三国演义英文版-第95章

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　he　groaned　aloud。
〃If　we　do　not　make　most　desperate　efforts；　we　are　all　captives！〃　said　he。
And　they　plunged　forward。　His　second　son　Yuan　Xi　and　his　nephew　Gao　Gan　were　wounded　by　arrows；　and　most　of　his　soldiers　were　dead　or　had　disappeared。　He　gathered　his　sons　into　his　arms　and　wept　bitterly。　Then　he　fell　into　a　swoon。　He　was　picked　up；　but　his　mouth　was　full　of　blood　which　ran　forth　in　a　bright　scarlet　stream。
He　sighed；　saying；　〃Many　battles　have　I　fought；　and　little　did　I　think　to　be　driven　to　this。　Heaven　is　afflicting　me。　You　had　better　return　each　to　his　own　territory　and　swear　to　fight　this　Cao　Cao　to　the　end。〃
Then　Yuan　Shao　bade　Xin　Ping　and　Guo　Tu　as　quickly　as　possible　follow　Yuan　Tan　to　Qingzhou　and　prepare　to　give　battle　to　Cao　Cao　lest　he　should　invade。　Yuan　Xi　was　told　to　go　to　Youzhou　and　Gao　Gan　to　Bingzhou。
So　each　started　to　prepare　armies　and　horses　for　repulsing　Cao　Cao。　Yuan　Shao　with　his　youngest　son　Yuan　Shang　and　the　remnant　of　his　officers　went　away　to　Jizhou；　and　military　operations　were　suspended　for　a　time。
Meanwhile　Cao　Cao　was　distributing　rewards　to　his　army　for　the　late　victory；　and　his　spies　were　scouting　all　about　Jizhou。　He　soon　learned　that　Yuan　Shao　was　ill；　and　that　the　youngest　son　Yuan　Shang　and　Shen　Pei　were　in　mand　of　the　city；　while　his　brothers　and　cousin　had　returned　each　to　his　own。　Cao　Cao's　advisers　were　in　favor　of　a　speedy　attack。
But　he　objected；　saying；　〃Jizhou　is　large　and　well　supplied。　Shen　Pei　is　an　able　strategist。　And　it　behooves　me　to　be　careful。　I　would　rather　wait　till　the　autumn　when　the　crops　have　been　gathered　in　so　that　the　people　will　not　suffer。〃
While　the　attack　was　being　talked　over　there　came　letters　from　Xun　Yu：
〃Liu　Bei　was　strengthening　himself　at　Runan　with　the　force　of　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du　and；　when　he　heard　that　you　was　attacking　Jizhou；　he　said　he　would　take　the　opportunity　to　march　on　the　capital。　Wherefore　you；　Sir；　should　hasten　homeward　to　defend　Xuchang。〃
This　news　disconcerted　Cao　Cao。　He　left　Cao　Hong　in　mand　on　the　river　bank；　with　orders　to　maintain　the　appearance　of　strength　there；　while　he　led　the　main　part　of　his　army　to　meet　the　threatened　attack　from　Runan。
Meanwhile　Liu　Bei；　his　brothers；　and　the　leaders；　having　gone　forth　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　capital；　had　reached　a　point　near　the　Rang　Mountains　when　Cao　Cao　came　upon　them。　So　Liu　Bei　camped　by　the　hills　and　divided　his　army　into　three；　sending　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　with　ten　thousand　troops　each　to　entrench　themselves　southeast　and　southwest　respectively　of　the　main　body；　which　he　and　Zhao　Yun　manded。
When　Cao　Cao　came　near；　Liu　Bei　beat　his　drums　and　went　out　to　where　Cao　Cao　had　already　arrayed　his　army。
Cao　Cao　called　Liu　Bei　to　a　parley；　and　when　the　latter　appeared　under　his　great　standard；　Cao　Cao　pointed　his　whip　at　him　and　railed；　saying；　〃I　treated　you　as　a　guest　of　the　highest　consideration。　Why　then　do　you　turn　your　back　on　righteousness　and　forget　kindness？〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Under　the　name　of　Prime　Minister　you　are　really　a　rebel。　I　am　a　direct　descendant　of　the　family；　and　I　have　a　secret　decree　from　the　Throne　to　take　such　offenders　as　you。〃
As　he　said　these　words；　he　produced　and　recited　the　decree　which　is　known　as　the　〃Girdle　Mandate。〃
Cao　Cao　grew　very　angry　and　ordered　Xu　Chu　to　go　out　to　battle。　As　Liu　Bei's　champion；　out　rode　Zhao　Yun　with　spear　ready　to　thrust。　The　two　warriors　exchanged　thirty　bouts　without　advantage　to　either。　Then　there　arose　an　earth…rending　shout　and　up　came　the　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　from　the　southeast　and　Zhang　Fei　from　the　southwest。　The　three　armies　then　began　a　great　attack；　which　proved　too　much　for　Cao　Cao's　troops；　fatigued　by　a　long　march；　and　they　were　worsted　and　fled。　Liu　Bei　having　scored　this　victory　returned　to　camp。
Next　day　he　sent　out　Zhao　Yun　again　to　challenge　the　enemy；　but　it　was　not　accepted　and　Cao　Cao's　army　remained　ten　days　without　movement。　Then　Zhang　Fei　offered　a　challenge　which　also　was　not　accepted。　And　Liu　Bei　began　to　feel　anxious。
Then　unexpectedly　came　news　that　the　enemy　had　stopped　a　train　of　supplies　brought　by　Gong　Du；　and　at　once　Zhang　Fei　went　to　the　rescue。　Worse　still　was　the　news　that　followed；　that　an　army　led　by　Xiahou　Dun　had　got　in　behind　to　attack　Runan。
Quite　dismayed；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃If　this　be　true；　I　have　enemies　in　front　and　rear　and　have　no　place　to　go。〃
He　then　sent　Guan　Yu　to　try　to　recover　the　city　and　thus　both　his　brothers　were　absent　from　his　side。　One　day　later　a　horseman　rode　up　to　say　that　Runan　had　fallen；　its　defender　Liu　Pi　had　fled；　and　Guan　Yu　was　surrounded。　To　make　the　matters　worse；　the　news　came　that　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　gone　to　rescue　Gong　Du；　was　in　like　case。
Liu　Bei　tried　to　withdraw　his　troops；　fearing　all　the　time　an　attack　from　Cao　Cao。　Suddenly　the　sentinels　came　in；　saying：　〃Xu　Chu　is　at　the　camp　gate　offering　a　challenge。〃
Liu　Bei　did　not　allow　his　army　to　go　out。　They　waited　till　dawn；　and　then　Liu　Bei　bade　the　soldiers　get　a　good　meal　and　be　ready　to　start。　When　ready　the　foot　went　out　first；　the　horsemen　next；　leaving　a　few　troops　in　the　camp　to　beat　the　watches　and　maintain　an　appearance　of　occupation。
After　traveling　some　miles；　they　passed　some　mounds。　Suddenly　torches　blazed　out；　and　on　the　summit　stood　one　who　shouted；　〃Do　not　let　Liu　Bei　run　away！　I；　the　Prime　Minister；　am　here　awaiting　you！〃
Liu　Bei　dashed　along　the　first　clear　road　he　saw。
Zhao　Yun　said；　〃Fear　not；　my　lord；　only　follow　me！〃
And　setting　his　spear；　Zhao　Yun　galloped　in　front　opening　an　alley　as　he　went。　Liu　Bei　gripped　his　double　swords　and　followed　close。　As　they　were　winning　through；　Xu　Chu　came　in　pursuit　and　engaged　Zhao　Yun；　and　two　other　panies　led　by　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　bore　down　as　well。　Seeing　the　situation　so　desperate；　Liu　Bei　plunged　into　the　wilds　and　fled。　Gradually　the　sounds　of　battle　became　fainter　and　died　away　while　he　went　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　hills；　a　single　horseman　fleeing　for　his　life。　He　kept　on　his　way　till　daybreak；　when　a　pany　suddenly　appeared　beside　the　road。　Liu　Bei　saw　these　men　with　terror　at　first；　but　was　presently　relieved　to　find　they　were　led　by　the　friendly　Liu　Pi。　They　were　a　pany　of　his　defeated　army　escorting　the　family　of　their　chief。　With　them　also　were　Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　and　Mi　Fang。
They　told　him；　〃The　attack　on　Runan　was　too　strong　to　be　resisted；　and　so　we　were　pelled　to　abandon　the　defense；　and　the　enemy　followed；　and　only　Guan　Yu's　timely　arrival　saved　us　from　destruction。〃
〃I　do　not　know　where　my　brother　is；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃All　will　e　right　if　you　will　push　on；〃　said　Liu　Pi。
They　pushed　on。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　the　beating　of　drums　was　heard　and　suddenly　appeared　Zhang　He　with　a　thousand　soldiers。
Zhang　He　cried；　〃Liu　Bei；　quickly　dismount　and　surrender！〃
Liu　Bei　was　about　to　retire　when　he　saw　a　red　flag　waving　from　a　rampart　on　the　hills　and　down　came　rushing　another　body　of　troops　under　Gao　Lan。
Thus　checked　in　front　and　his　retreat　cut　off；　Liu　Bei　looked　up　to　Heaven　and　cried；　〃O　Heaven；　why　am　I　brought　to　this　state　of　misery？　Nothing　is　left　me　now　but　death！〃
And　he　drew　his　sword　to　slay　himself。
But　Liu　Pi　stayed　his　hand；　saying；　〃Let　me　try　to　fight　a　way　out　and　save　you。　Death　is　nothing　to　me！〃
As　he　spoke　Gao　Lan's　force　was　on　the　point　of　engaging　his。　The　two　leaders　met　and　in　the　third　bout　Liu　Pi　was　cut　down。　Liu　Bei　at　once　rushed　up　to　fight；　but　just　then　there　was　sudden　confusion　in　the　rear　ranks　of　the　opponents；　and　a　warrior　dashed　up　and　thrust　at　Gao　Lan　with　his　spear。　Gao　Lan　fell　from　his　steed。　The　newer　was　Zhao　Yun。
His　arrival　was　most　opportune。　He　urged　forward　his　steed　thrusting　right　and　left；　and　the　enemy's　ranks　broke　and　scattered。　Then　the　first　force　under　Zhang　He　came　into　the　fight；　and　the　leader　and　Zhao　Yun　fought　thirty　or　more　bouts。　However；　this　proved　enough；　for　Zhang　He　turned　his　horse　away　recognizing　that　he　was　worsted。　Zhao　Yun　vigorously　attacked；　but　was　forced　into　a　narrow　space　in　the　hills　where　he　was　hemmed　in。　While　seeking　for　some　outlet；　they　saw　Guan　Yu；　Guan　Ping；　and　Zhou　Cang；　with　three　hundred　men；　ing　along。　Soon　Zhang　He　was　driven　off；　and　then　Liu　Bei's　troops　came　out　of　the　narrow　defile　and　occupied　a　strong　position　among　the　hills　where　they　made　a　camp。
Liu　Bei　sent　Guan　Yu　for　news　of　the　missing　brother。　Zhang　Fei　had　been　attacked　by　Xiahou　Yuan　who　had　killed　Gong　Du；　but　Zhange　Fei　had　vigorously　resisted；　beaten　him　off；　and　followed　him　up。　Then　Yue　Jing　had　e　along　and　surrounded　Zhang　Fei。
In　this　pass　he　was　found　by　Guan　Yu；　who　had　heard　of　his　plight　from　some　of　his　scattered　soldiers　met　on　the　way。　Now　they　drove　off　the　enemy。　The　two　brothers　returned。　Soon　they　heard　of　the　approach　of　a　large　body　of　Cao　Cao's　army。　Liu　Bei　then　bade　Sun　Qian　guard　his　family　and　sent　him　on　ahead；　while　he　and　the　others　kept　off　the　enemy；　sometimes　giving　battle　and　anon　marching。　Seeing　that　Liu　Bei　had　retired　too　far；　Cao　Cao　let　him　go　and　left　the　pursuit。
When　Liu　Bei　collected　his　army；　he　found　they　numbered　only　a　thousand；　and　this　halting　and　broken　force　marched　as　fast　as　possible　to　the　west。　ing　to　a　river　they　asked　the　natives　its　name　and　were　told　it　was　the