小说园

第48部分（第1页）

er　of　the　dynasty；　would　serve　a　rebel　like　you？〃

Lu　Bu　in　his　wrath　was　about　to　make　a　desperate　attack；　but　suddenly　a　great　noise　was　heard；　and　an　army　came　up　behind　him。　It　was　led　by　no　other　than　Zhang　Fei。　Gao　Shun　went　to　engage　him；　but　he　had　no　chance　of　success。　Lu　Bu　then　joined　in　the　fray。　Then　another　army　appeared；　and　the　leader　this　time　was　Cao　Cao　himself；　and　his　army　rushed　to　the　attack。　Seeing　that　he　had　no　hope　of　victory；　Lu　Bu　went　away　toward　the　east；　with　Cao　Cao　in　pursuit。　Lu　Bus　army　marched　till　they　were　worn　out。

Then　appeared　a　new　force　under　Guan　Yu。　Holding　his　sword　ready　to　strike；　Guan　Yu　called　out；　〃Do　not　flee；　O　Lu　Bu！　Guan　Yu　is　waiting　for　you。〃

Lu　Bu　joined　battle。　He　was　flurried　and　scarcely　knew　what　was　happening。　And　soon　Zhang　Fei　came　up　once　more。　By　desperate　efforts　Lu　Bu　and　his　troops　cut　an　alley　through　the　press　and　got　free。　After　this　they　started　for　Xiapi　as　fast　as　they　could　travel；　and　Hou　Cheng　helped　to　keep　the　pursuers　at　bay　and　weled　them　into　the　city。

So　the　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　were　together　again　after　their　separation。　Both　shed　tears　of　joy　as　they　told　each　other　what　they　had　seen　and　suffered。

〃I　was　on　the　Haizhou　Road　when　I　heard　of　you；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃I　lost　no　time　in　starting。〃

〃And　I　had　been　camped　in　the　Mangdang　Hills　for　a　long　time。　It　is　happiness　to　be　together　again。〃

So　they　talked。　Then　they　marched　off　together　to　find　their　elder　brother；　and　made　their　salutations　with　tears。　In　Liu　Beis　heart；　sadness　and　joy　intermingled。　Next　they　were　presented　to　Cao　Cao；　and　with　him　they　went　into　the　captured　Xuzhou　City。

Mi　Zhu　soon　came　with　the　wele　news　of　the　safety　of　the　family。　And　Chen　Gui　and　Chen　Deng　came　to　present　their　salutations。　A　grand　banquet　was　prepared　for　the　officers　at　which　Cao　Cao　presided　as　host；　and　Chen　Gui　and　Liu　Bei　occupied　the　seats　of　honor　to　his　right　and　left。　At　the　close　of　the　banquet；　Cao　Cao　paid　the　two　Chens　the　highest　pliments　on　their　success　and　rewarded　them　with　the　revenues　of　ten　counties　beside　giving　the　son　the　title　of　General　Who　Quells　the　Waves。

Cao　Cao　was　very　pleased　with　his　success　and　at　once　began　to　scheme　for　the　taking　of　Xiapi；　the　sole　place　now　left　to　Lu　Bu；　where　he　had　taken　refuge。

Cheng　Yu　said　the　course　was　inadvisable。

〃If　Lu　Bu　be　pressed　too　hard；　he　may　get　clear　by　a　desperate　effort　and　throw　himself　into　the　arms　of　our　especial　enemy；　Yuan　Shu。　These　two　as　allies　would　be　difficult　to　overe。　Rather　send　a　capable　man　to　guard　the　South　of　River　Huai；　one　able　to　secure　you　against　Lu　Bu　on　one　hand　and　to　hold　Yuan　Shu　on　the　other。　Moreover　the　bandits　are　in　Huashang　Mountains　and　still　our　enemies。　They　must　be　watched。〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃I　can　keep　the　whole　of　Huashang　Mountains；　and　I　will　request　Liu　Bei　to　take　the　south。〃

〃Could　I　dare　withstand　your　mand？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　forthwith　Liu　Bei；　leaving　Mi　Zhu　and　Jian　Yong　at　Xuzhou；　went　south；　taking　in　his　train　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Sun　Qian。　And　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　to　Xiapi。

Lu　Bu　felt　very　secure　in　his　refuge。　He　had　good　store　of　grain；　and　he　had　the　protection　of　River　Si；　so　he　sat　quiet；　satisfied　that　he　could　maintain　his　defense。　So　he　allowed　Cao　Caos　army　to　approach　without　molestation。

〃You　ought　to　attack　Cao　Caos　army　as　they　e　up；　before　they　have　time　to　make　camps　and　defenses。　They　will　only　have　a　fatigued　army　to　oppose　to　your　fresh　troops；　and　you　will　certainly　defeat　them。〃

So　said　Chen　Gong；　but　Lu　Bu　replied；　〃I　have　suffered　too　many　defeats　lately　to　take　any　risk。　Wait　till　they　actually　attack；　and　you　will　see　them　floating　away　on　the　waters。〃

So　Lu　Bu　neglected　the　confidants　advice　and　waited　till　the　enemy　had　settled　into　their　camp。　This　done；　the　attackers　advanced　against　the　city。　From　the　foot　of　the　wall；　Cao　Cao　called　to　Lu　Bu　to　listen　while　he　spoke。　Lu　Bu　ascended　to　the　wall　where　he　stood。

Cao　Cao　addressed　him；　saying；　〃When　I　heard　that　your　family　and　that　of　Yuan　Shu　were　likely　to　be　united　by　marriage；　I　sent　an　army　against　you。　Yuan　Shu　was　guilty　of　treason；　while　you　had　to　your　credit　on　the　destruction　of　Dong　Zhuo。　For　what　reason　have　you　sacrificed　all　your　merits　to　throw　in　your　lot　with　a　rebel？　It　will　be　over　late　to　regret　when　this　city　shall　have　fallen。　But　if　you　surrender　and　help　me　to　support　the　ruling　house；　you　shall　not　lose　your　rank。〃

Lu　Bu　replied；　〃If　the　Prime　Minister　will　retire；　we　may　be　able　to　discuss　the　matter。〃

But　Chen　Gong；　standing　near　his　master；　began　to　rail　at　Cao　Cao　for　a　rebel　and　shot　an　arrow　that　struck　his　plumed　helmet。

〃My　oath；　but　I　will　slay　you　at　least！〃　cried　Cao　Cao；　pointing　his　finger　at　Chen　Gong。

Then　the　attack　on　the　walls　began。

〃They　have　e　from　far　and　cannot　maintain　this　for　long；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃General；　go　out　with　your　horse　and　foot　and　take　up　a　position　outside；　leaving　me　to　maintain　the　defense　with　the　remainder　of　our　troops。　If　he　engages　you；　I　will　e　out　and　strike　at　his　rear　ranks；　if　he　attacks　the　city；　you　can　e　to　our　aid。　In　ten　days　their　stores　will　fail；　and　we　can　beat　them　off。　This　will　place　them　between　the　ox…horns。〃

〃The　advice　seems　good；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

Lu　Bu　went　back　to　his　palace　and　prepared　his　weapons。　As　it　was　the　depth　of　winter；　he　made　his　army　take　plenty　of　wadded　clothing　to　keep　them　warm。　Lady　Yan；　his　wife；　heard　of　it　and　came　to　ask　whither　he　was　going。　He　told　her　of　Chen　Gongs　plan。

She　said；　〃My　lord；　you　are　leaving　an　undamaged　city；　abandoning　your　wife　and　little　ones；　and　going　with　a　paltry　force。　Should　any　untoward　event　happen；　will　your　handmaid　and　her　lord　ever　meet　again？〃

Lu　Bu　hesitated　and　for　three　days　made　no　move。

Then　Chen　Gong　came　to　see　him　again　and　said；　〃The　enemy　are　all　round　the　city；　and　unless　you　go　out　soon；　you　will　be　quite　hemmed　in。〃

〃I　am　thinking　it　would　be　better　to　maintain　a　stubborn　defense；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃Our　enemies　are　short　of　food　and　have　sent　for　supplies　to　Xuchang。　These　will　soon　arrive；　and　you　should　go　out　with　some　veterans　and　intercept　the　convoy。　That　loss　would　be　a　heavy　blow。〃

Lu　Bu　agreed　and　went　in　to　tell　his　wife　the　new　plan。