三国演义英文版-第70部分

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did　not　know　where　his　brothers　were　nor　what　had　happened　to　his　family　since　they　fell　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Cao。
〃Why　should　I　not　be　sad　when　I　have　failed　towards　my　country　and　my　family？〃　said　he。
〃I　have　long　wished　to　attack　Xuchang；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Now　it　is　autumn　and　just　the　time　for　an　expedition；　so　let　us　discuss　plans　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。〃
Tian　Feng　at　once　opposed　this。
〃When　Cao　Cao　attacked　Xuzhou　and　Xuchang　was　undefended；　you　let　the　chance　slip　by。　Now　that　Xuzhou　has　been　captured；　and　their　soldiers　are　flushed　with　victory；　it　would　be　madness　to　attempt　it。　It　is　necessary　to　await　another　chance。〃
〃Let　me　think　about　it；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
He　asked　advice　from　Liu　Bei　whether　to　attack　or　to　hold　on。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel。　I　think　you　are　failing　in　your　duty　if　you　do　not　attack　him。〃
〃Your　words　are　good；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
He　made　up　his　mind　to　move。　But　again　the　adviser　Tian　Feng　intervened。
Then　Yuan　Shao　grew　angry；　saying；　〃You　fellows　who　cultivate　literature　and　despise　war　have　made　me　miss　a　lot！〃
Tian　Feng　bowed　his　head　and　said；　〃Neglect　your　servant's　wise　words；　and　you　will　fail　in　the　field。〃
Yuan　Shao　was　so　angry　that　he　wanted　to　put　Tian　Feng　to　death。　However；　Liu　Bei　begged　him　off　and　he　was　only　imprisoned。
Seeing　the　fate　of　his　colleague；　another　adviser；　Ju　Shou；　assembled　his　clan　and　distributed　among　them　all　his　possessions；　saying；　〃I　go　with　the　army。　If　we　succeed；　then　nothing　can　exceed　our　glory；　but　if　we　are　defeated；　the　risk　I　run　is　great。〃
His　friends　wept　as　they　said　farewell。
General　Yan　Liang　was　appointed　to　the　mand　of　the　advance　guard；　to　go　to　attack　Baima。
Then　Ju　Shou　first　protested；　〃His　mind　is　too　narrow　for　such　a　post。　He　is　brave　but　unequal　to　such　a　trust。〃
〃You　are　not　the　sort　of　man　to　measure　my　best　generals；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
The　army　marched　to　Liyang；　and　Governor　Liu　Yue　of　Dongjun　sent　an　urgent　call　to　Xuchang　for　aid。　Cao　Cao　moved　his　armies　hastily。
As　soon　as　the　news　of　battle　got　about；　Guan　Yu　went　to　see　the　Prime　Minister　and　said；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　the　army　is　mobilized。　I　volunteer　for　the　van　leader。〃
〃I　scarcely　dare　put　you　to　such　inconvenience；　but　presently；　if　need　arises；　I　will　call　upon　you。〃
So　Guan　Yu　retired；　and　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　soldiers　marched　out　in　three　directions。　On　the　road　the　letters　from　Liu　Yue　arrived　praying　for　help；　and　Cao　Cao　marched　the　first　fifty　thousand　troops　to　Baima　and　took　up　a　position　supported　by　the　hills。　In　the　wide　plains　in　front　of　them；　Yan　Liang　was　encamped　with　one　hundred　thousand　veterans。
Cao　Cao　was　frightened　at　the　force　opposed　to　him　and；　returning　to　camp；　spoke　to　Song　Xian；　who　had　once　served　under　Lu　Bu；　saying；　〃You　are　one　of　Lu　Bu's　famous　veteran　generals。　Can　you　give　battle　to　this　Yan　Liang？〃
Song　Xian　agreed　to　try。　He　armed　himself；　mounted；　and　rode　to　the　front。　Yan　Liang　was　there　on　horseback；　his　sword　lying　crossways。　Seeing　an　opponent　approaching；　he　uttered　a　loud　shout　and　galloped　toward　Song　Xian。　The　two　met；　but　after　only　three　bouts；　Song　Xian　fell　under　a　mighty　slash　from　Yan　Liang's　sword。
〃What　a　terrible　leader！〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃He　has　slain　my　rade；　I　want　to　go　and　avenge　him；〃　then　cried　Wei　Xu。
Cao　Cao　bade　him　go　and　he　rode　out；　spear　set；　and　in　front　of　the　army　railed　at　Yan　Liang。
Yan　Liang　replied　not　a　word；　but　their　two　steeds　came　together；　and　at　the　first　blow　from　Yan　Liang's　sword；　Wei　Xu's　forehead　was　halved。
〃Now；　who　again　dares　face　him？〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
Xu　Huang　took　up　the　challenge　and　he　went　out。　The　bat　endured　twenty　bouts；　and　then　Xu　Huang　fled　back　to　his　own　side。　The　other　generals　were　now　greatly　depressed　at　their　failure。　Cao　Cao　withdrew　his　army；　feeling　very　sad　at　the　loss　of　two　generals　in　quick　succession。　Yan　Liang　also　marched　off　his　force。
Then　Cheng　Yu　went　to　see　his　chief；　saying；　〃I　can　produce　a　man　the　equal　of　Yan　Liang。〃
〃Who？〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
〃No　other　than　Guan　Yu。〃
〃I　am　afraid　that　if　he　is　given　an　opportunity　to　perform　that　return　service　he　spoke　of；　he　will　leave　me。〃
〃If　Liu　Bei　is　still　alive；　he　is　with　Yuan　Shao。　If　you　get　Guan　Yu　to　defeat　Yuan　Shao's　army；　Yuan　Shao　will　look　askance　at　Liu　Bei　and　put　him　to　death。　Liu　Bei　gone；　where　can　Guan　Yu　go？〃
This　argument　appealed　to　Cao　Cao　at　once；　and　he　sent　to　request　Guan　Yu　to　e。
Previous　to　obeying　the　call；　Guan　Yu　went　to　say　farewell　to　his　sisters…in…law。
〃You　may　get　news　of　the　Uncle　on　the　journey；〃　said　they。
〃Yes；〃　said　Guan　Yu　and　left　them。
Armed　with　his　green…dragon　saber；　riding　on　the　swift　steed　Red　Hare；　and　having　but　a　slender　following；　Guan　Yu　was　not　long　in　arriving　at　Baima。　He　saw　Cao　Cao；　who　told　him　what　had　happened。　Yan　Liang　was　too　valiant　for　any　to　face。
〃Let　me　look　at　him；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Then　wine　was　served　for　his　refreshment；　and　while　they　were　drinking；　it　was　reported　that　Yan　Liang　once　again　offered　a　challenge。　So　Cao　Cao　and　his　guest　and　staff　went　to　the　summit　of　a　hill　whence　the　enemy　could　be　seen。　Cao　Cao　and　Guan　Yu　sat　on　the　hill　top；　and　the　manders　stood　about　them。　Cao　Cao　pointed　out　Yan　Liang's　troops　arrayed　on　the　plains　below。　The　ensigns　and　banners　waving　fresh　and　bright　amid　the　forest　of　spears　and　swords　made　a　grand　and　imposing　spectacle。
〃See　how　formidable　these　soldiers　of　the　North　of　Yellow　River　are；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　regard　them　as　so　many　clay　fowls　and　mud　dogs；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
Cao　Cao　pointed　out　Yan　Liang；　saying；　〃There　under　that　grand　umbrella；　in　that　embroidered　robe　and　that　silver　breastplate　and　riding　on　horseback　and　gripping　that　huge　sword　is　Yan　Liang。〃
〃His　head　looks　as　though　it　was　stuck　on　a　pole　for　sale；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　just　glancing　over　the　army　at　his　feet。
〃He　is　very　terrible。　You　must　not　despise　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Guan　Yu　rose；　saying；　〃I　am　a　poor　thing；　but　I　will　go　over　and　bring　you　his　head　if　you　like。〃
〃Joking　is　not　allowed　in　this　army；〃　interposed　Zhang　Liao。　〃Please　be　careful　what　you　say；　General。〃
Guan　Yu　quickly　mounted；　turned　down　his　mighty　weapon；　and　galloped　down　the　hill；　his　phoenix　eyes　rounded；　and　his　silkworm　eyebrows　fiercely　bristling。　He　dashed　straight　into　the　enemy's　array；　and　the　northern　soldiers　opened　like　falling　waves　and　dissolving　storms。　He　made　directly　for　the　mander。
Now　Yan　Liang　sitting　there　in　state　saw　a　horseman　rushing　toward　him；　and　just　as　he　began　to　ask　who　the　rider　of　the　red　horse　was；　lo！　the　horseman　was　there。　Taken　utterly　by　surprise；　the　leader　could　make　no　defense。　Guan　Yu's　arm　rose　and　the　mighty　weapon　fell。　And　with　it　fell　Yan　Liang。
Leaping　from　the　saddle；　Guan　Yu　cut　off　his　victim's　head　and　hung　it　to　his　horse's　neck。　Then　he　mounted　and　rode　out；　just　as　if　there　was　no　army　there。
The　northern　troops；　panic　stricken；　made　no　fight。　Cao　Cao's　army　attacked　with　full　force　and　slew　great　numbers　of　them。　They　captured　many　horses　and　weapons　and　much　military　gear。　Guan　Yu　rode　quickly　back　up　the　hill　and　laid　the　proof　of　his　prowess　at　the　feet　of　the　Prime　Minister。
〃You　are　more　than　human；　General！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
〃What　have　I　done　to　talk　about？〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃My　brother；　Zhang　Fei；　did　the　same　thing　in　an　army　of　a　hundred　legions；　and　did　it　as　easily　as　picking　something　from　his　own　pocket。〃
Cao　Cao　marveled　at　the　statement　and　turning　to　those　about　him　said；　〃If　you　meet　this　Zhang　Fei；　be　careful。〃
And　he　bade　them　make　a　note　on　the　overlap　of　their　robes　so　that　they　should　remember。
The　beaten　army　returning　northward　met　Yuan　Shao　on　the　road　and　told　their　story。
〃A　red…faced　warrior　with　a　long　beard；　wielding　a　huge；　long…handled　sword；　broke　into　the　army；　cut　off　the　general's　head　and　bore　it　off；〃　said　they。
〃Who　was　this？〃　asked　Yuan　Shao。
Ju　Shou　said；　〃It　must　have　been　Liu　Bei's　brother；　Guan　Yu。　It　could　be　nobody　else。〃
Yuan　Shao　was　very　angry　and；　pointing　to　Liu　Bei；　he　said；　〃Your　brother　has　slain　my　beloved　leader。　You　are　in　the　plot　too。　Why　should　I　save　you　alive？〃
He　bade　the　lictors　take　Liu　Bei　away　and　behead　him。

Morning　saw　him　guest　on　high。
Evening；　prisoner；　doomed　to　die。

Liu　Bei's　actual　fate　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　26　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　26
　Chapter　26
Yuan　Shao　Loses　Another　Leader；
Guan　Yu　Abandons　Rank　And　Wealth。
As　the　last　chapter　closed；　Liu　Bei　had　been　condemned　to　die。
Liu　Bei　spoke　up；　however；　and　said；　〃Pray　hear　one　word；　Illustrious　Sir；　before　you　decide。　I　have　lost　sight　of　my　brother　since　my　misfortune　at　Xuzhou　and　know　not　whether　Guan　Yu　be　dead　or　alive。　There　are　many　men　in　the　world　who　resemble　him。　Is　every　red…faced　man　with　a　beard　named　Guan　Yu？　Should　you　not　rather　seek　some　evidence？〃
Now　Yuan　Shao　was　impulsive　and　facile　by　nature；　and　when　Liu　Bei　spoke　thus；　he　suddenly　turned　upon　Ju　Shou；　saying；　〃By　wrongly　regarding　what　you　said；　I　nearly　killed　an　innocent　person。〃
Then　Yuan　Shao　requested　Liu　Bei　once　more　to　resume　his　seat　in　the　tent　and　give　advice　on　how　to　avenge　Yan　Liang。
Soon　from　the　lower　end　a　voice　was　heard；　saying；　〃Yan　Liang　and　I　were　as　brothers；　and　can　I　allow　any　other　to　avenge　his　death？〃
The　speaker　was　a　man　of　eight…span　height　with　a　face　like　a　jilin；　a　famous　leader　from　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　named　Wen　Chou。
Yuan　Shao　was　pleased　and　said；　〃You　are　the　only　man　who　can　do　it。　I　will　give　you　one　hundred　thousand　troops；　and　you　can　cross　the　Yellow　River；　and　quickly　smite　that　rebel　Cao　Cao。
〃You　cannot　do　it。　Wen　Chou　will　fail；〃　said　Ju　Shou。　〃The　proper　course　is　to　hold　Yenjin　and　detach　a　force　to　Guandu。　If　you　rashly　cross　the　river　and　anything　goes　wrong；　not　a　soul　will　return。〃
Yuan　Shao　said；　〃That　is　always　the　way　with　you　fellows；　always　delaying　and　taking　the　dash　out　of　the　army。　You　put　off　today　and　postpone　tomorrow　till　success　has　bee　impossible。　Do　you　forget　that　promptitude　is　what　each　soldier　honors？〃
The　adviser　withdrew　sadly；　saying；　〃Superiors　do　not　curb　their　ambitions；　inferiors　crave　for　achievements；　things　are　undone。　Eternal　is　the　course　of　Yellow　River；　sh