三国演义英文版-第68部分

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Liu　Bei　told　the　story　of　his　defeat　and　said　he　wished　for　harbor。　He　was　given　suitable　quarters　and　hospitably　entertained；　while　the　young　man　wrote　to　inform　his　father。　Then　Yuan　Tan　provided　an　escort　and　sent　Liu　Bei　on　his　journey　as　far　as　the　boundary　of　Pingyuan。
At　the　city　of　Yejun；　Liu　Bei　was　met　by　Yuan　Shao　in　person　ten　miles　outside　the　city；　with　a　great　escort。　Liu　Bei　made　a　humble　obeisance　which　Yuan　Shao　hastened　to　return　and　said；　〃I　have　been　very　distressed　that；　on　account　of　my　son's　illness；　I　did　not　e　to　your　aid。　It　is　a　great　joy　to　see　you；　the　one　desire　of　my　life　is　satisfied。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　poor　Liu　Bei　you　see　here　has　long　desired　to　take　refuge　with　you；　but　fate　has　hitherto　denied　him　that　privilege。　Now　attacked　by　Cao　Cao；　my　family　lost；　I　remembered　that　you；　General；　would　receive　good　people　from　all　sides。　Wherefore　I　put　my　pride　in　my　pocket。　I　trust　that　I　may　be　found　worthy　and　one　day　I　will　prove　my　gratitude。〃
Yuan　Shao　received　him　with　much　pleasure　and　treated　him　exceedingly　well。　And　they　both　lived　in　Yuan　Shao's　home　region　Jizhou。
After　the　capture　of　Xiaopei；　Cao　Cao　pressed　on　toward　Xuzhou　City；　which；　after　a　short　defense　and　the　flight　of　Mi　Zhu　and　Jian　Yong；　was　surrendered　by　Chen　Deng。　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　into　the　city；　restored　order；　and　pacified　the　people。　Next　he　wanted　to　press　on　to　Xiapi；　where　Guan　Yu　was　holding　out　and　keeping　guard　of　Liu　Bei's　family。
Xun　Yu　said；　〃Guan　Yu　is　there；　in　charge　of　his　brother's　family；　and　he　will　defend　the　city　to　the　last。　If　you　do　not　take　it　quickly；　Yuan　Shao　will　get　it。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　have　always　loved　Guan　Yu；　both　for　his　warlike　abilities　and　his　principles。　I　would　engage　him　to　enter　my　service。　I　would　rather　send　someone　to　talk　him　into　surrender。〃
〃He　will　not　do　that；〃　said　Guo　Jia。　〃His　sense　of　right　is　too　solid。　I　fear　anyone　who　went　to　speak　with　him　would　suffer。〃
Then　suddenly　a　man　stepped　out；　saying；　〃I　know　him　slightly；　and　I　will　go。〃
The　speaker　was　Zhang　Liao。
Cheng　Yu　looked　at　him　and　said；　〃Though　you　are　an　old　acquaintance；　I　do　not　think　you　are　equal　to　talking　over　Guan　Yu。　But　I　have　a　scheme　that　will　so　entangle　him　that　he　will　have　no　alternative。　He　will　have　to　enter　the　service　of　the　Prime　Minister。〃

They　set　the　fatal　spring　beside　the　lordly　tiger's　trail；
They　hide　the　hook　with　fragrant　bait　to　catch　the　mighty　whale。

How　Guan　Yu　was　to　be　entrapped　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　25　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　25
　Chapter　25
Besieged　In　Tushan　Mountains；　Guan　Yu　Makes　Three　Conditions；
The　Rescue　At　Baima；　Cao　Cao　Is　Released。
The　plan　to　seduce　Guan　Yu　from　allegiance　to　his　brothers　was　now　announced　by　Cheng　Yu；　〃Since　Guan　Yu　is　far　braver　than　ordinary　warriors；　he　can　only　be　overreached　by　superior　cunning。　Now　send　some　of　the　captured　soldiers　who　have　lately　been　of　Liu　Bei's　army　into　Xiapi；　where　they　shall　say　they　have　e　back。　They　shall　thus　be　our　allies　on　the　inside。　Then　an　attack　and　a　feigned　defeat　will　entice　Guan　Yu　to　a　distance　from　the　city。　And　his　return　road　shall　be　cut。〃
Cao　Cao　accepted　the　scheme；　and　a　few　score　of　the　troops　who　had　lately　been　in　Xuzhou　were　sent　to　the　city。　Guan　Yu　believed　the　story　they　told　and　trusted　them。　So　they　were　suffered　to　remain。
After　this　part　of　the　game　had　been　played；　Xiahou　Dun　led　forward　five　thousand　troops　against　the　city。　At　first；　Guan　Yu　would　not　accept　the　challenge。　But　provoked　by　men　sent　to　hurl　insults　at　him　from　the　foot　of　the　wall；　his　wrath　got　the　better　of　him；　and　he　moved　out　with　three　thousand　troops。　After　the　leaders　had　exchanged　some　ten　bouts；　Xiahou　Dun　made　to　run　away。　Guan　Yu　pursued。　Xiahou　Dun　stopped　and　made　a　stand；　then　he　fled　again。　Thus　alternately　fighting　and　retiring；　he　enticed　Guan　Yu　seven　miles　from　Xiapi。　Then　Guan　Yu　suddenly　remembering　the　risk　to　the　city　drew　off　his　army　to　return　homeward。
Soon；　at　the　sound　of　a　signal　bomb；　from　the　left　and　right　out　moved　two　bodies　of　troops　led　by　Xu　Huang　and　Xu　Chu　who　barred　his　way。　Guan　Yu　hastened　along　a　road　that　seemed　to　offer　retreat；　but　from　both　sides　his　ambushing　enemies　shot　their　crossbows；　and　the　arrows　flew　like　locusts　on　the　wing。　No　way　past　was　found；　and　he　turned　back。　Then　both　bodies　joined　in　attacking　him。　He　drove　them　off　and　got　into　the　road　to　his　own　city；　but　soon　Xiahou　Dun　came　up　again　and　attacked　fiercely　as　before。　Evening　came　and　still　Guan　Yu　was　hemmed　in；　so　he　went　up　on　a　low　hill　of　Tushan　Mountains　upon　which　he　encamped　for　a　rest。
Guan　Yu　was　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　enemies。　By　and　by；　looking　toward　his　city；　he　saw　the　glow　of　fire。　It　meant　that　the　traitors；　who　had　e　in　to　surrender；　had　opened　the　gate；　and　the　enemy　had　gone　in　force。　They　had　made　the　fires　in　order　to　perplex　and　distress　Guan　Yu；　and　indeed　the　sight　saddened　him。
In　the　night　he　made　efforts　to　escape　from　the　hill；　but　every　attempt　was　checked　by　flights　of　arrows。　At　daybreak　he　prepared　for　one　more　effort；　but　before　moving　he　saw　a　horseman　riding　up　at　full　speed　and　presently　discerned　Zhang　Liao。
When　within　speaking　distance；　Guan　Yu　said；　〃Are　you　e　to　fight　me；　Zhang　Liao？〃
〃No；〃　replied　Zhang　Liao。　〃I　am　e　to　see　you　because　of　our　old　friendship。〃
Wherefore　Zhang　Liao　threw　aside　his　sword；　dismounted；　and　came　forward　saluting。　And　the　two　sat　down。
〃Then　naturally　you　have　e　to　talk　me　over；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃Not　so！〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃Sometime　ago　you　saved　me。　Can　I　help　saving　you？〃
〃Then　you　desire　to　help　me。〃
〃Not　exactly　that；〃　replied　Zhang　Liao。
〃Then　what　are　you　doing　here　if　you　have　not　e　to　help　me？〃
〃Nothing　is　known　of　the　fate　of　your　elder　brother；　nor　whether　your　younger　brother　is　alive　or　dead。　Last　night　your　city　fell　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Cao；　but　neither　soldiers　nor　people　were　harmed；　and　a　special　guard　was　set　over　the　family　of　Liu　Bei　lest　they　should　be　alarmed。　I　came　to　tell　you　how　well　they　had　been　treated。〃
〃This　is　certainly　talking　me　over；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Though　escape　is　impossible；　yet　I　am　not　perturbed。　I　look　upon　death　as　going　home。　You　had　better　depart　quickly　and　let　me　go　down　and　begin　the　struggle　again。〃
〃Surely　you　must　know　everybody　will　ridicule　you　when　they　hear　of　this；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。
〃I　shall　die　for　loyalty　and　righteousness。　Who　will　laugh？〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃You　would　be　guilty　of　three　faults　if　you　died。〃
〃Tell　me　them；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃First　of　all；　you　and　your　elder　brother　pledged　yourselves　in　the　Peach　Garden　to　die　or　to　live　together。　Now　your　brother　has　been　defeated；　and　you　want　to　fight　to　the　death。　Therefore；　if　your　brother　appears　again　by　and　by　and　wants　your　help；　he　will　seek　it　in　vain。　Is　this　anything　else　than　betraying　the　Peach　Garden　Oath？　Secondly；　you　are　in　charge　of　your　brother's　family　and；　if　you　fought　and　died；　the　two　women　would　be　left　forlorn　and　without　a　protector。　That　would　be　a　betrayal　of　trust。　Thirdly；　your　military　skill　stands　out　conspicuous　and　will　go　down　in　history。　If　you　do　not　aid　your　brother　in　his　noble　attempt　to　maintain　the　dynasty；　then　all　your　labors　and　sufferings　will　have　been　spent　to　win　a　worthless　reputation　as　a　valiant　fool。　Where　is　the　sense　in　that？　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　point　out　these　three　faults　to　you。〃
Guan　Yu　remained　silent　and　thought　for　some　time。
Then　he　said；　〃You　have　spoken　of　my　three　faults。　What　do　you　desire？〃
〃You　are　surrounded　with　the　certainty　of　death　if　you　do　not　yield。　There　is　no　advantage　in　a　useless　death。　Wherefore　your　best　course　is　to　yield　to　Cao　Cao　till　you　hear　news　of　Liu　Bei　and　can　rejoin　him。　Thus　you　will　ensure　the　safety　of　the　two　ladies　and　also　keep　inviolate　the　Peach　Garden　pact。　You　will　preserve　a　useful　life。　Brother；　you　must　reflect　on　these　things。〃
〃Brother；　you　have　spoken　of　three　advantages；　now　I　have　three　conditions。　If　the　Prime　Minister　concede　these；　then　will　I　doff　my　armor。　If　he　refuses；　then　I　prefer　to　be　guilty　of　the　three　faults　and　die。〃
〃Why　should　the　Prime　Minister　not　concede　them？　He　is　most　liberal　and　large　minded。　I　pray　you　let　me　hear　your　conditions。〃
〃The　first　is　that　as　I　and　the　Imperial　Uncle　have　sworn　to　support　the　Hans；　I　now　submit　to　the　Emperor　and　not　to　His　Prime　Minister　Cao　Cao。　The　second　condition　is　that　suitable　provision　be　made　for　the　two　ladies　under　my　care　and　that　no　one　shall　be　allowed　to　approach　them。　The　third　is　that　I　shall　be　allowed　to　set　off　to　rejoin　Uncle　Liu　Bei　so　soon　as　I　shall　hear　where　he　is；　whether　it　be　far　or　near。　I　require　all　these　to　be　satisfied。　Failing　a　single　one；　I　will　not　submit。　Wherefore；　Zhang　Liao；　I　pray　you　hasten　back　and　announce　them。〃
Zhang　Liao　lost　no　time　but　rode　back　to　Cao　Cao。　When　he　spoke　of　Guan　Yu's　intention　to　submit　to　the　Hans　but　not　to　Cao　Cao；　the　latter　laughed；　saying；　〃As　I　am　a　minister　of　Han；　so　am　I　Han。　I　grant　that。〃
Zhang　Liao　then　spoke　of　provision　due　to　their　rank　and　security　from　molestation　for　the　ladies；　to　which　Cao　Cao　replied；　〃I　will　give　them　twice　the　regular　amount　for　an　Uncle　of　the　Emperor。　As　for　securing　them　from　molestation；　that　is　simple。　The　ordinary　domestic　law　is　enough。　Why　should　there　be　any　doubt？〃
Then　said　Zhang　Liao；　〃Whenever　he　shall　get　news　of　the　whereabouts　of　Liu　Bei；　he　must　go　to　him。〃
At　this　Cao　Cao　shook　his　head；　saying；　〃Then　I　am　merely　to　feed　Guan　Yu。　What　is　the　use　of　this？　I　cannot　consent。〃
Zhang　Liao　replied；　〃You　must　know　of　Yu　Rang's　saying：　The　difference　in　behavior　brought　about　by　difference　of　treatment？　Liu　Bei　treats　Guan　Yu　just　kindly　and　liberally。　You　can　surely　engage　Guan　Yu's　heart　and　support　by　being　kinder　and　more　liberal。〃
〃What　you　say　is　much　to　the　point。　I　will　grant　the　three　conditions；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Whereupon　Zhang　Liao　left　to　carry　the　news　to　Guan　Yu；　still　on　the　summit　of　the　Tushan　Mountains。
Said　Guan　Yu；　〃Now　I　expect　the　army　to　withdraw　so　that　I　may　enter　the　city　to　tell　the　two　ladies　what　has　been　arranged。　After　that　I　submit　at　once。〃
Zhang　Liao　rode　back　once　more　with　this　request；