小说园

第12部分（第2页）

Sun　Jians　army　were　thrown　into　confusion　and　fled　in　disorder。　A　melee　ensued；　and　soon　only　Zu　Mao　was　left　at　Sun　Jians　side。　These　two　broke　through　the　Pass　and　fled。　Hua　Xiong　ing　in　hot　pursuit；　Sun　Jian　took　his　bow　and　let　fly　two　arrows　in　quick　succession；　but　both　missed。　He　fitted　a　third　arrow　to　the　string；　but　drew　the　bow　so　fiercely　that　it　snapped。　He　cast　the　bow　to　the　earth　and　set　off　at　full　gallop。

Then　spoke　Zu　Mao；　〃My　lords　purple　turban　is　a　mark　that　the　rebels　will　too　easily　recognize。　Give　it　to　me；　and　I　will　wear　it！〃

So　Sun　Jian　exchanged　his　silver　helmet　with　the　turban　for　his　generals　headpiece；　and　the　two　men　parted；　riding　different　ways。　The　pursuers　looking　only　for　the　purple　turban　went　after　its　wearer；　and　Sun　Jian　escaped　along　a　by…road。

Zu　Mao；　hotly　pursued；　then　tore　off　the　headdress　which　he　hung　on　the　post　of　a　half…burned　house　as　he　passed　and　dashed　into　the　thick　woods。　Hua　Xiongs　troops　seeing　the　purple　turban　standing　motionless　dared　not　approach；　but　they　surrounded　it　on　every　side　and　shot　at　it　with　arrows。　Presently　they　discovered　the　trick；　went　up　and　seized　it。

This　was　the　moment　that　Zu　Mao　awaited。　At　once　he　rushed　forth；　his　two　swords　whirling　about；　and　dashed　at　the　leader。　But　Hua　Xiong　was　too　quick。　With　a　loud　yell；　Hua　Xiong　slashed　at　Zu　Mao　and　cut　him　down　the　horse。　Hua　Xiong　and　Li　Ru　continued　the　slaughter　till　the　day　broke；　and　they　led　their　troops　back　to　the　Pass。

Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang　in　time　found　their　chief　and　the　soldiers　gathered。　Sun　Jian　was　much　grieved　at　the　loss　of　Zu　Mao。

When　news　of　the　disaster　reached　Yuan　Shao；　he　was　greatly　chagrined　and　called　all　the　lords　to　a　council。　They　assembled　and　Gongsun　Zan　was　the　last　to　arrive。

When　all　were　seated　in　the　tent　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃The　brother　of　General　Bao　Xin；　disobeying　the　rules　we　made　for　our　guidance；　rashly　went　to　attack　the　enemy：　He　was　slain　and　with　him　many　of　our　soldiers。　Now　Sun　Jian　has　been　defeated。　Thus　our　fighting　spirit　has　suffered　and　what　is　to　be　done？〃

Everyone　was　silent。　Lifting　his　eyes；　Yuan　Shao　looked　round　from　one　to　another　till　he　came　to　Gongsun　Zan；　and　then　he　remarked　three　men　who　stood　behind　Gongsun　Zans　seat。　They　were　of　striking　appearance　as　they　stood　there；　all　three　smiling　cynically。

〃Who　are　those　men　behind　you？〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

Gongsun　Zan　told　Liu　Bei　to　e　forward；　and　said；　〃This　is　Liu　Bei；　Magistrate　of　Pingyuan　and　a　brother　of　mine　who　shared　my　humble　cottage　when　we　were　students。〃

〃It　must　be　the　Liu　Bei　who　broke　up　the　Yellow　Scarves　rebellion；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃It　is　he；〃　said　Gongsun　Zan；　and　he　ordered　Liu　Bei　to　make　his　obeisance　to　the　assembly；　to　whom　Liu　Bei　then　related　his　services　and　his　origin；　all　in　full　detail。

〃Since　he　is　of　the　Han　line；　he　should　be　seated；〃　said　Yuan　Shao；　and　he　bade　Liu　Bei　sit。

Liu　Bei　modestly　thanked　him；　declining。

Said　Yuan　Shao；　〃This　consideration　is　not　for　your　fame　and　office。　I　respect　you　as　a　scion　of　the　imperial　family。〃

So　Liu　Bei　took　his　seat　in　the　lowest　place　of　the　long　line　of　lords。　And　his　two　brothers　with　folded　arms　took　their　stations　behind　him。

Even　as　they　were　at　this　meeting　came　in　a　scout　to　say　that　Hua　Xiong　with　a　pany　of　mail…clad　horsemen　was　ing　down　from　the　Pass。　They　were　flaunting　Sun　Jians　captured　purple　turban　on　the　end　of　a　bamboo　pole。　The　enemy　was　soon　hurling　insults　at　those　within　the　stockade　and　challenging　them　to　fight。

〃Who　dares　go　out　to　give　battle？〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

〃I　will　go；〃　said　Yu　She；　a　renown　general　of　Yuan　Shu；　stepping　forward。

So　Yu　She　went；　and　almost　immediately　one　came　back　to　say　that　Yu　She　had　fallen　in　the　third　bout　of　Hua　Xiong。

Fear　began　to　lay　its　cold　hand　on　the　assembly。

Then　Imperial　Protector　Han　Fu　said；　〃I　have　a　brave　warrior　among　my　army。　Pan　Feng　is　his　name；　and　he　could　slay　this　Hua　Xiong。〃

So　Pan　Feng　was　ordered　out　to　meet　the　foe。　With　his　great　battle…ax　in　his　hand；　Pan　Feng　mounted　and　rode　forth。　But　soon　came　the　direful　tidings　that　General　Pan　Feng　too　had　fallen。　The　faces　of　the　gathering　paled　at　this。

〃What　a　pity　my　two　able　generals；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；　are　not　here！　Then　should　we　have　someone　who　would　not　fear　this　Hua　Xiong；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

He　had　not　finished　when　from　the　lower　end　a　voice　tolled；　〃I　will　go；　take　Hua　Xiongs　head；　and　lay　it　before　you　here！〃

All　turned　to　look　at　the　speaker。　He　was　tall　and　had　a　long　beard。　His　eyes　were　those　of　a　phoenix　and　his　eyebrows　thick　and　bushy　like　silkworms。　His　face　was　a　swarthy　red　and　his　voice　deep　as　the　sound　of　a　great　bell。

〃Who　is　he？〃　as