第一小说网

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第149部分（第1页）

Soon　Cao　Hong　reported：　〃The　enemys　fleet　blankets　the　river；　but　no　sign　of　movements。〃

Feeling　suspicious；　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　to　the　river　to　watch　the　enemy　and　deploy　his　troops。　On　the　river　he　saw　displayed　a　fleet　of　ships　all　arranged　in　admirable　order；　the　divisions　being　marked　by　distinctive　flags。　The　equipment　glittered　in　the　sunlight。　In　the　center　was　a　large　ship　whereon　was　a　huge　umbrella；　and　beneath　the　shade　sat　Sun　Quan　in　the　midst　of　his　staff。

〃That　is　the　sort　of　son　to　have；〃　said　Cao　Cao　in　admiration；　〃not　such　piglets　and　puppies　as　Liu　Biaos。〃

Suddenly；　at　the　explosion　of　a　bomb；　the　ships　got　under　way　and　came　flying　toward　him；　while　a　force　moved　out　of　River　Ruxu。　Cao　Caos　soldiers　at　once　retired　in　great　haste。　A　pany　led　by　the　green…eyed；　purple…bearded　Sun　Quan　made　straight　for　Cao　Cao；　who　hastily　retreated。　But　Cao　Cao　was　sore　pressed　by　other　Sun　Quans　manders；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai；　and　it　had　gone　hard　with　him　but　that　Xu　Chu　came　to　his　rescue　and　fought　with　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　till　his　master　could　escape。　Xu　Chu　fought　some　score　bouts　before　he　could　draw　off　and　return　to　his　own　aide。

When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　camp；　he　conferred　rich　rewards　upon　his　henchman　who　had　saved　him；　and　he　reprimanded　his　other　leaders　for　their　too　hasty　retirement。

〃You　blunt　the　keen　spirits　of　the　army。　And　if　you　do　such　a　thing　again；　I　will　put　you　to　death；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

About　midnight　that　night　there　arose　great　motion　at　the　gates　of　the　camp。　When　Cao　Cao　went　outside；　he　found　that　the　enemy　had　crept　up　secretly　and　started　a　conflagration。　The　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　forced　their　way　into　the　stockade　and　went　hither　and　thither；　slaying　till　morning　broke。　Then　Cao　Cao　and　his　army　retired。

Cao　Cao　was　greatly　distressed　by　this　misfortune。　He　was　sitting　in　his　tent　poring　over　the　Book　of　War　when　Cheng　Yu　came　in　to　see　him。

〃O　Prime　Minister；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃you　who　know　so　thoroughly　the　art　of　war；　have　you　forgotten　the　maxim　to　strike　quickly？　You　had　your　army　ready；　but　you　postponed　action　and　allowed　your　enemies　to　build　the　ramparts　at　River　Ruxu。　Now　you　will　find　it　hard　to　capture　the　place。　It　would　be　better　now　to　retreat　on　the　capital　and　await　a　more　propitious　moment。〃

Cao　Cao　listened；　but　said　nothing。　After　a　time　Cheng　Yu　went　away。　Cao　Cao　remained　seated　in　his　tent；　leaning　on　a　small　table　by　his　side。　And　he　fell　asleep。　Suddenly　he　heard　a　sound　as　of　a　rushing　stream　or　galloping　squadrons　of　horse；　and　out　of　the　river　in　front　of　him　arose　a　huge　red　sun；　so　bright　that　his　eyes　were　dazzled　by　it。　Looking　up　at　the　sky；　he　saw　two　other　suns　as　if　reflections　of　this　one。　And　as　he　wondered；　the　first　sun　suddenly　flew　up　and　then　dropped　among　the　hills　in　front　of　his　camp　with　a　roar　like　thunder。

This　woke　him。　He　was　in　his　tent　and　had　been　dreaming；　and　the　sentry　at　his　tent　door　was　just　reporting　noon。

Soon　he　had　his　horse　saddled　and　rode　out；　with　a　small　escort　of　fifty　riders；　toward　the　spot　he　had　seen　in　his　dream。　As　he　stood　gazing　around　him；　an　army　of　horse　came　along　with　Sun　Quan　at　their　head。　Sun　Quan　wore　a　glittering　helmet　and　was　clad　in　silver　armor。

Seeing　his　chief　enemy；　Sun　Quan　showed　no　sign　of　haste　or　dismay；　but　reined　in　his　steed　on　a　rise。

Pointing　with　his　whip　at　Cao　Cao；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Behold　the　all…powerful　minister　who　holds　the　Middle　Land　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand！　He　has　reached　the　acme　of　wealth　and　good　fortune　and　yet　he　is　not　content；　but　must　e　to　encroach　upon　our　South　Land。〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃You　are　disobedient；　and　the　mand　of　the　Emperor　is　to　exterminate　you！〃

〃What　words！〃　cried　Sun　Quan　with　a　laugh。　〃Are　you　not　ashamed？　Everyone　knows　that　you　control　every　act　of　the　Emperor　and　you　tyrannize　over　the　nobles。　I　am　no　rebel　against　the　dynasty；　but　I　do　desire　to　capture　you　and　reform　the　government。〃

Cao　Cao　grew　angry　at　this　speech　and　bade　his　generals　go　over　and　take　Sun　Quan　prisoner。　But　before　they　could　obey；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai；　Chen　Wu　and　Pan　Zhang　led　out　two　armies　of　soldiers　from　left　and　right　at　the　sound　of　beating　drums；　and　arrows　and　crossbow　bolts　began　to　fall　like　raindrops　around　Cao　Cao。　He　turned　to　retire；　and　the　archers　and　bowmen　followed　him。　However；　presently　appeared　Xu　Chu；　with　the　Tiger　Guards；　who　rescued　Cao　Cao　and　took　him　back　to　his　camp。　The　army　of　the　South　Land　had　scored　a　victory；　and　they　marched　back　to　River　Ruxu。

Alone　in　his　camp；　Cao　Cao　thought；　〃This　Sun　Quan　certainly　is　no　ordinary　man；　and　by　the　presage　of　the　sun　in　my　dream　he　will　bee　an　emperor。〃

He　began　to　think　it　would　be　well　to　retire　from　the　expedition；　only　that　he　feared　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　would　exult　over　him。　So　the　two　armies　remained　facing　each　other　a　whole　month；　fighting　occasional　skirmishes　and　battles　in　which　victory　fell　sometimes　to　the　one　and　sometimes　to　the　other。

And　so　it　went　on　till　the　new　year；　and　the　spring　rains　filled　the　watercourses　to　overflowing；　and　the　soldiers　were　wading　in　deep　mud。　Their　sufferings　were　extreme；　and　Cao　Cao　became　sad　at　heart。　At　the　council　board　his　officers　were　divided；　some　being　for　retirement　and　others　anxious　to　hold　on　till　the　warm　weather。　Their　chief　could　not　make　up　his　mind。

Then　there　came　a　messenger　from　the　South　Land　bearing　a　letter　of　Sun　Quan；　which　read：

〃You　and　I；　O　Prime　Minister；　are　both　servants　of　Han；　but　you　are　careless　for　the　tranquillity　of　the　people　and　think　only　of　battle；　thereby　causing　great　suffering。　Is　this　conduct　worthy　of　a　kindly　person？

〃But　spring　with　its　heavy　rains　is　at　hand；　and　you　would　be　wise　to　retire　while　you　can。　If　not；　you　may　expect　a　repetition　of　the　misfortune　at　the　Red　Cliffs。　It　would　be　well　to　consider　this。〃

And　on　the　back　of　the　letter　was　a　note　in　a　line　running　thus：　〃No　tranquillity　for　me　while　you　live！〃

Cao　Cao　read　the　letter　and　laughed。

〃Sun　Quan　speaks　the　truth！〃　said　he。

He　rewarded　the　messenger　and　issued　orders　to　retreat。　The　Governor　of　Lujiang；　Zhu　Guang；　was　left　to　guard　Huancheng。　The　army　marched　for　the　capital。

Sun　Quan　returned　to　Jianye。