小说园

第18部分（第1页）

So　Cai　Mao　was　placed　in　mand　of　ten　thousand　troops　and　went　out　to　the　Xian　Hills　where　he　drew　up　his　battle　line。　Sun　Jian　led　the　invaders；　now　flushed　with　success。

When　Cai　Mao　approached；　Sun　Jian　looked　at　him　and　said；　〃He　is　brother…in…law　to　Liu　Biao。　Who　will　capture　him？〃

Cheng　Pu　set　his　iron…spined　lance　and　rode　out。　After　a　few　bouts　Cai　Mao　turned　and　fled。　Sun　Jians　army　rode　in　and　slaughtered　till　corpses　filled　the　countryside；　and　Cai　Mao　took　refuge　in　Xiangyang。

Kuai　Liang　said；　〃Cai　Mao　ought　to　be　put　to　death　by　military　law。　This　defeat　was　due　to　his　obstinacy。〃

But　Liu　Biao　was　unwilling　to　punish　the　brother　of　his　newly　wedded　wife。

Sun　Jian　surrounded　Xiangyang　and　assailed　the　walls　daily。　One　day　a　fierce　gale　sprang　up；　and　the　pole　bearing　his　standard　was　broken。

〃Very　inauspicious！〃　said　Han　Dang。　〃We　ought　to　go　back。〃

Sun　Jian　said；　〃I　have　won　every　battle　and　the　city　is　on　the　point　of　falling。　Shall　I　return　because　the　wind　felled　a　flagstaff？〃

He　flouted　the　advice　and　attacked　the　walls　still　more　vigorously。

Within　the　city　the　defenders　had　seen　an　omen。　Kuai　Liang　told　Liu　Biao；　〃Last　night　I　saw　that　a　great　star　fall　into　the　sky　corresponding　to　Sun　Jians　territory。　I　calculated　that　it　inferred　the　fall　of　Sun　Jian。〃

Then　Kuai　Liang　advised　Liu　Biao　to　seek　help　from　Yuan　Shao　as　quickly　as　possible。

So　Liu　Biao　wrote。　Then　he　asked　who　would　undertake　to　fight　his　way　through　the　blockade　with　the　letter。　One　Lu　Gong；　a　warrior　of　great　strength；　offered　himself　for　this　service。

Kuai　Liang　said；　〃If　you　undertake　this　service；　listen　to　my　advice。　You　will　have　five　hundred　soldiers：　Choose　good　bowmen。　Dash　through　the　enemys　formation　and　make　for　Xian　Hills。　You　will　be　pursued；　but　send　a　hundred　soldiers　up　the　hill　to　prepare　large　stones；　and　place　a　hundred　archers　in　ambush　in　the　woods。　These　are　not　to　flee　from　the　pursuers　but　to　beguile　them　along　devious　ways　round　to　the　place　where　the　boulders　have　been　prepared。　There　stones　will　be　rolled　down　and　arrows　shot。　If　you　succeed；　fire　off　a　series　of　bombs　as　a　signal；　and　the　armies　in　the　city　will　e　out　to　help。　If　you　are　not　pursued；　get　away　as　fast　as　possible。　Tonight　will　be　suitable　as　there　is　very　little　moon。　Start　at　dusk。〃

Lu　Gong　having　received　these　directions；　prepared　his　force　to　carry　them　out。　As　soon　as　day　began　to　close　in；　he　went　quietly　out　at　the　east　gate。

Sun　Jian　was　in　his　tent　when　he　heard　shouting；　and　a　soldier　came　to　report：　〃There　was　a　group　of　horsemen　going　out　from　the　city！〃

Sun　Jian　at　once　mounted　and　rode　out　with　thirty　horsemen　to　discover　the　cause。　Lu　Gongs　troops　had　already　hidden　themselves　in　the　thick　woods。　Sun　Jian　rode　ahead　of　his　escort；　and　soon　he　found　himself　alone　and　close　to　the　enemy。　He　called　out　to　them　to　halt。　Lu　Gong　at　once　turned　back　and　came　as　if　to　fight。　But　they　had　only　exchanged　a　single　pass　when　Lu　Gong　again　fled；　taking　the　road　among　the　hills。　Sun　Jian　followed　but　soon　lost　sight　of　his　foe。

Sun　Jian　turned　up　the　hill。　Then　the　gongs　clanged　and　down　the　hills　fell　showers　of　stones；　while　from　among　the　trees　the　arrows　flew　in　clouds。　Sun　Jian　was　hit　by　several　arrows　and　a　huge　stone　crushed　in　his　head。　Both　he　and　his　steed　were　killed。　Sun　Jian　was　only　thirty…seven　years　old　at　his　death。

His　escort　was　overpowered　and　every　man　of　them　slain。　Then　Lu　Gong　let　off　a　series　of　bombs；　the　sign　of　success；　as　agreed。　At　this　signal　Huang　Zu；　Kuai　Yue；　and　Cai　Mao　led　three　armies　out　of　the　city　and　fell　upon　the　Changsha　troops；　throwing　them　into　the　utmost　confusion。

When　Huang　Gai　heard　the　sound　of　battle；　he　led　up　the　troops　from　the　ships。　He　met　Huang　Zu　and　took　Huang　Zu　prisoner　after　a　brief　fight。

Cheng　Pu　set　out　to　bear　the　sad　news　to　Sun　Ce。　While　he　was　seeking　a　way　out；　he　came　across　Lu　Gong。　Cheng　Pu　at　once　put　his　horse　at　full　speed　and　engaged　Lu　Gong。　After　a　few　bouts　Lu　Gong　went　down　under　a　spear　thrust。　The　battle　became　general　and　continued　till　daylight　broke；　when　each　drew　off　his　army。　Liu　Biao　withdrew　into　the　city。

When　Sun　Ce　returned　to　the　river；　he　heard　that　his　father　had　perished　in　the　fight；　and　his　body　had　been　carried　within　the　enemys　walls。　He　uttered　a　great　cry；　and　the　army　joined　him　with　wailing　and　tears。

〃How　can　I　return　home　leaving　my　fathers　corpse　with　them？〃　cried　Sun　Ce。

Huang　Gai　said；　〃We　have　Huang　Zu　as　our　prisoner。　Let　one　enter　the　city　and　discuss　peace；　giving　up　our　prisoner　for　our　lords　body。〃

He　had　barely　finished　speaking　when　an　officer　in　the　army；　Huan　Ji；　offered　himself　as　messenger；　saying；　〃I　am　an　old　friend　of　Liu　Biao。　I　volunteer　to　take　the　mission。〃

Sun　Ce　agreed。　So　Huan　Ji　went　and　peace　was　discussed。

Liu　Biao　told　Huan　Ji；　saying；　〃The　body　is　already　laid　in　a　coffin　and　ready　to　be　delivered　as　soon　as　Huang　Zu　returned。　Let　us　both　cease　fighting　and　never　again　invade　each　others　territories。〃

Huan　Ji　thanked　him　and　took　his　leave。

But　as　Huan　Ji　went　down　the　steps；　Kuai　Liang　suddenly　broke　in；　saying；　〃No；　no！　Let　me　speak　and　I　will　see　to　it　that　not　a　single　enemy　can　survive。　I　pray　you　first　put　this　man　to　death　and　then　to　employ　my　means。〃

Pursuing　his　enemy；　Sun　Jian　dies；

On　a　peaceful　mission；　Huan　Ji　is　threatened。

The　fate　of　the　ambassador　will　be　disclosed　in　a　later　chapter。