　his　officers　picked　up　their　wounded　chief　and　returned　to　the　camp　where　the　arrow　was　pulled　out　and　the　wound　dressed　with　the　medicines　suitable　for　injuries　by　metals。
By　Sun　Ce's　mand　the　story　was　spread　abroad　that　the　hurt　had　been　fatal；　and　all　the　soldiers　set　up　cries　of　lamentation。　The　camp　was　broken　up。　Xue　Li；　Zhang　Ying；　and　Chen　Heng　made　a　night　sortie　but　fell　into　a　carefully　prepared　ambush。
Presently　Sun　Ce　himself　appeared　on　horseback；　shouting：　〃Sun　Ce　is　here　still！〃
His　sudden　appearance　created　such　a　panic　that　the　soldiers　dropped　their　weapons　and　fell　on　their　faces。　Sun　Ce　gave　orders　not　to　kill　them。　But　their　leaders　fell：　Zhang　Ying　from　Chen　Wu's　spear　thrust　as　he　turned　to　run　away；　Chen　Heng　was　killed　by　Jiang　Qin's　arrow；　and　the　mander；　Xue　Li；　was　slain　in　the　turbulence。　Thus　Sun　Ce　got　possession　of　Moling。　Having　calmed　the　people；　he　sent　his　soldiers　away　to　Jingxian；　where　Taishi　Ci　was　in　mand。
Taishi　Ci　had　assembled　two　thousand　veterans　in　addition　to　his　own　troops　for　the　purpose　of　avenging　his　master。　Sun　Ce　and　Zhou　Yu　on　the　other　hand　consulted　how　to　capture　him　alive。
Zhou　Yu　planned；　〃Attack　the　city　on　three　sides；　leaving　the　east　gate　free　for　flight。　Some　distance　off　an　ambush　shall　be　prepared；　when　Taishi　Ci；　his　men　fatigued　and　horses　spent；　shall　fall　an　easy　victim。〃
The　latest　recruits　under　Taishi　Ci's　banner　were　mostly　hillmen　and　unaccustomed　to　discipline。　Beside；　the　walls　of　the　city　were　pitiably　low。　One　night　Sun　Ce　ordered　Chen　Wu　to　strip　off　his　long　dress；　leave　his　arms　save　a　dagger；　clamber　up　the　ramparts；　and　set　fire　to　the　city。　Seeing　the　flames　spreading；　Taishi　Ci　made　for　the　east　gate　and；　as　soon　as　he　got　outside；　Sun　Ce　followed　in　pursuit。　The　pursuit　was　maintained　for　some　fifteen　miles　when　the　pursuers　stopped。
Taishi　Ci　went　on　as　long　as　possible；　finally　halting　to　rest　in　a　spot　surrounded　by　reeds。　Suddenly　a　tremendous　shouting　arose。　Taishi　Ci　was　just　starting　when　tripping　ropes　arose　all　round；　his　horse　was　thrown　and　he　found　himself　a　prisoner。
Taishi　Ci　was　taken　back　to　camp。　As　soon　as　Sun　Ce　heard　the　news；　he　himself　rode　out　to　order　the　guards　to　leave　the　prisoner；　whose　bonds　he　loosened　with　his　own　hands。　Then　he　took　off　his　own　embroidered　robe　and　put　it　on　the　captive。　They　entered　the　camp　together。
〃I　knew　you　were　a　real　hero；〃　said　Sun　Ce。　〃That　worm　Liu　Yao　had　no　use　for　such　as　you；　and　so　he　got　beaten。〃
Taishi　Ci；　overe　by　this　kindness　and　good　treatment；　then　formally　surrendered。
Sun　Ce　seized　his　hand　and　said；　laughing；　〃If　you　had　taken　me　at　that　fight　we　had　near　the　shrine；　would　you　have　killed　me？〃
〃Who　can　say？〃　said　Taishi　Ci　smiling。
Sun　Ce　laughed　also　and　they　entered　his　tent；　where　Taishi　Ci　was　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor　at　a　banquet。
Taishi　Ci　said；　〃Can　you　trust　me　so　far　as　to　let　me　go　to　muster　as　many　as　I　can　of　the　soldiers　of　my　late　master？　Under　the　smart　of　this　defeat　they　will　turn　against　him；　and　they　would　be　a　great　help　to　you。〃
〃Exactly　what　I　most　desire。　I　will　make　an　agreement　with　you　that　at　midday　tomorrow　you　will　return。〃
Taishi　Ci　agreed　and　went　off。　All　the　generals　said　he　would　never　return。
〃He　is　trustworthy　and　will　not　break　his　word；〃　said　the　chief。
None　of　the　officers　believed　he　would　e　back。　But　the　next　day　they　set　up　a　bamboo　rod　in　the　gate　of　the　camp；　and　just　as　the　shadow　marked　noon　Taishi　Ci　returned；　bringing　with　him　about　a　thousand　troops。　Sun　Ce　was　pleased；　and　his　officers　had　to　confess　that　he　had　rightly　judged　his　man。
Sun　Ce　thus　marched　his　army　to　the　South　Land；　and　his　enemies　fled　or　surrendered　before　his　force。　He　had　now　several　legions　and　the　southeast　of　the　Great　River　was　his。　He　improved　the　conditions　of　the　people　and　maintained　order　so　that　his　adherents　and　supporters　daily　increased。　He　was　called　Sun　Ce　the　Bright。
When　Sun　Ce's　army　approached；　the　people　used　to　flee　in　terror；　but　when　it　had　arrived　and　they　saw　that　no　one　was　permitted　to　loot　and　not　the　least　attempt　was　made　on　their　houses；　they　rejoiced　and　presented　the　soldiers　with　oxen　and　wine；　for　which　they　were　in　turn　duly　rewarded。　Gladness　filled　the　country　side。　The　soldiers　who　had　followed　Liu　Yao　were　kindly　treated。　Those　who　wished　to　join　Sun　Ce's　army　did　so；　those　who　preferred　not　to　be　soldiers　were　sent　home　with　presents。　And　thus　Sun　Ce　won　the　respect　and　praise　of　everyone　and　became　very　powerful。
Sun　Ce　then　settled　his　mother　and　the　remainder　of　the　family　in　Que；　setting　his　brother；　Sun　Quan；　and　Zhou　Tai　over　the　city　of　Xuancheng。　Then　he　headed　an　expedition　to　the　south　to　reduce　Wujun。

＇e＇　Wu　was　a　state　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　Located　southeast　in　the　Great　River　Plain　（the　South　Land）。　Became　dominant　in　BC　506；　when　her　army　defeated　Chu　under　the　leadership　of　Wu　Qi。　。。。。。
At　that　time　there　was　a　certain　Yan　Baihu；　or　the　White　Tiger；　who　styled　himself　King　of　East　Wu*　and　ruled　over　Wujun。　His　armies　stationed　at　Wucheng　and　Jiaxing。　Hearing　of　Sun　Ce's　approach；　Yan　Baihu　sent　his　brother；　Yan　Yu；　with　an　army　against　Sun　Ce；　and　they　met　at　Maple　Bridge。
Yan　Yu；　sword　in　hand；　took　his　stand　on　the　bridge；　and　this　was　reported　to　Sun　Ce；　who　prepared　to　accept　the　challenge。
Zhang　Hong　tried　to　dissuade　him；　saying；　〃For　as　much　as　my　lord's　fate　is　bound　up　with　that　of　the　army；　he　should　not　risk　a　conflict　with　a　mere　robber。　I　wish　that　you　should　remember　your　own　value。〃
〃Your　words；　O　Wise　One；　are　as　gold　and　precious　stones；　but　I　fear　that　my　soldiers　will　not　carry　out　my　mands　unless　I　myself　share　their　dangers。〃
However；　Sun　Ce　sent　forth　Han　Dang　to　take　up　the　challenge。　Just　as　Han　Dang　reached　the　bridge；　Jiang　Qin　and　Chen　Wu；　who　had　dropped　down　the　river　in　a　small　boat；　passed　under　the　bridge。　Though　the　arrows　fell　in　clouds　on　the　bank；　the　two　men　rushed　up　and　fiercely　attacked　Yan　Yu　as　he　stood　on　the　bridge。　Yan　Yu　fled　and　Han　Dang　went　in　pursuit。　But　Yan　Yu　smote　up　to　the　west　gate　of　the　city　into　which　he　entered。
Sun　Ce　laid　siege　to　Wujun　both　by　land　and　water。　For　three　days　no　one　came　out　to　offer　battle。　Then　at　the　head　of　his　army；　Sun　Ce　came　to　the　west　gate　and　summoned　the　warden。　An　officer　of　inconsiderable　rank　came　out　and　stood　with　one　hand　resting　on　a　beam　while　with　the　other　he　gave　point　to　his　abuse　of　those　below。　Quickly　Taishi　Ci's　hands　sought　his　bow　and　an　arrow　was　on　the　string。
〃See　me　hit　that　fellow's　hand；〃　said　he；　turning　to　his　panions。
Even　as　the　sound　of　his　voice　died　away；　the　bowstring　twanged；　the　arrow　sped　and　lodged　in　the　beam；　firmly　pinning　thereto　the　officer's　hand。　Both　sides；　those　on　the　wall　and　those　below　it；　marveled　and　acclaimed　at　such　marksmanship。
The　wounded　man　was　taken　away。
When　Yan　Baihu　the　White　Tiger　heard　of　the　exploit；　he　said；　〃How　can　we　hope　to　withstand　an　army　with　such　leaders　as　this　in　it？〃
And　his　thoughts　turned　toward　a　peace。　He　sent　his　brother　Yan　Yu　out　to　see　Sun　Ce；　who　received　him　civilly；　invited　him　into　the　tent；　and　set　wine　before　him。
〃And　what　does　your　brother　propose？〃　said　Sun　Ce。
〃He　is　willing　to　share　this　region　with　you；〃　was　the　reply。
〃The　rat！　How　dare　he　put　himself　on　a　level　with　me？〃　cried　Sun　Ce。
Sun　Ce　manded　to　put　the　messenger　to　death。　Yan　Yu　started　up　and　drew　his　sword；　but　out　flew　Sun　Ce's　blade；　and　the　unhappy　messenger　fell　to　the　ground。　His　head　was　hacked　off　and　sent　into　the　city　to　his　brother。
This　had　its　effect。　Yan　Baihu　saw　resistance　was　hopeless；　so　he　abandoned　Wujun　and　fled。　Sun　Ce　pressed　the　attack。　Huang　Gai　captured　Jiaxing；　and　Taishi　Ci　took　Wucheng。　Several　other　southern　cities　were　fallen。　The　territory　was　quickly　subdued。　Yan　Baihu　rushed　off　toward　Yuhang　in　the　east；　plundering　on　all　sides；　till　a　band　of　villagers　under　the　leadership　of　one　Ling　Cao　checked　his　career　of　robbery　there。　Yan　Baihu　then　fled　toward　Kuaiji。
Ling　Cao　and　his　son　then　went　to　meet　Sun　Ce；　who　took　them　into　his　service；　and　appointed　them　manders　as　a　reward　for　their　service；　and　the　joint　forces　crossed　the　Great　River。
The　White　Tiger；　Yan　Baihu；　gathered　his　scattered　forces　and　took　up　a　position　at　Western　Ford；　but　Cheng　Pu　attacked　him　there　and　scattered　the　defenders；　chasing　them　as　far　as　Kuaiji。　The　Governor　of　the　place；　Wang　Lang；　was　on　Yan　Baihu's　side　and　inclined　to　support　him　actively。
But；　when　Wang　Lang　proposed　this；　one　of　his　officers　stood　forth；　saying；　〃No！　No！　Sun　Ce　as　a　leader　is　humane　and　upright；　while　the　White　Tiger　is　a　savage　ruffian。　Rather　capture　him　and　offer　his　person　as　a　peace　offering　to　Sun　Ce。〃
The　Governor　turned　angrily　toward　the　speaker；　who　was　an　official　named　Yu　Fan　from　Kuaiji；　and　bade　him　be　silent。　Yu　Fan　withdrew　sighing　deeply。　And　the　Governor　went　to　the　help　of　the　White　Tiger　with　whom　he　joined　forces　at　Shanyin。
Sun　Ce　came　up。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Sun　Ce　rode　out　and　addressed　Wang　Lang；　saying；　〃Mine　is　an　army　of　good　soldiers；　and　my　aim　is　to　restore　peace　to　this　region；　but　you　give　your　support　to　a　rebel！〃
Wang　Lang　replied；　〃Your　greed　is　insatiable。　Having　got　possession　of　Wujun；　you　want　also　my　territory。　I　shall　revenge　for　the　Yans！〃
This　response　greatly　angered　Sun　Ce。　Just　as　battle　was　to　be　joined；　Taishi　Ci　advanced　and　Wang　Lang　came　toward　him　waving　a　sword。　Before　they　had　exchanged　many　passes；　Zhou　Xin　dashed　out　to　help　Wang　Lang。　Thereupon　Huang　Gai　rode　out　to　make　the　sides　more　equal。　These　latter　two　were　just　engaging　when　the　drums　rolled　on　both　sides；　and　a　general　battle　began。
Suddenly　confusion　was　caused　in　the　rear　of　Wang　Lang's　army　by　the　sudden　onslaught　of　a　s