三国演义英文版-第156部分

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！


dge；　where　all　the　passers…by　would　be　reminded　of　his　loyalty。
Next　day　the　army　moved　on　to　Luocheng；　Yan　Yan　and　the　other　generals　who　had　submitted　leading　the　way。
At　the　gate　they　hailed　the　defenders；　〃Open　the　gates　and　surrender；　whereby　the　city　should　be　saved　from　utter　destruction！〃
From　the　wall；　Liu　Gui　abused　the　treacherous　Yan　Yan　and　took　his　bow　to　shoot。　But　just　as　Liu　Gui　was　fitting　the　arrow　to　the　string；　another　man　cut　him　down。　Soon　the　gates　were　thrown　open　and　the　city　had　yielded。
As　Liu　Bei　entered　the　city　by　one　gate；　Liu　Xun；　who　had　shared　the　mand　of　the　city；　escaped　by　another　gate　and　set　off　for　Chengdu。
Liu　Bei　put　forth　proclamations　to　allay　the　fears　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　city。　He　inquired　who　had　been　on　his　side　in　cutting　down　Liu　Gui　and　was　told　it　was　Zhang　Yi　of　Wuyang。　Zhang　Yi　and　all　who　had　helped　in　the　capture　were　amply　rewarded。
〃Our　next　city　is　Chengdu；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃However；　in　the　meantime　there　may　be　some　trouble　in　pacifying　the　outlying　counties；　and　hence　it　will　be　well　for　you　to　send　Zhang　Fei　and　Zhao　Yun　with　Wu　Yi；　Zhang　Yi；　Yan　Yan；　and　Zhuo　Ying　leading　the　way；　into　the　country　along　the　river　and　Changyang；　Deyang；　and　Baxi　to　reassure　the　people　and　to　repress　any　rising　that　may　take　place。　There　will　be　no　need　for　any　especial　precautions　in　the　neighborhood　of　Chengdu。〃
The　warriors　went　their　ways；　and　then　Zhuge　Liang　began　to　make　careful　inquiries　concerning　the　road　to　Chengdu。
Those　who　had　given　in　their　allegiance　to　the　invaders　said；　〃The　only　place　where　you　can　expect　any　serious　defense　is　Mianzhu。　Once　you　have　passed　this；　the　capital　lies　at　your　mercy。〃
Then　Fa　Zheng　was　consulted。
Said　he；　〃With　the　fall　of　Luocheng；　the　West　River　Land　passed　to　you。　Let　our　lord　only　deal　with　the　people　kindly　and　justly；　and　there　will　be　no　need　of　weapons。　I　can　write　such　a　letter　to　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang　as　shall　make　him　surrender　at　call。〃
〃That　would　be　most　excellent；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
The　letter　was　written　and　sent　by　the　hand　of　a　messenger。
Liu　Xun；　son　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　presently　reached　Chengdu　and　told　his　father　of　the　loss　of　Luocheng。　The　Imperial　Protector　at　once　called　his　counselors　together。
Adviser　Zheng　Du　said；　〃Although　Liu　Bei　has　been　successful　and　captured　cities　and　towns；　yet　his　army　is　but　small；　his　hosts　are　not　near　him；　and　he　depends　upon　chance　for　his　grain　and　has　no　proper　supplies。　Therefore　our　best　plan　is　to　remove　the　people　of　Baxi　and　Zitong　to　the　farther　side　of　River　Fu；　burn　all　the　granaries；　fortify　the　city；　and　let　starvation　defeat　him。　Let　us　reject　all　challenges　to　battle；　and　in　a　hundred　days　his　troops　will　go　off　of　their　own　accord。　Then　we　can　do　with　him　as　we　will。〃
〃I　like　not　the　plan；〃　said　Liu　Zhang。　〃Oppose　invaders　in　order　that　tranquillity　may　prevail　is　a　well…worn　maxim；　but　till　now　I　have　never　heard　of　disturbing　the　people　in　order　to　oppose　the　march　of　an　enemy。　Your　words　are　not　such　as　safety。〃
Just　at　the　moment　the　letter　from　Fa　Zheng　arrived。　It　was　opened　and　the　Imperial　Protector　read：
〃I　was　sent　to　Jingzhou　to　negotiate　an　alliance；　but　the　opposition　of　those　about　you　to　their　lord　has　resulted　in　the　present　situation。　However；　the　ruler　of　Jingzhou　still　remembers　old　friendship　and　is　mindful　of　the　ties　of　relationship。　If　you；　my　master；　could　reverse　your　policy　and　lend　your　support　to　your　relative；　I　think　you　would　be　generously　treated。　I　hope　you　will　consider　this　carefully。〃
Liu　Zhang　flew　into　a　passion。　He　tore　the　letter　to　fragments　and　began　to　abuse　its　writer；　crying；　〃That　traitor；　ingrate；　and　renegade！　How　dares　he　talk　thus　to　me？〃
And　Liu　Zhang　drove　the　bearer　of　the　letter　from　his　presence。　He　then　sent　an　army　under　the　leadership　of　Fei　Guan；　his　wife's　brother；　to　reinforce　Mianzhu。
Fei　Guan　at　once　remended　as　his　assistant　one　Li　Yan　of　Nanyang；　and　the　two　mustered　their　troops；　thirty　thousand；　and　set　out　for　the　city。
At　this　juncture　Dong　He；　the　Governor　of　Yizhou　City；　wrote　advising　to　borrow　aid　from　Hanzhong。
But　Liu　Zhang　rejected　this　plan；　saying；　〃It　will　be　useless　to　try　to　obtain　help　from　a　region　under　the　influence　of　our　relentless　enemy　Zhang　Lu。〃
Dong　He　replied；　〃He　may　be　an　enemy；　but　Liu　Bei　is　in　possession　of　Luocheng；　and　the　situation　is　extremely　dangerous。　When　the　lips　are　gone；　the　teeth　are　cold。　If　you　clearly　indicate　the　dangers　to　him；　he　must　e　to　our　help。〃
So　a　letter　was　written　and　sent　to　Hanzhong。
Two　years　had　elapsed　since　Ma　Chao　had　been　defeated　and　gone　over　to　the　Qiang　tribes　in　the　northwest。　He　had　made　friends　with　them　and　with　their　aid　had　conquered　portions　of　the　West　Valley　Land。　His　expeditions　had　been　very　successful；　the　people　opening　their　gates　at　the　first　summons。　Only　Jicheng　had　stood　out；　but　ever　this　was　on　the　point　of　yielding。　The　Governor　of　Jicheng；　Wei　Kang；　had　sent　many　urgent　appeals　for　help　to　Xiahou　Yuan　in　Changan；　who；　however；　would　do　nothing　without　his　master's　order。　Wei　Kang　was　in　despair；　and　at　a　council　his　officers　advised　him　to　yield。
However；　one　of　them；　Yang　Fu；　earnestly　opposed　yielding；　saying；　〃We　cannot　surrender　to　a　lot　of　rebels　such　as　Ma　Chao　and　his　colleagues。〃
〃What　is　there　to　hope　for？〃　asked　Wei　Kang　despairingly。
Although　Yang　Fu　besought　Wei　Kang　with　bitterness　to　hold　out；　it　was　useless。　Wei　Kang　rejected　his　advice；　opened　the　city　gates；　and　bowed　his　head　in　submission。
〃You　only　yield　now　as　the　last　resource；〃　cried　Ma　Chao；　angry　at　the　delay　he　had　suffered。　〃This　is　no　real　submission。〃
Whereupon　he　put　to　death　Wei　Kang　and　all　his　family　to　the　number　of　two　score。
But　when　they　told　Ma　Chao　that　Yang　Fu　had　been　really　responsible　for　the　long　delay；　in　that　Yang　Fu　had　urged　his　master　to　hold　out；　Ma　Chao　did　not　put　him　to　death　but　praised　him　and　said；　〃Yang　Fu　had　but　done　his　duty。〃
Ma　Chao　further　showed　his　approval　by　employing　Yang　Fu　and　two　of　his　friends　in　his　own　army。　These　two　friends　were　named　Liang　Kuan　and　Zhao　Qu。
One　day　Yang　Fu　went　to　his　new　chief　and　said；　〃My　wife　has　died　in　Lintao。　I　wish　to　take　leave　for　two　months　to　bury　her。〃
Wherefore　Yang　Fu　was　granted　leave　and　went　away　from　the　army。　On　the　way；　he　went　to　his　maternal　cousin；　General　Jiang　Xu；　mander　of　Licheng。　The　general's　mother；　then　an　old　lady　of　eighty…two　was　Yang　Fu's　aunt。
When　Yang　Fu　saw　her；　he　wept　before　her；　saying；　〃Behold　an　unfortunate　man！　The　city　I　had　to　defend　is　lost；　my　master　is　dead；　and　I　have　survived　him。　I　am　ashamed　to　look　you　in　the　face。　Now　this　Ma　Chao　ravages　the　countryside；　and　everyone　hates　him。　Yet　my　cousin　sits　still　and　does　nothing　against　Ma　Chao。　Is　this　fitting　conduct　for　a　state　servant？〃
Yang　Fu　wept　bitterly。
The　old　lady　was　moved　by　his　grief；　called　in　her　son　and　said　to　him　reproachfully；　〃You　are　the　cause　of　the　evil　that　has　e　upon　the　noble　Wei　Kang。〃
Then　turning　once　more　toward　Yang　Fu；　she　said；　〃But　what　can　now　be　done？　You　have　surrendered　and；　more　than　that；　you　have　accepted　service　under　your　late　enemy。〃
〃It　is　true；〃　replied　Yang　Fu。　〃I　have　surrendered　and　I　have　accepted　service；　but　it　is　with　the　desire　to　preserve　my　miserable　life　till　I　can　avenge　my　master。〃
〃Ma　Chao　is　bold　and　difficult　to　destroy；〃　said　Jiang　Xu。
〃Not　very　difficult；〃　replied　Yang　Fu；　〃for　though　he　is　bold；　yet　he　is　unskillful。　Already　I　have　two　friends　Liang　Kuan　and　Zhao　Qu　by　his　side；　and　they　would　help　against　him　if　you；　my　brother；　would　only　supply　a　force。〃
〃What　is　to　be　gained　by　delay？〃　then　said　the　old　lady。　〃Is　there　anyone　who　will　not　have　to　die？　To　perish　in　the　way　of　loyalty　and　righteousness　is　to　die　in　the　right　path。　Do　not　think　of　me；　for　if　you　do；　and　heed　not　the　call　of　your　cousin；　then　will　I　die　at　once　so　that　you　may　be　free　to　make　up　your　mind。〃
There　was　now　no　excuse　for　delay；　and　Jiang　Xu　had　to　act。　He　summoned　two　of　his　officers；　Yin　Feng　and　Zhao　Ang；　and　took　counsel　with　them。
Now　Zhao　Ang　had　a　son；　Zhao　Yue；　who　was　an　officer　in　the　army　of　Ma　Chao。　When　Zhao　Ang　had　to　consent　to　take　part　against　his　son's　chief；　he　became　very　unhappy　and　went　home　to　talk　over　it　with　his　wife；　Lady　Wang。
He　said；　〃I　have　today　been　led　into　a　scheme　to　destroy　Ma　Chao　and　avenge　Wei　Kang。　But　there　is　our　son　there　in　Ma　Chao's　service；　and　Ma　Chao　will　certainly　put　our　son　to　death　as　soon　as　he　hears　that　we　are　arming　against　him。　What　is　to　be　done？〃
But　his　wife　replied　angrily；　〃Should　anyone　grudge　even　his　life　to　avenge　his　liege　lord　or　his　father？　How　much　less　a　son？　My　lord；　if　you　let　the　thought　of　your　son　stay　your　hand；　then　will　I　die　forthwith。〃
This　decided　the　matter；　and　without　further　parley　Zhao　Ang　decided　to　share　the　expedition　and　set　about　preparations。　The　army　was　soon　on　the　way。　Jiang　Xu　and　Yang　Fu　camped　at　the　city　of　Licheng；　Zhao　Ang　and　Yin　Feng　camped　at　Qishan。　The　wife　of　Zhao　Ang　sold　her　ornaments　and　went　in　person　to　her　husband's　camp　to　feast　his　soldiers。
The　fears　of　Zhao　Ang　concerning　the　fate　of　his　son　were　only　too　soon　justified。　At　the　first　news　of　the　march　of　an　army　against　him；　Ma　Chao　beheaded　the　young　Zhao　Yue。　Then　Ma　Chao　marched　his　force；　together　with　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai；　to　Licheng；　and　the　troops　under　Jiang　Xu　and　Yang　Fu　went　out　to　oppose　it。　The　two　leaders　on　the　avenging　side　went　to　battle　dressed　in　mourning　white。
They　railed　at　Ma　Chao；　crying；　〃Wicked　traitor！　Rebel！〃
Ma　Chao　angrily　dashed　across　toward　them；　and　the　fight　began。　From　the　very　first　it　was　seen　that　the　defenders　of　the　city　could　not　hope　to　beat　off　the　attack；　and　they　turned　to　flee。　Ma　Chao　pursued　them。　But　soon　he　heard　the　shouting　of　soldiers　behind　him　and　found　the　other　army　led　by　Zhao　Ang　and　Yin　Feng　was　attacking　his　rear。　Wherefore　he　was　between　two　armies　and　had　a　double　battle　to　fight。　As　he　turned　toward　that　in　his　rear；　Jiang　Xu　and　Yang　Fu　returned　again　to　the　attack。　And　while　engaged　with　these　two；　there　suddenly　appeared　a　third　force　under　Xiahou　Yuan；　who　had　just　received　orders　from　Cao　Cao　to　e　against　Ma　Chao。
Three　attacks　at　once　were　too　much　for　Ma　Chao；　and　he　fled；　his　force　in　utter　confusion。　He　retreated　all　that　night　and　at　dawn　reached　his　own　city　of　Jicheng。　He　hailed　the　gate；　but　a　flight　of　arrows　was　the　response。　Soon　after；　Liang　Kuan　and　Zhao　Qu　appeared　and　reviled　him　from　the　ramparts　above。　More　than　this；　they　dragged　his　wife；　Lady　Yang；　up　upon　the　wall；　hacked　her　before　his　face；　and　threw　the　bloody　body　at　his　feet。　They　followed　up　this　by　the　murder　in　like　manner　of　his　three　sons　and　other　members　of　his　family　to　the　number　of　ten　and　more。　And　all　their　dead　bodies　were　flung　from　the　wall。
Rage　and　despair　filled　Ma　Chao's　bosom；　he　almost　fell　from　his　steed。　But　little　time　was　allowed　to　grieve；　for　Xiahou　Yuan　was　nearly　upon　him。　Knowing　that　he　could　not　oppose　this　force　with　any　chance　of　victory；　he　made　no　battle　line；　but　set　off　with　two　of　his　generals；　Ma　Dai　and　Pang　De；　to　cut　his　way　through　such　parties　of　the　enemy　as　they　might　meet。　Their　sole　object　was　escape；　so　when　they