三国演义英文版-第81部分

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h　for　which　he　was　severely　punished。　Feng　Li　resented　this；　sneaked　out　of　the　city；　went　over　to　the　besiegers；　and　told　them　how　the　place　could　be　attacked。
〃The　earth　within　the　Pearly　Gate　is　solid　enough　to　be　tunneled；　and　entrance　can　be　effected　there；〃　said　the　traitor。
So　Feng　Li　was　sent　with　three　hundred　men　to　carry　out　his　plan　under　cover　of　darkness。
After　Feng　Li　had　deserted　to　the　enemy；　Shen　Pei　went　every　night　to　the　wall　to　inspect　the　soldiers　on　duty。　The　night　of　the　sapping　he　went　there　as　usual　and　saw　that　there　were　no　lights　outside　the　city　and　all　was　perfectly　quiet。
So　he　said　to　himself；　〃Feng　Li　is　certain　to　try　to　e　into　the　city　by　an　underground　road。〃
Whereupon　he　ordered　his　troops　to　bring　up　stones　and　pile　them　on　the　cover　of　the　tunnel　opening。　The　opening　was　stopped　up　and　the　attacking　party　perished　in　the　tunnel　they　had　excavated。
Cao　Cao　having　failed　in　this　attempt　abandoned　the　scheme　of　underground　attack。　He　drew　off　the　army　to　a　place　above　the　River　Huan　to　await　till　Yuan　Shang　should　return　to　relieve　the　city。
Yuan　Shang　heard　of　the　defeat　of　Yin　Kai　and　Ju　Gu；　and　the　siege　of　his　own　city；　and　bethought　himself　of　relieving　it。
One　of　his　manders；　Ma　Yan；　said；　〃The　high　road　will　surely　be　ambushed。　We　must　find　some　other　way。　We　can　take　a　by…road　from　the　West　Hills　and　get　through　by　River　Fu；　whence　we　can　fall　upon　Cao　Cao's　camp。〃
The　plan　was　acceptable　and　Yuan　Shang　started　off　with　the　main　body；　Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　being　rear　guard。
Cao　Cao's　spies　soon　found　out　this　move；　and　when　they　reported　it；　he　said；　〃If　Yuan　Shang　es　by　the　high　road；　I　shall　have　to　keep　out　of　the　way；　but　if　by　the　West　Hills'　by…road；　I　can　settle　him　in　one　battle。　And　I　think　he　will　show　a　blaze　as　a　signal　to　the　besieged　that　they　may　make　a　sortie。　I　shall　prepare　to　attack　both。〃
So　Cao　Cao　made　his　preparations。　Now　Yuan　Shang　went　out　by　River　Fu　east　toward　Yangping；　and　near　this　he　camped。　Thence　to　Yejun　was　five　miles。　River　Fu　ran　beside　the　camp。　He　ordered　his　soldiers　to　collect　firewood　and　grass　ready　for　the　blaze　he　intended　to　make　at　night　as　his　signal。　He　also　sent　Li　Mu；　a　civil　officer；　disguised　as　an　officer　of　Cao　Cao's　army；　to　inform　Shen　Pei　of　his　intentions。
Li　Mu　reached　the　city　wall　safely　and　called　out　to　the　guards　to　open。　Shen　Pei　recognized　his　voice　and　let　him　in。　Thus　Shen　Pei　knew　of　the　arrangements　for　his　relief；　and　it　was　agreed　that　a　blaze　should　be　raised　within　the　city　so　that　the　sortie　could　be　simultaneous　with　Yuan　Shang's　attack。　Orders　were　given　to　collect　inflammables。
Then　said　Li　Mu；　〃As　your　food　supply　is　short；　it　would　be　well　for　the　old　people；　the　feeble　soldiers　and　the　women　to　surrender。　This　will　e　upon　them　as　a　surprise；　and　we　will　send　the　soldiers　out　behind　them。〃
Shen　Pei　promised　to　do　all　this；　and　next　day　they　hoisted　on　the　wall　a　white　flag　with　the　words　The　populace　of　Jizhou　surrender！　on　it。
〃Ho　ho！　This　means　no　food；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃They　are　sending　away　the　non…batants　to　escape　feeding　them。　And　the　soldiers　will　follow　behind　them。〃
Cao　Cao　bade　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　laid　an　ambush　of　three　thousand　troops　on　both　sides　while　he　went　near　the　wall　in　full　state。　Presently　the　gates　were　opened　and　out　came　the　people　supporting　their　aged　folks　and　leading　their　little　ones　by　the　hand。　Each　carried　a　white　flag。　As　soon　as　the　people　had　passed　the　gate；　the　soldiers　followed　with　a　rush。
Then　Cao　Cao　showed　a　red　flag；　and　the　ambushing　soldiers　led　by　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　fell　upon　the　sortie。　The　troops　tried　to　return　and　Cao　Cao's　force　made　a　direct　attack。　The　chase　continued　to　the　drawbridge；　but　there　Cao　Cao's　force　met　with　a　tremendous　shower　of　arrows　and　crossbow　bolts　which　checked　the　advance。　Cao　Cao's　helmet　was　struck　and　the　crest　carried　away。　His　leaders　came　to　pull　him　back；　and　the　army　retired。
As　soon　as　Cao　Cao　had　changed　his　dress　and　mounted　a　fresh　horse；　he　set　out　at　the　head　of　the　army　to　attack　Yuan　Shang's　camp。
Yuan　Shang　led　the　defense。　The　attack　came　simultaneously　from　many　directions。　The　defenders　were　quite　disorganized　and　presently　defeated。　Yuan　Shang　led　his　troops　back　by　the　West　Hills　and　made　a　camp　under　their　shelter。　Thence　he　sent　messengers　to　urge　Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　to　bring　up　the　supports。　He　did　not　know　that　Cao　Cao　had　sent　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　to　persuade　these　two　into　surrender　and　that　they　had　already　passed　under　Cao　Cao's　banner；　and　he　had　conferred　upon　them　the　title　of　lordship。
Just　before　going　to　attack　the　West　Hills；　Cao　Cao　sent　Lu　Xiang；　Lu　Kuang；　Ma　Yan；　and　Zhang　Zi　to　seize　the　source　of　Yuan　Shang's　supplies。
Yuan　Shang　had　realized　he　could　not　hold　the　hills；　so　he　went　by　night　to　Lankou。　Before　he　could　get　camped；　he　saw　flaring　lights　springing　up　all　around　him　and　soon　an　attack　began。　He　was　taken　aback　and　had　to　oppose　the　enemy　with　his　men　half　armed；　his　steeds　unsaddled。　His　army　suffered；　and　he　had　to　retreat　another　fifteen　miles。　By　that　time　his　force　was　too　enfeebled　to　show　any　resistance；　and　as　no　other　course　was　possible；　he　sent　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou；　Yin　Ku；　to　Cao　Cao's　camp　and　ask　that　he　might　surrender。
Cao　Cao　feigned　to　consent；　but　that　night　he　sent　Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　to　raid　Yuan　Shang's　camp。　Then　it　became　flight；　abandoning　everything；　seals；　emblems　of　office；　and　even　personal　clothing。　Yuan　Shang　made　for　the　Zhongshan　Mountains。
Then　Cao　Cao　came　to　attack　Jizhou　City；　and　to　help　out　this　Xun　You　suggested　drowning　the　city　by　turning　the　course　of　the　River　Zhang。　Cao　Cao　adopted　the　suggestion　and　at　once　sent　a　small　number　of　men　to　dig　a　channel　to　lead　the　water　to　the　city。　All　told；　it　was　seventeen　miles。
Shen　Pei　saw　the　diggers　from　the　city　wall　and　noticed　that　they　made　only　a　shallow　channel。
He　chuckled；　saying　to　himself；　〃What　is　the　use　of　such　a　channel　to　drown　out　the　city　from　a　deep　river？〃
So　he　made　no　preparations　to　keep　out　the　water。
But　as　soon　as　night　came　on；　Cao　Cao　increased　his　army　of　diggers　tenfold　and　by　daylight　the　channel　was　deepened　to　twenty　spans　and　the　water　was　flowing　in　a　great　stream　into　the　city　where　it　already　stood　some　spans　deep。　So　this　misfortune　was　added　to　the　lack　of　food。
Xin　Pi　now　displayed　the　captured　seal　and　garments　of　Yuan　Shang　hung　out　on　spears；　to　the　great　shame　of　their　late　owner；　and　called　upon　the　people　of　the　city　to　surrender。　This　angered　Shen　Pei；　who　avenged　the　insult　by　putting　to　death　on　the　city　wall　the　whole　of　the　Xin　family　who　were　within　the　city。　There　were　eighty　of　them；　and　their　severed　heads　were　cast　down　from　the　walls。　Xin　Pi　wept　exceedingly。
Shen　Pei's　nephew　Shen　Rong；　one　of　the　gate　wardens；　was　a　dear　friend　of　Xin　Pi；　and　the　murder　of　Xin　Pi's　family　greatly　distressed　him。　He　wrote　a　secret　letter　offering　to　betray　the　city　and　tied　it　to　an　arrow；　which　he　shot　out　among　the　besiegers。　The　soldiers　found　it；　gave　it　to　Xin　Pi　who　took　it　to　his　chief。
Cao　Cao　issued　an　order：　〃The　family　of　the　Yuans　should　be　spared　when　the　city　should　be　taken　and　that　no　one　who　surrendered　should　be　put　to　death。〃
The　next　day　the　soldiers　entered　by　the　west　gate；　opened　for　them　by　Shen　Rong。　Xin　Pi　was　the　first　to　prance　in　on　horseback　and　the　army　followed。
When　Shen　Pei；　who　was　on　the　southeast　of　the　city；　saw　the　enemy　within　the　gates；　he　placed　himself　at　the　head　of　some　horsemen　and　dashed　toward　them。　He　was　met　and　captured　by　Xu　Huang　who　bound　him　and　led　him　outside　the　city。
On　the　road　they　met　Xin　Pi；　who　ground　his　teeth　with　rage　at　the　murderer　of　his　relatives　and　then　struck　the　prisoner　over　the　head　with　his　whip；　crying；　〃Murder！　Blood　drinker！　You　will　meet　your　death！〃
Shen　Pei　retorted；　〃Traitor！　Seller　of　the　city！　I　am　very　sorry　I　was　not　to　have　slain　you　before。〃
When　the　captive　was　taken　into　Cao　Cao's　presence；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Do　you　know　who　opened　the　gate　to　let　me　in？〃
〃No；　I　know　not。〃
〃It　was　your　nephew　Shen　Rong　who　gave　up　the　gate；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃He　was　always　unprincipled；　and　it　has　e　to　this！〃　said　Shen　Pei。
〃The　other　day　when　I　approached　the　city；　why　did　you　shoot　so　hard　at　me？〃
〃I　am　sorry　we　shot　too　little。〃
〃As　a　faithful　adherent　of　the　Yuans；　you　could　do　no　otherwise。　Now　will　you　e　over　to　me？〃
〃Never；　I　will　never　surrender。〃
Xin　Pi　threw　himself　on　the　ground　with　lamentations；　saying；　〃Eighty　of　my　people　murdered　by　this　ruffian。　I　pray　you　slay　him；　O　Prime　Minister！〃
〃Alive；　I　have　served　the　Yuans；〃　said　Shen　Pei；　〃dead；　I　will　be　their　ghost！　I　am　no　flattering　time…server　as　you　are。　Kill　me！〃
Cao　Cao　gave　the　order。　They　led　him　away　to　put　him　to　death。
On　the　execution　ground　he　said　to　the　executioners；　〃My　lord　is　in　the　north；　I　pray　you　not　to　make　me　face　the　south。〃
So　Shen　Pei　knelt　facing　the　north　and　extended　his　neck　for　the　fatal　stroke。

Who　of　all　the　official　throng
In　the　North　was　true　like　Shen　Pei？
Sad　his　fate！　He　served　a　fool；
But　faithful；　as　the　ancient　humans。
Straight　and　true　was　every　word；
Never　from　the　road　he　swerved。
Faithful　unto　death；　he　died
Gazing　toward　the　lord　he'd　served。

Thus　died　Shen　Pei　and　from　respect　for　his　character　Cao　Cao　ordered　that　he　be　buried　honorably　on　the　north　of　the　city。
The　Prime　Minister　then　entered　the　city　of　Yejun。　As　he　was　starting；　he　saw　the　executioners　hurrying　forward　a　prisoner　who　proved　to　be　Chen　Lin。
〃You　wrote　that　manifesto　for　Yuan　Shao。　If　you　had　only　directed　your　diatribe　against　me；　it　would　not　have　mattered。　But　why　did　you　shame　my　forefathers？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃When　the　arrow　is　on　the　string；　it　must　fly；〃　replied　Chen　Lin。
Those　about　Cao　Cao　urged　him　to　put　Chen　Lin　to　death；　but　he　was　spared　on　account　of　his　genius　and　given　a　civil　post。
Now　Cao　Cao's　eldest　son　was　named　Cao　Pi。　At　the　taking　of　the　cities　he　was　eighteen　years　of　age。　When　he　was　born　a　dark　purplish　halo　hung　over　the　house　for　a　whole　day。　One　who　understood　the　meaning　of　such　manifestations　had　secretly　told　Cao　Cao　that　the　halo　belonged　to　the　imperial　class　and　portended　honors　which　could　not　be　put　into　words。
At　eight　the　lad　could　pose　very　skillfully；　and　he　was　well　read　in　ancient　history。　Now　he　was　an　adept　at　all　military　arts　and　very　fond　of　fencing。　He　had　gone　with　his　father　on　the　expedition　to　Jizhou。　When　Yejun　had　fallen；　he　led　his　escort　in　the　direction　of　the　Yuan　family　dwelling；　and　when　he　reached　it；　he　strode　in；　sword　in　hand。　When　some　mander　would　have　stayed　him；　saying　that　by　order　of　the　Prime　Minister　no　one　was　to　enter　the　house；　Cao　Pi　bade　them　begone。　The　guards　fell　back　and　he　made　his　way　into　the　private　rooms；　where　he　saw　two　women　weeping　in　each　other's　arms。　He　went　forward　to　slay　them。

Four　generations　of　honors；　gone　like　a　dream；
Fate　follows　on　ever　surely；　though　slow　she　seems。

The　fate　of　the　two　women　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　33　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　33
　Chapter　33
A　Gallant　Warrior；　Cao　Pi　Marries　Lady　Zhen；
An　Expiring　Star；　Guo　Jia　Settles　Liaodong。
As　was