三国演义英文版-第52部分

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e　of　any　place　heard　that　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou　was　the　man　who　needed　help；　they　vied　with　each　other　in　offering　all　that　was　required。
One　day　they　sought　shelter　at　a　house　whence　a　youth　came　out　and　made　a　low　obeisance。　They　asked　his　name　and　he　gave　it　as　Liu　An；　of　a　well　known　family　of　hunters。　Hearing　who　the　visitor　was；　the　hunter　wished　to　lay　before　him　a　dish　of　game；　but　though　he　sought　for　a　long　time；　nothing　could　be　found　for　the　table。　So　Liu　An　came　home；　killed　his　wife　and　prepared　a　portion　for　his　guest。
While　eating　Liu　Bei　asked；　〃What　flesh　is　it？〃
Liu　An　told　him：　〃Wolf。〃
Liu　Bei　knew　no　better　and　ate　his　fill。　Next　day　at　daylight；　just　as　Liu　Bei　was　leaving；　he　went　to　the　stables　in　the　rear　to　get　his　horse　and　passing　through　the　kitchen；　he　saw　the　dead　body　of　a　woman　lying　on　the　table。　The　flesh　of　one　arm　had　been　cut　away。　Quite　startled　he　asked　what　this　meant；　and　then　he　knew　what　he　had　eaten　the　night　before。　He　was　deeply　sorry　at　this　proof　of　his　host's　regard　and　the　tears　rained　down　as　he　mounted　his　steed　at　the　gate。
〃I　wish　I　could　go　with　you；〃　said　Liu　An；　〃but　as　my　mother　still　lives；　I　cannot　go　so　far　from　home。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　and　went　his　way。　The　party　took　the　road　by　Liangcheng；　and　as　they　were　going　out；　they　saw　not　far　off　a　thick　cloud　of　dust。　When　the　troop　came　nearer；　they　found　the　troops　were　of　Cao　Cao's　army；　and　with　them　they　traveled　to　the　main　camp　where　they　found　Cao　Cao　himself。　Cao　Cao　shed　tears　at　the　sad　story　of　Liu　Bei's　distress；　the　loss　of　the　city；　his　brothers　and　wives　and　children。　When　Liu　Bei　told　him　of　the　hunter　who　had　sacrificed　his　wife　to　feed　them；　Cao　Cao　sent　the　hunter　a　present　of　a　hundred　ounces　of　silver　as　a　reward。
The　march　then　was　continued　to　Jibei；　where　Xiahou　Yuan　weled　them。　They　heard　that　his　brother　Xiahou　Dun　was　still　ill　from　the　wound　he　had　received　in　the　eye。　Cao　Cao　went　to　the　sick　man's　bedside　to　see　him　and　had　him　removed　to　Xuchang　for　skilled　treatment。
Presently　scouts；　sent　out　particularly　for　tidings　of　Lu　Bu；　returned；　saying；　〃Lu　Bu　has　allied　himself　with　the　bandits　in　the　east；　and　they　are　attacking　Yanzhou。〃
At　this　Cao　Cao　dispatched　Cao　Ren　with　three　thousand　soldiers　to　take　Xiaopei；　while　he；　in　conjunction　with　Liu　Bei；　moved　against　Lu　Bu。
They　went　east。　As　they　reached　the　Mangdang　Hills　near　Xiao　Pass；　they　met　the　a　band　of　thirty　thousand　Taishan　Mountains　brigands　barring　their　road。　The　chieftains　of　the　bandits　were　Sun　Guan；　Wu　Dun；　Yin　Li；　and　Chang　Xi　who　rode　out　with　their　spears　set。　However；　Xu　Chu　plunged　into　the　battle　and　easily　beat　them　back　and　chased　them　right　up　to　the　pass。
The　scouts　told　Lu　Bu；　who　was　then　in　Xuzhou；　whither　he　had　gone　to　start　an　expedition　to　save　Xiaopei。　He　left　the　protection　of　Xuzhou　to　Chen　Gui　and　set　out　with　Chen　Deng。
As　Chen　Deng　was　starting；　Chen　Gui　said　to　him；　〃Remember　the　words　of　Cao　Cao；　that　the　business　of　the　east　is　in　our　hands。　Now　is　our　moment；　for　Lu　Bu　is　about　to　suffer　defeat。〃
〃Father；　I　can　look　after　the　outside。　But　when　Lu　Bu　returns　beaten；　you　must　arrange　with　Mi　Zhu　to　keep　him　out　of　the　city。　I　shall　find　a　means　of　escape；〃　said　Chen　Deng。
〃His　family　is　here；　and　he　has　many　friends。　How　about　them？〃
〃I　also　have　a　scheme　to　settle　them。〃
Then　Chen　Deng　went　to　see　Lu　Bu；　to　whom　he　said；　〃Xuzhou　is　surrounded；　and　this　city　will　be　fiercely　attacked。　We　ought　to　provide　for　possible　retreat；　and　I　advise　storing　grain　and　money　in　Xiapi。　We　could　retreat　there　if　the　day　went　adversely。　Why　not　see　about　this　in　good　time？〃
〃Your　words　are　indeed　wise。　I　will　also　send　my　wives　and　little　ones　thither；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
The　family　left　under　escort　of　Wei　Xu　and　Song　Xian；　and　with　them　was　sent　much　grain　and　treasures　and　coins。
And　then　the　soldiers　marched　to　the　relief　of　the　pass。　About　half　way　there　Chen　Deng　said；　〃Let　me　go　first　to　reconnoiter　so　that　you；　my　lord；　may　advance　with　confidence。〃
Thus　Chen　Deng　parted　pany　with　his　chief　and　preceded　him　to　the　pass　where　he　was　received　by　Chen　Gong。
Chen　Deng　said；　〃The　General　greatly　wonders　why　you　do　not　advance。　He　is　going　to　inquire　into　it。〃
〃The　enemy　is　in　great　force；　and　we　cannot　be　too　careful；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃We　are　holding　the　pass；　and　you　should　persuade　our　master　to　take　steps　to　guard　Xiaopei。〃
Chen　Deng　said；　〃Your　words　are　true。〃
That　evening　he　went　up　to　the　heights　from　which　he　could　see　Cao　Cao's　army；　which　was　quite　close　to　the　pass。　Then　he　wrote　three　notes；　tied　them　to　arrows；　and　shot　them　into　Cao　Cao's　camp。
Next　day　he　left　and　hastened　back　to　Lu　Bu　and　said；　〃Those　bandits　are　about　to　give　up　the　pass　to　the　enemy；　but　I　have　left　Chen　Gong　to　hold　it。　You　had　better　make　an　attack　tonight　and　hold　him。〃
〃Had　it　not　been　for　you；　the　pass　would　have　been　lost；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Then　he　sent　Chen　Deng　back　to　arrange　a　fire　signal　with　Chen　Gong　for　simultaneous　action。
So　Chen　Deng　returned　to　Chen　Gong　to　whom　he　said；　〃Cao　Cao's　troops　have　found　a　secret　way　through　the　pass；　and　I　fear　Xuzhou　is　already　lost。　You　ought　to　go　back　at　once。〃
At　this　the　pass　was　abandoned；　and　Chen　Gong　began　to　retreat。　Then　Chen　Deng　gave　the　prearranged　signal。
Lu　Bu　saw　the　fire　and　advanced　in　the　darkness　to　the　relief　of　the　pass。　Presently　he　met　Chen　Gong's　army；　and　as　neither　recognized　the　other　in　the　darkness；　a　fierce　battle　ensued。　Nor　was　the　trick　discovered　till　daylight　came。
While　these　things　were　going　on；　Cao　Cao　had　noted　the　signal　and　advanced　as　fast　as　possible。　The　bandits；　who　alone　remained　to　hold　the　pass；　were　easily　driven　out　and　scattered　in　all　directions。
When　daylight　came　and　the　trick　was　discovered；　Lu　Bu　and　Chen　Gong　set　off　together　for　Xuzhou。　But　when　they　arrived　and　summoned　the　gate；　instead　of　opening　the　doors；　the　guards　on　the　wall　saluted　them　with　a　thick　flight　of　arrows。
At　the　same　time　Mi　Zhu　appeared　on　the　defense　tower　and　shouted；　〃You　stole　our　master's　city；　and　now　we　are　going　to　give　it　back　to　him。　You　will　not　enter　here　again！〃
〃Where　is　Chen　Gui？〃　cried　Lu　Bu；　angrily。
〃We　have　slain　him！〃　was　the　reply。
〃Where　is　Chen　Deng？〃　said　Lu　Bu　turning　to　Chen　Gong。
〃Do　you　still　hold　to　your　delusion；　General；　that　you　ask　where　this　specious　rogue　is？〃
Lu　Bu　bade　them　search　through　all　the　ranks；　but　Chen　Deng　was　not　to　be　found。　Then　they　decided　to　go　to　Xiaopei。　But　ere　they　had　got　half　way　there；　suddenly　appeared　the　troops　under　the　mand　of　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao。
They　said；　〃Chen　Deng　came　to　us　saying　you；　General；　was　surrounded　and　wanted　help；　so　we　came　at　once。〃
〃Another　trick　of　that　false　rogue！〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃Surely　he　shall　die　for　this。〃
They　went　with　all　speed　to　Xiaopei；　only　to　see　as　they　drew　near；　the　ensigns　of　the　enemy　displayed　all　along　the　walls；　for　the　city　had　been　taken　by　Cao　Ren。
While　Lu　Bu　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　rampart　reviling　the　traitor；　Chen　Deng　himself　appeared　on　the　wall　and　pointing　to　Lu　Bu　cried；　〃Did　you　think　that　I；　a　minister　of　the　dynasty；　would　serve　a　rebel　like　you？〃
Lu　Bu　in　his　wrath　was　about　to　make　a　desperate　attack；　but　suddenly　a　great　noise　was　heard；　and　an　army　came　up　behind　him。　It　was　led　by　no　other　than　Zhang　Fei。　Gao　Shun　went　to　engage　him；　but　he　had　no　chance　of　success。　Lu　Bu　then　joined　in　the　fray。　Then　another　army　appeared；　and　the　leader　this　time　was　Cao　Cao　himself；　and　his　army　rushed　to　the　attack。　Seeing　that　he　had　no　hope　of　victory；　Lu　Bu　went　away　toward　the　east；　with　Cao　Cao　in　pursuit。　Lu　Bu's　army　marched　till　they　were　worn　out。
Then　appeared　a　new　force　under　Guan　Yu。　Holding　his　sword　ready　to　strike；　Guan　Yu　called　out；　〃Do　not　flee；　O　Lu　Bu！　Guan　Yu　is　waiting　for　you。〃
Lu　Bu　joined　battle。　He　was　flurried　and　scarcely　knew　what　was　happening。　And　soon　Zhang　Fei　came　up　once　more。　By　desperate　efforts　Lu　Bu　and　his　troops　cut　an　alley　through　the　press　and　got　free。　After　this　they　started　for　Xiapi　as　fast　as　they　could　travel；　and　Hou　Cheng　helped　to　keep　the　pursuers　at　bay　and　weled　them　into　the　city。
So　the　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　were　together　again　after　their　separation。　Both　shed　tears　of　joy　as　they　told　each　other　what　they　had　seen　and　suffered。
〃I　was　on　the　Haizhou　Road　when　I　heard　of　you；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃I　lost　no　time　in　starting。〃
〃And　I　had　been　camped　in　the　Mangdang　Hills　for　a　long　time。　It　is　happiness　to　be　together　again。〃
So　they　talked。　Then　they　marched　off　together　to　find　their　elder　brother；　and　made　their　salutations　with　tears。　In　Liu　Bei's　heart；　sadness　and　joy　intermingled。　Next　they　were　presented　to　Cao　Cao；　and　with　him　they　went　into　the　captured　Xuzhou　City。
Mi　Zhu　soon　came　with　the　wele　news　of　the　safety　of　the　family。　And　Chen　Gui　and　Chen　Deng　came　to　present　their　salutations。　A　grand　banquet　was　prepared　for　the　officers　at　which　Cao　Cao　presided　as　host；　and　Chen　Gui　and　Liu　Bei　occupied　the　seats　of　honor　to　his　right　and　left。　At　the　close　of　the　banquet；　Cao　Cao　paid　the　two　Chens　the　highest　pliments　on　their　success　and　rewarded　them　with　the　revenues　of　ten　counties　beside　giving　the　son　the　title　of　General　Who　Quells　the　Waves。
Cao　Cao　was　very　pleased　with　his　success　and　at　once　began　to　scheme　for　the　taking　of　Xiapi；　the　sole　place　now　left　to　Lu　Bu；　where　he　had　taken　refuge。
Cheng　Yu　said　the　course　was　inadvisable。
〃If　Lu　Bu　be　pressed　too　hard；　he　may　get　clear　by　a　desperate　effort　and　throw　himself　into　the　arms　of　our　especial　enemy；　Yuan　Shu。　These　two　as　allies　would　be　difficult　to　overe。　Rather　send　a　capable　man　to　guard　the　South　of　River　Huai；　one　able　to　secure　you　against　Lu　Bu　on　one　hand　and　to　hold　Yuan　Shu　on　the　other。　Moreover　the　bandits　are　in　Huashang　Mountains　and　still　our　enemies。　They　must　be　watched。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃I　can　keep　the　whole　of　Huashang　Mountains；　and　I　will　request　Liu　Bei　to　take　the　south。〃
〃Could　I　dare　withstand　your　mand？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　forthwith　Liu　Bei；　leaving　Mi　Zhu　and　Jian　Yong　at　Xuzhou；　went　south；　taking　in　his　train　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Sun　Qian。　And　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　to　Xiapi。
Lu　Bu　felt　very　secure　in　his　refuge。　He　had　good　s