小说园

第103部分（第1页）

biggest　rivers　that　we　could　get　across。〃

So　orders　were　given　to　march；　and　they　went　by　a　bye…road　which　led　diagonally　to　Hanjin　by　the　road　of　Minyang。

The　two　generals　sent　by　Cao　Cao　to　reconnoiter　near　Long　Slope　Bridge　returned；　saying；　〃The　bridge　has　been　destroyed。　Zhang　Fei　has　left。〃

〃Then　he　is　afraid；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Cao　Cao　at　once　gave　orders　to　set　ten　thousand　men　at　work　on　three　floating　bridges　to　be　finished　that　night。

Li　Dian　said；　〃I　fear　this　is　one　of　the　wiles　of　Zhuge　Liang。　So　be　careful。〃

〃Zhang　Fei　is　just　a　bold　warrior；　but　there　is　no　guile　about　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

He　gave　orders　for　immediate　advance。

Liu　Bei　was　making　all　speed　to　Hanjin。　Suddenly　there　appeared　in　his　track　a　great　cloud　of　dust　whence　came　loud　rolls　of　drums　and　shoutings。

Liu　Bei　was　dismayed　and　said；　〃Before　us　rolls　the　Great　River；　behind　is　the　pursuer。　What　hope　is　there　for　us？〃

But　he　bade　Zhao　Yun　organize　a　defense。

Now　Cao　Cao　in　an　order　to　his　army　had　said；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　fish　in　the　fish　kettle；　a　tiger　in　the　pit。　Catch　him　this　time；　or　the　fish　will　get　back　to　the　sea　and　the　tiger　escape　to　the　mountains。　Therefore　every　general　must　use　his　best　efforts　to　press　on。〃

In　consequence　every　leader　bade　those　under　him　hasten　forward。　And　they　were　pressing　on　at　great　speed；　when　suddenly　a　body　of　soldiers　appeared　from　the　hills　and　a　voice　cried；　〃I　have　waited　here　a　long　time！〃

The　leader　who　had　shouted　this　bore　in　his　hand　the　green…dragon　saber　and　rode　Red　Hare；　for　indeed　it　was　no　other　than　Guan　Yu。　He　had　gone　to　Jiangxia　for　help　and　had　returned　with　a　whole　legion　of　ten　thousand。　Having　heard　of　the　battle；　he　had　taken　this　very　road　to　intercept　pursuit。

As　soon　as　Guan　Yu　appeared；　Cao　Cao　stopped　and　said　to　his　officers；　〃Here　we　are；　tricked　again　by　that　Zhuge　Liang！〃

Without　more　ado　he　ordered　a　retreat。　Guan　Yu　followed　him　some　three　miles　and　then　drew　off　to　act　as　guard　to　his　elder　brother　on　his　way　to　the　river。　There　boats　were　ready；　and　Liu　Bei　and　family　went　on　board。　When　all　were　settled　fortably　in　the　boat；　Guan　Yu　asked　where　was　his　sister；　the　second　wife　of　his　brother；　Lady　Mi。　Then　Liu　Bei　told　him　the　story　of　Dangyang。

〃Alas！〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Had　you　taken　my　advice　that　day　of　the　hunting　in　Xutian；　we　should　have　escaped　the　misery　of　this　day。〃

〃But；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃on　that　day　it　was　Ware　damaged　when　pelting　rats。〃

Just　as　Liu　Bei　spoke；　he　heard　war　drums　on　the　south　bank。　A　fleet　of　boats；　thick　as　a　flight　of　ants；　came　running　up　with　swelling　sails　before　the　fair　wind。　He　was　alarmed。

The　boats　came　nearer。　There　Liu　Bei　saw　the　white　clad　figure　of　a　man　wearing　a　silver　helmet　who　stood　in　the　prow　of　the　foremost　ship。

The　leader　cried；　〃Are　you　all　right；　my　uncle？　I　am　very　guilty。〃

It　was　Liu　Qi。　He　bowed　low　as　the　ship　passed；　saying；　〃I　heard　you　were　in　danger　from　Cao　Cao；　and　I　have　e　to　aid　you。〃

Liu　Bei　weled　Liu　Qi　with　joy；　and　his　soldiers　joined　in　with　the　main　body；　and　the　whole　fleet　sailed　on；　while　they　told　each　other　their　adventures。

Unexpectedly　in　the　southwest　there　appeared　a　line　of　fighting　ships　swishing　up　before　a　fair　wind。

Liu　Qi　said；　〃All　my　troops　are　here；　and　now　there　is　an　enemy　barring　the　way。　If　they　are　not　Cao　Caos　ships；　they　must　be　from　the　South　Land。　We　have　a　poor　chance。　What　now？〃

Liu　Bei　went　to　the　prow　and　gazed　at　them。　Presently　he　made　out　a　figure　in　a　turban　and　Taoist　robe　sitting　in　the　bows　of　one　of　the　boats　and　knew　it　to　be　Zhuge　Liang。　Behind　him　stood　Sun　Qian。

When　they　were　quite　near；　Liu　Bei　asked　Zhuge　Liang　how　he　came　to　be　there。

And　Zhuge　Liang　reported　what　he　had　done；　saying；　〃When　I　reached　Jiangxia；　I　sent　Guan　Yu　to　land　at　Hanjin　with　reinforcements；　for　I　feared　pursuit　from　Cao　Cao　and　knew　that　road　you　would　take　instead　of　Jiangling。　So　I　prayed　your　nephew　to　go　to　meet　you；　while　I　went　to　Xiakou　to　muster　as　many　soldiers　as　possible。〃

The　new…ers　added　to　their　strength；　and　they　began　once　more　to　consider　how　their　powerful　enemy　might　be　overe。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Xiakou　is　strong　and　a　good　strategic　point。　It　is　also　rich　and　suited　for　a　lengthy　stay。　I　would　ask　you；　my　lord；　to　make　it　a　permanent　camp。　Your　nephew　can　go　to　Jiangxia　to　get　the　fleet　in　order　and　prepare　weapons。　Thus　we　can　create　two　threatening　angles　for　our　position。　If　we　all　return　to　Jiangxia；　the　position　will　be　weakened。〃

Liu　Qi　replied；　〃The　Directing　Instructors　words　are　excellent；　but　I　wish　rather　my　uncle　stayed　awhile　in　Jiangxia　till　the　army　was　in　thorough　order。　Then　he　could　go　to　Xiakou。〃

〃You　speak　to　the　point；　nephew；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

Then　leaving　Guan　Yu　with　five　thousand　troops　at　Xiakou　he；　with　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　nephew；　went　to　Jiangxia。

When　Cao　Cao　saw　Guan　Yu　with　a　force　ready　to　attack；　he　feared　lest　a　greater　number　were　hidden　away　behind；　so　he　stopped　the　pursuit。　He　also　feared　lest　Liu　Bei　should　take　Jiangling；　so　he　marched　thither　with　all　haste。