小说园

第38部分（第2页）

Sun　Ce　seized　his　hand　and　said；　laughing；　〃If　you　had　taken　me　at　that　fight　we　had　near　the　shrine；　would　you　have　killed　me？〃

〃Who　can　say？〃　said　Taishi　Ci　smiling。

Sun　Ce　laughed　also　and　they　entered　his　tent；　where　Taishi　Ci　was　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor　at　a　banquet。

Taishi　Ci　said；　〃Can　you　trust　me　so　far　as　to　let　me　go　to　muster　as　many　as　I　can　of　the　soldiers　of　my　late　master？　Under　the　smart　of　this　defeat　they　will　turn　against　him；　and　they　would　be　a　great　help　to　you。〃

〃Exactly　what　I　most　desire。　I　will　make　an　agreement　with　you　that　at　midday　tomorrow　you　will　return。〃

Taishi　Ci　agreed　and　went　off。　All　the　generals　said　he　would　never　return。

〃He　is　trustworthy　and　will　not　break　his　word；〃　said　the　chief。

None　of　the　officers　believed　he　would　e　back。　But　the　next　day　they　set　up　a　bamboo　rod　in　the　gate　of　the　camp；　and　just　as　the　shadow　marked　noon　Taishi　Ci　returned；　bringing　with　him　about　a　thousand　troops。　Sun　Ce　was　pleased；　and　his　officers　had　to　confess　that　he　had　rightly　judged　his　man。

Sun　Ce　thus　marched　his　army　to　the　South　Land；　and　his　enemies　fled　or　surrendered　before　his　force。　He　had　now　several　legions　and　the　southeast　of　the　Great　River　was　his。　He　improved　the　conditions　of　the　people　and　maintained　order　so　that　his　adherents　and　supporters　daily　increased。　He　was　called　Sun　Ce　the　Bright。

When　Sun　Ces　army　approached；　the　people　used　to　flee　in　terror；　but　when　it　had　arrived　and　they　saw　that　no　one　was　permitted　to　loot　and　not　the　least　attempt　was　made　on　their　houses；　they　rejoiced　and　presented　the　soldiers　with　oxen　and　wine；　for　which　they　were　in　turn　duly　rewarded。　Gladness　filled　the　country　side。　The　soldiers　who　had　followed　Liu　Yao　were　kindly　treated。　Those　who　wished　to　join　Sun　Ces　army　did　so；　those　who　preferred　not　to　be　soldiers　were　sent　home　with　presents。　And　thus　Sun　Ce　won　the　respect　and　praise　of　everyone　and　became　very　powerful。

Sun　Ce　then　settled　his　mother　and　the　remainder　of　the　family　in　Que；　setting　his　brother；　Sun　Quan；　and　Zhou　Tai　over　the　city　of　Xuancheng。　Then　he　headed　an　expedition　to　the　south　to　reduce　Wujun。

＇e＇　Wu　was　a　state　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　Located　southeast　in　the　Great　River　Plain　（the　South　Land）。　Became　dominant　in　BC　506；　when　her　army　defeated　Chu　under　the　leadership　of　Wu　Qi。　。。。。。

At　that　time　there　was　a　certain　Yan　Baihu；　or　the　White　Tiger；　who　styled　himself　King　of　East　Wu*　and　ruled　over　Wujun。　His　armies　stationed　at　Wucheng　and　Jiaxing。　Hearing　of　Sun　Ces　approach；　Yan　Baihu　sent　his　brother；　Yan　Yu；　with　an　army　against　Sun　Ce；　and　they　met　at　Maple　Bridge。

Yan　Yu；　sword　in　hand；　took　his　stand　on　the　bridge；　and　this　was　reported　to　Sun　Ce；　who　prepared　to　accept　the　challenge。

Zhang　Hong　tried　to　dissuade　him；　saying；　〃For　as　much　as　my　lords　fate　is　bound　up　with　that　of　the　army；　he　should　not　risk　a　conflict　with　a　mere　robber。　I　wish　that　you　should　remember　your　own　value。〃

〃Your　words；　O　Wise　One；　are　as　gold　and　precious　stones；　but　I　fear　that　my　soldiers　will　not　carry　out　my　mands　unless　I　myself　share　their　dangers。〃

However；　Sun　Ce　sent　forth　Han　Dang　to　take　up　the　challenge。　Just　as　Han　Dang　reached　the　bridge；　Jiang　Qin　and　Chen　Wu；　who　had　dropped　down　the　river　in　a　small　boat；　passed　under　the　bridge。　Though　the　arrows　fell　in　clouds　on　the　bank；　the　two　men　rushed　up　and　fiercely　attacked　Yan　Yu　as　he　stood　on　the　bridge。　Yan　Yu　fled　and　Han　Dang　went　in　pursuit。　But　Yan　Yu　smote　up　to　the　west　gate　of　the　city　into　which　he　entered。

Sun　Ce　laid　siege　to　Wujun　both　by　land　and　water。　For　three　days　no　one　came　out　to　offer　battle。　Then　at　the　head　of　his　army；　Sun　Ce　came　to　the　west　gate　and　summoned　the　warden。　An　officer　of　inconsiderable　rank　came　out　and　stood　with　one　hand　resting　on　a　beam　while　with　the　other　he　gave　point　to　his　abuse　of　those　below。　Quickly　Taishi　Cis　hands　sought　his　bow　and　an　arrow　was　on　the　string。

〃See　me　hit　that　fellows　hand；〃　said　he；　turning　to　his　panions。

Even　as　the　sound　of　his　voice　died　away；　the　bowstring　twanged；　the　arrow　sped　and　lodged　in　the　beam；　firmly　pinning　thereto　the　officers　hand。　Both　sides；　those　on　the　wall　and　those　below　it；　marveled　and　acclaimed　at　such　marksmanship。

The　wounded　man　was　taken　away。

When　Yan　Baihu　the　White　Tiger　heard　of　the　exploit；　he　said；　〃How　can　we　hope　to　withstand　an　army　with　such　leaders　as　this　in　it？〃

And　his　thoughts　turned　toward　a　peace。　He　sent　his　brother　Yan　Yu　out　to　see　Sun　Ce；　who　received　him　civilly；　invited　him　into　the　tent；　and　set　wine　before　him。

〃And　what　does　your　brother　propose？〃　said　Sun　Ce。

〃He　is　willing　to　share　this　region　with　you；〃　was　the　reply。

〃The　rat！　How　dare　he　put　himself　on　a　level　with　me？〃　cried　Sun　Ce。

Sun　Ce　manded　to　put　the　messenger　to　death。　Yan　Yu　started　up　and　drew　his　sword；　but　out　flew　Sun　Ces　blade；　and　the　unhappy　messenger　fell　to　the　ground。　His　head　was　hacked　off　and　sent　into　the　city　to　his　brother。

This　had　its　effect。　Yan　Baihu　saw　resistance　was　hopeless；　so　he　abandoned　Wujun　and　fled。　Sun　Ce　pressed　the　attack。　Huang　Gai　captured　Jiaxing；　and　Taishi　Ci　took　Wucheng。　Several　other　southern　cit