三国演义英文版-第29部分

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o　Shanyang。　Perforce　therefore　the　fighting　ceased。
In　Xuzhou。　Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian；　over　sixty　years　of　age；　suddenly　fell　seriously　ill；　and　he　summoned　his　confident；　Mi　Zhu；　to　his　chamber　to　make　arrangements　for　the　future。
As　to　the　situation　the　adviser　said；　〃Cao　Cao　abandoned　his　attack　on　this　place　because　of　his　enemy's　seizure　of　Yanzhou；　and　now　they　are　both　keeping　the　peace　solely　because　of　the　famine。　But　Cao　Cao　will　surely　renew　the　attack　in　the　spring。　When　Liu　Bei　refused　to　allow　you　to　vacate　office　in　his　favor；　you　were　in　full　vigor。　Now　you　are　ill　and　weak；　and　you　can　make　this　a　reason　for　retirement。　He　will　not　refuse　again。〃
So　a　message　was　sent　to　the　little　garrison　town　Xiaopei　calling　Liu　Bei　to　a　counsel　on　military　affairs。　This　brought　him　with　his　brothers　and　a　slender　escort。　He　was　at　once　called　in　to　the　sick　man's　chamber。　Quickly　disposing　of　the　inquiries　about　his　health；　Tao　Qian　soon　came　to　the　real　object　of　his　call　for　Liu　Bei。
〃Sir；　I　asked　you　to　e　for　the　sole　reason　that　I　am　dangerously　ill　and　likely　to　die　at　any　time。　I　look　to　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　to　consider　the　Hans　and　their　empire　as　more　important　than　anything　else；　and　so　to　take　over　the　symbols　of　office　of　this　region；　the　mission　and　the　seal；　that　I　may　close　my　eyes　in　peace。〃
〃You　have　two　sons；　why　not　depute　them　to　relieve　you？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Both　lack　the　requisite　talents。　I　trust　you　will　instruct　them　after　I　have　gone；　but　do　not　let　them　have　the　guidance　of　affairs。〃
〃But　I　am　unequal　to　so　great　a　charge。〃
〃I　will　remend　to　you　one　who　could　assist　you。　He　is　Sun　Qian　from　Beihai　who　could　be　appointed　to　some　post。〃
Turning　to　Mi　Zhu；　Tao　Qian　said；　〃The　noble　Liu　Bei　here　is　the　most　prominent　man　of　the　time；　and　you　should　serve　him　well。〃
Still　would　Liu　Bei　have　put　from　him　such　a　post；　but　just　then　the　Imperial　Protector；　pointing　to　his　heart　to　indicate　his　sincerity；　passed　away。
When　the　ceremonial　wailing　of　the　officials　was　over；　the　insignia　of　office　were　brought　to　Liu　Bei。　But　he　would　have　none　of　them。　The　following　days　the　inhabitants　of　the　town　and　country　around　crowded　into　the　state　residence；　bowing　and　with　tears；　calling　upon　Liu　Bei　to　receive　the　charge。
〃If　you　do　not；　we　cannot　live　in　pence；〃　said　they。
To　these　requests　his　brothers　added　their　persuasion；　till　at　length　he　consented　to　assume　the　administrative　duties。　He　forthwith　appointed　Sun　Qian　and　Mi　Zhu　as　his　Advisers；　and　Chen　Deng　his　Secretary。　He　moved　his　army　from　Xiaopei　to　Xuzhou　City；　and　he　put　forth　proclamations　to　reassure　the　people。
He　also　attended　to　the　burial　ceremonies；　he　and　all　his　army　dressing　in　mourning。　After　the　fullest　sacrifices　and　ceremonies；　a　burial　place　for　the　late　Imperial　Protector　was　found　close　to　the　source　of　the　Yellow　River。　The　dead　man's　testament　was　forwarded　to　court。
The　news　of　the　events　in　Xuzhou　duly　reached　the　ears　of　Cao　Cao；　then　in　Juancheng。
Said　he；　angrily；　〃I　have　missed　my　revenge。　This　Liu　Bei　has　simply　stepped　into　mand　of　the　region　without　expending　half　an　arrow：　He　sat　still　and　attained　his　desire。　But　I　will　put　him　to　death　and　then　dig　up　Tao　Qian's　corpse　in　revenge　for　the　death　of　my　noble　father！〃
Orders　were　issued　for　the　army　to　prepare　for　a　new　campaign　against　Xuzhou。

＇e＇　The　Land　Within　the　Passes；　or　Guanzhong；　was　the　area　around　Changan。
But　Adviser　Xun　Yu　remonstrated　with　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃The　Supreme　Ancestor　secured　the　Land　Within　the　Passes*　and　his　illustrious　successor　on　the　throne；　Liu　Xiu；　took　Henei。　They　both　first　consolidated　their　position　whereby　they　could　mand　the　whole　empire。　Their　whole　progress　was　from　success　to　success。　Hence　they　acplished　their　great　designs　in　spite　of　difficulties。
〃Illustrious　Sir；　your　Land　Within　the　Passes　and　your　Henei　are　Yanzhou　and　the　Yellow　River；　which　you　had　first；　and　which　is　of　the　utmost　strategic　point　of　the　empire。　If　you　undertake　this　expedition　against　Xuzhou　leaving　many　troops　here　for　defense；　you　will　not　acplish　your　design；　if　you　leave　too　few；　Lu　Bu　will　fall　upon　us。　And　finally　if　you　lose　this　and　fail　to　gain　Xuzhou；　whither　will　you　retire？　That　region　is　not　vacant。　Although　Tao　Qian　has　gone；　Liu　Bei　holds　it；　and　since　the　people　support　him；　they　will　fight　to　the　death　for　him。　To　abandon　this　place　for　that　is　to　exchange　the　great　for　the　small；　to　barter　the　trunk　for　the　branches；　to　leave　safety　and　run　into　danger。　I　would　implore　you　to　reflect　well。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃It　is　not　a　good　plan　to　keep　soldiers　idle　here　during　such　scarcity。〃
〃If　that　is　so；　it　would　be　more　advantageous　to　attack　the　eastern　counties　of　Chencheng；　Yingchuan；　and　Runan；　and　feed　your　army　on　their　supplies。　The　remnants　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　He　Yi　and　Huang　Shao；　are　there　with　stores　and　treasures　of　all　kinds　that　they　have　amassed　by　plundering　wherever　they　could。　Rebels　of　their　stamp　are　easily　broken。　Break　them；　and　you　can　feed　your　army　with　their　grain。　Moreover；　both　the　court　and　the　mon　people　will　join　in　blessing　you。〃
This　new　design　appealed　strongly　to　Cao　Cao；　and　he　quickly　began　his　preparations　to　carry　it　out。　He　left　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Ren　to　guard　Juancheng；　while　his　main　body；　under　his　own　mand；　marched　to　seize　Chencheng。　This　done　they　went　to　Runan　and　Yingchuan。
Now　when　the　Yellow　Scarves　leaders；　He　Yi　and　Huang　Shao；　knew　that　Cao　Cao　was　approaching。　They　came　out　in　a　great　body　to　oppose　him。　They　met　at　Goat　Hill。　Though　the　rebels　were　numerous；　they　were　a　poor　lot；　a　mere　pack　of　beasts　without　organization　and　lacking　discipline。　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　strong　archers　and　vigorous　crossbowmen　to　keep　them　in　check。
Dian　Wei　was　sent　out　to　challenge。　The　rebel　leaders　chose　a　second…rate　champion　for　their　side；　who　rode　out　and　was　vanquished　in　the　third　bout。　Then　Cao　Cao's　army　pushed　forward；　and　they　made　a　camp　at　Goat　Hill。
The　following　day　the　rebel　Huang　Shao　himself　led　forth　his　army　and　made　his　battle　array　along　a　circle。　A　leader　advanced　on　foot　to　offer　bat。　He　wore　a　yellow　turban　on　his　head　and　a　green　robe。　His　weapon　was　an　iron　mace。
He　shouted；　〃I　am　He　Man；　the　devil　who　shoots　across　the　sky。　Who　dare　fight　with　me？〃
Cao　Hong　uttered　a　great　shout　and　jumped　from　the　saddle　to　accept　the　challenge。　Sword　in　hand　he　advanced　on　foot　and　the　two　engaged　in　fierce　bat　in　the　face　of　both　armies。　They　exchanged　some　fifty　blows；　neither　gaining　the　advantage。　Then　Cao　Hong　feigned　defeat　and　ran　away。　He　Man　went　after　him。　Just　as　he　closed；　Cao　Hong　tried　a　feint　and　then　suddenly　wheeling　about；　wounded　his　adversary。　Another　slash；　and　He　Man　lay　dead。
At　once　Li　Dian　dashed　forward　into　the　midst　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　and　laid　hands　on　the　rebel　chief　Huang　Shao　whom　he　carried　off　captive。　Cao　Cao's　troops　then　set　on　and　scattered　the　rebels。　The　spoil　of　treasure　and　food　was　immense。
The　other　rebel　leader；　He　Yi；　fled　with　a　few　hundred　horsemen　toward　Kobei　Hills。　But　while　on　their　road　thither　there　suddenly　appeared　a　force　led　by　a　certain　swashbuckler　who　shall　be　nameless　for　the　moment。　This　bravo　was　a　well…built　man；　thickset　and　stout。　With　a　waist　ten　span　in　girth。　He　used　a　long　sword。
He　barred　the　way　of　retreat。　He　Yi　set　his　spear　and　rode　toward　him。　But　at　the　first　encounter　the　bravo　caught　He　Yi　under　his　arm　and　bore　He　Yi　off　a　prisoner。　All　the　rebels　were　terror…stricken；　dropped　from　their　horses　and　allowed　themselves　to　be　bound。　Then　the　victor　drove　them　like　cattle　into　an　enclosure　with　high　banks。
Presently　Dian　Wei；　still　pursuing　the　rebels；　reached　Kobei　Hills。　The　swashbuckler　went　out　to　meet　him。
〃Are　you　also　a　Yellow　Scarves　rebel？〃　said　Dian　Wei。
〃I　have　some　hundreds　of　them　prisoners　in　an　enclosure　here。〃
〃Why　not　bring　them　out？〃　said　Dian　Wei。
〃I　will　if　you　win　this　sword　from　my　hand。〃
This　annoyed　Dian　Wei　who　attacked　him。　They　engaged　and　the　bat　lasted　for　two　long　hours　and　then　was　still　undecided。　Both　rested　a　while。　The　swashbuckler　was　the　first　to　recover　and　renewed　the　challenge。　They　fought　till　dusk　and　then；　as　their　horses　were　quite　spent；　the　bat　was　once　more　suspended。
In　the　meantime　some　of　Dian　Wei's　men　had　run　off　to　tell　the　story　of　this　wondrous　fight　to　Cao　Cao　who　hastened　in　amazement；　followed　by　many　officers　to　watch　it　and　see　the　result。
Next　day　the　unknown　warrior　rode　out　again；　and　Cao　Cao　saw　him。　In　Cao　Cao's　heart　he　rejoiced　to　see　such　a　doughty　hero　and　desired　to　gain　his　services。　So　Cao　Cao　bade　Dian　Wei　feign　defeat。
Dian　Wei　rode　out　in　answer　to　the　challenge；　and　some　thirty　bouts　were　fought。　Then　Dian　Wei　turned　and　fled　toward　his　own　side。　The　bravo　followed　and　came　quite　close。　But　a　flight　of　arrows　drove　him　away。
Cao　Cao　hastily　drew　off　his　men　for　one　and　a　half　miles　and　then　secretly　sent　a　certain　number　to　dig　a　pitfall　and　sent　troops　armed　with　hooks　to　lie　in　ambush。
The　following　day　Dian　Wei　was　sent　out　with　one　hundred　horse。　His　adversary　nothing　loath　came　to　meet　Dian　Wei。
〃Why　does　the　defeated　leader　venture　forth　again？〃　cried　he　laughing。
The　swashbuckler　spurred　forward　to　join　battle；　but　Dian　Wei；　after　a　faint　show　of　fighting；　turned　his　horse　and　rode　away。　His　adversary　intent　upon　capture；　took　no　care；　and　he　and　his　horse　all　blundered　into　the　pitfall。　The　hookmen　took　him　captive；　bound　him；　and　carried　him　before　Cao　Cao。
As　soon　as　he　saw　the　prisoner；　Cao　Cao　advanced　from　his　tent；　sent　away　the　soldiers；　and　with　his　own　hands　loosened　the　leader's　bonds。　Then　he　brought　out　clothing　and　dressed　him；　bade　him　be　seated　and　asked　who　he　was　and　whence　he　came。
〃I　am　named　Xu　Chu。　I　am　from　Qiao。　When　the　rebellion　broke　out；　I　and　my　relations　of　some　hundreds　built　a　stronghold　within　a　rampart　for　protection。　One　day　the　robbers　came；　but　I　had　stones　ready　for　them。　I　told　my　relatives　to　keep　on　bringing　them　up　to　me　and　I　threw　them；　hitting　somebody　every　time　I　threw。　This　drove　off　the　robbers。　Another　day　they　came　and　we　were　short　of　grain。　So　I　agreed　with　them　to　an　exchange　of　plow　oxen　against　grain。　They　delivered　the　grain　and　were　driving　away　the　oxen　when　the　beasts　took　fright　and　tore　off　to　their　pens。　I　seized　two　of　oxen　by　the　tail；　one　with　each　hand；　and　hauled　them　backwards　a　hundred　or　so　paces。　The　robbers　were　so　amazed　that　they　thought　no　more　about　oxen　but　went　their　way。　So　they　never　troubled　us　again。〃
〃I　have　heard　of　your　mighty　exploits；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃Will　you　join　my　army？〃
〃That　is　my　strongest　desire；〃　said　Xu　Chu。
So　Xu　Chu　called　up　his　clan；　some　hundreds　in　all；　and　they　formally　submitted　to　Cao　Cao。　Xu　Chu　received　the　rank　of　general　and　received　ample　rewards。　The　two　rebel　leaders；　He　Yi　and　Huang　Shao；　were　executed。　Runan　and　Yingchuan　were　now　perfectly　pacified。
Cao　Cao　withdrew　his　army　and　went　back　to　Juancheng。　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Ren　came　out　to　wele　him；　and　they　told　him　that　spies　had　reported　Yanzhou　City　to　be　left　defenseless。　Lu　Bu's　generals；　Xue　Lan　and　Li　Fang；　had　given　up　all　its　garrison　to　plundering　the　surrounding　country。　They　wanted　him　to　go　against　it　without　loss　of　time。
〃W