小说园

第78部分（第2页）

〃All　will　e　right　if　you　will　push　on；〃　said　Liu　Pi。

They　pushed　on。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　the　beating　of　drums　was　heard　and　suddenly　appeared　Zhang　He　with　a　thousand　soldiers。

Zhang　He　cried；　〃Liu　Bei；　quickly　dismount　and　surrender！〃

Liu　Bei　was　about　to　retire　when　he　saw　a　red　flag　waving　from　a　rampart　on　the　hills　and　down　came　rushing　another　body　of　troops　under　Gao　Lan。

Thus　checked　in　front　and　his　retreat　cut　off；　Liu　Bei　looked　up　to　Heaven　and　cried；　〃O　Heaven；　why　am　I　brought　to　this　state　of　misery？　Nothing　is　left　me　now　but　death！〃

And　he　drew　his　sword　to　slay　himself。

But　Liu　Pi　stayed　his　hand；　saying；　〃Let　me　try　to　fight　a　way　out　and　save　you。　Death　is　nothing　to　me！〃

As　he　spoke　Gao　Lans　force　was　on　the　point　of　engaging　his。　The　two　leaders　met　and　in　the　third　bout　Liu　Pi　was　cut　down。　Liu　Bei　at　once　rushed　up　to　fight；　but　just　then　there　was　sudden　confusion　in　the　rear　ranks　of　the　opponents；　and　a　warrior　dashed　up　and　thrust　at　Gao　Lan　with　his　spear。　Gao　Lan　fell　from　his　steed。　The　newer　was　Zhao　Yun。

His　arrival　was　most　opportune。　He　urged　forward　his　steed　thrusting　right　and　left；　and　the　enemys　ranks　broke　and　scattered。　Then　the　first　force　under　Zhang　He　came　into　the　fight；　and　the　leader　and　Zhao　Yun　fought　thirty　or　more　bouts。　However；　this　proved　enough；　for　Zhang　He　turned　his　horse　away　recognizing　that　he　was　worsted。　Zhao　Yun　vigorously　attacked；　but　was　forced　into　a　narrow　space　in　the　hills　where　he　was　hemmed　in。　While　seeking　for　some　outlet；　they　saw　Guan　Yu；　Guan　Ping；　and　Zhou　Cang；　with　three　hundred　men；　ing　along。　Soon　Zhang　He　was　driven　off；　and　then　Liu　Beis　troops　came　out　of　the　narrow　defile　and　occupied　a　strong　position　among　the　hills　where　they　made　a　camp。

Liu　Bei　sent　Guan　Yu　for　news　of　the　missing　brother。　Zhang　Fei　had　been　attacked　by　Xiahou　Yuan　who　had　killed　Gong　Du；　but　Zhange　Fei　had　vigorously　resisted；　beaten　him　off；　and　followed　him　up。　Then　Yue　Jing　had　e　along　and　surrounded　Zhang　Fei。

In　this　pass　he　was　found　by　Guan　Yu；　who　had　heard　of　his　plight　from　some　of　his　scattered　soldiers　met　on　the　way。　Now　they　drove　off　the　enemy。　The　two　brothers　returned。　Soon　they　heard　of　the　approach　of　a　large　body　of　Cao　Caos　army。　Liu　Bei　then　bade　Sun　Qian　guard　his　family　and　sent　him　on　ahead；　while　he　and　the　others　kept　off　the　enemy；　sometimes　giving　battle　and　anon　marching。　Seeing　that　Liu　Bei　had　retired　too　far；　Cao　Cao　let　him　go　and　left　the　pursuit。

When　Liu　Bei　collected　his　army；　he　found　they　numbered　only　a　thousand；　and　this　halting　and　broken　force　marched　as　fast　as　possible　to　the　west。　ing　to　a　river　they　asked　the　natives　its　name　and　were　told　it　was　the　Han　River；　and　near　it　Liu　Bei　made　a　temporary　camp。　When　the　local　people　found　out　who　was　in　the　camp；　they　presented　flesh　and　wine。

A　feast　was　given　upon　a　sandy　bank　of　the　Han　River。

After　they　had　drunk　awhile；　Liu　Bei　addressed　his　faithful　followers；　saying；　〃All　you；　Fair　Sirs；　have　talents　fitting　you　to　be　advisers　to　a　monarch；　but　your　destiny　has　led　you　to　follow　poor　me。　My　fate　is　distressful　and　full　of　misery。　Today　I　have　not　a　spot　to　call　my　own；　and　I　am　indeed　leading　you　astray。　Therefore　I　say　you　should　abandon　me　and　go　to　some　illustrious　lord　where　you　may　be　able　to　bee　famous。〃

At　these　words　they　all　covered　their　faces　and　wept。

Guan　Yu　said；　〃Brother；　you　are　wrong　to　speak　thus。　When　the　great　Founder　of　Han　contended　with　Xiang　Yu；　he　was　defeated　many　times；　but　he　won　at　the　Nine…Mile　Mountains　and　that　achievement　was　the　foundation　of　a　dynasty　that　endured　for　four　centuries。　Victory　and　defeat　are　but　ordinary　events　in　a　soldiers　career；　and　why　should　you　give　up？〃

〃Success　and　failure　both　have　their　seasons；〃　said　Sun　Qian；　〃and　we　are　not　to　grieve。　Jingzhou；　which　your　illustrious　relative；　Liu　Biao；　mands；　is　a　rich　and　prosperous　country。　Liu　Biao　is　of　your　house；　why　not　go　to　him？〃

〃Only　that　I　fear　he　may　not　receive　me；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Then　let　me　go　and　prepare　the　way。　I　will　make　Liu　Biao　e　out　to　his　borders　to　wele　you。〃

So　with　his　lords　approval；　Sun　Qian　set　off　immediately　and　hastened　to　Jingzhou。　When　the　ceremonies　of　greeting　were　over；　Liu　Biao　asked　the　reason　of　the　visit。

Said　Sun　Qian；　〃The　princely　Liu　Bei　is　one　of　the　heroes　of　the　day；　although　just　at　the　moment　he　may　lack　soldiers　and　leaders。　His　mind　is　set　upon　restoring　the　dynasty　to　its　pristine　glory；　and　at　Runan　the　two　manders；　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du；　though　bound　to　him　by　no　ties；　were　content　to　die　for　the　sake　of　his　ideals。　You；　Illustrious　Sir；　like　Liu　Bei；　are　a　scion　of　the　imperial　stock。　Now　the　Princely　One　has　recently　suffered　defeat　and　thinks　of　seeking　a　home　in　the　east　with　Sun　Quan。　I　have　ventured　to　dissuade　him；　saying　that　he　should　not　turn　from　a　relative　and　go　to　a　mere　acquaintance；　telling　him　that　you；　Sir；　are　well　known　as　courteous　to　the　wise　and　condescending　to　scholars；　so　that　they　flock　to　you　as　the　waters　flow　to　the　east　sea；　and　that　certainly　you　would　show　kindness　to　one　of　the　same　ancestry。　Wherefore　he　has　sent　me　to　explain　matters　and　request　your　mands。〃

〃He　is　my　brother；〃　said　Liu　Biao；　〃and　I　have　long　desired　to　see　him；　but　no　opportunity　has　occurred。　I　should　be　very　happy　if　he　would　e。〃

Cai　Mao；　who　was　sitting　by；　here　broke　in；　〃No；　no！　Liu　Bei　first　followed　Lu　Bu；　then　he　served　Cao　Cao；　and　next　he　joined　himself　to　Yuan　Shao。　And　he　stayed　with　none　of　these；　so　that　you　can　see　what　manner　of　man　he　is。　If　he　es　here；　Cao　Cao　will　assuredly　e　against　us　and　fight。　Better　cut　off　this　messengers　head　and　send　it　as　an　offering　to　Cao　Cao；　who　would　reward　you　well　for　the　service。〃

Sun　Qian　sat