小说园

第2部分（第2页）

And　the　three　brothers　went　forth　to　wele　the　merchants。　They　were　Zhang　Shiping　and　Su　Shuang　from　Zhongshan。　They　went　northwards　every　year　to　buy　horses。　They　were　now　on　their　way　home　because　of　the　Yellow　Scarves。　The　brothers　invited　them　to　the　farm；　where　wine　was　served　before　them。　Then　Liu　Bei　told　them　of　the　plan　to　strive　for　tranquillity。　Zhang　Shiping　and　Su　Shuang　were　glad　and　at　once　gave　the　brothers　fifty　good　steeds；　and　beside；　five　hundred　ounces　of　gold　and　silver　and　one　thousand　five　hundred　pounds　of　steel　fit　for　the　forging　of　weapons。

The　brothers　expressed　their　gratitude；　and　the　merchants　took　their　leave。　Then　blacksmiths　were　summoned　to　forge　weapons。　For　Liu　Bei　they　made　a　pair　of　ancient　swords；　for　Guan　Yu　they　fashioned　a　long…handled；　curve　blade　called　Green…Dragon　Saber；　which　weighed　a　full　one　hundred　twenty　pounds；　and　for　Zhang　Fei　they　created　a　ten…foot　spear　called　Serpent　Halberd。　Each　too　had　a　helmet　and　full　armor。

When　weapons　were　ready；　the　troop；　now　five　hundred　strong；　marched　to　mander　Zhou　Jing；　who　presented　them　to　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Yan。　When　the　ceremony　of　introduction　was　over；　Liu　Bei　declared　his　ancestry；　and　Liu　Yan　at　once　accorded　him　the　esteem　due　to　a　relation。

Before　many　days　it　was　announced　that　the　rebellion　had　actually　broken　out；　and　a　Yellow　Scarves　chieftain；　Cheng　Yuanzhi；　had　invaded　the　region　with　a　body　of　fifty　thousand　rebels。　Liu　Yan　bade　Zhou　Jing　and　the　three　brothers　to　go　out　to　oppose　them　with　the　five　hundred　troops。　Liu　Bei　joyfully　undertook　to　lead　the　van　and　marched　to　the　foot　of　the　Daxing　Hills　where　they　saw　the　rebels。　The　rebels　wore　their　hair　flying　about　their　shoulders；　and　their　foreheads　were　bound　with　yellow　scarves。

When　the　two　armies　had　been　drawn　up　opposite　each　other；　Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　front；　Guan　Yu　to　his　left；　Zhang　Fei　to　his　right。

Flourishing　his　whip；　Liu　Bei　began　to　hurl　reproaches　at　the　rebels；　crying；　〃O　malcontents！　Why　not　dismount　and　be　bound？〃

Their　leader　Cheng　Yuanzhi；　full　of　rage；　sent　out　one　general；　Deng　Mao；　to　begin　the　battle。　At　once　rode　forward　Zhang　Fei；　his　serpent　halberd　poised　to　strike。　One　thrust　and　Deng　Mao　rolled　off　his　horse；　pierced　through　the　heart。　At　this　Cheng　Yuanzhi　himself　whipped　up　his　steed　and　rode　forth　with　sword　raised　ready　to　slay　Zhang　Fei。　But　Guan　Yu　swung　up　his　ponderous　green…dragon　saber　and　rode　at　Cheng　Yuanzhi。　At　the　sight；　fear　seized　upon　Cheng　Yuanzhi；　and　before　he　could　defend　himself；　the　great　saber　fell；　cutting　him　in　halves。

Two　heroes　new　to　wars　alarms；

Ride　boldly　forth　to　try　their　arms。

Their　doughty　deeds　three　kingdoms　tell；

And　poets　sing　how　these　befell。

Their　leader　fallen；　the　rebels　threw　away　their　weapons　and　fled。　The　official　soldiers　dashed　in　among　them。　Many　thousands　surrendered　and　the　victory　was　plete。　Thus　this　part　of　the　rebellion　was　broken　up。

On　their　return；　Liu　Yan　personally　met　them　and　distributed　rewards。　But　the　next　day；　letters　came　from　Imperial　Protector　Gong　Jing　of　Qingzhou　Region　saying　that　the　rebels　were　laying　siege　to　the　chief　city　and　it　was　near　falling。　Help　was　needed　quickly。

〃I　will　go；〃　said　Liu　Bei　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　news。

And　he　set　out　at　once　with　his　own　soldiers；　reinforced　by　a　body　of　five　thousand　under　Zhou　Jing。　The　rebels；　seeing　help　ing；　at　once　attacked　most　fiercely。　The　relieving　force　being　paratively　small　could　not　prevail　and　retired　some　ten　miles；　where　they　made　a　camp。

〃They　are　many　and　we　but　few；〃　said　Liu　Bei　to　his　brothers。　〃We　can　only　beat　them　by　superior　strategy。〃

So　they　prepared　an　ambush。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　each　with　a　goodly　party；　went　behind　the　hills；　right　and　left；　and　there　hid。　When　the　gongs　beat　they　were　to　move　out　to　support　the　main　army。

These　preparations　made；　the　drums　rolled　noisily　for　Liu　Bei　to　advance。　The　rebels　also　came　forward。　But　Liu　Bei　suddenly　retired。　Thinking　this　was　their　chance；　the　rebels　pressed　forward　and　were　led　over　the　hills。　Then　suddenly　the　gongs　sounded　for　the　ambush。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　poured　out　from　right　and　left　as　Liu　Bei　faced　around　to　meet　the　rebels。　Under　three…side　attack；　the　rebels　lost　heavily　and　fled　to　the　walls　of　Qingzhou　City。　But　Imperial　Protector　Gong　Jing　led　out　an　armed　body　to　attack　them；　and　the　rebels　were　entirely　defeated　and　many　slain。　Qingzhou　was　no　longer　in　danger。

Though　fierce　as　tigers　soldiers　be；

Battle　are　won　by　strategy。

A　hero　es；　he　gains　renown；

Already　destined　for　a　crown。

After　the　celebrations　in　honor　of　victory　were　over；　mander　Zhou　Jing　proposed　to　return　to　Youzhou。

But　Liu　Bei　said；　〃We　are　informed　that　Imperial　mander　Lu　Zhi　has　been　struggling　with　a　horde　of　rebels　led　by　Zhang　Jue　at　Guangzong。　Lu　Zhi　was　once　my　teacher；　and　I　want　to　go　help　him。〃

So　Liu　Bei　and　Zhou　Jing　separated；　and　the　three　brothers　with　their　troops　made　their　way　to　Guangzong。　They　found　Lu　Zhis　camp；　were　admitted　to　his　presence；　and　declared　the　reason　of　their　ing。　The　mander　received　them　with　great　joy；　and　they　remained　with　him　while　he　made　his　plans。

At　that　time　Zhang　Jues　one　hundred