三国演义英文版-第161章

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He　said；　〃If　Heaven　had　not　been　on　my　side；　should　I　have　got　this　excellent　plan　from　the　Young　Phoenix？　Now　that　the　ships　are　attached　firmly　to　each　other；　one　may　traverse　the　river　as　easily　as　walking　on　firm　earth。〃
〃The　ships　are　firmly　attached　to　each　other；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃but　you　should　be　prepared　for　an　attack　by　fire　so　that　they　can　scatter　to　avoid　it。〃
The　General　laughed。
〃You　look　a　long　way　ahead；〃　said　he；　〃but　you　see　what　cannot　happen。〃
〃Cheng　Yu　speaks　much　to　the　point；〃　said　Xun　You。　〃Why　do　you　laugh　at　him？〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃Anyone　using　fire　depends　upon　the　wind。　This　is　now　winter　and　only　west　winds　blow。　You　will　get　neither　east　nor　south　winds。　I　am　on　the　northwest；　and　the　enemy　is　on　the　southeast　bank。　If　they　use　fire；　they　will　destroy　themselves。　I　have　nothing　to　fear。　If　it　was　the　tenth　moon；　or　early　spring；　I　would　provide　against　fire。〃
〃The　Prime　Minister　is　indeed　wise；〃　said　the　others　in　chorus。　〃None　can　equal　him。〃
〃With　northern　troops　unused　to　shipboard；　I　could　never　have　crossed　the　river　but　for　this　chaining　plan；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　he　saw　two　of　the　secondary　leaders　stand　up；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　from　the　north；　but　we　are　also　sailors。　Pray　give　us　a　small　squadron；　and　we　will　seize　some　of　the　enemy's　flags　and　drums　for　you　that　we　may　prove　ourselves　adepts　on　the　water。〃
The　speakers　were　two　men　who　had　served　under　Yuan　Shao；　named　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng。
〃I　do　not　think　naval　work　would　suit　you　two；　born　and　brought　up　in　the　north；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃The　southern　soldiers　are　thoroughly　accustomed　to　ships。　You　should　not　regard　your　lives　as　a　child's　plaything。〃
They　cried；　〃If　we　fail；　treat　us　according　to　army　laws！〃
〃The　fighting　ships　are　all　chained　together；　there　are　only　small；　twenty…men　boats　free。　They　are　unsuitable　for　fighting。〃
〃If　we　took　large　ships；　where　would　be　the　wonderful　in　what　we　will　do？　No；　give　us　a　score　of　the　small　ships；　and　we　will　take　half　each　and　go　straight　to　the　enemy's　naval　port。　We　will　just　seize　a　flag；　slay　a　leader；　and　e　home。〃
〃I　will　let　you　have　the　twenty　ships　and　five　hundred　of　good；　vigorous　marines　with　long　spears　and　stiff　crossbows。　Early　tomorrow　the　main　fleet　shall　make　a　demonstration　on　the　river；　and　I　will　also　tell　Wen　Ping　to　support　you　with　thirty　ships。〃
The　two　men　retired　greatly　elated。
Next　morning；　very　early；　food　was　prepared；　and　at　the　fifth　watch　all　was　ready　for　a　start。　Then　from　the　naval　camp　rolled　out　the　drums　and　the　gongs　clanged；　as　the　ships　moved　out　and　took　up　their　positions；　the　various　flags　fluttering　in　the　morning　breeze。　And　the　two　intrepid　leaders　with　their　squadron　of　small　scouting　boats　went　down　the　lines　and　out　into　the　stream。
Now　a　few　days　before　the　sound　of　Cao　Cao's　drums　had　been　heard　on　the　southern　bank；　Zhou　Yu　had　watched　the　maneuvers　of　the　northern　fleet　on　the　open　river　from　the　top　of　a　hill　till　the　fleet　had　gone　in　again。　So　when　the　sound　of　drums　was　again　heard；　all　the　southern　army　went　up　the　hills　to　watch　the　northern　fleet。　All　they　saw　was　a　squadron　of　small　ships　bounding　over　the　waves。
As　the　northern　fleet　came　nearer；　the　news　was　taken　to　Zhou　Yu　who　called　for　volunteers　to　go　out　against　them。　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　offered　themselves。　They　were　accepted　and　orders　were　issued　to　the　camps　to　remain　ready　for　action　but　not　to　move　till　told。
Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　sailed　out　each　with　a　small　squadron　of　five　ships　in　line。
The　two　braggarts　from　the　north；　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng；　really　only　trusted　to　their　boldness　and　luck。　Their　ships　came　down　under　the　powerful　strokes　of　the　oars。　As　they　neared；　the　two　leaders　put　on　their　heart…protectors；　gripped　their　spears；　and　each　took　his　station　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　ship　of　his　division。　Jiao　Chu's　ship　led　and　as　soon　as　he　came　near　enough；　his　troops　began　to　shoot　at　Han　Dang；　who　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　buckler。　Jiao　Chu　twirled　his　long　spear　as　he　engaged　his　opponent。　But；　at　the　first　thrust；　he　was　killed。
His　rade　Zhang　Neng　with　the　other　ships　was　ing　up　with　great　shouts；　when　Zhou　Tai　sailed　up　at　an　angle；　and　these　two　squadrons　began　shooting　arrows　at　each　other　in　clouds。　Zhou　Tai　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　shield　and　stood　gripping　his　sword　firmly　till　his　ships　came　within　a　few　spans　of　the　enemy's　ships；　when　he　leaped　across　and　cut　down　Zhang　Neng。　Zhang　Neng's　dead　body　fell　into　the　water。　Then　the　battle　became　confused；　and　the　attacking　ships　rowed　hard　to　get　away。　The　southerners　pursued　but　soon　came　in　sight　of　Wen　Ping's　supporting　fleet。　Once　more　the　ships　engaged　and　the　forces　fought　with　each　other。
Zhou　Yu　with　his　officers　stood　on　the　summit　of　a　mountain　and　watched　his　own　and　the　enemy　ships　out　on　the　river。　The　flags　and　the　ensigns　were　all　in　perfect　order。　Then　he　saw　Wen　Ping　and　his　own　fleets　engaged　in　battle；　and　soon　it　was　evident　that　the　former　was　not　a　match　for　his　own　sailors。　Wen　Ping　turned　about　to　retire；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　pursued。　Zhou　Yu　fearing　lest　his　sailors　should　go　too　far；　then　hoisted　the　white　flag　of　recall。
To　his　officers　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃The　masts　of　the　northern　ships　stand　thick　as　reeds。　Cao　Cao　himself　is　full　of　wiles。　How　can　we　destroy　him？〃
No　one　replied；　for　just　then　the　great　yellow　flag　that　flapped　in　the　breeze　in　the　middle　of　Cao　Cao's　fleet　suddenly　fell　over　into　the　river。
Zhou　Yu　laughed。
〃That　is　a　bad　omen；〃　said　he。
Then　an　extra　violent　blast　of　wind　came　by；　and　the　waves　rose　high　and　beat　upon　the　bank。　A　corner　of　his　own　flag　flicked　Zhou　Yu　on　the　cheek；　and　suddenly　a　thought　flashed　through　his　mind。　Zhou　Yu　uttered　a　loud　cry；　staggered；　and　fell　backward。　They　picked　him　up。　There　was　blood　upon　his　lips；　and　he　was　unconscious。　Presently；　however；　he　revived。

And　once　he　laughed；　then　gave　a　cry；
This　is　hard　to　ensure　a　victory。

Zhou　Yu's　fate　will　appear　as　the　story　unfolds。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　49　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　49
　Chapter　49
On　Seven…Star　Altar；　Zhuge　Liang　Sacrifices　To　The　Winds；
At　Three　Gorges；　Zhou　Yu　Liberates　The　Fire。
In　the　last　chapter　Zhou　Yu　was　seized　with　sudden　illness　as　he　watched　the　fleets　of　his　enemy。　He　was　borne　to　his　tent；　and　his　officers　came　in　multitudes　to　inquire　after　him。
They　looked　at　each　other；　saying；　〃What　a　pity　our　general　should　be　taken　ill；　when　Cao　Cao's　legions　threaten　so　terribly！　What　would　happen　if　Cao　Cao　attacked？〃
Messengers　with　the　evil　tidings　were　sent　to　Sun　Quan；　while　the　physicians　did　their　best　for　the　invalid。　Lu　Su　was　particularly　sad　at　the　illness　of　his　patron　and　went　to　see　Zhuge　Liang　to　talk　it　over。
〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Good　luck　for　Cao　Cao；　bad　for　us；〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃I　could　cure　him；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　laughing。
〃If　you　could；　Wu　would　be　very　fortunate；〃　said　Lu　Su。
Lu　Su　prayed　Zhuge　Liang　to　go　to　see　the　sick　man。　They　went；　and　Lu　Su　entered　first。　Zhou　Yu　lay　in　bed；　his　head　covered　by　a　quilt。
〃How　are　you；　General？〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃My　heart　pains　me。　Every　now　and　again　I　feel　faint　and　dizzy。〃
〃Have　you　taken　any　remedies？〃
〃My　gorge　rises　at　the　thought。　I　could　not。〃
〃I　saw　Zhuge　Liang　just　now；　and　he　says　he　could　heal　you。　He　is　just　outside；　and　I　will　call　him　if　you　like。〃
〃Ask　him　to　e　in。〃
Zhou　Yu　bade　his　servants　help　him　to　a　sitting　position；　and　Zhuge　Liang　entered。
〃I　have　not　seen　you　for　days；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃How　could　I　guess　that　you　were　unwell？〃
〃How　can　anyone　feel　secure？　We　are　constantly　the　playthings　of　luck；　good　or　bad。〃
〃Yes。　Heaven's　winds　and　clouds　are　not　to　be　measured。　No　one　can　reckon　their　ings　and　goings；　can　they？〃
Zhou　Yu　turned　pale　and　a　low　groan　escaped　him；　while　his　visitor　went　on；　〃You　feel　depressed；　do　you　not？　As　though　troubles　were　piling　up　in　your　heart？〃
〃That　is　exactly　how　I　feel；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
〃You　need　cooling　medicine　to　dissipate　this　sense　of　oppression。〃
〃I　have　taken　a　cooling　draught；　but　it　has　done　no　good。〃
〃You　must　get　the　humors　into　good　order　before　the　drugs　will　have　any　effect。〃
Zhou　Yu　began　to　think　Zhuge　L