三国演义英文版-第181部分

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ive。〃
〃How　highly　does　our　Prince　regard　this　fellow　Guan　Yu！〃　said　Pang　De　to　his　officers　when　he　heard　this　new　mand。　〃But　I　think　I　shall　be　able　to　take　the　keen　edge　off　his　thirty…year　reputation。〃
〃The　mand　of　the　Prince　is　to　be　obeyed；〃　said　Yu　Jin。
Pang　De　hastened　to　Fancheng　in　all　the　pomp　and　panoply　of　war；　his　gongs　clanging；　his　drums　rolling　as　he　marched。
Guan　Yu　was　sitting　in　his　tent　when　his　spies　came　to　report：　〃Seven　armies　of　the　north　under　Yu　Jin　are　approaching。　They　are　ten　miles　away。　The　Van　Leader　is　Pang　De；　who　brings　with　him　a　coffin。　As　he　marches；　he　slanders　you；　General；　and　vows　to　fight　a　decisive　battle　with　you。〃
Rage　took　possession　of　Guan　Yu。　His　face　changed　color；　his　beard　shook；　and　he　roared　out；　〃There　is　never　a　fighting　man　in　all　the　world　who　has　heard　my　name　without　trembling。　Does　this　fellow　dare　disdain　me？〃
Then　he　ordered　Guan　Ping　to　attack　Fancheng　while　he　went　out　to　stay　the　impudent　boaster　who　dared　him。
〃Father；〃　said　Guan　Ping；　〃Taishan　Mountain　in　its　majesty　does　not　quarrel　with　a　pebble。　Let　me　go　and　fight　this　Pang　De。〃
〃Well；　my　son；　go　and　try。　I　will　support　you。〃
So　Guan　Ping　took　his　sword；　mounted　his　steed；　and　went　out　with　his　troops。　Both　sides　being　drawn　up　for　battle。　On　the　side　of　Wei　there　flew　a　single　black　flag　on　which　was　inscribed　Pang　De；　Corrector　of　the　West　in　white。　The　leader　himself　wore　a　blue　robe　with　a　silver　helmet　and　rode　a　white　charger。　He　stood　out　in　front　backed　by　his　five　hundred　veterans；　and　a　few　foot　soldiers　were　there　too；　bearing　the　gruesome　coffin。
Guan　Ping　was　very　angry；　crying　out；　〃Turncoat！　Traitor！〃
〃Who　is　that？〃　asked　Pang　De　of　his　followers。
A　certain　one　replied；　〃That　is　Guan　Yu's　adopted　son；　Guan　Ping。〃
Pang　De　cried；　〃I　have　an　edict　from　the　Prince　of　Wei　to　take　your　father's　head。　You　are　but　a　weakling；　and　I　will　spare　you。　But　call　your　father！〃
Guan　Ping　dashed　forward　flourishing　his　sword。　Pang　De　went　to　meet　him；　and　there　followed　thirty　odd　bouts　with　no　advantage　to　either。
Both　sides　then　drew　off　to　rest。　Soon　the　news　of　this　bat　reached　Guan　Yu；　and　he　was　not　pleased。　He　sent　Liao　Hua　to　assault　the　city　while　he　went　to　do　battle　with　Pang　De。　Guan　Ping　met　his　father　and　related　the　story　of　the　indecisive　fight。
So　Guan　Yu　rode　out　with　his　green…dragon　saber　ready；　and　he　shouted　to　Pang　De；　〃e　quickly　and　be　slain！〃
The　drums　reechoed　as　Pang　De　rode　out　and　replied；　〃The　edict　from　the　Prince　of　Wei　tells　me　to　take　your　head。　In　case　you　disbelieve　it；　here　is　the　coffin　ready　to　receive　it。　If　you　fear　death；　down　from　your　horse　and　surrender！〃
〃I　hold　you　for　a　simple　fool；〃　cried　Guan　Yu。　〃What　can　you　do？　It　is　a　pity　to　stain　my　blade　with　the　blood　of　such　a　rat。〃
Then　he　galloped　Red　Hare　out　toward　Pang　De；　flourishing　the　saber。　Pang　De　whirled　his　blade　and　came　to　meet　him；　and　they　two　fought　a　hundred　bouts。　And　as　they　fought；　the　lust　of　battle　seemed　to　grow　and　both　armies　were　lost　in　amazement。
But　the　army　of　Wei　began　to　fear　for　their　champion；　and　the　gongs　sounded　the　retirement。　At　the　same　time　Guan　Ping　began　to　think　of　his　father's　fatigue；　and　his　gongs　clanged　too。　So　that　both　armies　drew　off　at　the　same　time。
〃People　rumor　Guan　Yu　is　a　mighty　man　of　war。　Today　I　really　believe　that；〃　said　Pang　De；　when　he　had　got　back　among　his　own　line。
Then　his　chief；　Yu　Jin；　came　to　see　him　and　said；　〃O　General；　you　fought　the　great　bat　of　a　hundred　bouts；　which　ended　indecisively。　I　think　it　would　be　prudent　to　retire　out　of　his　way；　and　therefore　blunting　his　spirit。〃
But　Pang　De　replied　haughtily；　〃What　makes　you　so　soft？　Yet　the　Prince　gave　you　the　mand　of　the　seven　armies！　But　tomorrow　I　will　fight　again　and　that　to　the　death。　I　swear　I　will　never　give　way。〃
Yu　Jin　could　not　overe　Pang　De's　decision；　so　he　went　back　to　his　own　camp。
When　Guan　Yu　had　got　back　to　his　camp；　he　extolled　Pang　De；　saying；　〃His　swordsmanship　is　perfect。　He　is　my　worthy　enemy。〃
〃The　new…born　calf　fears　not　the　tiger；〃　said　Guan　Ping。　〃But　if　you　slay　this　fellow；　my　father；　you　have　only　killed　a　mon　soldier　of　the　Qiang　tribes　beyond　the　frontier。　If　any　accident　occurs；　then　you　will　have　the　reproach　of　not　having　considered　your　brother's　charge。〃
〃How　can　my　resentment　be　assuaged　save　by　the　death　of　this　man？〃　returned　Guan　Yu。　〃I　have　decided　to　fight；　so　say　no　more。〃
Next　day　Guan　Yu　took　the　field　first；　and　Pang　De　quickly　came　out。　Both　arrayed　their　troops　and　then　went　to　the　front　at　the　same　moment。　This　time　neither　spoke；　but　the　bat　began　forthwith。　It　went　on　for　fifty　bouts；　and　then　Pang　De　pulled　his　horse；　sheathed　his　sword；　and　fled。　Guan　Yu　went　in　pursuit；　and　Guan　Ping　followed　lest　there　should　be　need　of　him。
Guan　Yu　roared　out　reviling　to　his　flying　foe；　〃Traitor！　You　want　to　use　the　'swinging…horse　stab'；　but　here　I　am；　never　afraid　of　that。〃
But　the　fact　was　that　Pang　De　had　only　pretended　to　try　for　a　foul　stroke　in　order　to　cover　a　resort　to　his　bow。　He　pulled　in　his　horse；　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　string；　and　was　just　on　the　point　of　shooting　when　Guan　Ping；　who　was　sharp…eyed；　shouted　out　a　warning。
〃The　bandit　is　going　to　shoot！〃
Guan　Yu　saw　it；　but　the　bowstring　twanged；　and　the　arrow　came　flying。　He　was　not　nimble　enough　to　avoid　it；　and　it　wounded　his　left　arm。　Guan　Ping　at　once　went　to　his　father's　assistance　and　led　him　away　to　the　camp。　Pang　De　wished　to　follow　up　this　advantage　and　came　back　whirling　his　sword；　but；　ere　he　could　strike；　the　gongs　of　his　own　side　rang　out。　He　thought　there　was　something　amiss　in　the　rear　and　stopped。
The　signal　for　retreat　had　been　sounded　by　Yu　Jin　out　of　jealousy；　for　he　had　seen　that　Guan　Yu　had　been　wounded；　and　he　grudged　his　colleague　the　glory　which　would　eclipse　his　own。　Pang　De　obeyed；　but　when　he　got　back；　he　wanted　to　know　why　retreat　had　been　sounded　on　the　very　verge　of　a　great　success。
〃Why　did　the　gongs　clang？〃　asked　Pang　De。
〃Because　of　our　Prince's　warning。　Though　Guan　Yu　was　wounded；　I　feared　some　trick　on　his　part。　He　is　very　cunning。〃
〃I　should　have　killed　him　if　you　had　not　done　that；〃　said　Pang　De。
〃Haste　makes　slow　going。　You　can　postpone　your　fight　with　him；〃　said　Yu　Jin。
Pang　De；　though　ignorant　of　the　real　reason　why　he　was　made　to　miss　success　at　the　critical　moment；　was　still　very　vexed。
Guan　Yu　went　back　to　camp；　and　the　arrow…head　was　puled　out　of　the　wound。　Happily　it　had　not　penetrated　very　deeply；　and　the　usual　remedies　against　injuries　by　metal　were　applied。
Guan　Yu　was　very　bitter　against　his　enemy　and　declared；　〃I　swear　I　will　have　my　revenge　for　this　arrow。〃
〃Never　mind　anything　but　recovering　now；〃　said　his　officers。　〃Rest　and　get　well；　then　you　may　fight　again。
Before　long；　Pang　De　renewed　his　challenge；　and　Guan　Yu　was　for　going　out　to　fight；　however；　he　yielded　to　the　entreaties　of　his　officers。　And　when　Pang　De　set　his　soldiers　to　reviling　the　warrior；　Guan　Ping　saw　to　it　that　his　father　never　heard　it。　After　ten　days　of　challenges　hurled　uselessly　at　an　army　that　ignored　them；　Pang　De　took　council　with　Yu　Jin。
〃Evidently　Guan　Yu　is　helpless　from　the　effects　of　that　arrow…wound。　We　ought　to　advance　all　our　seven　armies　against　him　while　he　is　ill　and　destroy　his　camp。　Thereby　we　shall　relieve　Fancheng。〃
Thus　spoke　Pang　De；　but　jealousy　of　the　glory　that　might　accrue　to　his　next　in　mand　again　made　Yu　Jin　urge　caution　and　obedience　to　the　mand　of　the　Prince　of　Wei。　Yu　Jin　refused　to　move　his　army　in　spite　of　Pang　De's　repeated　persuasion。　Still　more；　Yu　Jin　led　the　armies　to　a　new　camping　ground　behind　the　hills　some　three　miles　north　of　Fancheng。　There　his　own　army　prevented　munication　by　the　main　road；　while　he　sent　Pang　De　into　a　valley　in　the　rear　so　that　Pang　De　could　do　nothing。
To　Guan　Ping's　great　joy；　Guan　Yu's　wound　soon　healed。　Soon　after　they　heard　of　Yu　Jin's　new　camp；　and　as　Guan　Ping　could　assign　no　reason　for　the　change；　and　suspected　some　ruse；　he　told　his　father；　who　went　up　to　a　high　place　to　reconnoiter。
Looking　round；　Guan　Yu　noted　that　there　seemed　much　slackness　about　everything………from　flags　to　soldiers………in　Fancheng；　that　the　relief　armies　were　camped　in　a　valley　to　the　north；　and　that　River　Xiang　seemed　to　run　very　swiftly。　After　impressing　the　topography　on　his　mind；　he　called　the　guides　and　asked　the　name　of　the　gully　about　three　miles　north　of　the　city。
〃Zengkou　Stream；〃　was　the　reply。
He　chuckled。
〃I　shall　capture　Yu　Jin；〃　said　he。
Those　with　him　asked　how　he　knew　that。
He　replied；　〃Why；　how　can　any　fish　last　long　in　such　a　trap？〃
Those　in　his　train　gave　but　little　weight　to　what　he　said；　and　presently　he　went　back　to　his　own　tent。　It　was　just　then　the　time　for　the　autumn　rains；　and　a　heavy　downpour　came　on；　lasting　several　days。　Orders　were　given　to　get　ready　boats　and　rafts　and　such　things。　Guan　Ping　could　not　think　what　such　preparations　meant　in　a　dry　land　campaign。　So　he　asked　his　father。
〃Do　you　not　know　even？〃　replied　his　father。　〃Our　enemies　have　camped　in　difficult　ground　instead　of　the　open　country　and　are　crowded　in　the　dangerous　valley　there。　After　some　days　of　this　rain；　River　Xiang　will　swell；　and　I　shall　send　people　to　dam　up　all　the　outlets　and　so　let　the　water　rise　very　high。　When　at　its　highest；　I　shall　open　the　dams　and　let　the　water　out　over　Fancheng。　That　valley　will　be　flooded　too；　and　all　the　soldiers　will　bee　aquatic　animals。〃
The　Wei　armies　had　camped　in　the　gully；　and　after　several　days　of　heavy　rain；　Army　Inspector　Cheng　He　ventured　to　speak　to　his　mander。
He　said；　〃The　army　is　camped　near　the　mouth　of　a　stream　in　a　depression。　There　are　hills　around　us；　but　they　are　too　far　off　to　keep　the　water　away。　Our　soldiers　are　already　suffering　from　these　heavy　rains；　and；　moreover；　they　say　the　Jingzhou　troops　have　moved　to　higher　ground。　More　than　that；　at　River　Han　they　are　preparing　boats　and　rafts　so　that　they　can　take　advantage　of　the　floods　if　there　are　any。　Our　army　will　be　in　great　danger；　and　something　should　be　done。〃
But　Yu　Jin　scoffed　at　his　words；　saying；　〃You　fool！　Do　you　want　to　injure　the　spirit　of　our　soldiers？　Talk　no　more；　or　your　head　will　be　fallen。〃
Cheng　He　went　away　greatly　ashamed。
Then　Cheng　He　went　to　Pang　De；　who　saw　the　force　of　his　words　and　said；　〃What　you　said　is　excellent。　If　Yu　Jin　will　not　move　camp　tomorrow；　I　myself　will　do　so。〃
So　Cheng　He　left　it　at　that。
That　night　there　came　a　great　storm。　As　Pang　De　sat　in　his　tent；　he　heard　the　sound　as　of　ten　thousand　horses　in　stampede　and　a　roar　as　of　the　drums　of　war　seeming　to　shake　the　earth。　He　was　alarmed；　left　his　tent；　and　mounted　his　charger　to　go　and　see　what　it　meant。　Then　he　saw　the　rolling　waters　ing　in　from　every　side　and　the　seven　armies　flying　from　the　flood；　which　speedily　rose　to　the　height　of　ten　spans。　Yu　Jin；　Pang　De；　and　several　other　officers　sought　safety　by　rushing　up　the　hills。
As　day　dawned；　Guan　Yu　and　his　marines　came　along　in　large　boats　with　flags　flying　and　drums　beating。　Yu　Jin　saw　no　way　of　escape；　and　his　following　was　reduced　to　about　fifty　or　sixty　soldiers。　They　all　said　they　surrendered。　Guan　Yu　made　them　strip　and　then　took　them　on　board。
After　that　he　went　to　capture　Pang　De；　who　was　standing　on　a　hillock　with　Dong　Heng；　Dong　Chao；