第一小说网

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第88部分（第3页）

Shan　Fus　Strategy：　Fankou　Is　Captured；

Xu　Shus　Affection：　Zhuge　Liang　Is　Remended。

In　hot　anger；　Cao　Ren　lost　no　time　in　marching　out　to　avenge　the　loss　of　so　many　of　his　army。　He　hastily　crossed　the　River　Yu　to　attack　Xinye　and　trample　it　in　the　dust。

When　San　Fu　got　back　into　the　city；　he　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃When　Cao　Ren；　now　at　Fancheng；　hears　of　his　losses；　he　will　try　to　retrieve　them　and　will　e　to　attack　us。〃

〃What　is　the　counter　move？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃As　he　will　e　with　all　his　force；　his　own　city　will　be　left　undefended。　We　will　surprise　it。〃

〃By　what　ruse？〃

The　adviser　leaned　over　and　whispered　to　his　chief。　Whatever　the　plan　was；　it　pleased　Liu　Bei；　who　made　arrangements。　Soon　the　scouts　reported　Cao　Ren　crossing　the　river　with　a　mighty　host。

〃Just　as　I　guessed；〃　said　San　Fu；　hearing　of　it。

Then　he　suggested　that　Liu　Bei　should　lead　out　one　army　against　the　invaders。　Liu　Bei　did　so；　and；　when　the　formation　was　plete；　Zhao　Yun　rode　to　the　front　as　champion　and　challenged　the　other　side。

Li　Dian　rode　out　and　engaged。　At　about　the　tenth　bout　Li　Dian　found　he　was　losing　and　retired　toward　his　own　side。　Zhao　Yun　pressed　after　him；　but　was　checked　by　a　heavy　discharge　of　arrows　from　the　wings。　Then　both　sides　stopped　the　battle　and　retired　to　their　camps。

Li　Dian　reported　to　his　chief：　〃Our　enemy　are　brave；　very　full　of　spirit；　and　we　will　be　hard　to　overe。　We　had　better　retreat　to　Fancheng　and　wait　for　reinforcements。〃

Cao　Ren　angrily　replied；　〃You　damped　the　armys　spirit　before　we　started；　and　now　you　betray　us。　You　have　been　bought；　and　you　deserve　death。〃

Cao　Ren　called　in　the　executioners；　and　they　led　away　their　victim。　But　the　other　officers　came　to　intercede；　and　Li　Dian　was　spared。　However；　he　was　transferred　to　the　mand　of　the　rear；　while　Cao　Ren　himself　led　the　attack。

Next　day　the　drums　beat　an　advance　and　Cao　Ren；　having　drawn　up　his　soldiers；　sent　a　messenger　over　to　ask　if　Liu　Bei　recognized　his　plan　of　battle　array。

So　San　Fu　went　on　a　hill　and　looked　over　it。

Then　he　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃The　arrangement　is　called　The　Eight　Docked　Gates；　and　the　names　of　the　gates　are　Birth；　Exit；　Expanse；　Wound；　Fear；　Annihilation；　Obstacle；　and　Death。　If　you　enter　by　one　of　the　three　Birth；　Exit；　or　Expanse　you　succeed。　If　by　one　of　the　gates　Wound；　Fear；　or　Annihilation；　you　sustain　injuries。　The　other　two　gates　Obstacles　and　Death　will　bring　the　end。　Now；　though　the　eight　gates　are　all　there　quite　correct；　the　central　key…post　is　lacking；　and　the　whole　formation　can　be　thrown　into　confusion　by　entry　from　the　southeast　and　exit　due　west。〃

Wherefore　certain　orders　were　issued　and　Zhao　Yun；　leading　five　hundred　troops；　rode　out　on　his　prancing　steed　to　break　the　array。　He　burst　in；　as　directed；　at　the　southeast　and；　with　great　clamor　and　fighting；　reached　the　center。　Cao　Ren　made　for　the　north；　but　Zhao　Yun；　instead　of　following　him；　made　a　dash　westward　and　got　through。　Thence　he　turned　round　to　the　southeast　again　and　smote　till　Cao　Rens　army　was　in　disarray。　Liu　Bei　gave　a　general　advance　signal；　and　the　victory　was　plete。　The　beaten　enemy　retired。

San　Fu　forbade　pursuit；　and　they　returned。　The　loss　of　the　battle　convinced　Cao　Ren　of　the　wisdom　of　his　colleague　Li　Dian；　and　he　sent　for　Li　Dian　to　consult。

〃They　certainly　have　some　very　able　person　in　Liu　Beis　army　since　my　formation　was　so　quickly　broken；〃　said　Cao　Ren。

〃My　chief　anxiety　is　about　Fancheng；〃　said　Li　Dian。

〃I　will　raid　their　camp　this　night；〃　said　Cao　Ren。　〃If　I　succeed；　we　will　decide　upon　what　should　be　done　next。　If　I　fail；　we　will　return　to　Fancheng。〃

〃Their　camp　will　be　well　prepared　against　such　a　thing；　and　you　will　fail；〃　said　Li　Dian。

〃How　can　you　expect　to　fight　successfully　when　you　are　so　full　of　doubts？〃　said　Cao　Ren；　angrily。

He　held　no　more　converse　with　his　cautious　colleague；　but　himself　took　mand　of　the　van　and　set　out。　Li　Dian　was　relegated　to　the　rear。　The　attack　on　the　enemys　camp　was　fixed　for　the　second　watch。

Now　as　San　Fu　was　discussing　plans　with　his　chief　a　whirlwind　from　the　northeast　went　by；　which　San　Fu　said；　〃There　will　be　a　raid　on　the　camp　tonight。〃

〃How　shall　we　meet