快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

Liu　Biao。　And　I　can　keep　a　watch　on　Liu　Bei。〃
Yuan　Shao　agreed　and　issued　orders　for　both　to　go。
On　the　subject　of　the　mission；　Guo　Tu　came　in　to　his　chief　to　dissuade　him。
Said　Guo　Tu；　〃Liu　Bei　went　to　speak　to　Liu　Pi；　but　he　acplished　nothing。　Now　you　are　sending　Jian　Yong　with　him；　and　I　am　sure　neither　will　ever　return。〃
〃Do　not　be　too　suspicious；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Jian　Yong　is　clever　enough。〃
That　was　the　end　of　the　interview。　Forthwith　Liu　Bei　sent　Sun　Qian　back　to　Guan　Yu　and　then；　with　Jian　Yong；　took　leave　of　Yuan　Shao　and　rode　out　of　the　city；　As　soon　as　they　reached　the　border　line；　they　met　Sun　Qian　and　all　three　rode　off　to　Guan　Ding's　farm　to　meet　Guan　Yu。　He　came　out　to　wele　them；　bowed　and　then　seized　his　brother's　hands　while　tears　streamed　down　his　face。
Presently　the　two　sons　of　their　host　came　to　bow　to　the　visitors。　Liu　Bei　asked　their　names。
〃These　are　of　the　same　name　as　myself；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃The　sons　are　Guan　Neng；　who　is　a　student；　and　Guan　Ping；　who　is　to　be　a　soldier。〃
〃I　have　been　thinking　of　sending　the　younger　in　your　train；　General；〃　said　old　Guan　Ding；　〃Would　you　take　him？〃
〃What　is　his　age？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃He　is　eighteen。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Since；　O　Senior；　you　are　so　kind；　I　venture　to　suggest　that　your　son　should　be　adopted　by　my　brother；　who　has　no　son　of　his　own。　What　think　you　of　that？〃
Guan　Ding　was　perfectly　willing；　so　he　called　Guan　Ping　and　bade　him　make　a　son's　obeisance　to　Guan　Yu　and　to　style　Liu　Bei　〃Uncle。〃
Then　it　was　time　to　get　on　their　way　lest　they　should　be　pursued；　and　with　Guan　Yu　went　Guan　Ping。　Guan　Ding　and　Guan　Ning　escorted　them　a　long　distance　and　then　returned。
The　party　took　the　road　to　Sleeping　Bull　Mountain。　Before　they　had　gone　very　far；　they　met　Zhou　Cang　with　a　small　party。　He　was　wounded。　He　was　introduced　to　Liu　Bei　who　asked　him　how　it　was。
He　replied；　〃Before　I　reached　the　hill；　a　certain　warrior　all　alone；　had　fought　with　my　friend　Pei　Yuanshao　and　killed　him。　Then　many　of　our　troops　surrendered　to　him；　and　he　occupied　our　old　camp。　When　I　reached　it；　I　tried　to　allure　the　soldiers　back　to　my　side　but　only　succeeded　with　a　few。　The　others　were　too　afraid。　I　got　angry　and　engaged　the　interloper；　who　however　worsted　me　time　after　time　and　wounded　me　thrice。〃
〃Who　is　the　warrior？　What　does　he　look　like？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃All　I　know　he　is　a　doughty　fighter；　I　do　not　know　his　name。〃
Thereafter　they　advanced　toward　the　hill　with　Guan　Yu　in　front　and　Liu　Bei　in　rear。　When　they　drew　near；　Zhou　Cang　began　to　abuse　his　enemy；　who　soon　appeared；　mailed　and　armed；　ing　down　the　hill　like　a　tornado。
Suddenly　Liu　Bei　rode　out　waving　his　whip　and　shouting；　〃O　Zhao　Yun；　I　am　here　to　look　for　you！〃
Indeed　the　rider　was　Zhao　Yun。　He　instantly　slipped　out　of　the　saddle　and　bowed　by　the　roadside。
Liu　Bei　dismounted　to　talk　with　him　and　ask　how　he　came　to　be　there。
〃When　I　left　you；　I　had　no　idea　that　Gongsun　Zan　was　a　man　who　would　listen　to　no　reason。　The　result　was　disaster；　and　he　perished　in　the　flames。　Yuan　Shao　invited　me　to　him　several　times；　but　I　thought　too　little　of　him　to　go。　Then　I　wanted　to　go　to　Xuzhou　to　you；　but　you　had　lost　that　place；　and　Guan　Yu　had　gone　over　to　Cao　Cao；　and　you　had　joined　Yuan　Shao。　Several　times　I　thought　of　ing　to　you；　but　I　feared　Yuan　Shao。　So　I　drifted　from　one　place　to　another　with　nowhere　to　rest　till　I　happened　to　e　this　way；　and　Pei　Yuanshao　tried　to　steal　my　horse。　So　I　slew　him　and　took　possession　of　his　camp。　I　heard　Zhang　Fei　was　in　Gucheng　but　thought　it　might　be　only　a　rumor。　And　so　the　days　have　passed　till　this　happy　meeting。〃
Liu　Bei　told　Zhao　Yun　all　that　had　happened　to　him　since　they　parted；　and　so　did　Guan　Yu。
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃The　first　time　I　saw　you；　I　felt　drawn　to　you　and　did　not　want　to　part　from　you。　I　am　very　happy　to　meet　you　again。〃
〃In　all　my　wanderings；　trying　to　find　a　lord　worth　serving；　I　have　seen　no　one　like　you。　Now　I　have　reached　your　side；　that　is　enough　for　all　my　life。　I　care　not　what　may　happen　to　me。〃
Next　they　burned　the　camp　on　Sleeping　Bull　Mountain；　after　which　they　all　took　the　road　back　to　Gucheng　where　they　were　weled。　They　exchanged　the　stories　of　their　several　adventures；　and　the　two　ladies　related　the　valiant　deeds　of　Guan　Yu　whereat　Liu　Bei　was　too　affected　to　speak。
Then　they　performed　a　great　sacrifice　to　Heaven　and　Earth　with　the　slaughter　of　a　bull　and　a　horse。
The　soldiers　also　were　repensed　for　their　toils。　Liu　Bei　surveyed　the　conditions　around　him　and　found　therein　much　to　rejoice　at。　His　two　brothers　were　restored　to　his　side　and　none　of　his　helpers　were　missing。　Moreover　he　had　gained　Zhao　Yun；　and　Guan　Yu　had　acquired　an　adopted　son　Guan　Ping。　Another　mander　had　joined　his　ranks　in　the　person　of　Zhou　Cang。　There　was　every　occasion　for　feasting　and　gratification。

Scattered　wide　were　the　brothers；　none　knew　another's　retreat；
Joyfully　now　they　foregather；　dragon　and　tigers　meet。

At　this　time　the　forces　under　the　mand　of　Liu　Bei；　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　Mi　Zhu；　Mi　Fang；　Guan　Ping；　and　Zhou　Cang　numbered　four　or　five　thousand　soldiers。　Liu　Bei　was　in　favor　of　leaving　Gucheng　and　occupying　Runan；　and　just　then　Liu　Pi　and　Gong　Du；　the　manders　of　that　city；　sent　to　invite　him　to　go　there。　So　they　went。　There　they　devoted　all　their　efforts　to　strengthen　their　army；　both　horse　and　foot。
Yuan　Shao　was　much　annoyed　when　Liu　Bei　did　not　return　and　at　first　was　for　sending　a　force　after　him。　However　Guo　Tu　dissuaded　him。
〃Liu　Bei　needs　cause　you　no　anxiety。　Cao　Cao　is　your　one　enemy　and　must　be　destroyed。　Even　Liu　Biao；　though　strongly　posted　on　River　Han；　is　none　too　terrible。　There　is　Sun　Ce　on　the　southeast　of　the　Great　River；　strong；　feared；　with　wide　domain　of　six　territories；　a　large　army；　and　able　counselors　and　leaders；　you　should　make　an　alliance　there　against　Cao　Cao。〃
Guo　Tu　won　his　chief　to　his　view　and　wrote　to　Sun　Ce；　sending　the　letter　by　Chen　Zhen。

Just　as　one　warrior　leaves　the　north；
Another　from　the　east　es　forth。

Future　chapters　will　reveal　the　oute　of　these　dispositions。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　29　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　29
　Chapter　29
The　Little　Chief　Of　The　South　Slays　Yu　Ji；
The　Green　Eyed　Boy　Lays　Hold　On　The　South　Land。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。
Sun　Ce　gradually　became　supreme　on　the　southeast　of　the　Great　River*。　In　the　fourth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　199）；　he　took　Lujiang　by　the　defeat　of　the　Governor　Liu　Xu。　He　dispatched　Yu　Fan　with　a　dispatch　to　Governor　Hua　Xin　of　Yuzhang；　and　Hua　Xin　surrendered。　Thence　Sun　Ce's　renown　increased；　and　he　boldly　sent　a　memorial　on　his　military　successes　to　the　Emperor　by　the　hand　of　Zhang　Hong。
Cao　Cao　saw　in　Sun　Ce　a　powerful　rival　and　said；　〃He　is　a　lion　difficult　to　contend　with。〃
So　Cao　Cao　betrothed　his　niece；　daughter　of　Cao　Ren；　to　Sun　Kuang；　the　youngest　brother　of　Sun　Ce；　thus　connecting　the　two　families　by　marriage。　Cao　Cao　also　retained　Zhang　Hong　near　him　in　the　capital。
Then　Sun　Ce　sought　the　title　of　Grand　mander；　one　of　the　highest　offices　of　state；　but　Cao　Cao　prevented　the　attainment　of　this　ambition；　and　Sun　Ce　keenly　resented　it。　Henceforward　his　thoughts　turned　toward　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。
About　this　time　the　Governor　of　Wujun；　Xu　Gong；　sent　a　secret　letter　to　the　capital　to　Cao　Cao；　saying：

＇e＇　Xiang　Yu　（BC　232…202）　was　the　leader　of　Chu　and　a　rival　of　Liu　Bang　in　contending　the　empire　after　the　fall　of　Qin。　。。。。。
〃Sun　Ce　is　a　turbulent　fellow　of　the　Xiang　Yu　type*；　and　the　government　ought；　under　the　appearance　of　showing　favor　to　him；　to　recall　him　to　the　capital；　for　he　is　a　danger　in　the　southern　regions。〃
But　the　bearer　of　this　letter　was　captured　on　the　Great　River　and　sent　to　Sun　Ce；　who　immediately　put　him　to　death。　Then　Sun　Ce　treacherously　sent　to　ask　the　author　of　the　letter　to　e　and　consult　over　some　affair。　The　unsuspecting　Xu　Gong　came。
Sun　Ce　produced　the　letter；　saying；　〃So　you　wish　to　send　me　to　the　land　of　the　dead；　eh？〃
And　thereupon　the　executioners　came　in　and　strangled　Xu　Gong。　The　family　of　the　victim　scattered；　but　three　of　his　clients　determined　to　avenge　him　if　only　they　could　find　some　means　of　attacking　Sun　Ce。
One　day　Sun　Ce　went　hunting　in　the　hills　to　the　west　of　Dantu。　A　stag　was　started；　and　Sun　Ce　pressed　after　it　at　topmost　speed　and　followed　it　deep　into　the　forest。　Presently　he　came　upon　three　armed　men　standing　among　the　trees。　Rather　surprised　to　see　them　there；　he　reined　in　and　asked　who　they　were。
〃We　belong　to　Han　Dang's　army　and　are　shooting　deer；〃　was　the　reply。
So　Sun　Ce　shook　his　bridle　to　proceed。　But　just　as　he　did　so；　one　of　the　men　thrust　at　him　with　a　spear　and　wounded　his　thigh。　Sun　Ce　drew　the　sword　at　his　side；　dashed　forward；　and　tried　to　cut　down　the　aggressor。　The　blade　of　his　sword　suddenly　fell　to　the　ground；　only　the　hilt　remaining　in　his　hand。　Then　one　of　the　assassins　drew　his　bow；　and　an　arrow　wounded　Sun　Ce　in　the　cheek。　Sun　Ce　plucked　out　the　arrow　and　shot　at　the　offender；　who　fell；　but　the　other　two　attacked　him　furiously　with　their　spears；　shouting；　〃We　are　Xu　Gong's　men　and　his　avengers！〃
Sun　Ce　then　understood。　But　he　had　no　weapons　save　his　bow　against　them。　He　tried　to　draw　off；　keeping　them　at　bay　striking　with　his　bow。　But　the　fight　was　getting　too　much　for　him；　and　both　he　and　his　steed　were　wounded　in　several　places。　However；　just　at　the　critical　moment；　Cheng　Pu　and　some　of　his　own　officers　came　up；　and　they　minced　the　assassins　into　pieces。
But　their　lord　was　in　a　sorry　plight。　His　face　was　streaming　with　blood；　and　some　of　the　wounds　were　very　severe。　They　tore　up　his　robe　and　therewith　bound　up　his　wounds；　and　they　carried　him　home。
A　poem　in　praise　of　the　three　avengers　says：

O　Sun　Ce　was　a　warrior　and　a　stranger　he　to　fear。
But　he　was　basely　murdered　while　hunting　of　the　deer。
Yet　were　they　leal　who　slew　him；　to　avenge　a　murdered　lord。
Self　immolated　like　Yu　Rang；　they　dreaded　not　the　sword。

Badly　wounded；　Sun　Ce　was　borne　to　his　home。　They　sent　to　call　the　famous　physician　Hua　Tuo；　but　he　was　far　away　and　could　not　be　found。　However；　a　disciple　of　his　came；　and　the　wounded　man　was　mitted　to　his　care。
〃The　arrowheads　were　poisoned；〃　said　the　physician；　〃and　the　poison　has　penetrated　deep。　It　will　take　a　hundred　days　of　perfect　repose　before　danger　will　be　past。　But　if　you　give　way　to　passion　or　anger；　the　wounds　will　not　heal。〃
Sun　Ce's　temperament　was　hasty　and　impatient；　and　the　prospect　of　such　a　slow　recovery　was　very　distasteful。　However；　he　remained　quiet　for　some　twenty　of　the　hundred　days。　Then　came　Zhang　Hong　from　the　capital；　and　Sun　Ce　insisted　on　seeing　and　questioning　him。
〃Cao　Cao　fears　you；　my　lord；　very　greatly；〃　said　Zhang　Hong；　〃and　his　advisers　have　exceeding　respect　for　you………all　except　Guo　Jia。〃
〃What　did　Guo　Jia　say？〃　asked　the　sick　chieftain。
Zhang　Hong　remained　silent；　which　only　irritated　his　master　and　caused　him　to　demand　to　be　told。　So　Zhang　Hong　had　to　speak　the　truth。
He　said；　〃The　fact　is　Guo　Jia　told　Cao　Cao　that　he　needed　not　fear　you；　that　you　were　frivolous　and　unready；　impulsive　and　shallow；　just　a　stupid　swaggerer　who　would　one　day　e　to　his　death　at　the　hands　of　some　mean　person。〃
This　provoked　the　sick　man　beyond　endurance。
〃The　fool；　how　dare　he　say　this　of　me？〃　cried　Sun　Ce。　〃I　will　take　Xuchang　from　Cao　Cao；　I　swear。〃
It　was　no　more　a　question　of　repose。　Ill　as　he　was；　he　wanted　to　begin　preparations　for　an　expedition　at　once。　They　remonstrated　with　him；　reminded　him　of　the　physician's　orders　and　urged　him　to　rest。
〃You　are　risking　your　priceless　self　in　a　moment's　anger；〃　said　Zhang　Zhao。
Then　arrived　Chen　Zhen；　the　messenger　from　Yuan　Shao；　and　Sun　Ce　would　have　him　brought　in。
He　said；　〃My　master　wishes　to　ally　himself　with　the　South　Land　in　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。〃
Such　a　proposal　was　just　after　Sun　Ce's　heart。　At　once　he　called　a　great　meeting　of　his　officers　in　the　wall　tower　and　prepared　a　banquet　in　honor　of　the　messenger。　While　this　was　in　progress；　Sun　Ce　noticed　many　of　his　officers　whispering　to　each　other；　and　they　all　began　to　go　down　from　the　banquet　chamber。　He　could　not　understand　this　and　inquired　of　the　attendants　near　him　what　it　meant。
They　told　him；　〃Saint　Yu　J