小说园

第154部分（第1页）

age；　he　put　on　his　armor；　mounted　his　steed；　and　went　up　close　to　the　walls　with　a　few　mounted　followers；　and　challenged　those　on　the　ramparts　to　fight　him。　But　the　defenders　on　the　walls　only　replied　with　shameful　abuse；　and　none　accepted　the　challenge。　Zhang　Fei　galloped　again　and　again　to　the　drawbridge；　only　to　be　driven　off　each　time　with　flights　of　arrows。　But　not　a　man　came　outside　the　walls。　As　the　day　closed　in；　the　warrior；　still　fuming　with　wrath；　returned　to　his　own　camp。

Next　day　Zhang　Fei　again　led　his　troops　to　the　foot　of　the　wall　and　challenged。　Again　the　challenge　was　refused。　But　Yan　Yan　shot　an　arrow　from　the　tower　that　struck　Zhang　Feis　helmet。　This　angered　him　still　more。

Pointing　the　finger　of　disdain　at　his　enemy；　Zhang　Fei　cried；　〃I　will　capture　you　yet；　you　old　fool；　and　then　I　will　devour　your　flesh！〃

So　again　at　eventide　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　returned　to　camp　bucking　their　desire。　On　the　third　day　Zhang　Fei　and　his　troops　made　the　circuit　of　the　city　along　the　edge　of　the　moat；　hurling　insults　at　their　enemies。

It　so　happened　that　the　city　was　set　on　a　hill　with　rugged　heights　all　round；　so　that　going　around　it　the　assailants　were　sometimes　on　hill　tops　and　sometimes　on　the　level。　While　standing　on　one　of　the　hills；　Zhang　Fei　noticed　that　he　could　see　clear　down　into　the　city。　There　stood　the　defenders　in　their　ranks；　all　ready　for　battle　although　none　of　them　came　out。　And　the　mon　people　went　to　and　fro　carrying　bricks　and　bringing　stones　to　strengthen　the　defenses。　Then　Zhang　Fei　ordered　his　horsemen　to　dismount　and　his　footmen　to　sit　down　so　that　they　could　not　be　seen　from　the　city。　He　hoped　thus　to　cheat　the　defenders　into　thinking　that　there　were　none　to　attack　and　so　induce　them　to　e　out。　But　this　also　was　vain；　for　still　the　defenders　declined　battle；　and　another　day　was　lost。　The　army　once　more　returned　to　camp。

That　night　Zhang　Fei　sat　in　his　tent　trying　to　think　out　some　means　to　overe　an　enemy　that　steadily　refused　to　e　out　from　behind　the　walls。　Presently；　however；　the　brain　behind　the　knitted　brows　conceived　a　plan。　So　next　day；　instead　of　sending　all　the　troops　to　offer　a　challenge　from　the　foot　of　the　wall；　Zhang　Fei　kept　most　of　them　in　camp　and　sent　only　a　few　to　howl　insults　and　hurl　abuse。　He　hoped　by　this　means　to　inveigle　Yan　Yan　out　to　attack　the　small　number　of　troops。　But　this　also　failed；　and　he　was　left　all　day　rubbing　hid　hands　with　impatience。　Never　a　man　appeared　without　the　wall。

Foiled　again；　another　ruse　grew　up　behind　his　bushy　eyebrows。　He　set　his　troops　to　cut　firewood　and　seek　out　and　explore　the　tracks　that　lay　about　the　city。　No　longer　did　they　challenge　the　wall。　After　some　days　of　this；　Yan　Yan　began　to　wonder　what　mischief　was　brewing；　and　he　sent　out　spies；　dressed　as　were　the　firewood　cutters；　to　mingle　with　them　and　try　to　discover　what　was　afoot。

That　day；　when　the　troops　returned　to　camp；　Zhang　Fei　sat　in　his　tent　stamping　his　foot　with　rage　and　execrating　his　enemy。

〃The　old　fool！　Assuredly　I　shall　die　of　disappointed　wrath；〃　cried　he。

Just　then　he　noticed　three　or　four　soldiers　lurking　about　his　tent　door　as　if　they　wished　to　speak　with　him。

And　one　of　them　said；　〃General；　do　not　let　your　heart　be　hot　within　you。　These　last　few　days　we　have　discovered　a　narrow　road　by　which　we　can　sneak　past　this　city。〃

〃Why　did　you　not　e　and　tell　me　before？〃　cried　he。

〃Because　we　have　only　lately　discovered　it；〃　said　they。

〃I　will　lose　no　time　then；〃　said　he。　〃This　very　night　let　food　be　ready　at　the　second　watch；　and　we　will　break　camp　and　steal　away　as　silently　as　possible。　I　will　lead　the　way；　and　you　shall　go　with　me　as　guides。〃

The　requisite　orders　were　given。

Having　made　sure　that　the　preparations　for　the　march　were　really　being　made；　the　spies　of　the　Governor　returned　into　the　city。

〃I　guessed　right　then；〃　said　Yan　Yan　gleefully　when　the　spies　reported　their　success。　〃I　cannot　bear　the　fool。　He　will　now　try　to　sneak　past　with　his　missariat　following；　and　I　will　cut　off　his　rear。　How　can　he　get　through？　He　is　very　stupid　to　fall　thus　into　my　trap。　All　are　to　prepare　for　battle。　The　food　is　to　be　ready　at　the　second　watch；　and　the　army　is　to　move　out　at　the　third。　We　will　hide　in　the　woods　and　thickets；　till　the　greater　part　of　the　enemys　army　has　passed　and　Zhang　Fei　has　arrived　in　the　very　throat　of　the　road。　Then　the　blow　will　be　struck。〃

They　waited　till　night　had　fallen。　In　due　time　the　late　meal　was　taken；　the　soldiers　donned　their　armor；　stole　silently　out　of　the　city；　and　hid　as　they　had　been　told。　The　Governor　himself。　with　a　few　of　his　generals；　went　out　also；　dismounted　and　hid　in　a　wood。　They　waited　till　after　the　third　watch。　Then　Zhang　Fei　came　along；　urging　his　troops　to　the　top　of　their　speed。　His　spear　lay　ready　to　thrust。　He　looked　very　handsome　as　he　rode　at　the　head　of　his　army。　The　carts　were　one　or　two　miles　in　the　rear。

When　the　soldiers　had　got　well　past；　Yan　Yan　gave　the　signal。　The　drums　rolled　out；　up　sprang　the　hidden　troops　and　fell　on　the　baggage　train。

The　western　troops　began　to　plunder。　But　suddenly　a　gong　clanged　and　along　came　a　pany　of　soldiers　Yan　Yan　had　not　seen。

At　the　same　time　a　voice　was　heard　shouting；　〃Old　rebel；　do　not　flee！　I　have　been　waiting　for　this　chance　a　long　time！〃

Yan　Yan　turned　his　head。　The　leader　of　this　band　was　a　tall　man　with　a　leopard…like　bullet　head；　round　eyes；　a　sharp　chin；　and　bristling　tiger　mustache。　He　was　armed　with　a　long　serpent　halberd　and　rode　a　black　steed。　In　a　word；　it　was　Zhang　Fei。

All　around　the　gongs　were　clanging；　and　many　troops　of　Jingzhou　were　rushing　toward　Yan　Yan；　already　too　frightened　to　be　able　to　defend　himself。　However；　the　two　leaders　engaged。　Very　soon　Zhang　Fei　purposely　gave　his　opponent　an　opening；　and　Yan　Yan　rushed　in　to　cut　down　his　enemy　with　his　sword。　But　Zhang　Fei　evaded　the　blow；　made　a　sudden　rush；　seized　Yan　Yan　by　the　lace　of　his　armor；　and　flung　him　on　the　ground。　Yan　Yan　was　a　prisoner；　and　in　a　moment　was　fast　bound　with　cords。

The　handsome　leader　who　had　passed　first　had　not　been　Zhang　Fei　at　all；　but　someone　dressed　and　made　up　to　resemble　him。　To　add　to　the　confusion；　Zhang　Fei　had　exchanged　the　signals；　making　the　gong　the　signal　for　his　troops　to　fall　on　instead　of　the　usual　drum。

As　the　gongs　clanged；　more　and　more　of　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　came　into　the　fray。　The　troops　of　Yizhou　could　make　no　fight；　and　most　of　them　dropped　their　weapons　and　surrendered。　To　reach　the　walls　of　the　city　was　now　easy。　After　entering　the　gates；　the　leader　ordered　his　soldiers　not　to　hurt　the　people；　and　he　put　out　proclamations　to　pacify　the　citizens。

By　and　by　a　party　of　executioners　brought　in　the　prisoner。

Zhang　Fei　took　his　seat　in　the　great　hall；　and　the　late　mander　of　the　city　was　brought　before　him　by　a　party　of　executioners。　Yan　Yan　refused　to　kneel　before　his　captor。

〃Why　did　you　not　surrender　at　first？〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　angrily　grinding　his　teeth。　〃How　dared　you　try　to　oppose　me？〃

〃Because　you　are　a　lot　of　unrighteous　and　lawless　invaders！〃　replied　Yan　Yan　without　the　least　sign　of　fear。　〃You　may　behead　me　as　you　will；　but　I　will　not　surrender　to　you。〃

Zhang　Fei　angrily　gave　the　order　for　his　execution。

〃Strike；　if　you　want　to；　fool。　Why　so　angry？〃　said　Yan　Yan。

This　bold　defiance　was　not　lost　upon　Zhang　Fei。　Rising　from　his　seat；　he　went　down　the　steps；　put　aside　the　lictors；　and　began　to　loosen　the　prisoners　bonds。　Then　he　dressed　Yan　Yan　in　new　garments　and　led　him　to　the　high　place。

When　Yan　Yan　was　seated；　Zhang　Fei　made　a　low　bow；　saying；　〃I　have　always　known　you　were　a　hero。　Now　I　pray　you　not　remember　against　me　the　roughness　of　my　speech。〃

Yan　Yan　was　overe　with　this　kindness　and　forthwith　surrendered。