三国演义英文版-第184部分

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cealed　his　veterans　in　the　partments。　He　selected　seven　generals………Han　Dang；　Jiang　Qin；　Zhu　Ran；　Pan　Zhang；　Zhou　Tai；　Xu　Sheng；　and　Ding　Feng………to　serve　under　him　and　settled　the　order　of　their　successive　movements。　The　remainder　of　the　forces　was　left　with　Sun　Quan　as　supports　and　reserves。　Letters　were　also　written　to　Cao　Cao　that　he　might　cooperate　by　sending　his　army　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　the　rear；　and　to　Lu　Xun　that　he　would　act　in　concert。
Then　the　sailors　in　plain　white　dress　navigated　the　ships　to　River　Xunyang　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　then　crossed　to　the　north　bank。
When　the　beacon…keepers　came　down　to　question　them；　the　men　of　Wu　said；　〃We　are　traders　forced　into　the　bank　by　contrary　winds。〃
And　they　offered　gifts　to　the　beacon…keepers；　who　accepted　them　and　let　the　ships　e　to　an　anchor　close　to　the　shore。
At　about　the　second　watch　the　soldiers　came　out　of　hiding　in　the　holds　of　the　transports；　suddenly　fell　upon　the　beacon…keepers　and　made　them　prisoners；　officers　and　soldiers。　Next　the　signal　for　a　general　landing　was　given；　and　all　the　soldiers　from　the　eighty　ships　went　ashore。　The　guard　stations　were　attacked；　and　all　the　troops　captured　and　carried　off　to　the　ships；　not　one　being　allowed　to　escape。　Then　the　force　of　Wu　hurried　off　to　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　having　so　far　carried　out　their　plans　that　no　one　knew　of　their　ing。
Nearing　Jingzhou；　Lu　Meng　spoke　kindly　to　his　captives；　and　gave　them　gifts　and　forted　them　in　order　to　induce　them　to　get　the　gates　opened　for　him　to　enter　the　city。　He　won　them　over　to　his　side；　and　they　promised　to　aid　him。　They　would　show　a　flare　as　a　signal　that　the　gates　were　free。　So　they　went　in　advance　and　arrived　at　the　gates　about　midnight。　They　called　the　watch。　The　wardens　of　the　gate；　recognizing　their　voices；　opened　for　them。　Once　within；　they　shouted　and　lit　the　flares。　Immediately　the　soldiers　of　Wu　came　in　with　a　rush　and　were　soon　in　possession。
The　first　order　issued　by　Lu　Meng　was　to　spare　the　people。　Instant　death　should　be　the　punishment　for　any　murder　or　robbery。　The　various　officials　in　the　city　were　retained　in　their　offices　and　continued　their　functions。　Special　guards　were　set　over　Guan　Yu's　family　dwelling；　and　none　dared　break　open　any　other　house。　A　messenger　was　sent　with　tidings　to　Sun　Quan。
One　very　wet　day　Lu　Meng；　with　a　few　horsemen　as　escort；　was　going　round　the　walls　and　visiting　the　gates。　One　of　the　soldiers　took　from　a　passer…by　a　broad…brimmed　hat　and　put　it　on　over　his　helmet　to　keep　his　armor　dry。　Lu　Meng　saw　it；　and　the　offender　was　seized。　He　was　a　fellow…villager　of　Lu　Meng；　but　that　did　not　save　him。
〃You　are　an　old　acquaintance；　but　you　knew　my　order。　Why　did　you　disobey　it？〃
〃I　thought　the　rain　would　spoil　my　uniform；　and　I　took　the　hat　to　protect　it。　I　did　not　take　it　for　my　own　advantage；　but　to　protect　state　property。　Spare　me；　O　General；　for　the　sake　of　our　mon　dwelling…place。〃
〃I　know　you　were　protecting　your　armor；　but　still　it　was　disobedience　to　the　order　against　taking　anything　from　the　people。〃
The　soldier　was　beheaded；　and　his　head　exposed　as　a　warning。　But　when　all　was　over；　Lu　Meng　had　the　body　buried　decently　and　wept　at　the　grave　for　the　loss　of　his　friend。　Never　after　this　was　there　the　least　laxity　of　discipline。
When　Sun　Quan　visited　the　city；　Lu　Meng　met　him　at　the　boundary　and　led　him　to　the　official　residence；　where　Sun　Quan　issued　rewards　and　mendations。　This　done；　Sun　Quan　ordered　Pan　Jun　to　take　charge　of　the　new　possession。　Yu　Jin；　who　was　in　prison；　was　freed　and　sent　back　to　Cao　Cao。　When　the　people　had　been　forted　and　the　soldiers　rewarded；　there　was　a　great　banquet　in　honor　of　the　success　of　the　expedition。
Then　said　Sun　Quan　to　Lu　Meng；　〃We　have　got　the　city　of　Jingzhou；　but　now　Fu　Shiren　is　holding　Gongan　and　Mi　Fang　Nanjun。　How　can　we　get　these　two　territories？〃
Suddenly　Yu　Fan　started　up　and　offered　his　services。
〃You　will　need　neither　bows　nor　arrows；〃　said　Yu　Fan；　〃unless　my　little　tongue　is　worn　out。　I　can　persuade　Fu　Shiren　to　surrender。〃
〃Friend　Yu　Fan；　how　will　you　do　it？〃　asked　Sun　Quan。
〃Fu　Shiren　and　I　are　very　old　friends；　ever　since　we　were　boys。　If　I　explain　the　matter　to　him；　I　am　sure　he　will　e　over　to　this　side。〃
So　Yu　Fan；　with　an　escort；　left　quickly　for　Gongan；　where　his　friend　was　in　mand。
Now　when　Fu　Shiren　heard　of　the　capture　of　Jingzhou；　he　closed　his　gates。　Yu　Fan　arrived；　but　was　refused　entrance。　So　Yu　Fan　wrote　a　letter；　attached　it　to　an　arrow；　and　shot　it　over　the　city　wall。　A　soldier　picked　it　up　and　took　it　to　his　mander；　who　found　therein　much　persuasion　to　surrender。
Having　read　all　this；　he　thought　within　himself；　〃I　think　I　should　do　well　in　surrender；　for　at　his　departure　Guan　Yu　was　very　bitter　against　me。〃
Without　further　ado；　he　bade　the　wardens　open　the　gate；　and　his　friend　came　in。　After　their　greetings　they　talked　of　old　times；　and　Yu　Fan　praised　Sun　Quan's　magnanimity　and　liberality　and　greatness　generally。　So　finally　Fu　Shiren　decided　to　exchange　masters　and　went　away；　taking　with　him　his　seal　of　office。　He　was　presented　to　Sun　Quan；　who　reappointed　him　to　the　mand　of　Gongan　under　its　new　lord。
Lu　Meng　thought　the　appointment　imprudent　and　said　to　Sun　Quan；　〃Guan　Yu　is　yet　unconquered。　We　should　not　put　Fu　Shiren　in　Gongan。　Instead；　send　him　to　Nanjun　to　induce　his　former　colleague　and　fellow　Mi　Fang　to　join　him　in　desertion　to　the　enemy。〃
Lu　Meng's　advice　was　followed；　and　Fu　Shiren　was　recalled。
〃Go　to　Nanjun　and　win　over　Mi　Fang；　and　I　will　reward　you　richly；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Fu　Shiren　accepted　the　mission　and　duly　left　for　Nanjun。

Jingzhou's　defenders　failed　when　tried；
So　Wang　Fu's　words　were　justified。

For　the　events　of　the　journey　see　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　76　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　76
　Chapter　76
Xu　Huang　Fights　At　The　River　Mian；
Guan　Yu　Retreats　To　Maicheng。
The　fall　of　Jingzhou　put　Mi　Fang　in　a　quandary。　Before　he　could　decide　upon　any　course；　his　old　colleague　Fu　Shiren　came　to　see　him。　Fu　Shiren　was　admitted；　and　when　asked　why　he　had　e；　he　blurted　out　his　business　without　beating　about　the　bush。
〃I　am　faithful　enough；　but　I　got　into　difficulties　and　danger　and　could　not　hold　on；　so　I　have　surrendered　to　Wu。　And　I　advise　you　to　do　the　same。〃
〃You　and　I　have　both　fed　on　the　bounty　of　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong；　and　I　cannot　understand　how　you　can　turn　against　him。〃
〃Guan　Yu　went　away　hating　both　of　us　intensely。　Even　if　he　es　back　victorious；　I　do　not　think　he　will　forgive　us。　Just　think　it　over。〃
〃My　brother　and　I　have　followed　the　Prince　these　many　years；　and　I　do　not　like　leaving　him　like　this。〃
Mi　Fang　hesitated。
Before　he　could　make　up　his　mind；　there　came　a　messenger；　saying；　〃The　army　in　Fancheng　is　short　of　grain；　and　I　was　sent　to　demand　white　rice　for　the　soldiers。　Nanjun　and　Gongan　are　to　send　ten　thousand　carts　at　once。　Delay　will　be　most　severely　punished。〃
This　sudden　demand　was　a　shock　to　Mi　Fang。
〃Where　am　I　to　get　the　rice？〃　said　he　despairingly　to　his　friend　and　tempter。　〃Jingzhou　is　now　in　the　hands　of　Wu。〃
〃Do　not　dilly…dally；〃　said　Fu　Shiren。　Thereupon　he　drew　his　sword　and　slew　the　messenger　as　he　stood　in　the　hall。
〃What　have　you　done？〃　cried　Mi　Fang。
〃Guan　Yu　wanted　to　slay　us　two　and　has　forced　me　to　this。　Are　we　to　fold　our　hands　and　await　death？　Either　you　give　in　at　once　and　go　over　to　Wu；　or　you　will　be　put　to　death　by　Guan　Yu。〃
Just　then　they　heard　that　Lu　Meng's　troops　had　actually　reached　the　city　wall。　Mi　Fang　saw　that　nothing　could　save　his　life　but　desertion；　so　he　went　out　with　Fu　Shiren　and　gave　in　his　allegiance　to　Lu　Meng；　by　whom　he　was　led　to　Sun　Quan。　Sun　Quan　gave　both　of　them　presents；　after　which　he　proceeded　to　restore　order　and　to　reward　his　army　for　their　services。
At　the　time　that　great　discussion　about　Jingzhou　was　going　on　in　Xuchang；　a　messenger　arrived　with　a　letter　from　Sun　Quan。　It　told　the　plan　of　attacking　Jingzhou　and　begged　Cao　Cao　to　send　an　army　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　the　rear；　enjoining　the　utmost　secrecy。
Cao　Cao　summoned　his　advisers　to　a　meeting　for　consultation。
First　Secretary　Dong　Zhao　said；　〃Now　that　Fancheng　is　surrounded；　it　would　be　well　to　shoot　letter　into　the　city　to　let　the　besieged　know；　so　that　they　may　not　yield　to　depression。　Then　we　will　inform　Guan　Yu　of　the　danger　from　the　south。　If　Guan　Yu　hears　that　Jingzhou　is　threatened　by　Wu；　he　will　e　back　to　try　to　defend　it。　Then　let　Xu　Huang　take　the　chance　to　attack；　and　our　victory　will　be　plete。〃
Cao　Cao　agreed　that　the　plan　was　good；　and　so　he　sent　a　messenger　to　urge　Xu　Huang　to　attack。　Cao　Cao　himself　led　a　large　force　to　Yangling　Slope；　south　of　Luoyang；　to　rescue　Cao　Ren。
Xu　Huang　was　sitting　in　his　tent　when　they　told　him　that　a　messenger　from　the　Prince　of　Wei　had　arrived。
The　messenger　was　called　in　and　said；　〃The　Prince　has　led　an　army　to　Luoyang；　and　he　wishes　you　to　hasten　to　attack　Guan　Yu　in　order　to　relieve　Fancheng。〃
Just　then　the　scouts　came　to　report：　〃Guan　Ping　has　encamped　at　Yencheng　and　Liao　Hua　at　Sizhong。　The　enemy　have　built　a　line　of　twelve　stockades。〃
Xu　Huang　ordered　two　of　his　generals………Lu　Qian　and　Xu　Shang………to　Yencheng　to　masquerade　as　if　he　himself　was　in　mand；　by　showing　his　ensigns。　Xu　Huang　himself；　at　the　head　of　five　hundred　veterans；　went　along　River　Mian　to　attack　Yencheng　in　the　rear。
When　Guan　Ping　heard　of　the　approach　of　Xu　Huang；　he　prepared　his　own　division　to　meet　him。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Guan　Ping　rode　out　and　engaged　Xu　Shang。　After　three　encounters　Xu　Shang　had　the　worst　of　it　and　fled。　Then　the　other　general；　Lu　Qian；　went　out。　He　fought　half　a　dozen　bouts　and　also　ran　away。　Thereupon　Guan　Ping　went　in　pursuit　and　smote　the　flying　enemy　for　seven　miles。　But　then　there　was　an　alarm　of　fire　within　Yencheng；　and　Guan　Ping　knew　that　he　had　been　inveigled　into　the　pursuit　and　was　a　victim。　So　he　turned　and　set　out　for　the　city　again。　On　his　way　he　met　a　body　of　troops；　and　standing　under　the　great　standard　was　Xu　Huang。
Xu　Huang　shouted　out；　〃Guan　Ping；　my　worthy　nephew；　it　is　strange　that　you　do　not　recognize　death　when　it　stares　you　in　the　face。　Your　Jingzhou　has　fallen　into　the　hands　of　Wu；　and　yet　you　act　so　madly。〃
Guan　Ping；　whirling　his　sword；　just　rode　hard　at　Xu　Huang；　and　they　engaged。　But　after　the　third　bout　there　was　a　tremendous　shouting　among　the　soldiers；　for　the　flames　within　the　city　burst　up　higher　than　before。　Guan　Ping　could　not　follow　up　his　desire　to　continue　the　fight；　but　cut　his　way　out　and　made　a　dash　for　Sizhong；　where　Liao　Hua　received　him　with　the　news　of　the　disaster　to　Jingzhou。
〃People　say　that　Jingzhou　has　fallen　to　Lu　Meng；　and　the　news　has　frightened　the　whole　army。　What　is　to　be　done？〃　said　Liao　Hua。
〃It　is　only　a　malicious　rumor。　Do　not　let　it　spread。　If　anyone　repeats　it；　put　him　to　death。〃
Just　then　a　man　came　running　in　to　say　that　Xu　Huang　was　attacking　the　first　stockade　on　the　north。
〃If　that　goes；〃　said　Guan　Ping；　〃the　remainder　will　follow。　But　as　we　have　River　Mian　at　our　back；　they　will　not　dare　attack　this。　Let　us　go　to　the　rescue。〃
So　Liao　Hua　summoned　his　subordinate　leaders　and　gave　them　orders　to　hold　the　camp　and　make　a　signal　if　the　enemy　came。
〃There　is　no　danger　here；〃　said　they。　〃The　camp　is　defended　by　a　tenfold　line　of