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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃But what is there for us in the chance of Liu Qi's death？〃 said Zhou Yu。 〃He is in his very first youth。 When will these places fall to us？〃
〃Rest content； General。 Let me guarantee the return of these places。〃
〃But how can you？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃Liu Qi has indulged too freely in wine and women。 He is a wreck and rotten to the core； miserably emaciated and panting for breath。 I will not give him half a year's life。 Then I will go to Liu Bei； and he will be unable to deny the request。〃
But Zhou Yu was still unmollified。
Suddenly came a messenger from Sun Quan； who said； 〃Our lord is laying siege to Hefei but in several battles has had no victory。 He now orders you to withdraw from here and go to Hefei to help him。〃
Thereupon Zhou Yu marched back to Chaisang。 Having reached home； he began to give attention to the recovery of his health。 He sent Cheng Pu with the marine and land forces to Hefei ready for Sun Quan's call。
Liu Bei was exceedingly well satisfied with the possession of his new region； and his thoughts turned to more ambitious schemes。 Then a certain man came to him to suggest a plan。 This man was Yi Ji and； remembering the kindly feeling of other days； Liu Bei received him most graciously。
When Yi Ji was seated； and his host had asked what he proposed； he said； 〃You wish for a plan to acplish yet greater deeds。 Why not seek wise people and ask them？〃
〃Where are these wise people to be found？〃 asked Liu Bei。
Yi Ji replied； 〃In this region there is a certain family named Ma； five brothers； all of whom are known as men of ability。 The youngest is called Ma Su。 The ablest is Ma Liang； who has white hairs in his eyebrows； and the villagers have a little rhyming couplet that means 'There are five sons in the family Ma； but white eyebrows is the best of them。' You should get this man to draw up a plan for you。〃
So Liu Bei told them to request his presence。 Ma Liang came and was received with great respect。
He was asked to suggest a plan for the security of the newly acquired region； and he said； 〃Attacked as it is on all sides； this region is not one in which one is permanently secure。 You should let Liu Qi remain here till he is recovered from his present illness； but the actual protection of the place is to be placed in the hands of trusty friends。 Obtain an edict appointing him Imperial Protector of Jingzhou； and the people will be content。 Then conquer Wuling； Changsha； Guiyang； and Lingling。 And with the resources you will thus acquire； you will have the means for further plans。 That should be your policy。〃
〃Which of the four territories should be first taken？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃The nearest； Lingling； which lies in the west of River Xiang。 The next is Wuling； and after these the other two。〃
Ma Liang was given an appointment as Imperial Protector Assistant； with Yi Ji as his second。 Then Liu Bei consulted Zhuge Liang about sending Liu Qi to Xiangyang； so that Guan Yu could be free to return。 Next they made preparations to attack Lingling； and Zhang Fei was to lead the van。 Zhao Yun was to guard the rear； while Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were to mand the main body。 A fifteen thousand troops were left to hold Jingzhou。 Mi Zhu and Liu Feng were left to guard Jiangling。
The Governor of Lingling was Liu Du。 When danger thus threatened； he called in his son Liu Xiang； and they discussed the case。
The son was very self…confident and said to his father； 〃Have no anxiety。 They may have the known and famous warriors； Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun； but we have our leader； Xing Darong； who is match for any number of men。 He can withstand them。〃
So Liu Xiang； with the famous leader； was entrusted with the defense。 At the head of a full ten thousand troops； they made a camp about ten miles from the city； with the shelter of hills and a river。 Their scouts brought news that Zhuge Liang was close at hand with one army。 Xing Darong decided to check his advance and went forth to oppose him。 When both sides were arrayed； Xing Darong rode to the front。 In his hand he held a battle…ax called Cleaver of Mountains。
In a mighty voice he cried； 〃Rebels； how es it that you have dared to enter our territory？〃
From the center of the opposing army； where appeared a cluster of yellow flags； there came out a small four…wheeled carriage in which sat； very erect； a certain man dressed in white； with a turban on his head。 In one hand he held a feather fan； with which he signed to the warrior to approach。
At the same time he said； 〃I am Zhuge Liang of Nanyang； whose plans broke up the countless legions of Cao Cao so that nothing of them returned whence they started。 How then can you hope to oppose me？ I now offer you peace； and it will be well for you to surrender。〃
Xing Darong laughed derisively； saying； 〃Their defeat was owing to the plan of Zhou Yu。 You had nothing to do with it。 How dare you try to deceive me？〃
So saying he swung up his battle…ax and came running toward Zhuge Liang。 But Zhuge Liang turned his carriage and retired within the lines which closed up behind him。 Xing Darong came rushing on。 As he reached the array； the troops fell away on both sides and let him enter。 Well within he looked round for his chief opponent。 Seeing a yellow flag moving along quietly； he concluded that Zhuge Liang was with it and so followed it。 When the flag had gone over the shoulder of a hill it stopped。 Then suddenly as if the earth had opened and swallowed it up； the four…wheeled carriage disappeared； while in its place came a ferocious warrior； with a long serpent halberd in his hand and mounted on a curvetting steed。 It was Zhang Fei； who dashed at Xing Darong with a tremendous roar。
Nothing daunted； Xing Darong whirled up his battle…ax and went to meet Zhang Fei。 But after four or five bouts； Xing Darong saw that there was no chance of victory for him； so he turned his horse and ran。 Zhang Fei pursued； the air shaking with the thunder of his voice。 Then the ambushing troops appeared。 Xing Darong； nothing daunted； rushed into their midst。
But in front appeared another warrior barring the way； who called out； 〃Do you know me？ I am Zhao Yun of Changshan。〃
Xing Darong knew that all was over。 He could neither fight nor fly。 So he dismounted and gave in。 He was fettered and taken to camp； where were Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang。 Liu Bei ordered him out to execution； but Zhuge Liang hastily checked him。
〃We will accept your submission if you capture Liu Xiang for us；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The captive accepted the offer without the least hesitation。
When Zhuge Liang asked how he intended to do it； he replied； 〃If you will set me free； I shall be cunning of speech。 If you raid the camp this evening； you will find me your helper on the inside。 I will make Liu Xiang a prisoner and will hand him over to you。 He being captured； his father will surrender at once。〃
Liu Bei doubted the good faith of the man； but Zhuge Liang said； 〃Xing Darong is not deceiving。〃
Wherefore Xing Darong was set free and went back to camp； where he related all that had occurred。
〃What can we do？〃 asked Liu Xiang。
〃We can meet trick with trick。 Put soldiers in ambush tonight outside our camp while within everything will appear as usual。 When Zhuge Liang es we shall capture him。〃
The ambush was prepared。 At the second watch an army came out of the darkness and appeared in the gate。 Each carried a torch and they began to set fire to all about them。 Out dashed Liu Xiang and Xing Darong； and the incendiaries forthwith fled。 The two warriors pursued them； but the fugitives ran and then suddenly disappeared at about three miles from the camp。
Much surprised the two turned to wend their way back to their own camp。 It was still burning for no one had extinguished the flames。 Soon from behind them came out Zhang Fei。
Liu Xiang called out to his panion； saying； 〃Do not enter the burning camp； but to go to attack Zhuge Liang's stockade。〃
Thereupon they turned again； but at a distance of three miles Zhao Yun and an army suddenly debouched upon their road。 Zhao Yun attacked and slew Xing Darong by a spear thrust。 Liu Xiang turned to flee； but Zhang Fei was close upon him and made him prisoner。 He was thrown across a horse； bound； and taken to camp。
When he saw Zhuge Liang； Liu Xiang said； 〃The ruse was Xing Darong's evil counsel。 I was forced to follow。〃
Zhuge Liang ordered them to loose his bonds； had him properly dressed； and gave him wine to cheer him and help him forget his troubles。 When he was recovered； he was told to go to his father and persuade him to yield。
〃And if he does not； the city shall be destroyed and everyone put to death；〃 said Zhuge Liang as Liu Xiang left。
The son returned to the city and told his father these things。 Liu Du at once decided to yield and forthwith hoisted the flag of surrender； opened the gates； and went out taking his seal of office with him。 He was reappointed to his governorship； but his son was sent to Jingzhou for service with the army。
The people of Lingling all rejoiced greatly at the change of rulers。 Liu Bei entered the city； calmed and reassured the people； and rewarded his army。
But he at once began to think of the next move and asked for an officer to volunteer to take Guiyang。 Zhao Yun offered； but Zhang Fei vehemently proposed himself for the