三国演义英文版-第43部分

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But　just　about　that　time　came　news　of　the　advance　of　Yuan　Shu　on　Xuzhou；　and　that　frightened　Lu　Bu。

When　discord　rose　between　Qin　and　Jin；
They　were　attacked　by　Yue　and　Wu；
And　when　a　promised　bride　never　came；
An　army　marched　to　enforce　the　claim。

How　all　this　fell　out　will　be　shown　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　17　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　17
　Chapter　17
Yuan　Shu　Marches　Out　An　Army　Of　Seven　Divisions；
Cao　Cao　And　Three　Generals　Join　Forces。
The　south　of　River　Huai　was　very　fruitful；　and　Yuan　Shu；　as　governor　of　such　a　large　territory；　was　very　influential。　He　was　not　a　little　puffed　up。　The　possession　of　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal；　pledged　by　Sun　Ce；　added　to　his　pride。　And　he　seriously　thought　of　assuming　the　full　style。

＇e＇　Liu　Bang's　first　office　was　assistant　to　a　magistrate　in　Pei。
＇e＇　King　Wen；　aka　the　Scholar　King；　founder　of　the　Zhou　Dynasty；　father　of　King　Wu。　King　Wen　did　not　actually　founded　the　dynasty；　but　he　laid　the　foundation　for　Zhou。　At　the　end　of　Shang　Dynasty；　the　state　Zhou　of　King　Wen　had　already　possessed　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　but　King　Wen　still　faithfully　served　the　last　emperor　of　Shang。　The　final　conquest　was　pleted　by　King　Wu　and　King　Wu's　brother；　the　Duke　of　Zhou。　。。。。。
＇e＇　King　Yao；　King　Shun；　and　King　Yu　（BC　2400…2200）　were　the　three　ideal　rulers　in　ancient　China。　They　ascended　the　throne　by　their　virtues　and　merits；　and　not　by　heritage。　King　Yu　was　also　the　founder　of　Xia　Dynasty。　。。。。。
As　a　preliminary　he　assembled　all　his　officers　and　addressed　them　thus：　〃The　Supreme　Ancestor；　the　Founder　of　Han　Dynasty；　was　only　a　very　minor　official*；　and　yet　he　became　ruler　of　the　empire。　The　dynasty　has　endured　four　centuries；　and　its　measure　of　fortune　has　run　out。　It　no　longer　possesses　authority；　the　cauldron　is　on　the　point　of　boiling　over。　My　family　has　held　the　highest　offices　of　state　for　four　generations　and　is　universally　respected。　Wherefore　I　wish；　in　response　to　the　will　of　Heaven　and　the　desire　of　the　people；　to　assume　the　Imperial　Dignity。　What　think　ye　of　the　proposal；　my　officers？〃
Secretary　Yan　Xiang　rose　in　opposition　at　once；　saying；　〃You　may　not　do　this。　King　Wen；　the　Ancestor　of　the　Zhou*；　was　of　distinguished　virtue　and　held　many　offices。　Till　the　last　years　of　Shang　Dynasty；　he　had　two　thirds　of　the　empire。　Still　he　served　and　was　loyal　to　the　ruling　house。　Your　house　is　honorable；　but　it　is　not　so　glorious　as　that　of　Zhou。　The　Hans　may　be　reduced；　but　they　are　not　so　abominably　cruel　as　those　of　the　Shang　Dynasty　that　they　are　to　be　overthrown。　Indeed　this　should　not　be　done。〃
Yuan　Shu　did　not　hear　this　with　pleasure。
Said　he；　〃We　Yuans　came　from　the　Chen　family；　the　same　ancestry　with　King　Shun*。　By　the　rule　of　interpreting　the　signs　of　fate；　the　day　has　e　when　earth　（Chen）　receives　fire　（Liu）。　Beside　there　is　an　oracle　saying；　'One　who　replaces　the　Hans　must　wade　through　deep　mire。'　My　name　means　'the　high　road。'　It　fits　exactly。　Further　than　this；　I　possess　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　and　must　bee　lord　of　all；　or　I　turn　from　Heaven's　own　way。　Finally；　I　have　made　up　my　mind；　so　if　anyone　says　too　much；　that　person　will　simply　suffer　death。〃
Yuan　Shu　arrogated　himself　the　insignia　of　royalty　and　assigned　Second　Glory　the　reign　title。　He　set　up　officials　with　titles　only　given　by　an　emperor；　and　rode　in　a　chariot　decorated　with　the　dragon　and　phoenix；　and　offered　sacrifices　after　the　manner　of　an　emperor　in　the　north　and　south　suburbs。　Also　he　appointed　the　daughter　of　Feng　Fang　his　Empress　and　his　son　Heir　Apparent；　and　he　pressed　for　the　early　wedding　of　Lu　Bu's　daughter　with　his　son　so　that　the　Palace　entourage　might　be　plete。
But　when　Yuan　Shu　heard　of　the　fate　of　his　marriage　ambassador；　Han　Yin；　who　was　sent　to　the　capital　and　was　executed；　Yuan　Shu　was　very　angry　and　began　at　once　to　plan　for　revenge。　He　made　Zhang　Xun　his　Grand　mander　and　gave　Zhang　Xun　the　mand　of　more　than　two　hundred　thousand　soldiers　with　the　instruction　to　invade　Xuzhou。　The　army　consisted　of　seven　divisions　under　seven　manders：　Zhang　Xun　led　the　Center　Army；　Qiao　Rui；　the　First　Left　Army；　Lei　Bo；　the　Second　Left　Army；　Han　Xian；　the　Third　Left　Army；　Chen　Ji；　First　Right　Army；　Chen　Lan；　Second　Right　Army；　and　Yang　Feng；　the　Third　Right　Army。　Each　mander　was　instructed　to　make　a　certain　town　his　objective。
The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　Jin　Shang；　was　ordered　to　superintend　the　missariat；　but　he　declined　the　office。　And　so　Yuan　Shu　put　Jin　Shang　to　death。　Ji　Ling　was　in　mand　of　the　reserves　to　help　wherever　he　was　required。　Yuan　Shu　led　thirty　thousand　troops；　and　he　appointed　three　generals；　Li　Deng；　Liang　Gang；　and　Yue　Jiu；　to　go　up　and　down　and　coordinate　the　grand　march。
Lu　Bu　found　out　from　his　scouts　that　his　own　Xuzhou　City　was　the　objective　of　Zhang　Xun；　the　other　towns　to　be　first　attacked　being　Xiaopei；　Yidu；　Langye；　Jieshi；　Xiapi；　and　Junshan。　The　invading　armies　were　marching　twenty　miles　a　day；　and　plundering　the　countryside　as　they　advanced。
Lu　Bu　summoned　his　advisers　to　a　council　to　which　came　Chen　Gong；　Chen　Deng；　and　Chen　Gui。
When　all　had　assembled；　Chen　Gong　said；　〃This　misfortune　that　has　e　to　us　is　due　to　the　two　Chens；　who　fawned　upon　the　central　government　in　order　to　obtain　rank　and　appointments。　Now　remove　the　evil　by　putting　these　two　to　death　and　sending　their　heads　to　Yuan　Shu。　Then　he　will　retire　and　leave　us　in　peace。〃
Lu　Bu　acquiesced　and　had　the　two　arrested。
But　the　son；　Chen　Deng；　only　laughed；　saying；　〃What　is　this　anxiety　about？　These　seven　armies　are　no　more　to　me　than　so　many　heaps　of　rotting　straw。　They　are　not　worth　thinking　about。〃
〃If　you　can　show　us　how　to　overe　them；　I　will　spare　your　life；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃General；　if　you　will　listen　to　poor　me；　the　region　will　be　perfectly　safe。〃
〃Let　us　hear　what　you　have　to　say。〃
〃Yuan　Shu's　troops　are　numerous　but　they　are　only　a　flock　of　crows；　they　are　not　an　army　under　a　leader。　There　is　no　mutual　confidence。　I　can　keep　them　at　bay　with　the　ordinary　guards　of　the　place　and　could　overe　them　by　some　unsuspected　stratagem。　If　I　should　fail；　I　have　another　plan　by　which　I　can　not　only　protect　the　region　but　capture　our　enemy。〃
〃Let　us　have　it。〃

＇e＇　Han　Xian　used　to　be　a　White　Wave　rebel　leader。　Yang　Feng　had　been　a　mander　under　Li　Jue。　When　the　Emperor　fled　from　Changan　to　Luoyang；　he　enlisted　these　two　leaders　as　escorts　to　fend　off　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si's　pursuit。　（chapter　13）
Chen　Deng　said；　〃Han　Xian　and　Yang　Feng*；　two　of　the　leaders　of　our　enemies；　are　old　servants　of　the　Han　Dynasty　who　fled　from　fear　of　Cao　Cao　and；　being　homeless；　sought　refuge　with　Yuan　Shu。　He　despises　them；　and　they　are　dissatisfied　with　his　service。　A　little　letter　from　the　court　will　secure　their　help　as　our　allies；　and　with　Liu　Bei　to　help　us　on　the　outside；　we　can　certainly　overe　Yuan　Shu。〃
〃You　shall　take　the　letters　yourself；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Chen　Deng　agreed；　and　a　memorial　detailing　his　intentions　was　sent　to　the　capital；　letters　to　Yuzhou　to　Liu　Bei；　and　finally　Chen　Deng　was　sent；　with　a　small　escort；　to　wait　for　Han　Xian　on　the　road　to　Xiapi。
When　Han　Xian's　army　had　halted　and　pitched　camp；　Chen　Deng　went　to　see　Han　Xian　who　said；　〃What　are　you　here　for？　You　belong　to　Lu　Bu。〃
〃I　am　an　official　of　the　court　of　the　great　Hans。　Why　do　you　call　me　a　Lu　Bu's　man？　If　you；　General；　hitherto　a　minister　of　state；　now　serve　a　traitor；　you　will　nullify　the　grand　services　you　rendered　in　protecting　the　Emperor　in　the　flight　from　Changan。　Beside；　the　suspicious　Yuan　Shu　will　assuredly　do　you　some　harm；　and　you　will　regret　not　having　taken　this　opportunity　to　work　against　him。〃
Han　Xian　sighed；　saying；　〃I　would　return　to　my　allegiance　if　there　should　be　any　opportunity。〃
Thereupon　Chen　Deng　gave　him　Lu　Bu's　letter　asking　for　cooperation。
Han　Xian　read　it　and　said；　〃Yes；　I　know。　You　may　return　to　your　master　and　say　General　Yang　Feng　and　I　will　turn　our　weapons　and　smite　Yuan　Shu。　Look　out　for　a　signal　flare；　and　let　your　master　e　to　our　aid。〃
As　soon　as　Chen　Deng　had　got　back　and　reported　his　success；　Lu　Bu　divided　his　troops　into　five　divisions；　each　of　ten　thousand；　and　sent　them　to　five　threatened　towns　to　meet　his　enemies。　Gao　Shun　led　one　army　to　Xiaopei　against　Qiao　Rui；　Chen　Gong　to　Yidu　against　Chen　Ji；　Zhang　Liao　and　Zang　Ba　to　Langye　against　Lei　Bo；　Song　Xian　and　Wei　Xu　to　Jieshi　against　Chen　Lan。　Lu　Bu　himself　led　against　the　main　body　under　Zhang　Xun；　leaving　a　small　guard　in　Xuzhou　City。
Lu　Bu　camped　ten　miles　from　the　walls。　When　the　enemy　came　up；　Zhang　Xun　thought　Lu　Bu　too　strong　to　attack　with　the　force　he　had；　so　he　retired　seven　miles　to　await　reinforcements。
That　night；　in　the　second　watch；　Han　Xian　and　Yang　Feng　arrived；　and　soon　the　flare　was　lighted　as　arranged。　Lu　Bu's　troops　were　admitted　to　the　camp　and　caused　great　confusion。　Then　Lu　Bu　gave　a　full　attack；　and　Zhang　Xun　was　routed　and　fled。　Lu　Bu　pursued　till　daylight；　when　he　fell　in　with　one　of　the　other　bodies　led　by　Ji　Ling。　Both　sides　faced　each　other；　but　at　the　very　beginning　of　the　engagement　Yang　Feng　and　Han　Xian　also　attacked；　and　Ji　Ling　was　forced　to　fly。
Lu　Bu　went　in　pursuit　but　soon　another　force　came　out　from　the　rear　of　some　hills。　These　looked　very　imposing。　As　the　ranks　opened　Lu　Bu　saw　a　leader's　guard　with　flags　bearing　dragons　and　phoenixes　and　representations　of　the　sun　and　moon；　the　stars　in　the　four　groups　of　the　Great　Bear　Constellation；　the　five　directions　of　the　Earth；　golden　gourds；　silver　axes；　yellow　halberds；　white　yaks'　tails；　all　imperial　emblems。　And　beneath　a　yellow　silken　parasol　sat　Yuan　Shu　on　horseback；　clad　in　silver　mail　with　a　sword　handle　showing　at　each　wrist。
Standing　out　in　front　of　the　array；　Yuan　Shu　railed　at　his　opponent　calling　him　traitor　and　bastard。　Lu　Bu　said　nothing　but　rode　forward　ready　for　battle；　and　Li　Deng；　one　of　Yuan　Shu's　leaders；　advanced　to　take　the　challenge。　They　met；　but　at　the　third　bout；　Li　Deng　was　wounded　in　the　hand；　whereupon　his　spear　fell　to　the　ground；　and　he　fled。　Lu　Bu　waved　on　the　advance；　and　his　men　prevailed。　The　other　side　fled；　leaving　much　spoil；　clothing；　mail；　and　horses。
Yuan　Shu's　defeated　troops　had　not　gone　far　when　a　strong　army；　led　by　Guan　Yu；　appeared　barring　his　way。
〃Traitor！　Why　have　they　not　slain　you？〃　cried　Guan　Yu。
Whereat　Yuan　Shu　fled　in　great　trepidation；　and　his　army　melted　into　fugitives　in　all　directions。　The　new　army　fell　upon　them　with　great　slaughter。　Yuan　Shu　and　the　remnant　of　his　army　retreated　into　the　below　regions　of　River　Huai。
Victory　being　now　secure；　Lu　Bu；　in　pany　with　Guan　Yu；　Yang　Feng；　and　Han　Xian　returned　to　Xuzhou；　where　there　were　banquets　and　feasting　and　rewards　for　the　soldiers　and　generals　of　five　divisions。　These　over；　Guan　Yu　took　his　leave　and　returned　to　Yuzhou；　while　Han　Xian　was　appointed　Governor　of　Yidu；　and　Yang　Feng　Governor　of　Langye。
There　had　been　a　question　of　keeping　these　two　in　Xuzhou　City；　but　Chen　Gui　opposed　it；　saying；　〃Let　them　hold　those　places　in　Huashang　Mountains；　which　will　be　all　yours　within　a　year。〃
So　Han　Xian　and　Yang　Feng　were　sent　to　these　two　cities　in　the　meantime　to　await　orders。
〃Why　not　retain　them　here？〃　asked　Chen　Deng　secretly　of　his　father。　〃They　would　be　a　basis　for　our　conspiracy　against　Lu　Bu。〃