三国演义英文版-第198部分

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But　when　the　messenger　had　gone　out　of　the　city；　Liu　Ye　went　to　remonstrate；　saying；　〃Sun　Quan　has　done　this　for　fear　of　the　armies　of　Shu。　In　my　opinion；　if　Shu　and　Wu　fight；　heaven　will　make　an　end　of　one　country。　If　you　will　send　an　army　across　the　Great　River　to　attack；　and　Shu　attack　at　the　same　time　from　the　west；　Wu　as　a　state　will　disappear。　If　Wu　goes；　then　Shu　will　be　left　alone　and　can　be　dealt　with　when　you　will。〃
〃But　I　cannot　attack　Sun　Quan　now　that　he　has　e　over　to　my　side。　It　would　prevent　anyone　else　from　doing　so。　No；　I　will　really　accept　his　submission。　It　is　the　best　course。〃
Liu　Ye　said；　〃After　all；　though　talented；　he　is　but　a　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　and　Lord　of　Nanzhang　of　the　decadent　days　of　Han。　His　rank　is　low　and　his　influence　small；　yet　he　still　wants　to　contest　the　Middle　Land。　If　you　promote　him　to　kingly　rank；　he　is　only　one　step　below　yourself。　While　doubting　the　reality　of　his　submission；　you　give　him　an　exalted　rank　and　increase　his　influence。　Surely　this　is　only　giving　wings　to　a　tiger。〃
〃Not　at　all；　I　am　helping　neither　Wu　nor　Shu。　I　am　waiting　till　they　are　at　grips；　and　if　one　goes　under；　there　will　be　only　one　left　to　destroy。　That　will　be　easy。　However；　say　no　more；　for　I　have　decided。〃
Whereupon　Xing　Zhen　was　bidden　to　take　the　mandate　and　the　Nine　Dignities　and　acpany　Zhao　Zi　to　Wu。
Sun　Quan　assembled　his　officers　to　discuss　how　the　armies　of　Shu　could　be　driven　off。　Then　came　the　news　of　princely　rank　conferred　by　Wei。　By　the　rules　of　courtesy；　the　messenger　bearing　the　edict　should　be　met　at　a　great　distance　from　the　capital；　but　Gu　Yong　was　opposed　to　accepting　the　rank。
〃My　lord；　you　should　style　yourself　'Supreme　Ruler'　and　'Lord'　of　the　nine　territories。　You　should　not　receive　any　rank　from　Wei。〃
〃But　on　one　occasion　Liu　Bang　received　the　princedom　of　Han　（Hanzhong）　from　Xiang　Yu。　I　have　to　depend　upon　circumstances。　Why　refuse？〃
Sun　Quan　discussed　the　matter　no　more；　but　went　out　at　the　head　of　a　great　gathering　of　officers　to　wele　the　messenger。
Xing　Zhen；　the　bearer　of　the　mandate　from　Wei；　on　first　arrival　ported　himself　haughtily　as　the　representative　of　a　superior　country　and　an　imperial　ambassador。　And　when　he　entered　the　city；　he　did　not　descend　from　his　carriage。　Wherefore　Zhang　Zhao　ventured　to　rebuke　him。
〃Everyone　must　obey　the　rules　of　courtesy　as　everyone　must　respect　the　laws。　You；　Sir；　are　behaving　proudly　as　if　there　was　no　such　thing　as　a　sword　in　this　country。〃
Immediately　the　messenger　descended　from　his　chariot　and　was　presented　to　Sun　Quan。　Afterwards　they　went　in　side　by　side。
As　the　cavalcade　proceeded；　a　loud　voice　was　heard　in　the　rear　of　the　two　carriages；　crying；　〃Here　we　are　prevented　from　risking　our　lives　in　smashing　Wei　and　swallowing　Shu；　and　our　lord　receives　a　title　from　another　man。　Are　not　such　things　shameful？〃
The　man　was　Xu　Sheng。
And　Xing　Zhen　sighed；　saying；　〃If　all　the　leaders　and　ministers　of　the　South　Land　are　like　this；　the　Prince　of　Wu　will　not　long　be　content　to　obey　another。〃
However；　the　title　was　accepted。　And　when　he　had　received　the　felicitations　of　his　officers；　Sun　Quan　gave　orders　to　collect　beautiful　works　in　jade　and　brilliant　pearls；　which　were　sent　to　Wei　as　return　gifts。
Not　long　after　came　tidings　of　the　forces　of　Shu：　〃The　First　Ruler；　together　with　King　Shamo　Ke　of　the　Mang　nations；　leads　his　own　army　and　a　large　number　of　tribesmen　from　the　east　and　south。　Furthermore；　he　is　aided　by　the　two　Shu　generals　of　Dongxi；　Liu　Ning　and　Du　Lu；　with　their　cohorts。　They　advance　both　by　land　and　by　water；　a　mighty　host；　of　which　the　shouting　shakes　the　heavens。　The　naval　force　has　already　e　out　at　Wukou；　and　the　land　force　has　reached　Zigui。〃
Although　Sun　Quan　had　been　created　a　prince；　yet　Emperor　Pi　would　not　send　a　relieve　army。
When　the　terrible　news　came；　the　Prince　of　Wu　asked　present　advice　from　his　officers；　saying；　〃How　are　we　going　to　meet　those　forces？〃
But　there　was　none　to　help　him。　They　only　muttered　and　were　silent。
〃Ah！〃　sighed　he。　〃After　Zhou　Yu　I　had　Lu　Su；　and　Lu　Meng　succeeded　Lu　Su。　But　now　they　have　all　three　gone；　and　there　is　no　one　to　share　my　troubles！〃
But　just　then　a　very　youthful　general　stepped　out　from　the　ranks　of　the　officials　and　said；　with　a　lowly　obeisance；　〃Though　I　am　young；　I　am　not　a　little　versed　in　the　books　of　war；　and　with　a　few　legions　I　could　destroy　the　power　of　Shu。〃
Sun　Quan　recognized　Sun　Huan；　the　son　of　Sun　Hu。　Sun　Hu　was　originally　from　the　Yu　family；　and　he　had　served　under　Sun　Jian；　Sun　Quan's　father。　Sun　Jian　loved　the　youth　and　gave　him　his　own　family　name　of　Sun　and　so　made　him　a　member　of　his　own　clan。　Sun　Hu　had　four　sons；　of　whom　Sun　Huan　was　the　eldest。　Sun　Huan　was　an　expert　archer　and　horseman　and　had　acpanied　Sun　Quan　in　several　campaigns；　where　he　had　distinguished　himself　right　well　and　had　been　given　a　rank　of　mander。　At　this　time　he　was　twenty…five。
〃How　do　you　think　you　can　overe　them？〃
〃There　are　two　able　manders　under　my　mand　named　Xie　Jing　and　Li　Yi；　both　very　brave。　With　a　few　legions　I　will　capture　Liu　Bei。〃
〃Though　you　are　brave；　nephew；　yet　you　are　young　and　ought　to　have　an　assistant。〃
Thereupon　Tiger　General　Zhu　Ran　stepped　forward；　saying；　〃Let　me　go。〃
Sun　Quan　consented。　He　promoted　Sun　Huan　to　General　of　the　Left　Army；　and　he　told　off　fifty　thousand　of　soldiers　and　marines；　over　whom　he　placed　Sun　Huan　and　Zhu　Ran　as　joint　manders。　They　were　to　start　as　soon　as　possible。
The　scouts　reported　that　the　army　of　Shu　was　camped　at　Yidu；　and　Sun　Huan　led　half　his　army　to　the　borders　of　that　county　and　camped　in　three　stockades。
Now　the　Shu　General　Hu　Ban　had　received　his　seal　as　Leader　of　the　Van。　From　the　day　he　left　the　borders　of　the　River　Lands；　he　had　had　uninterrupted　success。　Everyone　had　submitted　at　the　mere　rumor　of　his　ing。　He　had　conducted　his　campaign　with　unstained　swords　as　far　as　Yidu。　When　he　heard　that　Sun　Huan　was　camped　there　to　oppose　his　progress；　he　sent　back　rapid　messengers　to　the　First　Ruler；　who　was　then　at　Zigui。
The　First　Ruler　got　angry；　saying；　〃So　they　think　this　youth　is　able　to　withstand　me？〃
〃Since　this　nephew　of　Sun　Quan　has　been　made　a　leader；〃　said　Guan　Xing；　〃it　is　unnecessary　to　send　a　leader　of　high　rank。　Let　me　go。〃
〃I　was　just　wishing　to　see　what　you　could　do；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　and　he　gave　him　orders　to　go。
Just　as　Guan　Xing　was　leaving；　Zhang　Bao　stepped　forth　and　asked　permission　to　go　too。
〃Then　both　go；　my　nephews；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃But　you　must　be　prudent　and　not　hasty。〃
So　they　took　leave；　collected　their　troops　and　advanced。　Sun　Huan；　hearing　of　the　ing　of　a　large　army；　called　out　all　his　troops　and　drew　up　his　array。　His　two　famous　generals；　Li　Yi　and　Xie　Jing；　were　placed　by　the　great　standard。　They　watched　the　soldiers　of　Shu　filing　out　and　noted　two　leaders　in　silver　helmets　and　silver　armors；　riding　on　white　horses；　and　the　flags　were　white。　First　came　Zhang　Bao　with　a　long　spear；　and　then　Guan　Xing　carrying　a　great　saber。
〃Sun　Huan；　you　tiny　rascal；　your　time　has　e！〃　cried　Zhang　Bao　abusively。　〃How　dare　you　stand　against　the　forces　of　Heaven？〃
〃Your　father　is　a　headless　devil；〃　cried　Sun　Huan；　no　way　backward　in　reviling；　〃and　you　are　going　just　now　to　join　him。　Don't　you　see？〃
Then　Zhang　Bao　rode　at　Sun　Huan。　From　behind　his　chief；　Xie　Jing　dashed　out　to　meet　him。　They　fought　nearly　forty　bouts；　and　then　Xie　Jing　ran　away　with　Zhang　Bao　in　pursuit。
When　Li　Yi　saw　his　rade　overe；　he　whipped　up　his　steed　and　came　into　the　fray；　whirling　his　silvered　battle…ax。　Zhang　Bao　fought　twenty　bouts　with　him；　but　neither　got　the　better。
Then　in　the　army　of　Wu；　a　marching　general　named　Tan　Xiong；　seeing　that　his　two　rades　could　not　overe　Zhang　Bao；　shot　a　treacherous　arrow　from　the　ranks　and　wounded　Zhang　Bao's　steed。　Feeling　the　pang　of　the　wound；　the　horse　bolted　back　to　its　own　side；　but　fell　before　it　reached　it；　throwing　its　rider　sprawling　on　the　ground。　Seeing　this；　Li　Yi　turned　and　rode　toward　the　prostrate　leader　to　slay　him　with　his　battle…ax。　But　just　as　he　was　about　to　deliver　his　blow；　lo！　a　red　flash　came　between；　and　his　head　rolled　along　the　earth。
The　red　flash　was　Guan　Xing's　great　sword。　Seeing　the　horse　fall　and　Li　Yi　ing　up；　he　had　rushed　in　and　dealt　that　fatal　blow。　And　he　had　saved　Zhang　Bao　from　death。　Then　they　attacked　and　lay　on　so　that　Sun　Huan　suffered　a　great　defeat。　Then　each　side　beat　the　retreat　and　drew　off。
Next　day　Sun　Huan　came　out　to　offer　battle　again；　and　the　two　cousins　went　forth　together。　Guan　Xing；　from　horseback　by　the　main　standard；　challenged　his　enemy。　Sun　Huan　rode　out　fiercely；　and　they　two　fought　near　thirty　bouts。　But　Sun　Huan　was　not　strong　enough　and　drew　off。　The　two　youths　followed　and　reached　his　camp。　Hu　Ban；　together　with　Feng　Xi　and　Zhang　Nan；　also　launched　another　attack。　Zhang　Bao　helped　them　with　all　his　force　and　was　the　first　to　force　his　way　into　the　ranks　of　Wu。　He　came　across　Xie　Jing；　whom　he　slew　with　a　spear　thrust。　The　soldiers　of　Wu　scattered　and　fled；　and　the　victory　was　on　the　side　of　Shu。
But　Guan　Xing　was　missing。　Zhang　Bao　was　desperate；　saying；　〃If　something　wrong　happens　to　Guan　Xing；　I　will　not　live！〃
So　he　girded　on　his　huge　spear　and　rode　far　and　wide　seeking　him。　Presently　he　met　Guan　Xing；　bearing　his　sword　in　his　left　hand；　while　his　right　held　a　captive。
〃Who　is　this？〃　asked　Zhang　Bao。
〃In　the　melee　I　met　an　enemy；〃　said　Guan　Xing；　〃and　I　took　him　prisoner。〃
Then　Zhang　Bao　recognized　Tan　Xiong；　the　man　who　had　let　fly　the　treacherous　arrow　that　had　brought　down　his　horse。　The　two　returned　to　camp；　where　they　slew　their　prisoner　and　poured　a　libation　of　his　blood　to　the　dead　horse。
After　this　they　drew　up　a　report　of　the　victory　for　the　First　Ruler。　Sun　Huan　had　lost　his　generals………Li　Yi；　Xie　Jing；　and　Tan　Xiong………as　well　as　several　other　officers　and　many　troops。　His　army　was　too　weakened　to　continue　the　campaign；　so　he　halted　and　sent　back　to　Wu　for　reinforcements。
Then　Generals　Zhang　Nan　and　Feng　Xi　said　to　Hu　Ban；　〃The　power　of　Wu　is　broken。　Let　us　raid　their　encampment。〃
But　Hu　Ban　said；　〃Though　so　many　have　been　lost；　there　are　many　left。　Zhu　Ran's　marine　force　is　in　a　strong　position　on　the　river　and　is　untouched。　If　you　carry　out　your　plan　and　the　marines　land　in　force　and　cut　off　our　retreat；　we　shall　be　in　difficulties。〃
〃That　is　easily　met；〃　said　Zhang　Nan。　〃Let　each　of　the　two　leaders　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　take　five　thousand　troops　and　go　into　ambush　in　the　valleys　to　guard　against　any　such　move。〃
Said　Hu　Ban；　〃I　think　it　better　to　send　some　persons　to　pretend　to　be　deserters。　Let　them　tell　Zhu　Ran　of　the　plan　to　raid　the　camp；　and　Zhu　Ran　will　e　to　the　rescue　as　soon　as　he　sees　fire。　Then　the　ambushing　soldiers　can　attack　him。〃
They　thought　this　a　fine　plan；　and　they　made　the　necessary　arrangements。
Hearing　of　the　ill　success　and　losses　of　his　colleague　Sun　Huan；　Zhu　Ran　was　already　thinking　of　going　to　his　help；　when　a　few　deserters　appeared　and　hoarded　his　ship。
He　questioned　them；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　Feng　Xi's　soldiers；　and　we　have　deserted　because　of　unfair　treatment。　We　have　a　secret　to　tell。〃
〃What　secret　can　you　betray？〃
〃Tonight　Feng　Xi　is　going　to　make　an　attack　upon　General　Sun　Huan's　camp。　He　thinks　it　is　a　good　chance。　They　are　going　to　raise　a