小说园

第16部分（第1页）

f　his　force　to　Yanzhou　Region*。

Then　Gongsun　Zan　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃This　Yuan　Shao　is　an　incapable；　and　things　will　turns　chaotic。　We　had　better　go　too。〃

So　he　broke　camp　and　went　north。　At　Pingyuan　he　left　Liu　Bei　in　mand　and　went　to　strengthen　his　own　position　and　refresh　his　troops。

The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　Liu　Dai；　wished　to　borrow　grain　of　the　Governor　of　Dongjun；　Qiao　Mao。　Being　denied；　Liu　Dai　attacked　the　camp；　killed　Qiao　Mao　and　took　over　all　his　army。　Yuan　Shao　seeing　the　confederacy　breaking　up　also　marched　away　and　went　east。

On　the　way　home；　Sun　Jian　was　passing　through　Jingzhou　Region。　The　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou；　Liu　Biao；　was　a　scion　of　the　imperial　house　and　a　native　of　Shanyang。　As　a　young　man　he　had　made　friends　with　many　famous　people；　and　he　and　his　panions　were　called　the　Eight　Wise　Ones。　The　other　seven　were：

。1。　Chen　Xiang　from　Runan

。2。　Fan　Pang　from　Runan

。3。　Kong　Yu　from　Luting

。4。　Fan　Kang　from　Bohai

。5。　Tan　Fu　from　Shanyang

。6。　Zhang　Jian　from　Shanyang

。7。　Cen　Zhi　from　Nanyang

Liu　Biao　was　friends　with　all　these。　He　had　three　famous　persons　who　helped　him　in　the　government　of　his　region。　They　were　Kuai　Liang　and　Kuai　Yue　from　Yanping；　and　Cai　Mao　from　Xiangyang。

When　Yuan　Shaos　letter　detailing　the　fault　of　Sun　Jian　arrived；　Liu　Biao　ordered　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　with　ten　thousand　soldiers　to　bar　the　way。　When　Sun　Jian　drew　near；　the　force　was　arranged　in　fighting　order　and　the　leaders　were　in　the　front。

〃Why　are　you　thus　barring　the　road　with　armed　troops？〃　asked　Sun　Jian。

〃Why　do　you；　a　servant　of　Han；　secrete　the　Emperors　special　seal？　Leave　it　with　me　at　once　and　you　go　free；〃　said　Kuai　Yue。

Sun　Jian　angrily　ordered　out　General　Huang　Gai。　On　the　other　side　Cai　Mao　rode　forth　with　his　sword　set　to　strike。　But　after　a　few　bouts　Huang　Gai　dealt　Cai　Mao　a　blow　with　the　iron　whip　on　the　armor　just　over　the　heart。　Cai　Mao　turned　his　steed　and　fled；　and　Sun　Jian　got　through　with　a　sudden　rush。

However；　there　arose　the　sound　of　gongs　and　drums　on　the　hills　behind；　and　there　was　Liu　Biao　in　person　with　a　large　army。

Sun　Jian　rode　straight　up　to　him　and　bowing　low　spoke；　〃Why　did　you；　on　the　faith　of　a　letter　from　Yuan　Shao；　try　to　coerce　the　chief　of　a　neighboring　region？〃

〃You　have　concealed　the　state　jewel；　and　I　want　you　to　restore　it；〃　was　Liu　Biaos　reply。

〃If　I　have　this　thing；　may　I　die　a　violent　death！〃

〃If　you　want　me　to　believe　you；　let　me　search　your　baggage。〃

〃What　force　have　you　that　you　dare　e　to　flout　me　thus？〃

And　only　Liu　Biaos　prompt　retirement　prevented　a　battle。　Sun　Jian　proceeded　on　his　way。　But　from　the　rear　of　the　second　hill　an　ambush　suddenly　discovered　itself；　and　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　were　still　pursuing。　Sun　Jian　seemed　entirely　hemmed　in。

What　does　a　man　to　hold　the　state　jewel　for；

If　its　possession　lead　to　strife？

How　Sun　Jian　got　clear　of　the　difficulty　will　presently　be　told。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　7　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　7

Chapter　7

Yuan　Shao　Fights　Gongsun　Zan　At　The　River　Pan；

Sun　Jian　Attacks　Liu　Biao　Across　The　Great　River。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。

At　the　close　of　the　last　chapter　Sun　Jian　was　surrounded。　However；　aided　by　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang；　he　eventually　fought　his　way　through；　though　with　the　loss　of　more　than　half　his　troops。　Sun　Jian　he　returned　to　the　South　Land；　southeast　of　the　Great　River*。　Henceforward　Sun　Jian　and　Liu　Biao　were　open　enemies。

Yuan　Shao　was　in　Henei。　Being　short　of　supplies；　he　sent　to　borrow　from　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou；　Han　Fu；　whence　he　obtained　the　wherewithal　to　support　his　army。