小说园

第26部分（第1页）

Before　long　the　man　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　wall　and　called　out；　〃Open　the　gate！〃

But　the　defenders　would　not　open　to　an　unknown　man；　and　in　the　delay　a　crowd　of　rebels　gathered　round　the　rider　along　the　edge　of　the　moat。　Suddenly　wheeling　about；　the　warrior　dashed　in　among　them　and　bowled　over　a　dozen　at　which　the　others　fell　back。　At　this　Kong　Rong　ordered　the　wardens　to　open　the　gates　and　let　the　stranger　enter。　As　soon　as　he　was　inside；　he　dismounted；　laid　aside　his　spear；　ascended　the　wall；　and　made　humble　obeisance　to　the　Governor。

〃My　name　is　Taishi　Ci；　and　I　am　from　the　county　of　Laihuang。　I　only　returned　home　yesterday　from　the　north　to　see　my　mother；　and　then　I　heard　that　your　city　was　in　danger　from　a　rebel　attack。　My　mother　said　you　had　been　very　kind　to　her　and　told　me　I　should　try　to　help。　So　I　set　out　all　alone；　and　here　I　am。〃

This　was　cheering。　Kong　Rong　already　knew　Taishi　Ci　by　reputation　as　a　valiant　fighting　man；　although　they　two　had　never　met。　The　son　being　far　away　from　his　home；　Kong　Rong　had　taken　his　mother；　who　dwelt　a　few　miles　from　the　city；　under　his　especial　protection　and　saw　that　she　did　not　suffer　from　want。　This　had　won　the　old　ladys　heart　and　she　had　sent　her　son　to　show　her　gratitude。

Kong　Rong　showed　his　appreciation　by　treating　his　guest　with　the　greatest　respect；　making　him　presents　of　clothing　and　armor；　saddles　and　horses。

Presently　said　Taishi　Ci；　〃Give　me　a　thousand　soldiers；　and　I　will　go　out　and　drive　off　these　fellows。〃

〃You　are　a　bold　warrior；　but　they　are　very　numerous。　It　is　a　serious　matter　to　go　out　among　them；〃　said　Kong　Rong。

〃My　mother　sent　me　because　of　your　goodness　to　her。　How　shall　I　be　able　to　look　her　in　the　face　if　I　do　not　raise　the　siege？　I　would　prefer　to　conquer　or　perish。〃

〃I　have　heard　Liu　Bei　is　one　of　the　heroes　in　the　world。　If　we　could　get　his　help；　there　would　be　no　doubt　of　the　result。　But　there　is　no　one　to　send。〃

〃I　will　go　as　soon　as　I　have　received　your　letter。〃

So　Kong　Rong　wrote　letters　and　gave　them　to　his　helper。

Taishi　Ci　put　on　his　armor；　mounted　his　steed；　attached　his　bow　and　quiver　to　his　girdle；　took　his　spear　in　his　hand；　tied　his　packed　haversack　firmly　to　his　saddle　bow；　and　rode　out　at　the　city　gate。　He　went　quite　alone。

Along　the　moat　a　large　party　of　the　besiegers　were　gathered；　and　they　came　to　intercept　the　solitary　rider。　But　Taishi　Ci　dashed　in　among　them　and　cut　down　several　and　so　finally　fought　his　way　through。

Guan　Hai；　hearing　that　a　rider　had　left　the　city；　guessed　what　his　errand　would　be　and　followed　Taishi　Ci　with　a　party　of　horsemen。　Guan　Hai　spread　them　out　so　that　the　messenger　rider　was　entirely　surrounded。　Then　Taishi　Ci　laid　aside　his　spear；　took　his　bow；　adjusted　his　arrows　one　by　one　and　shot　all　round　him。　And　as　a　rider　fell　from　his　steed　with　every　twang　of　Taishi　Cis　bowstring；　the　pursuers　dared　not　close　in。

Thus　he　got　clear　away　and　rode　in　hot　haste　to　Liu　Bei。　Taishi　Ci　reached　Pingyuan；　and　after　greeting　his　host　in　proper　form　he　told　how　Kong　Rong　was　surrounded　and　had　sent　him　for　help。　Then　he　presented　the　letter　which　Liu　Bei　read。

〃And　who　are　you？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃I　am　Taishi　Ci；　a　fellow　from　Laihuang。　I　am　not　related　by　ties　of　kin　to　Kong　Rong；　nor　even　by　ties　of　neighborhood；　but　I　am　by　the　bonds　of　sentiment　and　I　share　his　sorrows　and　misfortunes。　The　Yellow　Scarves　have　invested　his　city；　and　he　is　distressed　with　none　to　turn　to；　and　destruction　is　very　near。　You　are　known　as　humane；　righteous；　and　eager　to　help　the　distressed。　Therefore　at　his　mand　I　have　braved　all　dangers　and　fought　my　way　through　his　enemies　to　pray　you　save　him。〃

Liu　Bei　smiled；　saying；　〃And　does　he　know　there　is　a　Liu　Bei　in　this　world？〃

So　Liu　Bei；　together　with　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　told　off　three　thousand　troops　and　set　out　to　help　raise　the　siege。　When　the　rebel　leader　Guan　Hai　saw　these　new　forces　arriving；　he　led　out　his　army　to　fight　them；　thinking　he　could　easily　dispose　of　so　small　a　force。

The　brothers　and　Taishi　Ci　with　them　sat　on　their　horses　in　the　forefront　of　their　array。　Guan　Hai　hastened　forward。　Taishi　Ci　was　ready　to　fight；　but　Guan　Yu　had　opened　the　bat。　He　rode　forth　and　the　two　steeds　met。　The　soldiers　set　up　a　great　noise。　After　a　few　bouts　Guan　Yus　green…dragon　saber　rose　and　fell；　and　with　the　stroke　fell　the　rebel　leader。

This　was　the　signal　for　Zhang　Fei　and　Taishi　Ci　to　take　a　share；　and　they　advanced　side　by　side。　With　their　spears　ready　they　dashed　in；　and　Liu　Bei　urged　forward　his　force。　The　besieged　Governor　saw　his　doughty　rescuers　laying　low　the　rebels　as　tigers　among　a　flock　of　sheep。　None　could　withstand　them；　and　he　then　sent　out　his　own　troops　to　join　in　the　battle　so　that　the　rebels　were　between　two　armies。　The　rebels　force　was　pletely　broken　and　many　troops　surrendered；　while　the　remainder　scattered　in　all　directions。

The　victors　were　weled　into　the　city；　and　as　soon　as　possible　a　banquet　was　prepared　in　their　honor。　Mi　Zhu　was　presented　to　Liu　Bei。　Mi　Zhu　related　the　story　of　the　murder　of　Cao　Song　by　Zhang　Kai；　Cao　Caos　vengeful　attack　on　Xuzhou；　and　his　ing　to　beg　for　assistance。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　a　kindly　man　of　high　character；　and　it　is　a　pity　that　he　should　suffer　this　wrong　for　no　fault　of　his　own。〃

〃You　are　a　scion　of　the　imperial　family；〃　said　Governor　Kong　Rong；　〃and　this　Cao　Cao　is　injuring　the　people；　a　strong　man　abusing　his　strength。　Why　not　go　with　me　to　rescue　the　sufferers？〃

〃I　dare　not　refuse；　but　my　force　is　weak　and　I　must　act　cautiously；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Though　my　desire　to　help　arises　from　an　old　friendship；　yet　it　is　a　righteous　act　as　well。　I　do　not　think　your　heart　is　not　inclined　toward　the　right；〃　said　Kong　Rong。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃This　being　so；　you　go　first　and　give　me　time　to　see　Gongsun　Zan　from　whom　I　may　borrow　more　troops　and　horses。　I　will　e　anon。〃

〃You　surely　will　not　break　your　promise？〃　said　the　Governor。

〃What　manner　of　man　think　you　that　I　am？〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃The　wise　one　said；　Death　is　mon　to　all；　the　person　without　truth　cannot　maintain　the　self。　Whether　I　get　the　troops　or　not；　certainly　I　shall　myself　e。〃

So　the　plan　was　agreed　to。　Mi　Zhu　set　out　to　return　forthwith　while　Kong　Rong　prepared　for　his　expedition。