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！
Ling Bao； Deng Xiang's colleague； rode up quickly to his rescue； but just then a body of horse came dashing down the hill； and their leader shouted； 〃General Huang Zhong is here！〃
With uplifted sword Huang Zhong rode toward Ling Bao； who turned his steed and galloped off to the rear。 Huang Zhong pursued； and the army of Yizhou were thrown into confusion。 So Huang Zhong was able to rescue his colleague Wei Yan。 Huang Zhong had thus slain Deng Xiang and forced his way up to the gate of the camp。 Once again Ling Bao came and engaged Huang Zhong。 The two had fought some ten bouts when appeared another body of soldiers。 Thereupon Ling Bao fled again； and this time he made for the other camp； abandoning his own to the troops of Jingzhou。
But when he drew near his camp； he saw no longer the familiar flags of his own side。 Instead； alien banners fluttered in the breeze。 He checked his steed and stared at the new force。 The leader was a general wearing a silver breastplate and clad in a silken robe； no other than Liu Bei himself。 On his left was his son and on his right rode his nephew。
〃Whither would you e？〃 cried Liu Bei。 〃The camp is ours。 I have captured it。〃
Now Liu Bei had led his troops in the track of the other two armies ready to help either in case of need。 He had e across the empty and undefended camp and taken possession。
Left with no place of refuge； Ling Bao set off along a byway to try to get back to Luocheng。 He had not gone far when he fell into an ambush and was taken prisoner。 Bound with cords he was taken to the camp of Liu Bei。
The ambush had been prepared by Wei Yan； who； knowing he had mitted a fault that could in no wise be explained away； had collected as many of his soldiers as he could find and made some of the captured soldiers of Yizhou guide him to a spot suitable for laying an ambush。
Liu Bei had hoisted the flag of amnesty for his enemies； and whenever any soldier of the West River Land laid down his weapons and stripped off his armor he was spared。 Also all the wounded were granted life。 Liu Bei told his enemies that they had liberty of choice。
He said； 〃You soldiers have parents and wives and little ones at home； and those who wish to return to them are free to go。 If any wish to join my army； they also will be received。〃
At this proof of generosity the sound of rejoicing filled the land。
Having made his camp； Huang Zhong came to Liu Bei and said； 〃Wei Yan should be put to death for disobedience！〃
The culprit was summoned and came； bringing with him his prisoner。 Liu Bei decided that the merit of capturing an enemy should be set against his fault and bade him thank his rescuer； enjoining upon them both to quarrel no more。 Wei Yan bowed his head and confessed his fault； and Huang Zhong was handsomely rewarded。
The prisoner was then taken before Liu Bei to decide upon his fate。 Liu Bei loosened Ling Bao's bonds by his own hands and gave him the cup of consolation。 After he had drunk； Liu Bei asked if he was willing to surrender。
〃Since you give me my life； I can do no other；〃 said he。 〃Moreover； my two panions； Liu Gui and Zhang Ren； and I are sworn to live or die together。 If you will release me； I will return and bring them also to you and therewith you will get possession of Luocheng。〃
Liu Bei gladly accepted the offer。 He gave Ling Bao clothing and a horse and bade him go to the city to carry out his plan。
〃Do not let him go；〃 said Wei Yan。 〃If you do； you will never see him again。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃If I treat humans with kindness and justice； they will not betray my trust。〃
So the prisoner was set free。
When Ling Bao reached the city and saw his two friends； he told them； saying； 〃I slew many of the enemy and escaped by mounting the steed of one of them。〃
Ling Bao said no word of having been captured。 Messengers were sent in haste to Chengdu for help。
The loss of his general； Deng Xiang； disturbed the Imperial Protector greatly。 He called his advisers together to consult。
Then his eldest son； Liu Xun； said； 〃Father； let me go to defend Luocheng。〃
〃You may go； my son； but who is there to go with you？〃
One Wu Yi at once offered himself。 He was brother…in…law to Liu Zhang。
Liu Zhang said； 〃It is well that you go； brother…in…law； but who will second you？〃
Wu Yi at once remended two men； Wu Lan and Lei Tong； who were appointed to assist in the mand。 Twenty thousand troops were given them； and they set out for Luocheng。 Liu Gui and Zhang Ren came out to wele them and told them what had happened。
Wu Yi said； 〃If the enemy draw near to the walls； it will be hard to drive them off again。 What do you two think should be done？〃
Ling Bao replied； 〃The city lies along River Fu and the current is strong。 The enemy camp lies low at the foot of the hills。 With five thousand people I can cut the river banks； flood their camp； and drown Liu Bei and his army with him。〃
The plan was approved； and Ling Bao went away to carry it out。 Wu Lan and Lei Tong were told off to supervise the workers。 They began to prepare the tools for cutting the bank。
Leaving Huang Zhong and Wei Yan in mand of the two camps； Liu Bei went away to Fucheng to consult with Pang Tong； the army's instructor。 Intelligence had been received that Sun Quan had sent a messenger to seek to make a league with Zhang Lu to make a joint attack upon the Jiameng Pass； and Liu Bei was alarmed lest it should e to pass。
〃If they do that； I am taken in the rear and helpless in both advance and retreat；〃 said he。 〃What do you counsel； O Instructor？〃
Pang Tong turned to Meng Da； saying； 〃You are a native of Shu and well skilled in its topography。 What can be done to make the Pass secure？〃
〃Let me take a certain man with me； and I will defend it myself and answer for its safety。〃
〃Who is he？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃He was formerly an officer under Liu Biao。 His name is Huo Jun； and he is a native of Nanjun in the south。〃
This offer was accepted； and the two generals departed。
After the council； when Pang Tong returned to his lodging； the doorkeeper told him that a visitor had arrived。 When Pang Tong went out to receive him； he saw a huge tall fellow eight cubits in stature and of noble countenance。 His hair had been cut short and hung upon his neck。 He was poorly dressed。
〃Who may you be； Master？〃 asked Pang Tong。
The visitor made no reply； but went at once straight up the room and lay upon the couch。 Pang Tong felt very suspicious of the man and repeated his question。
Pressed again； the visitor said； 〃Do let me rest a little。 Then I will talk with you about everything in the world。〃
This answer only added to the mystery and increased the host's suspicion； but he had wine and food brought in； of which the guest partook ravenously。 Having eaten； he lay down and fell asleep。
Pang Tong wag greatly puzzled and thought the man must be a spy。 He sent for Fa Zheng； met him in the courtyard； and told him about the strange visitor。
〃Surely it can be no other than Peng Yang；〃 said Fa Zheng。
Fa Zheng went inside and looked。
Immediately the visitor jumped up； saying； 〃I hope you have been well since we parted last！〃
Because two old friends meet again；
A river's fatal flood is checked。
The next chapter will explain who the stranger was。
Main Next to Chapter 63 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Zhuge Liang Mourns For Pang Tong；
Zhang Fei Releases Yan Yan。
Fa Zheng and the new er met with every sign of joy； clapping their hands and laughing with pleasure。
〃This is Peng Yang of Guanghan； one of our heroes。 His blunt speech； however； offended Imperial Protector Liu Zhang； who put him to shame by shaving his head； loading him with fetters； and forcing him into a monastery。 That is why his hair is short。〃
The introduction made； Pang Tong treated the stranger with all the courtesy due to a guest and asked why he had e。
〃To save a myriad of your soldiers' lives。 I will explain fully when I see General Liu Bei。〃
A message was sent to Liu Bei； who came over to see the visitor。
〃How many troops have you； General？〃 asked Peng Yang； when Liu Bei arrived。
Liu Bei told him。
〃As a leader you cannot be ignorant of the lie of the land。 Your camps over there are on River Fu。 If the river be diverted and the enemy hold your army in front and rear； not a soul can escape。〃
Liu Bei realized that this was true。
Peng Yang continued； 〃In the heaven； the bowl of the Dipper lies toward the west； and Venus stands over against us。 The aspect is ominous of evil； and some misfortune threatens。 It must be warded off。〃
Liu Bei offered Peng Yang an appointment as an adviser。 Then he sent messages to the generals at the camps telling them to keep most vigilant look…out to guard against the cutting of the river bank。 When this message came； Huang Zhong and Wei Yan agreed together to take duty day and night about and maintain the strict watch necessary in the presence of an enemy near at hand。 They arranged means of munication in case either met with a body of the enemy。
One very stormy night； Ling Bao ventured out with a strong party of five thousand and went along the river bank to seek a suitable place for the breach。 But a sudden shouting in his rear told him that the army of Jingzhou were on the alert； and he at once re