三国演义英文版-第63部分

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〃Be　careful；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Liu　Dai　was　once　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　and　he　was　one　of　the　nobles　who　met　at　Tiger　Trap　Pass　to　destroy　Dong　Zhuo。　He　is　not　to　be　despised。〃
〃I　do　not　think　him　worth　talking　about　so　much。　I　will　bring　him　in　alive　just　as　Second　Brother　did　this　other。〃
〃I　fear　that　if　his　life　be　lost；　it　may　upset　our　designs；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　I　kill　him；　I　will　forfeit　my　own　life；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
So　he　was　given　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　off　quickly。
The　capture　of　his　colleague　made　Liu　Dai　careful。　He　strengthened　his　defenses　and　kept　behind　them。　He　took　no　notice　of　the　daily　challenges　and　continual　insults　which　began　with　Zhang　Fei's　arrival。
After　some　days　Zhang　Fei　evolved　a　ruse。　He　issued　orders　to　prepare　to　rush　the　enemy's　camp　at　night；　but　he　himself　spent　the　day　drinking。　Pretending　to　be　very　intoxicated；　he　held　a　court…martial；　and　one　soldier　was　severely　flogged　for　a　breach　of　discipline。
The　man　was　left　bound　in　the　midst　of　the　camp；　Zhang　Fei　saying；　〃Wait　till　I　am　ready　to　start　tonight：　You　shall　be　sacrificed　to　the　flag。〃
At　the　same　time　he　gave　secret　orders　to　the　custodians　to　let　the　man　escape。　The　man　found　his　opportunity；　crept　out　of　camp；　and　went　over　to　the　enemy；　to　whom　he　betrayed　the　plan　of　a　night　attack。　As　the　man　bore　signs　of　savage　punishment；　Liu　Dai　was　the　more　disposed　to　credit　his　desertion　and　tale。　So　Liu　Dai　made　his　arrangements；　putting　the　greater　part　of　his　troops　in　ambush　outside　his　camp　so　that　it　was　empty。
That　night；　having　divided　his　army　into　three　parties；　Zhang　Fei　went　to　attack　the　camp。　A　few　men　were　ordered　to　advance　directly；　dash　in　and　set　fire　going。　Two　larger　bodies　of　troops　were　to　go　round　to　the　rear　of　the　camp　and　attack　when　they　saw　the　fire　well　started。　At　the　third　watch；　Zhang　Fei；　with　his　veterans；　went　to　cut　off　Liu　Dai's　road　to　the　rear。
The　thirty　men　told　off　to　start　a　conflagration　made　their　way　into　the　camp　and　were　successful。　When　the　flames　arose；　the　ambushing　troops　rushed　out　but　only　to　find　themselves　attacked　on　both　sides。　This　confused　them；　and　as　they　knew　nothing　of　the　number　of　their　assailants；　they　were　panic　stricken　and　scattered。
Liu　Dai；　with　a　pany　of　footmen　got　clear　of　the　fight　and　fled；　but　he　went　straight　toward　Zhang　Fei。　Escape　was　impossible；　and　the　two　men　rode　up　each　to　attack　the　other。　Zhang　Fei　captured　his　opponent；　and　the　men　surrendered。　Zhang　Fei　sent　news　of　this　success　to　his　brothers。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Hitherto　Zhang　Fei　has　been　rather　violent；　but　this　time　he　has　acted　wisely；　and　I　am　very　pleased。〃
They　rode　out　to　wele　Zhang　Fei。
〃You　said　I　was　too　rough。　How　now？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　to　his　brothers。
〃If　I　had　not　put　you　on　your　mettle；　you　would　not　have　evolved　this　stratagem；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Zhang　Fei　laughed。　Then　appeared　the　captive　Liu　Dai；　in　bonds。
Liu　Bei　at　once　dismounted　and　loosed　the　cords；　saying；　〃My　young　brother　was　rather　hasty；　but　you　must　pardon　him。〃
So　Liu　Dai　was　freed。　He　was　taken　into　the　city；　his　colleague　was　released；　and　both　were　cared　for。
Liu　Bei　said　to　them；　〃I　could　not　help　putting　Deputy　Imperial　Protector　Che　Zhou　to　death　when　he　tried　to　kill　me；　but　Cao　Cao　took　it　as　disaffection　and　sent　you　two　generals　to　punish　me。　I　have　received　much　kindness　from　him　and　certainly　would　not　show　ingratitude　by　killing　you。　I　wish　you　to　speak　for　me　and　explain　when　you　get　back。〃
〃We　are　deeply　grateful　that　you　spare　our　lives；　and　we　will　certainly　do　so　in　gratitude　for　what　our　wives　and　children　owe　you。〃
Next　day　the　two　leaders　and　their　army　were　allowed　to　depart　unscathed。　But　before　they　had　got　three　miles　from　the　boundary；　they　heard　a　mighty　shouting　and　there　appeared　Zhang　Fei　barring　the　road。
〃My　brother　made　a　mistake　in　letting　you　go。　He　did　not　understand。　How　could　he　give　freedom　to　two　rebels？〃
This　made　the　two　men　quake　with　fear；　but　as　the　fierce　eyed　warrior　with　uplifted　sword　was　bearing　down　upon　them；　they　heard　another　man　galloping　up　and　shouting；　〃Do　not　behave　so　disgracefully！〃
The　newer　was　Guan　Yu；　and　his　appearance　relieved　the　unhappy　men　of　all　fear。
〃Why　do　you　stop　them　since　our　brother　set　them　free？〃　cried　Guan　Yu。
〃If　they　are　let　go　today；　they　will　surely　e　back；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。
〃Wait　till　they　do；　then　you　may　kill　them；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。
The　two　leaders　with　one　voice　cried；　〃Even　if　the　Prime　Minister　slay　our　whole　clans；　we　will　never　e　again。　We　pray　you　pardon　us。〃
Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃If　Cao　Cao　himself　had　e；　I　would　have　slain　him。　Not　a　breastplate　should　have　gone　back。　But　for　this　time　I　leave　you　your　heads。〃
Clapping　their　hands　to　their　heads　the　two　men　scuttled　off　while　the　two　brothers　returned　to　the　city。
〃Cao　Cao　will　certainly　e；〃　said　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。
Sun　Qian　said；　〃This　is　not　a　city　that　can　hold　out　for　long。　We　should　send　part　of　our　forces　to　Xiaopei　and　guard　Xiapi　as　a　corner　stone　of　our　position。〃
Liu　Bei　agreed　and　told　off　Guan　Yu　to　guard　Xiapi　whither　he　also　sent　his　two　wives；　Lady　Gan　and　Lady　Mi。　The　former　was　a　native　of　Xiapi；　the　latter　was　Mi　Zhu's　younger　sister。
Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Mi　Fang　were　left　to　defend　Xuzhou；　and　Liu　Bei　with　Zhang　Fei　went　to　Xiaopei。
The　two　released　leaders；　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong；　hastened　home　to　Cao　Cao　and　explained　to　him　that　Liu　Bei　was　not　disaffected。
But　their　master　was　exceeding　angry　with　them；　crying；　〃You　shameful　traitors；　what　use　are　you？〃
He　roared　to　the　guards　to　take　them　away　to　instant　execution。

How　can　a　hare　or　a　deer　expect
To　conquer　in　tiger　strife？
Minnows　and　shrimps　that　with　dragons　contend
Already　have　done　with　life。

The　fate　of　the　two　leaders　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　23　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　23
　Chapter　23
Mi　Heng　Slips　His　Garment　And　Rails　At　Traitors；
Ji　Ping　Pledges　To　Kill　The　Prime　Minister。
At　the　close　of　the　last　chapter　the　two　unsuccessful　leaders；　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong；　were　in　danger　of　death。
However；　Kong　Rong　remonstrated　with　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃You　knew　these　two　were　no　match　for　Liu　Bei；　and　if　you　put　them　to　death　because　they　failed；　you　will　lose　the　hearts　of　your　people。〃
Wherefore　the　death　sentence　was　not　executed；　but　they　were　deprived　of　rank　and　status。
Cao　Cao　next　proposed　to　lead　an　army　himself　to　attack　Liu　Bei；　but　Kong　Rong　advised；　〃The　weather　is　too　inclement。　We　must　wait　the　return　of　spring。　In　the　interval；　we　better　use　the　time　to　arrange　peace　with　Zhang　Xiu　and　Liu　Biao；　before　launching　an　expedition　against　Xuzhou。〃
Wherefore　Liu　Ye　was　sent　to　Zhang　Xiu　and　in　due　time　reached　Xiangyang。　He　first　had　an　interview　with　Jia　Xu；　Zhang　Xiu's　adviser；　whereat　he　dwelt　upon　Cao　Cao's　virtues　so　that　Jia　Xu　was　impressed。　Jia　Xu　kept　Liu　Ye　as　a　guest　and　undertook　to　smooth　his　way。
Soon　after　Liu　Ye　saw　Zhang　Xiu　and　spoke　of　the　advantages　of　ing　to　terms　with　Cao　Cao。　While　the　discussion　was　in　progress；　a　messenger　from　Yuan　Shao　was　announced；　and　he　was　called　in。　He　presented　letters　and；　when　they　also　proposed　terms　of　peace；　Jia　Xu　asked　what　their　success　had　been　lately　against　Cao　Cao。
〃The　war　had　ceased　for　the　moment　on　account　of　the　winter；〃　replied　the　messenger。　〃As　you；　General；　and　Liu　Biao　are　both　well　reputed　officers　of　the　state；　I　have　been　sent　to　request　your　help。〃
Jia　Xu　laughed；　〃You　can　return　to　your　master　and　say　that　as　he　could　not　brook　rivalry　of　his　brother；　he　certainly　would　be　sorely　put　to　it　with　that　of　all　the　officers　of　the　state。〃
The　letter　was　torn　into　fragments　before　the　messenger's　face；　and　he　was　angrily　bidden　be　gone。
〃But　his　master；　Yuan　Shao；　is　stronger　than　Cao　Cao；〃　protested　Zhang　Xiu。　〃You　have　torn　up　his　letter　and　are　dismissing　his　man。　What　shall　we　say　about　such　an　insult　should　Yuan　Shao　e？〃
〃Better　join　hands　with　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Jia　Xu。
〃But　there　is　still　between　us　an　unavenged　enmity。　We　could　not　suffer　each　other。〃
Jia　Xu　said；　〃There　are　three　advantages　in　joining　hands　with　Cao　Cao。　First；　he　has　a　mand　from　the　Emperor　to　restore　peace。　Second；　as　Yuan　Shao　is　so　strong；　our　little　help　to　him　will　be　despised；　while　we　shall　loom　large　and　be　well　treated　by　Cao　Cao。　Third；　Cao　Cao　is　going　to　be　Chief　of　the　Feudal　Lords；　and　he　will　ignore　all　private　feuds　in　order　to　show　his　magnanimity　to　all　the　world。　I　hope；　General；　you　will　see　these　things　clearly　and　hesitate　no　longer。〃
Zhang　Xiu；　now　convinced；　became　more　reasonable　and　recalled　Liu　Ye；　who；　at　the　interview；　extolled　the　many　virtues　of　his　master。
〃If　the　Prime　Minister　had　any　thought　of　the　old　quarrel；　he　would　hardly　have　sent　me　to　make　friendly　engagements；　would　he？〃　said　Liu　Ye　at　the　last。

＇e＇　Cao　Cao　slept　with　Zhang　Xiu's　aunt。
So　Zhang　Xiu　and　his　adviser　proceeded　to　the　capital　where　formal　submission　was　made。　At　the　interview　Zhang　Xiu　bowed　low　at　the　steps；　but　Cao　Cao；　hastening　forward；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　raised　him；　saying；　〃Forget　that　little　fault　of　mine*；　I　pray　you；　General！〃
Zhang　Xiu　received　the　title　of　General　Who　Possesses　Prowess；　and　Jia　Xu　was　appointed　Counselor。
Cao　Cao　then　directed　his　secretaries　to　draft　letters　inviting　the　support　of　Liu　Biao。
Jia　Xu　said；　〃Liu　Biao　loves　to　have　to　do　with　famous　people。　If　some　famous　scholar　should　be　sent　to　him；　he　would　submit　forthwith。〃
So　Cao　Cao　inquired　of　Xun　You　who　was　the　best　person　to　go　as　a　messenger；　and　he　remended　Kong　Rong。　Cao　Cao　agreed　and　sent　Xun　You　to　speak　with　this　officer。
Xun　You　went　to　Kong　Rong；　saying；　〃A　scholar　of　reputation　is　required　to　aid　as　a　messenger　of　state。　Can　you　undertake　this　task？〃
Kong　Rong　replied；　〃I　have　a　certain　friend；　Mi　Heng；　whose　talents　are　ten　times　mine。　He　ought　to　be　constantly　at　the　court　of　the　Emperor　and　not　merely　be　sent　as　a　state　messenger。　I　will　remend　him　to　the　Emperor。〃
So　Kong　Rong　wrote　the　following　memorial：

＇e＇　Emperor　Wu；　aka　Liu　Che；　（reigned　BC　141…87）　whose　reign　was　longest　among　the　Han　emperors。　Emperor　Wu　was　perhaps　the　most　influential　Han　emperor　who　concerned　not　only　about　expa