三国演义英文版-第102部分

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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　over　the　wall　to　fill　the　well；　and　thus　making　a　grave　for　the　lady。　Then　he　loosened　his　armor；　let　down　the　heart…protecting　mirror；　and　placed　the　child　in　his　breast。　This　done　he　slung　his　spear　and　remounted。
Zhao　Yun　had　gone　but　a　short　distance；　when　he　saw　a　horde　of　enemy　led　by　Yan　Ming；　one　of　Cao　Hong's　generals。　This　warrior　used　a　double　edged；　three　pointed　weapon　and　he　offered　battle。　However；　Zhao　Yun　disposed　of　him　after　a　very　few　bouts　and　dispersed　his　troops。
As　the　road　cleared　before　him；　Zhao　Yun　saw　another　detachment　barring　his　way。　At　the　head　of　this　was　a　general　exalted　enough　to　display　a　banner　with　his　name　Zhang　He　of　Hejian　。　Zhao　Yun　never　waited　to　parley　but　attacked。　However；　this　was　a　more　formidable　antagonist；　and　half　a　score　bouts　found　neither　any　nearer　defeat。　But　Zhao　Yun；　with　the　child　in　his　bosom；　could　only　fight　with　the　greatest　caution；　and　so　he　decided　to　flee。
Zhang　He　pursued；　and　as　Zhao　Yun　thought　only　of　thrashing　his　steed　to　get　away；　and　little　of　the　road；　suddenly　he　went　crashing　into　a　pit。　On　came　his　pursuer；　spear　at　poise。　Suddenly　a　brilliant　flash　of　light　seemed　to　shoot　out　of　the　pit；　and　the　fallen　horse　leapt　with　it　into　the　air　and　was　again　on　firm　earth。

A　bright　glory　surrounds　the　child　of　the　imperial　line；　now　in　danger；
The　powerful　charger　forces　his　way　through　the　press　of　battle；
Bearing　to　safety　him　who　was　destined　to　the　throne　two　score　years　and　two；
And　the　general　thus　manifested　his　godlike　courage。

This　apparition　frightened　Zhang　He；　who　abandoned　the　pursuit　forthwith；　and　Zhao　Yun　rode　off。
Presently　he　heard　shouts　behind；　〃Zhao　Yun；　Zhao　Yun；　stop！〃　and　at　the　same　time　he　saw　ahead　of　him　two　generals　who　seemed　disposed　to　dispute　his　way。
Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　following　and　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng　in　front；　his　state　seemed　desperate；　but　Zhao　Yun　quailed　not。
As　the　men　of　Cao　Cao　came　pressing　on；　Zhao　Yun　drew　Cao　Cao's　own　sword　to　beat　them　off。　Nothing　could　resist　the　blue　blade　sword。　Armor；　clothing；　it　went　through　without　effort　and　blood　gushed　forth　in　fountains　wherever　it　struck。　So　the　four　generals　were　soon　beaten　off；　and　Zhao　Yun　was　once　again　free。
Now　Cao　Cao　from　a　hilltop　of　the　Prospect　Mountain　saw　these　deeds　of　derring…do　and　a　general　showing　such　valor　that　none　could　withstand　him；　so　Cao　Cao　asked　of　his　followers　whether　any　knew　the　man。　No　one　recognized　him。
So　Cao　Hong　galloped　down　into　the　plain　and　shouted　out；　〃We　should　hear　the　name　of　the　warrior！〃
〃I　am　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan！〃　replied　Zhao　Yun。
Cao　Hong　returned　and　told　his　lord；　who　said；　〃A　very　tiger　of　a　leader！　I　must　get　him　alive。〃
Whereupon　he　sent　horsemen　to　all　detachments　with　orders　that　no　arrows　were　to　be　fired　from　an　ambush　at　any　point　Zhao　Yun　should　pass：　He　was　to　be　taken　alive。
And　so　Zhao　Yun　escaped　most　imminent　danger；　and　Liu　Shan's　safety；　bound　up　with　his　savior's；　was　also　secured。　On　this　career　of　slaughter　which　ended　in　safety；　Zhao　Yun；　bearing　in　his　bosom　the　child　lord　Liu　Shan；　cut　down　two　main　banners；　took　three　spears；　and　slew　or　wounded　of　Cao　Cao's　generals　half　a　hundred；　all　men　of　renown。

Blood　dyed　the　fighting　robe　and　crimsoned　his　buff　coat；
None　dared　engage　the　terrible　warrior　at　Dangyang；
In　the　days　of　old　lived　the　brave　Zhao　Yun；
Who　fought　in　the　battlefield　for　his　lord　in　danger。

Having　thus　fought　his　way　out　of　the　press；　Zhao　Yun　lost　no　time　in　getting　away　from　the　battle　field。　His　white　battle　robe　was　soaked　in　blood。
On　his　way；　near　the　rise　of　the　hills；　he　met　with　two　other　bodies　of　troops　under　two　brothers；　Zhong　Jin　and　Zhong　Shen。　One　of　these　was　armed　with　a　massive　ax；　the　other　a　halberd。
As　soon　as　they　saw　Zhao　Yun；　they　knew　him　and　shouted；　〃Quickly　dismount　and　be　bound！〃

He　has　only　escaped　from　the　tiger　cave；
To　risk　the　dragon　pool's　sounding　wave。

How　Zhao　Yun　escaped　will　be　next　related。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　42　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　42
　Chapter　42
Screaming　Zhang　Fei　Triumphs　At　Long　Slope　Bridge；
Defeated　Liu　Bei　Goes　To　Hanjin。
As　related　in　the　last　chapter　two　generals　appeared　in　front　of　Zhao　Yun；　who　rode　at　them　with　his　spear　ready　for　a　thrust。　Zhong　Jin　was　leading；　flourishing　his　battle…ax。　Zhao　Yun　engaged　and　very　soon　unhorsed　him。　Then　Zhao　Yun　galloped　away。　Zhong　Shen　rode　up　behind　ready　with　his　halberd；　and　his　horse's　nose　got　so　close　to　the　other's　tail　that　Zhao　Yun　could　see　in　his　armor　the　reflection　of　the　play　of　Zhong　Shen's　weapon。　Then　suddenly；　and　without　warning；　Zhao　Yun　wheeled　round　his　horse　so　that　he　faced　his　pursuer；　and　their　two　steeds　struck　breast　to　breast。　With　his　spear　in　his　left　hand；　Zhao　Yun　warded　off　the　halberd　strokes；　and　in　his　right　he　swung　the　blue　blade　sword。　One　slash　and　he　had　cut　through　both　helmet　and　head。　Zhong　Shen　fell　to　the　ground；　a　corpse　with　only　half　a　head　on　his　body。　His　followers　fled；　and　Zhao　Yun　retook　the　road　toward　Long　Slope　Bridge。
But　in　his　rear　arose　another　tumultuous　shouting；　seeming　to　rend　the　very　sky；　and　Wen　Ping　came　up　behind。　However；　although　the　man　was　weary　and　his　steed　spent；　Zhao　Yun　got　close　to　the　bridge　where　he　saw　standing；　all　ready　for　any　fray；　Zhang　Fei。
〃Help　me；　Zhang　Fei！〃　he　cried　and　crossed　the　bridge。
〃Hasten！〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　〃I　will　keep　back　the　pursuers！〃
About　seven　miles　from　the　bridge；　Zhao　Yun　saw　Liu　Bei　with　his　followers　reposing　in　the　shade　of　some　trees。　He　dismounted　and　drew　near；　weeping。　The　tears　also　started　to　Liu　Bei's　eyes　when　he　saw　his　faithful　mander。
Still　panting　from　his　exertions；　Zhao　Yun　gasped　out；　〃My　fault………death　is　too　light　a　punishment。　Lady　Mi　was　severely　wounded。　She　refused　my　horse　and　threw　herself　into　a　well。　She　is　dead；　and　all　I　could　do　was　to　fill　in　the　well　with　the　rubbish　that　lay　around。　But　I　placed　the　babe　in　the　breast　of　my　fighting　robe　and　have　won　my　way　out　of　the　press　of　battle。　Thanks　to　the　little　lord's　grand　luck　I　have　escaped。　At　first　he　cried　a　good　deal；　but　for　some　time　now　he　has　not　stirred　or　made　a　sound。　I　fear　I　may　not　have　saved　his　life　after　all。〃
Then　Zhao　Yun　opened　his　robe　and　looked：　The　child　was　fast　asleep。
〃Happily；　Sir；　your　son　is　unhurt；〃　said　Zhao　Yun　as　he　drew　him　forth　and　presented　him　in　both　hands。
Liu　Bei　took　the　child　but　threw　it　aside　angrily；　saying；　〃To　preserve　that　suckling　I　very　nearly　lost　a　great　mander！〃
Zhao　Yun　picked　up　the　child　again　and；　weeping；　said；　〃Were　I　ground　to　powder；　I　could　not　prove　my　gratitude。〃

From　out　Cao　Cao's　host　a　tiger　rushed；
His　wish　but　to　destroy；
Though　Liu　Bei's　consort　lost　her　life；
Zhao　Yun　preserved　her　boy。
〃Too　great　the　risk　you　ran　to　save
This　child；〃　the　father　cried。
To　show　he　rated　Zhao　Yun　high；
He　threw　his　son　aside。

Wen　Ping　and　his　pany　pursued　Zhao　Yun　till　they　saw　Zhang　Fei's　bristling　mustache　and　fiercely　glaring　eyes　before　them。　There　he　was　seated　on　his　battle　steed；　his　hand　grasping　his　terrible　serpent　spear；　guarding　the　bridge。　They　also　saw　great　clouds　of　dust　rising　above　the　trees　and　concluded　they　would　fall　into　an　ambush　if　they　ventured　across　the　bridge。　So　they　stopped　the　pursuit；　not　daring　to　advance　further。
In　a　little　time　Cao　Ren；　Xiahou　Dun；　Xiahou　Yuan；　Li　Dian；　Yue　Jing；　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Chu；　Zhang　He；　and　other　generals　of　Cao　Cao　came　up；　but　none　dared　advance；　frightened　not　only　by　Zhang　Fei's　fierce　look；　but　lest　they　should　bee　victims　of　a　ruse　of　Zhuge　Liang。　As　they　came　up；　they　formed　a　line　on　the　west　side；　halting　till　they　could　inform　their　lord　of　the　position。
As　soon　as　the　messengers　arrived　and　Cao　Cao　heard　about　it；　he　mounted　and　rode　to　the　bridge　to　see　for　himself。　Zhang　Fei's　fierce　eye　scanning　the　hinder　position　of　the　army　opposite　him　saw　the　silken　umbrella；　the　axes　and　banners　ing　along；　and　concluded　that　Cao　Cao　came　to　see　for　himself　how　matters　stood。
So　in　a　mighty　voice　he　shouted：　〃I　am　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan。　Who　dares　fight　with　me？〃
At　the　sound　of　this　thunderous　voice；　a　terrible　quaking　fear　seized　upon　Cao　Cao；　and　he　bade　them　take　the　umbrella　away。
Turning　to　his　followers；　he　said；　〃Guan　Yu　had　said　that　his　brother　Zhang　Fei　was　the　sort　of　man　to　go　through　an　army　of　a　hundred　legions　and　take　the　head　of　its　mander…in…chief；　and　do　it　easily。　Now　here　is　this　terror　in　front　of　us；　and　we　must　be　careful。〃
As　he　finished　speaking；　again　that　terrible　voice　was　heard；　〃I　am　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan。Who　dares　fight　with　me？〃
Cao　Cao；　seeing　his　enemy　so　fierce　and　resolute；　was　too　frightened　to　think　of　anything　but　retreat。
Zhang　Fei；　seeing　a　movement　going　on　in　the　rear；　once　again　shook　his　spear　and　roared；　〃What　mean　you？　You　will　not　fight　nor　do　you　run　away！〃
This　roar　had　scarcely　begun　when　one　of　Cao　Cao's　staff；　Xiahou　Jie；　reeled　and　fell　from　his　horse　terror…stricken；　paralyzed　with　fear。　The　panic　touched　Cao　Cao　and　spread　to　his　whole　surroundings；　and　he　and　his　staff　galloped　for　their　lives。　They　were　as　frightened　as　a　suckling　babe　at　a　clap　of　thunder　or　a　weak　woodcutter　at　the　roar　of　a　tiger。　Many　threw　away　their　spears；　dropped　their　casques　and　fled；　a　wave　of　panic…stricken　humanity；　a　tumbling　mass　of　terrified　horses。　None　thought　of　ought　but　flight；　and　those　who　ran　trampled　the　bodies　of　fallen　rades　under　foot。

Zhang　Fei　was　wrathful；　and　who　dared
To　accept　his　challenge？　Fierce　he　glared；
His　thunderous　voice　rolled　out；　and　then
In　terror　fled　Cao　Cao's　armed　soldiers。

Panic…stricken　Cao　Cao　galloped　westward　with　the　rest；　thinking　of　nothing　but　getting　away。　He　lost　his　headdress；　and　his　loosened　hair　streamed　behind　him。　Presently　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Chu　came　up　with　him　and　seized　his　bridle；　fear　had　deprived　him　of　all　self…control。
〃Do　not　be　frightened；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃After　all　Zhang　Fei　is　but　one　man　and　not　worthy　of　extravagant　fear。　If　you　will　only　return　and　attack；　you　will　capture　your　enemy。〃
That　time　Cao　Cao　had　somewhat　overe　his　panic　and　bee　reasonable。　Two　generals　were　ordered　back　to　the　bridge　to　reconnoiter。
Zhang　Fei　saw　the　disorderly　rout　of　the　enemy　but　he　dared　not　pursue。　However；　he　bade　his　score　or　so　of　dust…raising　followers　to　cut　loose　the　branches　from　their　horses'　tails　and　e　to　help　destroy　the　bridge。　This　done　he　went　to　report　to　his　brother　and　told　him　of　the　destruction　of　the　bridge。
〃Brave　as　you　are；　brother；　and　no　one　is　braver；　but　you　are　no　strategist；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃What　mean　you；　brother？〃
〃Cao　Cao　is　very　deep。　You　are　no　match　for　him。　The　destruction　of　the　bridge　will　bring　him　in　pursuit。〃
〃If　he　ran　away　at　a　yell　of　mine；　think　you　he　will　dare　return？〃
〃If　you　had　left　the　bridge；　he　would　have　thought　there　was　an　ambush　and　would　not　have　dared　to　pass　it。　Now　the　destruction　of　the　bridge　tells　him　we　are　weak　and　fearful；　and　he　will　pursue。　He　does　not　mind　a　broken　bridge。　His　legions　could　fill　up　the　biggest　rivers　that　we　could　get　across。〃
So　orders