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！
〃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 victory to Liu Bei； who came with Zhuge Liang to the scene of the victory； and there they heard the full story of Zhao Yun's prowess。 Liu Bei was very glad； and when he had seen the steepness and difficulties of the surrounding hills； he understood the fine deeds of valor that had been done。
Turning to Zhuge Liang； Liu Bei said； 〃Truly； the man is brave all through！〃
Behold Zhao Yun of Changshan；
Whose whole body is valor；
Formerly he fought at Dangyang；
And his courage today is no less。
He rushes into the array to manifest heroism；
Surrounded by his enemies；
He is dauntless and daring。
Devils howl and spirits cry；
The sky is afraid and earth trembles。
Such is Zhao Yun； the brave；
Whose whole body is valor。
For his services Liu Bei gave Zhao Yun the title of General Who Possesses Tiger Prowess。 And the soldiers of his army were rewarded； and there was banqueting to a late hour。
Soon it was reported： 〃Cao Cao is ing again down through the Xie Valley to try to capture River Han。〃
But Liu Bei laughed； saying； 〃He will not succeed； for I think that we shall gain mand of the river。〃
Then Liu Bei led his army west of the river to oppose Cao Cao。 When Cao Cao drew near； he sent out Xu Huang to lead the van and open the battle。
A General named Wang Ping said； 〃I know the country well； and I wish to help General Xu Huang to destroy the army of Shu。〃
Wang Ping was sent as second in mand。
Cao Cao camped on the north of Dingjun Mountain； and his advanced guard marched away making for River Han。 And when they reached the bank； Xu Huang gave orders to cross to the other side。
〃To cross the river is well；〃 said Wang Ping； 〃but what if you have to retreat？〃
＇e＇ Han Xin was a general of Liu Bang。 Before serving Han； Han Xin had been an officer under Xiang Yu。 Disappointed because his plans were rejected； Han Xin left Xiang Yu and joined Liu Bang's camp； where he was made mander…in…Chief by remendations of Xiao He and Zhang Liang。 Enobled as King of Qi； then King of Chu。 。。。。。
〃Of old； when Han Xin* made his array with a river in his rear； he said that out of the place of death one could return to life。〃
〃You are mistaken now。 The cases are not the same； for then Han Xin knew his opponents were unskillful。 Have you reckoned upon the skill of our opponents； Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong？〃
〃You may lead the footmen to hold the enemy while I destroy them with the horsemen；〃 said Xu Huang。
Then bridges were built and the army crossed。
A man of Wei wildly quoted Han Xin；
A minister of Shu would be another Zhang Liang？
Who won the victory will next be revealed。
Main Next to Chapter 72 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Zhuge Liang's Wit Takes Hanzhong；
Cao Cao's Army Retires To The Ye Valley。
In spite of the most earnest dissuasion； Xu Huang crossed the river and camped。 Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun asked to be allowed to go against the host of Cao Cao； and Liu Bei gave his consent。
Then said Huang Zhong； 〃Xu Huang has been bold enough to e。 We will not go out against him till evening； when his soldiers are fatigued。 Then we will fall upon him one on either side。〃
Zhao Yun consented； and each retired to a stockade。 Xu Huang appeared and for a long time tried to draw them into a fight； but they refused to go forth。 Then Xu Huang ordered his bowmen to begin to shoot straight before them； and the arrows and bolts fell in the Shu camp。
Huang Zhong said； 〃He must be thinking of retreat； or he would not shoot thus。 Now is our time to smite him。〃
Then the scouts reported that the rearmost bodies of the enemy had begun to retreat。 The drums of Shu rolled a deafening peal； and Huang Zhong's army from the left and Zhao Yun's army from the right came to the attack； and the double fight began。 Xu Huang was badly defeated； and the flying soldiers were forced to River Han； where many were drowned。 But Xu Huang escaped after fighting desperately； and when he got back to camp； he blamed his colleague Wang Ping for not having e to his aid。
〃Had I done so； these camps would have been left unguarded；〃 said Wang Ping。 〃I tried to dissuade you from going； but you would not hear me； and you brought about this reverse yourself。〃
Xu Huang in his wrath tried to slay Wang Ping； but Wang Ping escaped to his own camp。 In the night； Wang Ping set fire on both camps； and great confusion reigned in the lines。 Xu Huang ran away； but Wang Ping crossed the river and surrendered to Zhao Yun； who led him to Liu Bei。 Wang Ping told Liu Bei all about River Han and the country near by。
〃I shall surely capture Hanzhong now that you are here to help me； friend Wang Ping；〃 said Liu Bei。
Liu Bei made Wang Ping General and Army Guide。
Xu Huang reported Wang Ping's defection； which made Cao Cao very angry。 Cao Cao placed himself at the head of a force and tried to retake the bank of the river。
Zhao Yun； thinking his troops too few； retired to the west side； and the two armies lay on opposite sides of the stream。 Liu Bei and his adviser came down to view the position。 Zhuge Liang saw in the upper course of the stream a hill which might well screen a thousand soldiers。
So Zhuge Liang returned to camp； called in Zhao Yun and said； 〃General； you lead five hundred troops； with drums and horns； and place them in ambush behind the hill； to await certain orders which will e some time during the night or at dawn。 When you hear a detonation； you are not to appear； only give a long roll of the drums at every report。〃
Zhao Yun departed to play his part in the drama； while Zhuge Liang went to a hill whence he could overlook the scene。
When next the army of Cao Cao approached the camp of Shu and offered battle； not a man came out； nor was an arrow or a bolt shot。 They retired without any result。 But in the depths of the night； when all the lights in the camp were extinguished and all appeared tranquil and restful； Zhuge Liang exploded a bomb； and at once Zhao Yun beat his drums and blared his trumpets。 Cao Cao's soldiers awoke in alarm； thinking it was a night raid。 They rushed out； but there was no enemy； and as the hubbub ceased they went back to sleep。 Soon after there was ano