三国演义英文版-第83部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s。　In　three　days　Yuan　Shao　is　no　more。〃
Cao　Cao　greatly　approved。　He　treated　Xu　You　very　liberally　and　kept　him　in　his　camp。　Forthwith　he　chose　five　thousand　of　horse　and　foot　ready　for　the　expedition。
Zhang　Liao　protested；　saying；　〃The　enterprise　will　be　futile　as　the　grain　depot　will　certainly　be　well　guarded。　Without　caution；　we　may　be　victims　of　the　treachery　on　the　part　of　the　newly　arrived　Xu　You。〃
〃Xu　You　is　no　traitor；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃He　has　e　sent　by　Heaven　to　defeat　Yuan　Shao。　If　we　do　not　get　grain；　it　will　be　hard　to　hold　out。　I　have　to　either　follow　his　advice　or　sit　still　and　be　hemmed　in。　If　he　were　a　traitor；　he　would　hardly　remain　in　my　camp。　Moreover　this　raid　has　been　my　desire　for　a　long　time。　Have　no　doubts：　The　raid　will　certainly　succeed。〃
〃Well；　then；　you　must　look　out　for　an　attack　here　while　the　camp　is　undefended。〃
〃That　is　already　well　provided　for；〃　said　Cao　Cao　gleefully。
The　arrangements　for　the　raid　on　the　grain　depot　were　made　with　extreme　care　to　ensure　success。　Cao　Cao　assigned　Xun　You；　Jia　Xu；　and　Cao　Hong　to　guard　the　main　camp；　together　with　Xu　You；　Xiahou　Dun　and　Xiahou　Yuan　to　guard　the　left　camp；　Cao　Ren　and　Li　Dian　to　guard　the　right　camp。　When　all　was　ready　they　set　out；　Cao　Cao　himself　in　the　center；　with　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Chu　as　van　leaders　and　Xu　Huang　and　Yu　Jin　as　rear　guard。　The　army　showed　the　ensigns　of　their　opponents。　The　troops　carried　bundles　of　grass　and　faggots　to　make　a　blaze。　The　soldiers　were　gagged　and　the　horses　tied　round　the　muzzles　so　as　to　prevent　any　noise。　They　set　out　at　dusk。
The　night　was　fine　and　the　stars　shone　brightly。
Ju　Shou；　still　a　prisoner　in　Yuan　Shao's　camp；　saw　the　stars　were　very　brilliant　and　told　his　gaolers　to　conduct　him　out　to　the　central　pavilion　whence　he　could　study　them。　While　watching　he　saw　the　planet　Venus　invade　the　quarter　of　the　Bear　and　Lyra；　which　startled　him　very　greatly。
〃Some　misfortune　is　near！〃　said　Ju　Shou。
So　although　it　was　still　night；　he　went　to　see　his　master。　But　Yuan　Shao　was　sleeping　after　indulgence　in　too　much　wine　and　was　in　bad　humor。　However；　when　they　had　roused　him　saying　that　the　prisoner　had　a　secret　message　to　deliver；　he　got　up。
〃While　I　happened　to　be　studying　the　aspect　of　the　heavens；〃　said　the　night　visitor；　〃I　saw　Venus；　then　between　Hydra　and　Cancer；　suddenly　shoot　into　the　neighborhood　of　the　Bear　and　Lyra。　There　is　danger　of　a　robber　raid；　and　special　precautions　must　be　taken　at　the　grain　depot。　Lose　no　time　in　sending　good　soldiers　and　vigorous　leaders　thither；　and　keep　a　lookout　on　the　byways　among　the　hills　that　you　may　escape　the　wiles　of　Cao　Cao。〃
〃You　are　a　criminal！〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃How　dare　you　e　with　such　wild　nonsense　to　upset　my　armies。〃
And　turning　to　the　gaolers　Yuan　Shao　continued；　〃I　bade　you　confine　him。　Why　did　you　let　him　e？〃
Then　he　issued　orders　to　put　the　gaolers　to　death　and　appointed　others　to　keep　the　prisoner　in　close　custody。
Ju　Shou　went　away；　wiping　his　falling　tears　and　sighing　deeply；　〃Our　soldiers'　destruction　is　at　hand；　and　I　know　not　where　our　poor　corpses　may　find　a　resting　place。〃

Blunt　truth　offended　Yuan　Shao；
Too　stupid　any　plan　to　make；
His　stores　destroyed　this　is　evident
That　Jizhou　also　is　at　stake。

Cao　Cao's　raiding　party　went　along　through　the　night。　Passing　one　of　Yuan　Shao's　outpost　camps；　they　were　challenged。
Cao　Cao　sent　forward　a　man　to　say；　〃Jiang　Qi　has　orders　to　go　to　Wuchao　to　guard　the　grain　stores。〃
Seeing　that　the　raiders　marched　under　the　ensigns　of　Yuan　Shao；　the　guard　had　no　suspicions　and　let　them　pass。　At　every　post　this　ruse　was　effective；　and　they　got　safely　through。　They　reached　their　objective　at　the　end　of　the　fourth　watch；　the　straw　and　wood　were　placed　in　position　without　loss　of　time；　and　the　blaze　started。　Then　Cao　Cao's　manders　beat　to　attack。
At　this　time　Chunyu　Qiong　and　his　panions　were　all　asleep　after　a　heavy　drinking　bout。　However；　when　the　alarm　was　given；　they　sprang　up　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。　The　hubbub　was　indescribable。　Very　soon　the　fuddled　officers　were　caught　with　hooks　and　hauled　out　of　their　camp。
Yuan　Shao's　generals　Gui　Yuanjin　and　Zhao　Rui　were　just　returning　from　taking　grain　to　the　camp　and　seeing　the　flames　arise；　they　hastened　to　assist。
Some　of　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　ran　to　him；　saying；　〃The　enemy　is　ing　up　in　the　rear。　Send　reinforcements。〃
But　Cao　Cao　only　replied；　〃Press　on　to　the　front　till　the　enemy　is　actually　close　at　hand　and　then　face　about。〃
So　the　attack　was　pressed　on　and　they　all　hastened　forward。　Very　soon　the　fire　gained　strength；　and　thick　smoke　hung　all　around　filling　the　sky。　When　Gui　Yuanjin　and　Zhao　Rui　drew　near；　Cao　Cao　turned　about　and　attacked　them。　They　could　not　stand　this　for　a　moment；　and　both　generals　were　killed。　Finally　the　stores　of　grain　and　forage　were　utterly　destroyed。
The　mander；　Chunyu　Qiong；　was　made　prisoner　and　taken　to　Cao　Cao　who　ordered　him　to　be　deprived　of　ears；　nose；　and　hands。　He　was　bound　on　a　horse　and　sent；　thus　horribly　mutilated；　to　his　master。
From　Yuan　Shao's　camp；　the　flames　of　the　burning　depot　were　seen　away　in　the　north；　and　they　knew　what　they　meant。　Yuan　Shao　hastily　summoned　his　officers　to　a　council　to　send　a　rescue　party。

＇e＇　Sun　Bin　military　strategist；　a　descendant　of　Sun　Zi。　Sun　Bin　served　as　military　counselor　during　the　Warring　States　period　in　Qi。　He　wrote　a　treatise　named　The　Art　of　War　of　Sun　Bin。　。。。。。
＇e＇　In　the　Warring　States　period；　Wei　was　attacking　Zhao　when　Zhao　sent　to　Qi　to　seek　help。　Sun　Bin；　a　strategist　of　Qi；　devised　a　scheme　to　attack　Wei's　important　base。　Facing　this　new　threat；　Wei　had　to　withdraw　its　force　to　defend　the　base；　and　thus　Zhao　was　relieved。　Sun　Bin　then　laid　an　ambush　on　Wei's　retreat　and　scored　a　victory　for　Qi。
Zhang　He　offered　to　go　with　Gao　Lan；　but　Guo　Tu　said；　〃You　may　not　go。　It　is　certain　that　Cao　Cao　is　there　in　person；　wherefore　his　camp　is　undefended。　Let　loose　our　soldiers　on　the　camp；　and　that　will　speedily　bring　Cao　Cao　back　again。　This　is　how　Sun　Bin*　besieged　Wei　and　thereby　rescued　Zhao*。〃
But　Zhang　He　said；　〃Not　so；　Cao　Cao　is　too　wily　not　to　have　fully　prepared　against　a　chance　attack。　If　we　attack　his　camp　and　fail　and　Chunyu　Qiong　should　be　caught；　we　shall　all　be　captured　too。〃
Guo　Tu　said；　〃Cao　Cao　will　be　too　intent　on　the　destruction　of　the　grain　to　think　of　leaving　a　guard。　I　entreat　you　to　attack　his　camp。〃
So　Yuan　Shao　sent　five　thousand　soldiers　under　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　to　attack　Cao　Cao's　camp；　and　he　sent　ten　thousand　with　Jiang　Qi　to　go　to　recover　the　grain　store。
Now　after　overing　Chunyu　Qiong；　Cao　Cao's　troops　dressed　themselves　in　the　armor　and　clothing　of　the　defeated　soldiers　and　put　out　their　emblems；　thus　posing　as　defeated　force　running　back　to　their　own　headquarters。　And　when　they　happened　upon　Jiang　Qi's　rescue　body；　they　said　they　had　been　beaten　at　Wuchao　and　were　retreating。　So　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　suffered　to　pass　without　molestation　while　Jiang　Qi　hastened　on。　But　soon　Jiang　Qi　came　to　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Chu　who　cried　out；　〃Stop！〃
And　before　Jiang　Qi　could　make　any　opposition；　Zhang　Liao　had　cut　him　down。　Soon　his　force　were　killed　or　dispersed；　and　the　victors　sent　false　messengers　to　Yuan　Shao's　camp　to　say　that　Jiang　Qi　had　attacked　and　driven　away　the　attackers　of　the　granaries。　So　no　more　relief　were　sent　that　way。　However；　Yuan　Shao　sent　reinforcements　to　Guandu。
In　due　course；　the　Yuan　Shao's　force　came　down　upon　Cao　Cao's　camp　at　Guandu；　and　the　defenders………Xiahou　Dun；　Cao　Ren；　and　Cao　Hong………at　once　came　out　and　fought　them　on　three　sides　so　that　they　were　worsted。　By　the　time　reinforcements　arrived；　Cao　Cao's　army；　returning　from　the　raid；　had　also　e；　and　Yuan　Shao's　army　were　attacked　in　the　rear。　So　they　were　quite　surrounded。　However；　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　managed　to　force　their　way　out　and　got　away。
When　the　remains　of　the　defenders　of　the　grain　stores　reached　their　master's　camp；　they　were　mustered。　Seeing　the　mutilated　state　of　their　one　time　leader；　Yuan　Shao　asked　how　Chunyu　Qiong　had　e　to　betray　his　trust　and　to　suffer　thus。
The　soldiers　told　their　lord；　〃The　General　was　intoxicated　at　the　time　of　the　attack。〃
So　Yuan　Shao　ordered　Chunyu　Qiong　to　be　forthwith　executed。
Guo　Tu；　fearing　lest　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan　would　return　and　testify　the　whole　truth；　began　to　intrigue　against　them。
First　Guo　Tu　went　to　his　lord；　saying；　〃Those　two；　Zhang　He　and　Gao　Lan；　were　certainly　very　glad　when　your　armies　were　defeated。〃
〃Why　do　you　say　this？〃　asked　Yuan　Shao。
〃O　they　have　long　cherished　a　desire　to　go　over　to　Cao　Cao。　So　when　you　sent　them　on　the　duty　of　destroying　his　camp；　they　did　not　do　their　best　and　so　brought　about　this　disaster。〃
Yuan　Shao　accordingly　sent　to　recall　these　two　to　be　interrogated　as　to　their　faults。　But　Guo　Tu　sent　a　messenger　in　advance　to　warn　them；　as　though　in　friendly　guise；　of　the　adverse　fate　that　awaited　them。
So　when　the　orders　reached　them　to　return　to　answer　for　their　faults；　Gao　Lan　asked；　〃For　what　reason　are　we　recalled？〃
〃Indeed　I　do　not　know；〃　said　the　messenger。
Gao　Lan　drew　his　sword　and　killed　the　messenger。
Zhang　He　was　astonished　at　this　demonstration；　but　Gao　Lan　said；　〃Our　lord　has　allowed　someone　to　malign　us　and　say　we　have　been　bought　by　Cao　Cao。　What　is　the　sense　in　our　sitting　still　and　awaiting　destruction？　Rather　let　us　surrender　to　Cao　Cao　in　reality　and　save　our　lives。〃
〃I　have　been　wanting　to　do　this　for　some　time；〃　replied　Zhang　He。
Wherefore　both；　with　their　panies；　made　their　way　to　Cao　Cao's　camp　to　surrender。
When　they　arrived；　Xiahou　Dun　said　to　his　master；　〃These　two　have　e　to　surrender；　but　I　have　doubts　about　them。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃I　will　meet　them　generously　and　win　them　over；　even　if　they　have　treachery　in　their　hearts。〃

＇e＇　The　last　king　of　Shang　Dynasty　was　King　Zhou；　who　was　cruel　and　corrupt。　King　Zhou　had　three　uncles………Bi　Gan；　Qi　Zi；　and　Wei　Zi………who　served　as　ministers。　When　these　three　officials　repeatedly　failed　to　persuade　King　Zhou　to　repent；　Wei　Zi　resigned　his　post；　while　Qi　Zi　pretended　to　be　insane。　Bi　Gan　stayed　and　continued　persuading　the　king；　who　later　executed　Bi　Gan。　Later　the　Duke　of　Zhou　overthrew　Shang　Dynasty　and　enobled　Wei　Zi；　Qi　Zi；　and　the　wife　and　the　son　of　Bi　Gan。　Wei　Zi　became　known　as　the