三国演义英文版-第27部分

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ur　noble　father；　it　was　owing　to　the　vicious　nature　of　Zhang　Kai　and　due　to　no　fault　of　Tao　Qian。　Now　while　the　remnant　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　is　disturbing　the　lands；　and　Dong　Zhuo's　partisans　have　the　upper　hand　in　the　capital；　I　wish　that　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　would　regard　the　critical　position　of　the　court　rather　than　your　personal　grievances；　and　so　divert　your　forces　from　the　attack　on　Xuzhou　to　the　rescue　of　the　state。　Such　would　be　for　the　happiness　of　that　city　and　the　whole　empire。〃
Cao　Cao　gave　vent　to　a　torrent　of　abuse：　〃Who　is　this　Liu　Bei　that　he　dares　write　and　exhort　me？　Beside；　he　means　to　be　satirical。〃
Cao　Cao　issued　orders　to　put　the　bearer　of　the　letter　to　death　and　to　press　on　the　siege。
But　Guo　Jia　remonstrated；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　has　e　from　afar　to　help　Tao　Qian；　and　he　is　trying　the　effect　of　politeness　before　resorting　to　arms。　I　pray　you；　my　lord；　reply　with　fair　words　that　his　heart　may　be　lulled　with　a　feeling　of　safety。　Then　attack　with　vigor　and　the　city　will　fall。〃
Cao　Cao　found　this　advice　good；　so　he　spared　the　messenger；　telling　him　to　wait　to　carry　back　his　reply。　While　this　was　going　on；　a　horseman　came　with　news　of　misfortune：　〃Lu　Bu　has　invaded　Yanzhou；　now　holding　Puyang。　The　three　counties　left………Juancheng；　Fanxia；　and　Dongjun………are　under　severe　attacks。〃

＇e＇　Zhang　Yang　was　among　the　eighteen　lords　who　rallied　against　Dong　Zhou　at　the　Tiger　Trap　Pass。
When　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　the　two　partisans　of　Dong　Zhuo；　succeeded　in　their　attack　on　the　capital；　Lu　Bu　had　fled　to　Yuan　Shu。　However；　Yuan　Shu　looked　askance　at　him　for　his　instability　and　refused　to　receive　him。　Then　Lu　Bu　went　to　try　Yuan　Shao；　who　was　a　brother　of　Yuan　Shu。　Yuan　Shao　accepted　the　warrior　and　made　use　of　him　in　an　attack　upon　Zhang　Yan　in　Changshan。　But　his　success　filled　him　with　pride；　and　his　arrogant　demeanor　so　annoyed　the　other　manders　that　Yuan　Shao　was　on　the　point　of　putting　him　to　death。　To　escape　this　Lu　Bu　had　gone　away　to　Zhang　Yang*；　Governor　of　Shangdang；　who　accepted　his　services。
About　this　time　Pang　Shu；　who　had　been　hiding　and　protecting　Lu　Bu's　family　in　Changan　since　his　disappearance；　restored　them　to　him。　This　deed　angered　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　so　that　they　put　Pang　Shu　to　death　and　wrote　to　Lu　Bu's　protector　to　serve　him　the　same。　To　escape　this　Lu　Bu　once　again　had　to　flee　and　this　time　joined　himself　to　Zhang　Miao；　the　Governor　of　Chenliu。
Lu　Bu　arrived　just　as　Zhang　Miao's　brother；　Zhang　Chao；　was　introducing　Chen　Gong。
Chen　Gong　said　to　Zhang　Miao；　〃The　rupture　of　the　empire　has　begun；　and　warriors　are　seizing　what　they　can。　It　is　strange　that　you；　with　all　the　advantages　of　population　and　provisions　you　enjoy；　do　not　strike　for　independence。　Cao　Cao　has　gone　on　an　expedition　against　the　east；　leaving　his　own　territory　defenseless。　Lu　Bu　is　one　of　the　fighting　people　of　the　day。　If　you　and　he　together　attacked　and　got　Yanzhou；　you　could　then　proceed　to　the　dominion。〃
Zhang　Miao　was　pleased　and　resolved　to　try。　He　ordered　an　attack；　and　soon　Lu　Bu　was　in　possession　of　Yanzhou　and　its　neighborhood；　all　but　three　small　counties　of　Juancheng；　Fanxia；　and　Dongjun；　which　were　vigorously　and　desperately　defended　by　Xun　Yu　and　Cheng　Yu　in　concert。　Cao　Cao's　cousin；　Cao　Ren；　had　fought　many　battles　but　was　repeatedly　defeated；　and　the　messenger　with　the　evil　tidings　had　e　from　him　asking　prompt　help。
Cao　Cao　was　greatly　disturbed　by　this　and　said；　〃If　my　own　region　be　lost；　I　have　no　home　to　return　to。　I　must　do　something　at　once。〃
〃The　best　thing　would　be　to　bee　friends　with　Liu　Bei　at　any　cost　and　return　to　Yanzhou；〃　said　Guo　Jia。
Then　Cao　Cao　wrote　to　Liu　Bei；　gave　the　letter　to　the　waiting　messenger　and　broke　camp。　The　news　that　the　enemy　had　left　was　very　gratifying　to　Tao　Qian；　who　then　invited　his　various　defenders　into　Xuzhou　City　and　prepared　banquets　and　feasts　in　token　of　his　gratitude。
At　one　of　these；　when　the　feasting　was　over；　he　proceeded　with　his　wish　of　retirement　in　favor　of　Liu　Bei。
Placing　Liu　Bei　in　the　seat　of　highest　honor；　Tao　Qian　bowed　before　him　and　then　addressed　the　assembly；　〃I　am　old　and　feeble；　and　my　two　sons　lack　the　ability　to　hold　so　important　an　office　as　this。　The　noble　Liu　Bei　is　a　descendant　of　the　imperial　house。　He　is　of　lofty　virtue　and　great　talent。　Let　him　then　take　over　the　rule　of　this　region；　and　only　too　willingly　I　shall　retire　to　have　leisure　to　nurse　my　health。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　came　at　the　request　of　Governor　Kong　Rong；　because　it　was　the　right　thing　to　do。　Xuzhou　is　saved；　but　if　I　take　it；　surely　the　world　will　say　I　am　a　wicked　man。〃
Mi　Zhu　said；　〃You　may　not　refuse。　The　House　of　Han　is　falling；　their　realm　is　crumbling；　and　now　is　the　time　for　doughty　deeds　and　signal　services。　This　is　a　fertile　region；　well　populated　and　rich；　and　you　are　the　man　to　rule　over　it。〃
〃But　I　cannot　accept；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　a　great　sufferer；〃　said　Chen　Deng；　〃and　cannot　see　to　matters。　You　may　not　decline；　Sir。〃
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃Yuan　Shu　belongs　to　a　family　of　rulers；　who　have　held　the　highest　offices　of　state　four　times　in　three　generations。　The　multitude　people　respects　him。　Why　not　invite　him　to　this　task？〃
〃Because　Yuan　Shu　is　a　drying　skeleton　in　a　dark　tomb：　Not　worth　talking　about。　This　opportunity　is　a　gift　from　Heaven；　and　you　will　never　cease　to　regret　its　loss；〃　said　Kong　Rong。
So　spoke　Kong　Rong；　but　still　Liu　Bei　obstinately　refused。
Tao　Qian　besought　him　with　tears；　saying；　〃I　shall　die　if　you　leave　me；　and　there　will　be　none　to　close　my　eyes。〃
〃Brother；　you　should　accept　the　offer　thus　made；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃Why　so　much　fuss？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃We　have　not　taken　the　place。　It　is　he　who　wishes　to　give　it　you。〃
〃You　all　persuade　me　to　do　what　is　wrong；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Seeing　he　could　not　persuade　Liu　Bei；　Tao　Qian　then　said；　〃As　you　are　set　in　determination；　perhaps　you　will　consent　to　encamp　at　Xiaopei。　It　is　only　a　little　town；　but　thence　you　can　keep　watch　and　ward　over　the　region。〃
They　all　with　one　voice　prayed　Liu　Bei　to　consent；　so　he　gave　in。　The　feast　of　victory　being　now　ended；　the　time　came　to　say　farewell。　When　Zhao　Yun　took　his　leave；　Liu　Bei　held　his　hands　alternately　while　dashing　away　the　falling　tears。　Kong　Rong　and　Tien　Kai　went　home　to　their　own　places。
When　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　took　up　their　abode　in　Xiaopei；　they　first　repaired　the　defenses；　and　then　they　put　out　proclamations　in　order　to　calm　the　inhabitants。
In　the　meantime　Cao　Cao　had　marched　toward　his　own　region。
Cao　Ren　met　and　told　him；　〃Lu　Bu　is　very　powerful；　and　he　has　Chen　Gong　as　adviser。　Yanzhou　is　as　good　as　lost；　with　the　exception　of　three　counties　which　have　been　vigorously　and　desperately　defended　by　Xun　Yu　and　Cheng　Yu。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　own　that　Lu　Bu　is　a　bold　fighter　but　nothing　more；　he　has　no　craft。　So　we　need　not　fear　him　seriously。〃
Then　he　gave　orders　to　make　a　strong　camp　till　they　could　think　out　some　victorious　plan。
Lu　Bu；　knowing　of　Cao　Cao's　return；　called　two　of　his　subordinate　generals；　Xue　Lan　and　Li　Fang；　to　him　and　assigned　to　them　the　task　of　holding　the　city　of　Yanzhou；　saying；　〃I　have　long　waited　for　opportunity　to　employ　your　skill。　Now　I　give　you　ten　thousand　soldiers；　and　you　are　to　hold　the　city　while　I　go　forth　to　attack　Cao　Cao。〃
They　accepted。
But　Chen　Gong；　the　strategist；　came　in　hastily；　saying；　〃General；　you　are　going　away；　whither？〃
〃I　am　going　to　camp　my　troops　at　Puyang；　that　vantage　point。〃
〃You　are　making　a　mistake；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃The　two　you　have　chosen　to　defend　this　city　are　unequal　to　the　task。　For　this　expedition　remember　that　about　sixty　miles　due　south；　on　the　treacherous　road　to　the　Taishan　Mountains；　is　a　very　advantageous　position　where　you　should　place　your　best　men　in　ambush。　Cao　Cao　will　hasten　homeward　by　double　marches　when　he　hears　what　has　happened。　If　you　strike　when　half　his　troops　have　gone　past　this　point；　you　may　seize　him。〃
Said　Lu　Bu；　〃I　am　going　to　occupy　Puyang　and　see　what　develops。　How　can　you　guess　my　big　plan？〃
So　Lu　Bu　left　Xue　Lan　in　mand　at　Yanzhou　and　went　away。
Now　when　Cao　Cao　approached　the　dangerous　part　of　the　road　near　the　Taishan　Mountains；　Guo　Jia　warned　him　to　take　care　as　there　was　doubtless　an　ambush。
But　Cao　Cao　laughed；　saying；　〃We　know　all　Lu　Bu's　dispositions。　Xue　Lan　is　keeping　the　city。　Do　you　think　Lu　Bu　has　laid　an　ambush？　I　shall　tell　Cao　Ren　to　besiege　Yanzhou；　and　I　shall　go　to　Puyang。〃
In　Puyang；　when　Chen　Gong　heard　of　the　enemy's　approach；　he　spoke；　saying；　〃The　enemy　will　be　fatigued　with　long　marches；　so　attack　quickly　before　they　have　time　to　recover。〃
Lu　Bu　replied；　〃I；　a　single　horseman；　am　afraid　of　none。　I　e　and　go　as　I　will。　Think　you　I　fear　this　Cao　Cao？　Let　him　settle　his　camp；　I　will　take　him　after　that。〃
Now　Cao　Cao　neared　Puyang；　and　he　made　a　camp。　The　next　day　he　led　out　his　manders；　and　they　arrayed　their　armies　in　open　country。　Cao　Cao　took　up　his　station　on　horseback　between　the　two　standards；　watching　while　his　opponents　arrived　and　formed　up　in　a　circular　area。
Lu　Bu　was　in　front；　followed　by　eight　of　his　generals；　all　strong　men：　Zhang　Liao　of　Mayi；　backed　by　Hao　Meng；　Cao　Xing；　and　Cheng　Lian；　Zang　Ba　of　Huaying；　backed　by　Wei　Xu；　Song　Xian；　and　Hou　Cheng。　They　led　an　army　of　fifty　thousand　in　total。
The　drums　began　their　thunderous　roll；　and　Cao　Cao；　pointing　to　his　opponent；　said；　〃You　and　I　had　no　quarrel；　why　then　did　you　invade　my　land？〃
〃The　empire　of　Han　is　the　possession　of　all。　What　is　your　special　claim？〃　said　Lu　Bu。
So　saying；　Lu　Bu　ordered　Zang　Ba　to　ride　forth　and　challenge。　From　Cao　Cao's　side　the　challenge　was　accepted　by　Yue　Jing。　The　two　steeds　approached　each　other；　two　spears　were　lifted　both　together；　and　they　exchanged　near　thirty　blows　with　no　advantage　to　either。　Then　Xiahou　Dun　rode　out　to　help　his　colleague　and；　in　reply；　out　went　Zhang　Liao　from　Lu　Bu's　side。　And　they　four　fought。
Then　fierce　anger　seized　upon　Lu　Bu。　Setting　his　trident　halberd；　he　urged　his　Red　Hare　forward　to　where　the　fight　was　waging。　Seeing　him　approach；　Xiahou　Dun　and　Yue　Jing　both　fled；　but　Lu　Bu　pressed　on　after　them；　and　Cao　Cao's　army　lost　the　day。　Retiring　ten　miles；　they　made　a　new　camp。　Lu　Bu　called　in　and　mustered　his　troops。
The　day　having　gone　against　him；　Cao　Cao　called　a　council；　and　Yu　Jin　said；　〃From　the　hill　tops　today　I　saw　a　camp　of　our　enemies　on　the　west　of　Puyang。　They　were　but　few　men　therein；　and　tonight　after　today's　victory；　it　will　not　be　defended。　Let　us　attack；　and　if　we　can　take　the　camp；　we　shall　strike　fear　into　the　heart　of　Lu　Bu。　This　is　our　best　plan。〃
Cao　Cao　thought　so　too。　He　and　six　of　his　generals………Cao　Hong；　Li　Dian；　Mao　Jie；　Lu　Qian；　Yu　Jin；　and　Dian　Wei………and　twenty　thousand　horse　and　foot　left　that　night　by　a　secret　road　for　the　camp。
In　his　camp　Lu　Bu　was　rejoicing　for　that　day's　victory；　when　Chen　Gong　reminded　him；　saying；　〃The　western　camp　is　importance　point；　and　it　might　be　attacked。〃
But　Lu　Bu　replied；　〃The　enemy　will　not　dare　approach　after　today's　defeat。〃
〃Cao　Cao　is　a　very　able　mander；〃　replied　Chen　Gong。　〃You　must　keep　a　good　lookout　for　him　lest　he　attack　our　weak　spot。〃
So　arrangements　were　made　for　defense。　Generals　Gao　Shun；　Wei　Xu；　and　Hou　Cheng　were　ordered　to　march　there。
At　dusk　Cao　Cao　reached　the　camp　and　began　an　imme