三国演义英文版-第240章

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While　these　were　going　on；　General　Zhang　Zhu　brought　the　news：　〃Cao　Cao's　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops　is　on　the　way　to　avenge　Xiahou　Yuan's　loss；　and　the　supplies　on　Micang　Mountain　are　being　moved　to　the　Northern　Mountain。〃
Then　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Cao　Cao　is　certainly　short　of　supplies。　If　we　can　burn　what　he　has　and　destroy　his　baggage　train；　he　will　have　but　little　spirit　left　to　fight。〃
〃I　am　willing　to　undertake　the　task；〃　said　Huang　Zhong。
〃Remember　Cao　Cao　is　a　different　sort　of　man　from　Xiahou　Yuan。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Zhang　He　is　the　Escort　Leader　of　the　train。　Though　Xiahou　Yuan　was　the　Mountain　mander；　after　all　he　was　but　a　bold　warrior。　It　would　have　been　ten　times　better　to　have　killed　Zhang　He。〃
〃I　will　go　and　kill　him；〃　said　the　aged　general；　firing　up。
〃Then　go　with　Zhao　Yun；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Act　in　concert　and　see　who　can　do　best。〃
Huang　Zhong　agreed　to　this　condition；　and　Zhang　Zhu　was　sent　with　him　as　Marching　General。
Soon　after　the　army　had　marched　out；　Zhao　Yun　asked　of　his　colleague；　〃What　plan　have　you　prepared　against　Cao　Cao's　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　in　their　ten　camps；　and　how　are　the　stores　of　grain　and　forage　to　be　destroyed？〃
〃I　am　going　to　lead；〃　said　Huang　Zhong。
〃No　wait。　I　am　going　first；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。
〃But　I　am　the　senior　leader。　You　are　only　my　second；〃　said　Huang　Zhong。
〃No；　you　and　I　are　equal　in　responsibility　and　both　anxious　to　render　good　service。　We　are　no　rivals。　Let　us　cast　lots　for　who　is　to　lead　the　way。〃
They　did　so；　and　the　Veteran　General　gained　precedence。
〃Since　you　have　won　the　right　to　make　the　first　attempt；　you　must　let　me　help　you；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃Now　let　us　decide　upon　a　fixed　time；　and　if　you　have　returned　by　that　time；　I　shall　not　need　to　stir。　But　if　at　that　time　you　have　not　e　back；　then　I　shall　e　to　reinforce　you。〃
〃That　suits　me　admirably；〃　said　Huang　Zhong。
So　they　decided　upon　noon　as　the　time。
Zhao　Yun　went　back　to　his　own　camp；　where　he　called　in　his　Deputy　General；　Zhang　Yi；　and　said；　〃My　friend　Huang　Zhong　is　going　to　try　to　burn　the　stores　tomorrow。　If　he　has　not　returned　at　noon；　I　am　to　go　to　aid　him。　You　are　to　guard　our　camp；　which　is　in　a　dangerous　place　by　the　river；　but　you　are　not　to　move　out　unless　pelled。〃
Huang　Zhong　went　back　to　his　camp　and　said　to　his　general；　Zhang　Zhu；　〃I　have　slain　Xiahou　Yuan　and　cowed　Zhang　He。　I　am　going　to　destroy　the　enemy's　store　of　grain　tomorrow；　taking　with　me　most　of　the　troops。　You　are　to　e　and　assist　me。　A　meal　for　the　men　is　to　be　ready　about　midnight　tonight；　and　we　shall　move　at　the　fourth　watch。　We　shall　march　to　the　foot　of　their　hill；　capture　Zhang　He；　and　then　start　the　fire。〃
All　being　ready；　they　set　out………Huang　Zhong　leading………and　stole　across　River　Han　to　the　foot　of　the　hills。　As　the　sun　got　up　out　of　the　east；　they　saw　before　them　mountains　of　grain　and　only　a　few　guards　on　watch。　These　fled　at　first　sight　of　the　army　of　Shu。　The　horsemen　dismounted　and　began　to　collect　brushwood　and　pile　it　round　the　grain　heaps。　Just　as　they　were　starting　the　fire；　there　appeared　a　cohort　led　by　Zhang　He；　who　at　once　began　a　fight　with　Huang　Zhong。　Then　Cao　Cao　heard　of　the　fight　and　sent　Xu　Huang　to　help。　Xu　Huang　came　up　in　the　rear；　and　Huang　Zhong　was　surrounded。　Zhang　Zhu　with　three　thousand　troops　tried　to　get　away　to　their　camp；　but　they　were　intercepted　by　Wen　Ping；　and　more　troops　of　Wei　ing　up　by　the　rear；　Zhang　Zhu　also　was　surrounded。　Both　were　in　difficulties。
Meanwhile；　time　passed　and　noon　came　with　no　news　of　Huang　Zhong。　Wherefore　Zhao　Yun　girded　on　his　armor；　took　three　thousand　troops　with　him　and　went　to　his　aid。　Just　as　he　was　leaving；　he　again　warned　Zhang　Yi　to　keep　good　watch。
〃Guard　the　camp　most　carefully。　See　that　you　have　archers　and　crossbowmen　on　both　sides。〃
〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Zhang　Yi。
Zhao　Yun　rode　off；　spear　in　hand；　and　went　out　to　give　battle　where　he　could　find　the　enemy。　Soon　he　fell　in　with　one　of　Wen　Ping's　panies　led　by　General　Murong　Lie。　Zhao　Yun　plunged　in；　cut　Murong　Lie　down；　and　disposed　of　the　troops　of　Wei。　Then　he　came　to　the　real　press。　A　cohort　barred　his　way；　led　by　General　Jiao　Bing。
〃Where　are　the　soldiers　of　Shu？〃　cried　Zhao　Yun。
〃All　killed！〃　cried　Jiao　Bing。
Zhao　Yun　angrily　dashed　forward　and　thrust　Jiao　Bing　through　so　that　he　died。　The　cohort　scattered；　and　Zhao　Yun　went　on　to　the　foot　of　Northern　Mountain；　where　he　found　Huang　Zhong　surrounded。　With　a　yell　Zhao　Yun　dashed　at　the　encircling　ring；　thrusting　this　way　and　shoving　that；　so　that　everyone　shrank　and　recoiled　before　him。　The　mighty　spear　laid　low　his　opponents　like　the　whirlwind　scatters　the　petals　of　the　wild　pear　tree　till　they　lie　on　the　bosom　of　the　earth　like　snowflakes。　Panic　seized　Zhang　He　and　Xu　Huang　so　that　they　dared　not　stand　in　his　way；　and　thus　Zhao　Yun　fought　his　way　through　and　rescued　his　fellow　warrior。　Then　they　fought　their　way　out　and　none　could　withstand　them。
Cao　Cao　had　been　watching　the　course　of　the　fighting　from　a　high　place；　and　when　he　saw　a　doughty　warrior　forcing　his　way　into　the　press　and　all　going　down　before　him；　he　asked　of　his　officers　if　they　knew　who　the　leader　was。
〃That　is　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan；〃　replied　one　who　knew。
〃So　the　hero　of　Dangyang　is　still　alive；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　marveled。
Then　Cao　Cao　gave　general　orders　to　his　soldiers　not　to　attack　Zhao　Yun　without　being　sure　of　success；　no　matter　where　they　met　him。
Having　rescued　his　colleague　and　got　clear　of　the　battle；　Zhao　Yun　was　told　Zhang　Zhu　hemmed　in　on　a　hill　not　far　off。　Wherefore　Zhao　Yun　went　to　his　relief　before　going　back　to　his　own　camp。　He　had　little　need　to　fight；　for　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　no　sooner　saw　the　name　emblazoned　on　the　banners　than　they　fled　without　more　ado。
But　it　filled　Cao　Cao　with　rage　to　see　his　troops　falling　away　before　Zhao　Yun；　who　marched　on　as　though　no　one　would　think　of　standing　in　his　way；　and　Cao　Cao　went　in　pursuit　himself　with　his　officers。
Zhao　Yun　reached　his　own　camp；　where　he　was　weled　by　Zhang　Yi。　But　a　cloud　of　dust　was　seen　in　the　distance；　and　they　knew　Cao　Cao　was　in　that　cloud　and　ing　upon　them。
〃Let　us　bar　the　gates　while　we　make　preparation；〃　said　Zhang　Yi。
〃Do　not　bar　the　gates；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃Have　you　never　heard　of　my　exploit　at　Dangyang；　when　I　laughed　at　Cao　Cao's　many　legions？　Now　that　I　have　an　army　at　my　back　and　generals　to　help；　what　is　there　to　fear？〃
Then　Zhao　Yun　placed　the　archers　and　the　bowmen　in　a　covered　position　outside；　while　he　threw　down　all　the　weapons　and　flags　within。　And　no　drums　beat。　But　he　himself；　alone；　stood　outside　the　gate　of　the　camp。
It　was　dusk　when　Zhang　He　and　Xu　Huang　neared　the　camp　of　the　army　of　Shu。　They　saw　that　the　ensigns　and　weapons　had　been　overthrown；　and　no　drums　beat　at　their　approach。　They　also　saw　the　one　figure　of　the　doughty　warrior　at　the　gate；　and　then　they　halted　and　dared　advance　no　farther。　While　they　hesitated；　Cao　Cao　arrived　and　urged　his　army　to　march　quicker。　They　answered　with　a　shout　and　made　a　dash　forward；　but　they　saw　the　one　figure　at　the　gate；　and　every　man　halted。　And　before　long；　one　by　one　they　turned　about　and　went　away。
Then　Zhao　Yun　gave　a　signal　to　his　troops　to　e　out　of　the　moat；　and　the　archers　and　bowmen　began　to　shoot。　The　soldiers　of　Cao　Cao　knew　not　in　the　dusk　how　many　their　enemies　were；　but　terror　seized　upon　them　and　they　ran；　each　trying　to　be　first。　And　as　they　ran；　the　drums　rolled；　and　the　soldiers　of　Shu　shouted　and　pursued；　till　the　flight　became　a　perfect　rout　and　a　confused　mass　of　troops　reached　the　banks　of　River　Han。　The　press　continuing；　many　soldiers　of　Cao　Cao　were　forced　into　the　river　and　were　drowned。
Zhao　Yun；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Zhang　Zhu　followed　close　on　the　heels　of　the　routed　army。　While　Cao　Cao　was　making　off　with　all　speed；　two　other　generals　of　Shu；　Liu　Feng　and　Meng　Da；　came　from　Micang　Mountain　and　set　fire　to　all　the　army　stores　of　food　and　forage　in　Northern　Mountain。　Then　Cao　Cao　abandoned　the　stores　in　Northern　Mountain　and　set　out　hastily　for　Nanzheng。　Zhang　He　and　Xu　Huang　could　make　no　stand；　and　they　also　abandoned　their　camps；　which　Zhao　Yun　at　once　occupied。　Beside　the　stores　of　food；　the　victors　collected　countless　weapons　along　the　banks　of　the　river。
They　sent　news　of　the　victor