三国演义英文版-第51部分

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〃They　flatter　you　to　your　face；　but　what　is　in　their　hearts？　You　ought　to　be　most　carefully　on　your　guard。〃
〃Hold　your　tongue！〃　was　the　angry　reply。　〃You　are　simply　slandering　them　without　the　slightest　excuse。　You　want　to　harm　good　people。〃
〃No　ears　for　loyal　words；〃　said　Chen　Gong；　as　he　went　away　sad　at　heart；　〃and　we　shall　suffer。〃
He　thought　seriously　of　abandoning　Lu　Bu；　but　that　would　be　too　painful　a　wrench。　Beside　he　feared　people　would　laugh　at　him。
So　the　days　passed　sorrowfully　for　him。　One　day；　with　a　few　horsemen；　he　rode　out　to　the　country　near　Xiaopei　to　hunt。　On　the　high　road　he　saw　a　messenger　galloping　along　in　hot　haste　and　began　to　wonder　what　it　might　mean。　He　left　the　hunt；　rode　across　country；　and　intercepted　the　rider。
〃Where　are　you　from？　Who　sent　you？〃　asked　Chen　Gong。
The　messenger　made　no　reply　for　he　knew　to　what　party　his　captors　belonged。　But　they　searched　him　and　found　a　letter；　the　secret　reply　to　Cao　Cao's　letter　from　Liu　Bei。　The　messenger　and　the　letter　were　both　taken　straight　to　Lu　Bu。
Lu　Bu　questioned　the　man；　who　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　sent　me　to　bear　a　letter　to　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Bei。　I　was　now　taking　back　the　reply。　I　know　nothing　more；　and　I　am　ignorant　of　the　contents　of　the　letters。〃
So　Lu　Bu　tore　it　open　and　read：
〃I　have　received　your　mands　concerning　the　destruction　of　Lu　Bu；　and　dare　I　for　a　moment　venture　to　disregard　them？　But　my　force　is　weak　and　I　must　act　with　extreme　circumspection。　If　you　move　your　main　body；　then　I　will　hasten　forward；　and　in　the　meantime　my　army　shall　be　got　ready　and　weapons　prepared。　I　await　your　mand。〃
Lu　Bu　was　really　alarmed。
〃The　wretches！〃　cried　he。　〃To　dare　to　act　thus！〃
The　unhappy　messenger　was　put　to　death　and　countermoves　planned。　Chen　Gong　and　Zang　Ba　went　to　enlist　the　help　of　the　Taishan　Mountains　bandits………Sun　Guan；　Wu　Dun；　Yin　Li；　and　Chang　Xi………so　that　they　would　take　Yanzhou　in　the　East　of　Huashang　Mountains。　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao　went　to　attack　Liu　Bei　in　Xiaopei。　Song　Xian　and　Wei　Xu　went　west　to　attack　Runan　and　Yingchuan。　And　Lu　Bu　took　mand　of　a　large　body　of　troops　ready　to　afford　help　wherever　needed。
The　departure　of　the　army　under　Gao　Shun　against　Xiaopei　was　reported　to　Liu　Bei；　who　assembled　his　officers　at　a　council。
Sun　Qian　advised　sending　a　message　to　the　capital　to　inform　Cao　Cao　of　their　danger。　In　response　to　the　chief's　call；　Jian　Yong；　a　fellow　townsman　of　Liu　Bei；　offered　to　take　the　message。　Up　to　that　moment　Jian　Yong　had　served　as　a　secretary。　So　a　letter　was　written；　and　Jian　Yong　set　out　at　once　on　his　journey。
Then　preparations　were　made　for　defense：　Liu　Bei　manding　at　the　south　gate；　Sun　Qian　at　the　north　gate；　Guan　Yu　at　the　west　gate；　and　Zhang　Fei　at　the　east　gate。　Mi　Zhu　and　his　brother　Mi　Fang　manded　the　family　guard　in　the　center。
The　two　Mis　were　put　in　mand　of　the　house　guard　because　they　were　Liu　Bei's　brothers…in…law；　Liu　Bei　had　taken　a　sister　of　Mi　Zhu　as　a　second　wife。　Hence　they　were　suitable　men　to　guard　the　family。
In　due　course　Gao　Shun　came　to　the　south　gate。　Liu　Bei　ascended　the　tower　and　said；　〃I　have　no　quarrel　with　your　master；　why　do　you　e　here　with　an　army？〃
〃You　have　plotted　with　Cao　Cao　to　injure　my　master　as　we　know　now：　Why　should　I　not　bind　you？〃
So　saying　Gao　Shun　gave　the　signal　to　attack。　But　Liu　Bei　did　not　go　out　to　repulse　Gao　Shun；　he　only　kept　the　gate　fast　closed。
Soon　after；　Zhang　Liao　led　an　attack　on　the　west　gate；　then　kept　by　Guan　Yu；　who　addressed　Zhang　Liao　from　the　wall。
〃You　are　too　good　a　man　to　waste　yourself　on　rebels；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Zhang　Liao　hung　his　head　and　made　no　reply。　Guan　Yu　knew　that　Zhang　Liao　had　a　sound　heart　and　high　principles　and　said　no　more；　as　he　was　unwilling　to　wound　Zhang　Liao。　Nor　did　he　go　out　to　attack。
Zhang　Liao　then　drew　off　and　proceeded　to　the　east　gate；　and　Zhang　Fei　went　out　to　give　battle。　Soon　it　was　told　Guan　Yu；　who　came　over　quickly。　He　saw　Zhang　Fei　going　out；　but　Zhang　Liao　was　already　withdrawing。　Zhang　Fei　wished　to　pursue；　but　his　brother　held　him　back。
〃He　is　afraid　and　so　has　gone　away。　It　would　be　best　to　pursue；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃No；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃As　a　warrior　he　is　not　inferior　to　either　of　us；　but　I　have　spoken　a　few　straight　words；　and　he　has　sunk　deep。　He　is　repentant　and　that　is　why　he　will　not　meet　us。〃
So　Zhang　Fei　understood；　and　the　gates　were　shut　and　orders　given　for　careful　defense。　When　Jian　Yong；　Liu　Bei's　messenger；　reached　the　capital；　he　saw　Cao　Cao　and　told　him　what　had　happened。　The　advisers　were　called　to　discuss　a　plan。
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　wish　to　attack　Lu　Bu。　I　fear　not　Yuan　Shao；　but　Liu　Biao　and　Zhang　Xiu　may　attack　me　in　the　rear。〃
Xun　You；　the　nephew　of　Xun　Yu；　replied；　〃Both　these　latter　have　been　too　recently　defeated　to　do　anything　so　rash。　But　Lu　Bu　is　a　bold　fighting　man；　and　if　he　joined　forces　with　Yuan　Shu　and　they　set　themselves　to　conquer　River　Huai　and　River　Si；　the　problem　would　he　difficult。〃
Then　spoke　Guo　Jia；　〃Let　us　take　advantage　of　the　moment　before　they　have　fully　made　up　their　mind。　Smite　before　they　are　fully　prepared。〃
And　Cao　Cao　did　so。　An　army　of　fifty　thousand　were　sent　in　advance　with　four　manders………Xiahou　Dun；　Xiahou　Yuan；　Lu　Qian；　and　Li　Dian。　Cao　Cao　manded　the　Center　Army；　which　marched　by　divisions；　and　Jian　Yong　brought　up　the　rear。
Soon　the　scouts　informed　Gao　Shun。　He　sent　flying　messengers　to　Lu　Bu；　who　detached　two　hundred　horse　with　Hou　Cheng；　Cao　Xing；　and　He　Meng　to　assist　him。　Gao　Shun　posted　this　reinforcement　and　his　army　about　ten　miles　from　Xiaopei　to　meet　Cao　Cao's　army。　Lu　Bu　and　the　main　army　also　followed　close。
When　Liu　Bei　saw　the　enemy　retiring　from　the　city；　he　knew　Cao　Cao's　army　was　close　at　hand。　So；　making　arrangements　for　guarding　the　city　within；　he　and　his　two　brothers　marched　their　troops　out　of　the　city　and　made　a　camp；　that　they　might　be　ready　to　assist。
Now　the　division　of　Cao　Cao's　army　under　Xiahou　Dun；　having　marched　out　in　advance；　first　came　into　touch　with　Gao　Shun。　Xiahou　Dun　at　once　rode　out　with　spear　set　and　offered　a　challenge。　It　was　accepted　and　the　two　leaders　fought　half　a　hundred　bouts。　Then　Gao　Shun　began　to　weaken　and　had　to　turn　back。　He　rode　round　to　the　rear　of　his　array。　Xiahou　Dun　was　not　the　man　to　quail；　so　he　followed　right　into　the　enemy's　country。　Then　Cao　Xing；　one　of　Lu　Bu's　generals；　secretly　strung　his　bow；　fitted　an　arrow　and；　when　Xiahou　Dun　had　e　quite　near；　shot　at　him。　The　arrow　hit　Xiahou　Dun　full　in　the　left　eye。　He　shrieked；　and　putting　up　his　head；　pulled　out　the　arrow　and　with　it　the　eye。
〃Essence　of　my　father；　blood　of　my　mother；　I　cannot　throw　this　away！〃　cried　Xiahou　Dun；　and　he　put　the　eye　into　his　mouth　and　swallowed　it。
Then　resuming　his　firm　grip　of　his　spear；　Xiahou　Dun　went　after　this　new　enemy。　There　was　no　escape　for　Cao　Xing。　He　was　overtaken　and　fell　with　a　fatal　spear　wound　full　in　the　face。　Both　sides　were　stricken　dumb　with　amazement。
Having　thus　slain　the　man　who　had　wounded　him；　Xiahou　Dun　rode　back　toward　his　own　side。　Gao　Shun　went　in　pursuit　and；　waving　on　his　army；　attacked　so　vigorously　that　he　won　the　day。　Xiahou　Yuan　defended　for　his　elder　brother　as　they　fled。　Lu　Qian　and　Li　Dian　led　various　divisions　back　to　Jibei　and　made　a　camp。
Gao　Shun；　having　scored　this　victory；　returned　to　attack　Liu　Bei；　and　as　Lu　Bu　opportunely　arrived　with　Zhang　Liao；　these　three　arranged　their　forces　so　that　each　attacked　one　of　the　brothers。

Dauntless　was　Xiahou　Dun；　that　warrior　bold；
His　courage　had　been　proved　of　old；
But　smitten　sore　one　hapless　day；
He　might　not　in　the　battle　stay。

The　fate　of　Liu　Bei　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　19　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　19
　Chapter　19
Cao　Cao　Fights　In　Xiapi；
Lu　Bu　Perishes　At　The　White　Gate　Tower。
As　was　stated　before；　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao　together　went　to　smite　Guan　Yu；　while　Lu　Bu　attacked　Zhang　Fei。　Both　brothers　went　out　to　give　battle；　while　Liu　Bei　force　was　held　in　reserve。　But　then　Lu　Bu　suddenly　attacked　both　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　from　the　rear；　and　the　brothers　were　forced　to　flee。　Liu　Bei　with　a　few　score　of　horsemen　rushed　back　to　Xiaopei。　As　he　approached　the　gate　with　Lu　Bu　pressing　him　close；　he　shouted　to　the　soldiers　on　the　wall　to　lower　the　drawbridge。　Lu　Bu　was　so　close　behind　that　the　archers　on　the　wall　feared　to　shoot　lest　they　should　wound　their　lord；　and　so　Lu　Bu　got　into　the　gate。　The　gate　guards　could　not　force　him　back　so　they　scattered　in　all　directions。　Lu　Bu　led　his　force　into　the　city。
Liu　Bei　saw　the　position　was　too　desperate　for　him　to　reach　his　residence；　and　he　must　abandon　all　his　family。　So　he　hastened　through　the　city　and　left　by　the　west　gate　out　at　which　he　and　his　scanty　following　fled　for　very　life。
When　Lu　Bu　reached　the　residence；　he　was　met　by　Mi　Zhu　who　said；　〃The　hero　does　not　destroy　a　person's　family。　Your　rival　for　the　empire　is　Cao　Cao；　and　my　master；　always　mindful　of　the　good　turn　you　did　him　at　the　Archery　Feast；　would　not　be　ungrateful。　But　he　could　not　help　going　to　Cao　Cao；　and　I　think　you　will　pity　him。〃
Lu　Bu　replied；　〃We　two　are　old　friends。　How　could　I　bear　to　harm　his　wives　and　children？〃
Whereupon　he　sent　the　family　to　Xuzhou　with　Mi　Zhu　to　take　care　of　them。　Next　Lu　Bu　led　his　army　into　Huashang　Mountains　to　Yanzhou；　leaving　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao　to　guard　Xiaopei。
During　these　troubles　Sun　Qian　had　also　fled　out　of　the　city。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　each　with　a　handful　of　soldiers；　had　got　away　to　the　hills。　As　Liu　Bei　with　his　few　horsemen　was　making　the　best　of　their　way　from　the　scene　of　his　defeat；　he　heard　someone　ing　up　behind　him。　When　he　got　closer　the　person　proved　to　be　Sun　Qian。
〃Alas！　I　know　not　the　fate　of　my　brothers；　whether　they　be　alive　or　dead；　and　my　wife　and　children　are　lost　to　me！　What　can　I　do？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Sun　Qian　replied；　〃I　see　nothing　better　than　getting　away　to　Cao　Cao；　whence　we　may　be　able　to　plan　our　future　moves。〃
Liu　Bei　had　no　better　plan　to　propose；　and　the　two　men　directed　their　way　to　Xuchang；　choosing　by…roads　rather　than　highways。　When　their　small　supplies　ran　out；　they　entered　a　village　to　beg。　But　when　the　people　of　any　place　heard　that　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou　was　the　man　who　needed　help；　they　vied　with　each　oth