三国演义英文版-第223部分

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ial　Son…in…Law。　As　such　he　enjoyed　great　deference　at　court。　But　although　he　held　a　military　mission；　he　had　never　been　with　the　army。　However；　as　he　requested　the　mand；　he　was　made　mander…in…Chief　of　the　western　armies　and　was　ready　to　march。
But　Minister　of　the　Interior　Wang　Lang　spoke　against　the　appointment；　saying；　〃The　appointment　is　wrong。　Xiahou　Mao；　the　Son…in…Law；　has　never　seen　a　battle　and　is　unsuitable　for　this　post；　especially　when　his　opponent　is　the　clever　and　crafty　Zhuge　Liang；　a　man　thoroughly　versed　in　strategy。〃
〃I　suppose　you　have　arranged　with　Zhuge　Liang　to　be　his　ally；〃　sneered　Xiahou　Mao。　〃Ever　since　I　was　a　boy；　I　have　studied　strategy；　and　I　am　well　acquainted　with　army　matters。　Why　do　you　despise　my　youth？　Unless　I　capture　this　Zhuge　Liang；　I　pledge　myself　never　again　to　see　the　Emperor's　face。〃
Wang　Lang　and　his　supporters　were　silenced。　Xiahou　Mao　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei　and　hastened　to　Changan　to　get　his　army　in　order。　He　had　two　hundred　thousand　troops　from　the　western　areas。

He　would　go　to　battle；　take　the　signal　flags　in　grip；
But　could　he　play　the　leader；　he　a　lad　with　callow　lip？

The　next　chapter　will　deal　with　this　campaign。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　92　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　92
　Chapter　92
Zhao　Yun　Slays　Five　Generals；
Zhuge　Liang　Takes　Three　Cities。
Zhuge　Liang's　army　marched　northward；　passing　through　Mianyang；　where　stood　Ma　Chao's　tomb。　In　honor　of　the　dead　Tiger　General；　Zhuge　Liang　sacrificed　there　in　person；　Ma　Chao's　cousin………Ma　Dai………being　chief　mourner　for　the　occasion。
After　this　ceremony；　when　the　mander…in…Chief　was　discussing　his　plans；　the　spies　came　in　to　report：　〃The　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Rui；　has　put　in　motion　all　western　forces　under　Xiahou　Mao。〃
Then　Wei　Yan　went　in　to　offer　a　plan；　saying；　〃Xiahou　Mao　is　a　child　of　a　wealthy　family；　soft　and　stupid。　Give　me　five　thousand　troops；　and　I　will　go　out　by　Baozhong；　follow　the　line　of　the　Qinling　Mountains　east　to　the　Ziwu　Valley　and　then　turn　north。　In　ten　days　I　can　be　at　Changan。　Hearing　of　my　rush；　Xiahou　Mao　will　hasten　to　vacate　the　city。　Then　he　must　flee　by　way　of　Royal　Gate。　I　will　e　in　by　the　east；　and　you；　Sir；　can　advance　by　the　Xie　Valley　with　the　main　army。　In　this　way　all　west　of　Changan　will　be　ours　in　just　one　move。〃
Zhuge　Liang　smiled　at　the　suggestion。
〃I　do　not　think　the　plan　quite　perfect；〃　said　he。　〃You　are　gambling　by　thinking　there　is　no　northerner　worth　considering　guarding　Changan。　If　anyone　suggests　sending　a　force　across　to　block　the　exit　of　the　mountains；　I　am　afraid　we　should　lose　five　thousand　troops；　to　say　nothing　of　the　check　to　our　elan。　The　plan　will　not　work。〃
〃If　you；　O　Prime　Minister；　march　by　the　high　road；　they　will　bring　against　you　the　whole　host　Within　the　Passes　and　will　thus　hold　you　indefinitely。　You　will　never　get　to　the　Middle　Land。〃
〃But　I　shall　go　along　the　level　road　on　the　right　of　Longyou。　I　cannot　fail　if　I　keep　to　the　fixed　rules　of　war。〃
Wei　Yan　withdrew；　gloomy　and　dissatisfied。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　sent　Zhao　Yun　orders　for　the　advanced　guard　to　move。
Xiahou　Mao　was　at　Changan　preparing　his　force。　There　came　to　him　a　general　from　Xiliang；　named　Han　De；　a　man　of　great　valor；　whose　weapon　was　a　mighty　battle…ax　called　〃Mountain　Splitter〃。　He　brought　with　him　eighty　thousand　of　the　Qiang　tribesmen　and　offered　his　services。　They　were　gladly　accepted；　and　his　army　was　made　the　van　of　the　attack。
This　Han　De　had　four　sons；　all　very　expert　in　archery　and　horsemanship。　They　were　named　Han　Ying；　Han　Yao；　Han　Qiong；　and　Han　Qi；　and　they　came　to　serve　under　their　father。　Han　De　led　his　sons　and　the　eighty　thousand　troops　by　the　road　to　Phoenix　Song　Mountain；　where　they　were　near　the　army　of　Shu；　and　here　they　drew　up　the　array。
When　the　battle　line　was　in　order；　the　father；　with　his　four　sons；　rode　to　the　front　and　began　to　revile　their　enemy；　shouting；　〃Rebels　and　raiders！　How　dare　you　invade　our　territory？〃
Zhao　Yun　quickly　lost　his　temper；　rode　forward　and　challenged。　The　eldest　son；　Han　Ying；　accepted　and　galloped　out；　but　he　was　slain　in　the　third　bout。　Immediately　his　brother　Han　Yao　went　out；　whirling　his　sword。　But　now　Zhao　Yun's　blood　was　up；　and　the　old　dash　and　vigor　came　upon　him　so　that　the　young　man　had　no　chance　to　win　the　battle。　Then　the　third　son；　Han　Qiong；　took　his　great　halberd　and　dashed　out　to　his　brother's　aid。　Zhao　Yun　had　now　two　opponents；　nevertheless　he　held　his　own；　nor　blenched　nor　failed　a　stroke。　Seeing　that　his　two　brothers　were　nearing　defeat；　the　fourth　son　Han　Qi　went　to　join　in　the　fray　with　his　pair　of　swords　that　he　had　named　〃Sun　and　Moon〃。　And　there　was　the　veteran　warrior　with　three　against　him；　and　he　still　kept　them　at　bay。
Presently　a　spear　thrust　got　home　on　Han　Qi；　who　fell。　Another　general　then　ing　out　to　take　his　place。　Zhao　Yun　lowered　his　spear　and　fled。　Han　Qiong　then　took　his　bow　and　shot　three　arrows　at　the　fugitive；　who　turned　them　aside　so　that　they　fell　harmless。　Angry　at　this；　Han　Qiong　again　seized　his　halberd　and　went　in　pursuit。　But　Zhao　Yun　took　his　bow　and　shot　an　arrow　that　wounded　his　pursuer　in　the　face。　So　Han　Qiong　fell　and　died。　Han　Yao　then　galloped　up　and　raised　his　sword　to　strike；　but　Zhao　Yun　slipped　past；　got　within　his　guard　and　made　Han　Yao　a　prisoner。　Zhao　Yun　quickly　galloped　into　his　own　array　with　his　captive；　dropped　him　and　then；　dashing　out；　recovered　his　spear；　which　had　fallen　when　he　seized　his　man。
Han　De　was　overwhelmed　with　the　loss　of　all　his　sons　and　went　behind　the　battle　array。　His　Qiang　tribesmen　were　too　frightened　at　the　prowess　of　Zhao　Yun　to　be　of　any　use　in　battle；　and　no　one　dared　to　meet　the　old　warrior。　So　they　retired；　while　Zhao　Yun　rode　to　and　fro　among　them　slaying　at　his　will。

I　thought　of　brave　old　people；　of　Zhao　Yun；
Who；　in　spite　of　numbered　years　three　scores　and　ten；
Was　marvelous　strong　in　battle；　who　one　day
Slew　four　opposing　generals；　as　great　as
When　at　Dangyang　he　had　saved　his　lord。

Seeing　the　successful　battle　that　Zhao　Yun　was　waging；　Deng　Zhi　led　on　his　troops　to　join　in　the　fight。　This　pleted　the　disfiture　of　the　Xiliang　army；　and　they　ran　away。　Han　De；　seeing　the　danger　of　being　captured；　threw　off　his　armor　and　went　on　foot。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　drew　off　and　returned　to　their　camp。
In　camp　Deng　Zhi　felicitated　his　veteran　colleague。
〃For　a　man　of　seventy　years；　you　are　unique　and　wonderful；〃　said　he。　〃You　are　as　much　the　hero　as　you　ever　were。　It　is　almost　an　inparable　feat　to　have　slain　four　generals　in　one　day。〃
〃Yet　the　Prime　Minister　thought　me　too　old　and　did　not　wish　to　employ　me。　I　had　to　give　him　a　proof。〃
The　captive　Han　Yao　was　sent　to　the　main　body　with　the　messenger　who　bore　an　account　of　the　victory。
In　the　meantime；　Han　De　led　his　defeated　army　back　to　his　chief；　to　whom　he　related　his　sad　story　with　many　tears。　Then　Xiahou　Mao　got　angry　and　decided　to　lead　his　own　army　out　against　Zhao　Yun。
When　the　scouts　reported　his　ing；　Zhao　Yun　took　his　spear　and　mounted　his　steed。　He　led　one　thousand　troops　out　to　Phoenix　Song　Mountain；　at　the　foot　of　which　he　made　his　array。　Xiahou　Mao　was　wearing　a　golden　casque；　riding　a　white　horse；　and　carrying　a　huge　sword。　From　his　place　beneath　the　great　standard；　he　saw　Zhao　Yun　galloping　to　and　fro。　He　was　going　out　to　give　battle；　when　Han　De　checked　him。
〃Is　it　not　mine　to　avenge　my　four　sons？〃　said　Han　De。
Han　De　seized　his　mountain…splitter　ax；　and　rode　directly　at　the　warrior；　who　advanced　with　fury。　The　contest　was　but　short；　for　in　the　third　encounter　Zhao　Yun's　spear　thrust　brought　Han　De　to　the　earth。　Without　waiting　a　moment　he　made　for　Xiahou　Mao；　who　hastily　dashed　in　behind　his　ranks　and　so　escaped。　Then　Deng　Zhi　led　on　the　main　body　and　pleted　the　victory。　The　force　of　Wei　retired　three　miles　and　made　a　camp。
This　first　battle　having　gone　against　him；　Xiahou　Mao　called　his　officers　to　consult。
He　said；　〃I　have　heard　Zhao　Yun　long　ago；　but　have　never　met　face…to…face。　Now　though　that　warrior　is　old；　he　still　has　incredible　prowess。　The　story　of　Dangyang　where　he　alone　fought　against　a　whole　host　and　came　out　victor　is　really　not　fabricated。　But　what　to　be　done　against　such　a　champion？〃
Then　Cheng　Wu；　son　of　Cheng　Yu；　said；　〃My　opinion　is　that　this　Zhao　Yun；　though　brave　in　the　field；　is　lacking　in　the　council　chamber。　Really　he　is　not　greatly　to　be　feared。　Give　battle　again　soon；　but　first　prepare　a　two…pronged　ambush。　You　can　retreat　and　so　draw　him　into　it。　Then　go　up　on　the　hill　top　and　direct　the　attack　from　that　point　of　vantage　so　that　he　may　be　hemmed　in　on　all　sides　and　be　captured。〃
The　necessary　plans　for　this　were　made；　and　two　parties　of　thirty　thousand　each；　led　by　Dong　Xin　and　Xue　Ze；　went　into　ambush　right　and　left。　The　ambush　laid；　Xiahou　Mao　advanced　once　more　to　attack；　drums　rolling　and　flags　flying。　As　soon　as　he　appeared；　Zhao　Yun　and　Deng　Zhi　went　to　meet　him。
Deng　Zhi　said；　〃The　army　of　Wei　were　beaten　only　yesterday。　This　renewed　attempt　must　mean　that　they　are　trying　some　trick。　You　should　be　cautious；　General。〃
〃I　do　not　think　this　youth；　with　the　smell　of　mother's　milk　still　on　his　lips；　worth　talking　about。　We　shall　surely　capture　him　today。〃
Zhao　Yun　pranced　out；　and　Pan　Sui　came　to　meet　him　from　the　side　of　Wei。　But　Pan　Sui　made　no　stand　and　quickly　ran　away。　Zhao　Yun　plunged　in　to　try　to　capture　Xiahou　Mao。　Then　there　came　out　to　stop　him　no　less　than　eight　generals　of　Wei；　all　of　whom　passed　in　front　of　Xiahou　Mao。　But　one　by　one　they　too　fled。　Zhao　Yun　pressed　forward　at　full　speed；　Deng　Zhi　ing　up　behind。
When　Zhao　Yun　had　got　deeply　involved；　with　the　battle　raging　all　around　him；　Deng　Zhi　decided　to　retire。　This　was　the　signal　for　the　ambush　to　e　out；　Dong　Xin　from　the　right　and　Xue　Ze　from　the　left。　Deng　Zhi　was　so　hampered　that　he　could　not　attempt　to　rescue　his　colleague。　Zhao　Yun　was　thus　entirely　surrounded。　However；　he　struggled　on；　losing　men　at　every　dash；　till　he　had　but　one　thousand　troops　left。　He　was　then　at　the　foot　of　the　hill　whence　Xiahou　Mao　was　directing　operations；　and　observing　his　enemy　from　this　point　of　vantage；　Xiahou　Mao　sent　troops　to　check　Zhao　Yun　whithersoever　he　went。　Zhao　Yun　decided　to　charge　up　the　hill；　but　was　stopped　by　rolling　bulks　of　timber　and　tumbling　rocks。
The　battle　had　lasted　long；　and　Zhao　Yun　was　fatigued。　So　he　halted　to　rest　a　time；　intending　to　renew　the　struggle　when　the　moon　should　be　up。　But　just　as　he　had　taken　off　his　armor　the　moon　rose　and；　with　it；　his　enemies　began　to　attack　with　fire　as　well；　and　the　thunder　of　the　drums　was　acpanied　by　showers　of　stones　and　arrows。
The　oning　host　shouted；　〃Zhao　Yun！　Why　don't　dismount　and　be　bound？〃
However；　Zhao　Yun　did　not　think　of　that；　but　got　upon　his　steed　to　strive　once　more　to　extricate　himself。　And　his　enemies　pressed　closer　and　closer；　pouring　in　flights　and　flights　of　arrows。　No　advance　was　possible；　and　the　end　seemed　very　near。
〃I　refused　the　repose　of　age；〃　sighed　he；　〃and　now　my　end　will　e　to　me　here！〃
Just　then　he　heard　new　shouting　from　the　northeast；　and　the　array　of　Wei　became　disordered。　To　his　joy；　Zhao　Yun　saw　Zhang　Bao　ing　toward　him；　the　serpent　halberd　in　his　hand；　and　a　man's　head　hanging　at　his　bridle。
Soon　Zhang　Bao　reached　the　veteran　general's　side　and　cried；　〃