三国演义英文版-第101部分

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ossible。　Zhang　Fei　was　in　charge　of　the　rear　guard；　and　Zhao　Yun　was　to　protect　his　lord's　family。　Guan　Yu　had　been　sent　to　Jiangxia。
One　day　Zhuge　Liang　came　in　and　said；　〃There　is　as　yet　no　news　from　Jiangxia。　There　must　be　some　difficulties。〃
〃I　wish　that　you　yourself　would　go　there；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Liu　Qi　would　remember　your　former　kindness　to　him　and　consent　to　anything　you　proposed。〃
Zhuge　Liang　said　he　would　go　and　set　out　with　Liu　Feng；　the　adopted　son　of　Liu　Bei；　taking　an　escort　of　five　hundred　troops。
A　few　days　after；　while　on　the　march　in　pany　with　three　of　his　manders………Jian　Yong；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Mi　Fang………a　sudden　whirlwind　rose　just　in　front　of　Liu　Bei；　and　a　huge　column　of　dust　shot　up　into　the　air　hiding　the　face　of　the　sun。
Liu　Bei　was　frightened　and　asked；　〃What　might　that　portend？〃
Jian　Yong；　who　knew　something　of　the　mysteries　of　nature；　took　the　auspices　by　counting　secretly　on　his　fingers。
Pale　and　trembling；　he　announced；　〃A　calamity　is　threatening　this　very　night。　My　lord　must　leave　the　people　to　their　fate　and　flee　quickly。〃
〃I　cannot　do　that；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　you　allow　your　pity　to　overe　your　judgment；　then　misfortune　is　very　near；〃　said　Jian　Yong。
Thus　spoke　Jian　Yong　to　his　lord；　who　then　asked　what　place　was　near。
His　people　replied；　〃Dangyang　is　quite　close；　and　there　is　a　very　famous　mountain　near　it　called　Prospect　Mountain。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　bade　them　lead　the　way　thither。
The　season　was　late　autumn；　just　changing　to　winter；　and　the　icy　wind　penetrated　to　the　very　bones。　As　evening　fell；　long…drawn　howls　of　misery　were　heard　on　every　side。　At　the　middle　of　the　fourth　watch；　two　hours　after　midnight；　they　heard　a　rumbling　sound　in　the　northwest。　Liu　Bei　halted　and　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　his　own　guard　of　two　thousand　soldiers　to　meet　whatever　might　e。
Presently　Cao　Cao's　men　appeared　and　made　fierce　onslaught。　Defense　was　impossible；　though　Liu　Bei　fought　desperately。　By　good　fortune　just　at　the　crisis　Zhang　Fei　came　up；　cut　an　alley　through；　rescued　his　brother；　and　got　him　away　to　the　east。　Presently　they　were　stopped　by　Wen　Ping。
〃Turncoat！　Can　you　still　look　humans　in　the　face？〃　cried　Liu　Bei。
Wen　Ping　was　overwhelmed　with　shame　and　led　his　troops　away。　Zhang　Fei；　now　fighting；　protected　his　brother　till　dawn。
By　that　time　Liu　Bei　had　got　beyond　the　sound　of　battle；　and　there　was　time　to　rest。　Only　a　few　of　his　followers　had　been　able　to　keep　near　him。　He　knew　nothing　of　the　fate　of　his　officers　or　the　people。
He　lifted　up　his　voice　in　lamentation；　saying；　〃Myriads　of　living　souls　are　suffering　from　love　of　me；　and　my　officers　and　my　loved　ones　are　lost。　One　would　be　a　graven　image　not　to　weep　at　such　loss！〃
Still　plunged　in　sadness；　presently　he　saw　hurrying　toward　him　Mi　Fang；　with　an　enemy's　arrow　still　sticking　in　his　face。
Mi　Fang　exclaimed；　〃Zhao　Yun　has　gone　over　to　Cao　Cao！〃
Liu　Bei　angrily　bade　him　be　silent；　crying；　〃Do　you　think　I　can　believe　that　of　my　old　friend？〃
〃Perhaps　he　has　gone　over；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃He　must　see　that　we　are　nearly　lost　and　there　are　riches　and　honors　on　the　other　side。〃
〃He　has　followed　me　faithfully　through　all　my　misfortunes。　His　heart　is　firm　as　a　rock。　No　riches　or　honors　would　move　him；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃I　saw　him　go　away　northwest；〃　said　Mi　Fang。
〃Wait　till　I　meet　him；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃If　I　run　against　him；　I　will　kill　him！〃
〃Beware　how　you　doubt　him；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Have　you　forgotten　the　circumstances　under　which　your　brother　Guan　Yu　had　to　slay　Cai　Yang　to　ease　your　doubts　of　him？　Zhao　Yun's　absence　is　due　to　good　reason　wherever　he　has　gone；　and　he　would　never　abandon　me。〃
But　Zhang　Fei　was　not　convinced。　Then　he；　with　a　score　of　his　men；　rode　to　the　Long　Slope　Bridge。　Seeing　a　wood　near　the　bridge；　an　idea　suddenly　struck　him。　He　bade　his　followers　cut　branches　from　the　trees；　tie　them　to　the　tails　of　the　horses；　and　ride　to　and　fro　so　as　to　raise　a　great　dust　as　though　an　army　were　concealed　in　the　wood。　He　himself　took　up　his　station　on　the　bridge　facing　the　west　with　spear　set　ready　for　action。　So　he　kept　watch。
Now　Zhao　Yun；　after　fighting　with　the　enemy　from　the　fourth　watch　till　daylight；　could　see　no　sign　of　his　lord　and；　moreover；　had　lost　his　lord's　family。
He　thought　bitterly　within　himself；　〃My　master　confided　to　me　his　family　and　the　child　lord　Liu　Shan；　and　I　have　lost　them。　How　can　I　look　him　in　the　face？　I　can　only　go　now　and　fight　to　the　death。　Whatever　happen；　I　must　go　to　seek　the　women　and　my　lord's　son。〃
Turning　about　he　found　he　had　but　some　forty　followers　left。　He　rode　quickly　to　and　fro　among　the　scattered　soldiers　seeking　the　lost　women。　The　lamentations　of　the　people　about　him　were　enough　to　make　heaven　and　earth　weep。　Some　had　been　wounded　by　arrows；　others　by　spears；　they　had　thrown　away　their　children；　abandoned　their　wives；　and　were　flying　they　knew　not　whither　in　crowds。
Presently　Zhao　Yun　saw　a　man　lying　in　the　grass　and　recognized　him　as　Jian　Yong。
〃Have　you　seen　the　two　mothers？〃　cried　he。
Jian　Yong　replied；　〃They　left　their　carriage　and　ran　away　taking　the　child　lord　Liu　Shan　in　their　arms。　I　followed　but　on　the　slope　of　the　hill　I　was　wounded　and　fell　from　my　horse。　The　horse　was　stolen。　I　could　fight　no　longer；　and　I　lay　down　here。〃
Zhao　Yun　put　his　colleague　on　the　horse　of　one　of　his　followers；　told　off　two　soldiers　to　support　Jian　Yong；　and　bade　Jian　Yong　ride　to　their　lord　and　tell　him　of　the　loss。
〃Say；〃　said　Zhao　Yun；　〃that　I　will　seek　the　lost　ones　in　heaven　or　hell；　through　good　or　evil。　And　if　I　find　them　not；　I　will　die　in　the　battlefield。〃
Then　Zhao　Yun　rode　off　toward　the　Long　Slope　Bridge。
As　he　went；　a　voice　called　out；　〃General　Zhao　Yun；　where　are　you　going？〃
〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Zhao　Yun；　pulling　up。
〃One　of　the　Princely　One's　carriage　guards。　I　am　wounded。〃
〃Do　you　know　anything　of　the　two　ladies？〃
〃Not　very　long　ago　I　saw　Lady　Gan　go　south　with　a　party　of　other　women。　Her　hair　was　down；　and　she　was　barefooted〃
Hearing　this；　without　even　another　glance　at　the　speaker；　Zhao　Yun　put　his　horse　at　full　gallop　toward　the　south。　Soon　he　saw　a　small　crowd　of　people；　male　and　female；　walking　hand　in　hand。
〃Is　Lady　Gan　among　you！〃　he　called　out。
A　woman　in　the　rear　of　the　party　looked　up　at　him　and　uttered　a　loud　cry。
He　slipped　off　his　steed；　stuck　his　spear　in　the　sand；　and　wept；　〃It　was　my　fault　that　you　were　lost。　But　where　are　Lady　Mi　and　our　child　lord？〃
Lady　Gan　replied；　〃She　and　I　were　forced　to　abandon　our　carriage　and　mingle　with　the　crowd　on　foot。　Then　a　band　of　soldiers　came　up；　and　we　were　separated。　I　do　not　know　where　they　are。　I　ran　for　my　life。〃
As　she　spoke；　a　howl　of　distress　rose　from　the　crowd　of　fugitives；　for　a　thousand　of　soldiers　appeared。　Zhao　Yun　recovered　his　spear　and　mounted　ready　for　action。　Presently　he　saw　among　the　soldiers　a　prisoner　bound　upon　a　horse；　and　the　prisoner　was　Mi　Zhu。　Behind　Mi　Zhu　followed　a　general　gripping　a　huge　sword。　The　troops　belonged　to　the　army　of　Cao　Ren；　and　the　general　was　Chunyu　Dao。　Having　captured　Mi　Zhu；　he　was　just　taking　him　to　his　chief　as　a　proof　of　his　prowess。
Zhao　Yun　shouted　and　rode　at　the　captor　who　was　speedily　slain　by　a　spear　thrust　and　his　captive　was　set　free。　Then　taking　two　of　the　horses；　Zhao　Yun　set　Lady　Gan　on　one　and　Mi　Zhu　took　the　other。　They　rode　away　toward　Long　Slope　Bridge。
But　there；　standing　grim　on　the　bridge；　was　Zhang　Fei。
As　soon　as　he　saw　Zhao　Yun；　he　called　out；　〃Zhao　Yun；　why　have　you　betrayed　our　lord？〃
〃I　fell　behind　because　I　was　seeking　the　ladies　and　our　child　lord；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　talking　of　betrayal？〃
〃If　it　had　not　been　that　Jian　Yong　arrived　before　you　and　told　me　the　story；　I　should　hardly　have　spared　you。〃
〃Where　is　the　master？〃　said　Zhao　Yun。
〃Not　far　away；　in　front　there；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃Conduct　Lady　Gan　to　him。　I　am　going　to　look　for　Lady　Mi；〃　said　Zhao　Yun　to　his　panion；　and　he　turned　back　along　the　road　by　which　he　had　e。
Before　long　he　met　a　leader　armed　with　an　iron　spear　and　carrying　a　sword　slung　across　his　back；　riding　a　curvetting　steed；　and　leading　ten　other　horsemen。　Without　uttering　a　word　Zhao　Yun　rode　straight　toward　him　and　engaged。　At　the　first　pass　Zhao　Yun　disarmed　his　opponent　and　brought　him　to　earth。　His　followers　galloped　away。
This　fallen　officer　was　no　other　than　Xiahou　En；　Cao　Cao's　sword…bearer。　And　the　sword　on　Xiahou　En's　back　was　his　master's。　Cao　Cao　had　two　swords；　one　called　〃Trust　in　God〃　and　the　other　〃Blue　Blade〃。　Trust　in　God　was　the　weapon　Cao　Cao　usually　wore　at　his　side；　the　other　being　carried　by　his　sword…bearer。　The　Blue　Blade　would　cut　clean　through　iron　as　though　it　were　mud；　and　no　sword　had　so　keen　an　edge。
Before　Zhao　Yun　thus　fell　in　with　Xiahou　En；　the　later　was　simply　plundering；　depending　upon　the　authority　implied　by　his　office。　Least　of　all　thought　he　of　such　sudden　death　as　met　he　at　Zhao　Yun's　hands。
So　Zhao　Yun　got　possession　of　a　famous　sword。　The　name　Blue　Blade　was　chased　in　gold　characters　so　that　he　recognized　its　value　at　once。　He　stuck　it　in　his　belt　and　again　plunged　into　the　press。　Just　as　he　did　so；　he　turned　his　head　and　saw　he　had　not　a　single　follower　left。　He　was　quite　alone。
Nevertheless　not　for　a　single　instant　thought　he　of　turning　back。　He　was　too　intent　upon　his　quest。　To　and　fro；　back　and　forth；　he　rode　questioning　this　person　and　that。
At　length　a　man　said；　〃A　woman　with　a　child　in　her　arms；　and　wounded　in　the　thigh　so　that　she　cannot　walk；　is　lying　over　there　through　that　hole　in　the　wall。〃
Zhao　Yun　rode　to　look　and　there；　beside　an　old　well　behind　the　broken　wall　of　a　burned　house；　sat　the　mother　clasping　the　child　to　her　breast　and　weeping。
Zhao　Yun　was　on　his　knees　before　her　in　a　moment。
〃My　child　will　live　then　since　you　are　here；〃　cried　Lady　Mi。　〃Pity　him；　O　General！　Protect　him；　for　he　is　the　only　son　of　his　father's　flesh　and　blood。　Take　him　to　his　father；　and　I　can　die　content。〃
〃It　is　my　fault　that　you　have　suffered；〃　replied　Zhao　Yun。　〃But　it　is　useless　to　say　more。　I　pray　you　take　my　horse；　while　I　will　walk　beside　and　protect　you　till　we　get　clear。〃
She　replied；　〃I　may　not　do　that。　What　would　you　do　without　a　steed？　But　the　boy　here　I　confide　to　your　care。　I　am　badly　wounded　and　cannot　hope　to　live。　Pray　take　him　and　go　your　way。　Do　not　trouble　more　about　me。〃
〃I　hear　shouting；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃The　soldiers　will　be　upon　us　again　in　a　moment。　Pray　mount　quickly！〃
〃But　really　I　cannot　move；〃　she　said。　〃Do　not　let　there　be　a　double　loss！〃
And　she　held　out　the　child　toward　him　as　she　spoke。
〃Take　the　child！〃　cried　Lady　Mi。　〃His　life　and　safety　are　in　your　hands。〃
Again　and　again　Zhao　Yun　besought　her　to　get　on　his　horse；　but　she　would　not。
The　shouting　drew　nearer　and　nearer；　Zhao　Yun　spoke　harshly；　saying；　〃If　you　will　not　do　what　I　say；　what　will　happen　when　the　soldiers　e　up？〃
She　said　no　more。　Throwing　the　child　on　the　ground；　she　turned　over　and　threw　herself　into　the　old　well。　And　there　she　perished。

The　warrior　relies　upon　the　strength　of　his　charger；
Afoot；　how　could　he　bear　to　safety　his　young　prince？
Brave　mother！　Who　died　to　preserve　the　son　of　her　husband's　line；
Heroine　was　she；　bold　and　decisive！

Seeing　that　Lady　Mi　had　resolved　the　question　by　dying；　there　was　nothing　more　to　be　done。　Zhao　Yun　pushed　ov