小说园

第28部分（第1页）

So　arrangements　were　made　for　defense。　Generals　Gao　Shun；　Wei　Xu；　and　Hou　Cheng　were　ordered　to　march　there。

At　dusk　Cao　Cao　reached　the　camp　and　began　an　immediate　attack　on　all　four　sides。　The　defenders　could　not　hold　him　off。　They　ran　in　all　directions；　and　the　camp　was　captured。　Near　the　fourth　watch；　when　the　defending　party　came；　Cao　Cao　sallied　forth　to　meet　them　and　met　Gao　Shun。　Another　battle　then　began　and　waged　till　dawn。　About　that　time　a　rolling　of　drums　was　heard　in　the　west；　and　they　told　Cao　Cao　that　Lu　Bu　himself　was　at　hand。　Thereupon　Cao　Cao　abandoned　the　attack　and　fled。

Gao　Shun；　Wei　Xu；　and　Hou　Cheng　pursued　him；　Lu　Bu　taking　the　lead。　Cao　Caos　two　generals；　Yu　Jin　and　Yue　Jing；　attacked　the　pursuers　but　could　not　check　them。　Cao　Cao　went　away　north。　But　from　behind　some　hills　came　out　Zhang　Liao　and　Zang　Ba　to　attack。　Lu　Qian　and　Cao　Hong　were　sent　to　stop　the　attackers；　but　Lu　Qian　and　Cao　Hong　were　both　defeated。　Cao　Cao　sought　safety　in　the　west。　Here　again　his　retreat　was　met　by　Lu　Bus　four　generals；　Hao　Meng；　Cao　Xing；　Cheng　Lian；　and　Song　Xian。

The　fight　became　desperate。　Cao　Cao　dashed　at　the　enemys　array。　The　din　was　terrible。　Arrows　fell　like　pelting　rain　upon　them；　and　they　could　make　no　headway。

Cao　Cao　was　desperate　and　cried　out　in　fear；　〃Who　can　save　me？〃

Then　from　the　crush　dashed　out　Dian　Wei　with　his　double　spears；　crying；　〃Fear　not；　my　lord！〃

Dian　Wei　leapt　from　his　steed；　leaned　his　double　spears　against　a　wall　and　laid　hold　of　a　handful　of　battle…axes。　Turning　to　his　followers　he　said；　〃When　the　ruffians　are　at　ten　paces；　call　out　to　me。〃

Then　he　set　off　with　mighty　strides；　plunging　forward；　careless　of　the　flying　arrows。　Lu　Bus　horsemen　followed；　and　when　they　got　near；　Dian　Weis　followers　shouted；　〃Ten　paces！〃

〃Five；　then　call！〃　shouted　back　Dian　Wei；　and　went　on。

Presently；　〃Five　paces！〃

Then　Dian　Wei　spun　round　and　flung　the　battle…axes。　With　every　fling　a　man　fell　from　the　saddle　and　never　a　battle…ax　missed。

Having　thus　slain　ten　or　so　the　remainder　fled；　and　Dian　Wei　quickly　remounted　his　steed；　set　his　twin　spears　and　rushed　again　into　the　fight　with　a　vigor　that　none　could　withstand。　One　by　one　his　opponents　yielded；　and　he　was　able　to　lead　Cao　Cao　safely　out　of　the　press　of　battle。　Cao　Cao　and　his　manders　went　to　their　camp。

But　as　evening　fell；　the　noise　of　pursuit　fell　on　their　ears；　and　soon　appeared　Lu　Bu　himself。

〃Cao　Cao；　you　rebel；　do　not　flee！〃　shouted　Lu　Bu　as　he　approached　with　his　halberd　ready　for　a　thrust。

All　stopped　and　looked　in　each　others　faces：　The　soldiers　were　weary；　their　steeds　spent。　Fear　smote　them；　and　they　looked　around　for　some　place　of　refuge。

You　may　lead　your　lord　safely　out　of　the　press；

But　what　if　the　enemy　follow？

We　cannot　say　here　what　Cao　Caos　fate　was；　but　the　next　chapter　will　relate。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　12　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　12

Chapter　12

Tao　Qian　Thrice　Offers　Xuzhou　To　Liu　Bei；

Cao　Cao　Retakes　Yanzhou　From　Lu　Bu。

The　last　chapter　closed　with　Cao　Cao　in　great　danger。　However；　help　came。　Xiahou　Dun　with　a　body　of　soldiers　found　his　chief；　checked　the　pursuit；　and　fought　with　Lu　Bu　till　dusk。　Rain　fell　in　torrents　swamping　everything；　and　as　the　daylight　waned；　they　drew　off　and　Cao　Cao　reached　camp。　He　rewarded　Dian　Wei　generously　and　advanced　him　in　rank。

When　Lu　Bu　reached　his　camp；　he　called　in　his　adviser　Chen　Gong。　Then　Chen　Gong　proposed　a　new　stratagem。

He　said；　〃In　Puyang　there　is　a　rich；　leading　family；　Tian　by　name；　who　number　thousands；　enough　to　populate　a　whole　county　in　themselves。　Make　one　of　these　people　go　to　Cao　Caos　camp　with　a　pretended　secret　letter　about　Lu　Bus　ferocity；　and　the　hatred　of　the　people；　and　their　desire　to　be　rid　of　him。　And　by　saying　that　only　Gao　Shun　is　left　to　guard　the　city；　and　they　would　help　anyone　who　would　e　to　save　them。　Thus　our　enemy　Cao　Cao　will　be　inveigled　into　the　city；　and　we　will　destroy　him　either　by　fire　or　ambush。　His　skill　may　be　equal　to　enpassing　the　universe；　but　he　will　not　escape。〃

Lu　Bu　thought　this　trick　might　be　tried；　and　they　arranged　for　the　Tian　family　letter　to　be　sent。

ing　soon　after　the　defeat；　when　Cao　Cao　felt　uncertain　what　step　to　take　next；　the　secret　letter　was　read　with　joy。　It　promised　interior　help　and　said　the　sign　should　be　a　white　flag　with　the　word　Rectitude　written　thereon。

〃Heaven　is　going　to　give　me　Puyang！〃　said　Cao　Cao　joyfully。

So　he　rewarded　the　messenger　very　liberally　and　began　to　prepare　for　the　expedition。

Then　came　Liu　Ye；　saying；　〃Lu　Bu　is　no　strategist；　but　Chen　Gong　is　full　of　guile。　I　fear　treachery　in　this　letter；　and　you　must　be　careful。　If　you　will　go；　then　enter　with　only　one　third　your　army；　leaving　the　others　outside　the　city　as　a　reserve。〃