小说园

第64部分（第3页）

Yuan　Shao　said；　〃That　is　always　the　way　with　you　fellows；　always　delaying　and　taking　the　dash　out　of　the　army。　You　put　off　today　and　postpone　tomorrow　till　success　has　bee　impossible。　Do　you　forget　that　promptitude　is　what　each　soldier　honors？〃

The　adviser　withdrew　sadly；　saying；　〃Superiors　do　not　curb　their　ambitions；　inferiors　crave　for　achievements；　things　are　undone。　Eternal　is　the　course　of　Yellow　River；　shall　I　change　it？〃

Thereafter　Ju　Shou　feigned　illness　and　went　no　more　to　the　council。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　have　received　much　kindness　at　your　hands　and　have　been　unable　to　show　my　gratitude。　I　would　acpany　General　Wen　Chou　that　I　may　repay　your　bounty　and　also　that　I　may　hear　news　of　my　brother。〃

Yuan　Shao　gladly　consented　and　ordered　Wen　Chou　to　share　his　mand　with　Liu　Bei。

But　the　former　objected；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　has　been　so　often　defeated　that　it　will　augur　ill　for　success　this　time。　Since　you　wish；　I　will　give　Liu　Bei　mand　of　the　rear　guard　of　thirty　thousand　soldiers。〃

And　this　being　approved；　three　legions　were　told　off　under　Liu　Beis　special　mand　to　follow　the　main　body。

The　prowess　displayed　by　Guan　Yu　in　the　bold　attack　on　Yan　Liang　redoubled　Cao　Caos　respect　for　him；　and　Cao　Cao　memorialized　the　Throne　that　Guan　Yu　receive　the　title　of　Lord　of　Hanshou；　and　a　seal　was　cast　for　him。

Just　then　came　the　unexpected　news　that　Yuan　Shaos　army　had　moved　toward　the　Yellow　River　and　was　in　position　above　Yenjin。　Cao　Cao　first　sent　to　transfer　the　inhabitants　to　the　west　bank　and　then　led　out　an　army　to　oppose　Yuan　Shao。　He　issued　an　order　to　face　about；　thus　placing　the　rear　panies　in　front。　The　missariat　wagons　were　also　placed　in　the　van。

〃What　is　this　reversal　for？〃　asked　Lu　Qian。

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃When　the　supplies　are　in　rear；　they　are　liable　to　be　plundered。　So　I　have　put　them　first。〃

〃But　if　you　meet　the　enemy　and　they　steal　them？〃

〃Wait　till　the　enemy　appears。　I　shall　know　what　to　do。〃

Lu　Qian　was　much　exercised　at　this　new　move　of　the　Prime　Minister。　In　the　meantime　the　supply　train　moved　along　the　river　toward　Yenjin。　Presently　the　foremost　troops　raised　a　great　shout；　and　Cao　Cao　sent　to　see　what　it　meant。

The　messenger　came　back；　saying；　〃Wen　Chous　army　is　approaching；　and　the　supply　train　has　been　abandoned　and　is　at　the　mercy　of　the　enemy。　The　main　body　is　still　far　behind。　What　to　do　next？〃

Thereupon　Cao　Cao　pointed　to　two　mounds；　saying；　〃We　will　take　refuge　here　for　the　present。〃

All　those　near　him　hastened　to　the　mounds。　There　Cao　Cao　ordered　them　all　to　loosen　their　dress；　lay　aside　their　breastplates；　and　rest　a　time。　The　horsemen　turned　their　steeds　loose。

Wen　Chous　soldiers　approached　under　cover。　As　they　drew　near；　the　officers　told　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃The　rebels　are　near。　We　ought　to　catch　the　horses　and　go　back　to　Baima。〃

But　Adviser　Xun　You　checked　them；　saying；　〃These　are　a　bait　for　the　enemy。　Why　retire？〃

Cao　Cao　glanced　across　at　him　and　said；　〃He　understands。　Do　not　say　anything。〃

Now　having　got　possession　of　the　supply　carts；　the　enemy　next　came　to　seize　the　horses。　By　this　time　they　had　all　broken　ranks　and　were　scattered；　each　soldier　going　his　own　way。　Then　suddenly　Cao　Cao　gave　the　order　to　go　down　from　the　mounds　and　smite　them。

The　surprise　was　plete。　Wen　Chous　army　was　in　confusion；　and　Cao　Caos　army　surrounded　them。　Wen　Chou　made　a　stand；　but　those　about　him　trampled　each　other　down；　and　he　could　do　nothing　but　flee。　And　he　fled。

Then　standing　on　the　top　of　a　mound　Cao　Cao　pointed　to　the　flying　leader；　calling　out；　〃There　is　one　of　the　most　famous　generals　of　the　north。　Who　can　capture　him？〃

Zhang　Liao　and　Xu　Huang　both　mounted　and　dashed　after　him；　crying；　〃Wen　Chou；　do　not　run　away！〃

Looking　round；　the　fugitive　saw　two　pursuers；　and　then　he　set　aside　his　spear；　took　his　bow　and　adjusted　an　arrow；　which　he　shot　at　Zhang　Liao。

〃Cease　shooting；　you　rebel！〃　shouted　Xu　Huang。

Zhang　Liao　ducked　his　head；　and　the　shaft　went　harmlessly　by；　save　that　it　carried　away　the　tassel　of　his　cap。　He　only　pressed　harder　in　pursuit。　The　next　arrow　however　struck　his　horse　in　the　head；　and　the　animal　stumbled　and　fell；　throwing　its　rider　to　the　earth。

Then　Wen　Chou　turned　to　e　back。　Xu　Huang；　whirling　his　battle…ax；　stood　in　his　way　to　stop　Wen　Chou。　But　Xu　Huang　saw　behind　Wen　Chou　several　more　horsemen　ing　to　help；　and　as　they　would　have　been　too　many　for　him；　he　fled。　Wen　Chou　pursued　along　the　river　bank。　Suddenly　he　saw　ing　toward　him　with　banners　fluttering　in　the　b