第一小说网

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第152部分（第2页）

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　retired。　Wei　Yan　came　in　pursuit　and；　as　he　pressed　nearer；　Ling　Baos　troops　hurried　forward；　trampling　each　other　down　in　their　haste。　Suddenly　Ling　Bao　and　Wei　Yan　ran　against　each　other；　and　they　engaged。　The　fight　was　very　short；　for　Wei　Yan　soon　took　his　opponent　prisoner。　Wu　Lan　and　Lei　Tong　who　came　to　Ling　Baos　rescue　were　easily　beaten　off；　and　Ling　Bao　was　carried　away。　When　Wei　Yan　reached　the　Pass；　Liu　Bei　saw　Ling　Bao　and　greatly　blamed　him　for　his　base　ingratitude。

〃I　treated　you　generously　and　set　you　free；　yet　you　repaid　me　with　ingratitude。　I　cannot　forgive　again。〃

So　the　prisoner　was　beheaded；　and　his　captor　was　rewarded。　A　banquet　was　given　in　honor　of　Peng　Yang。

Soon　after　this　came　a　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang；　by　the　hand　of　Ma　Liang；　who　reported　all　calm　in　Jingzhou　and　told　Liu　Bei　that　he　need　feel　no　anxiety。　Opening　the　letter；　Liu　Bei　read：

〃I　have　been　making　some　astrological　calculations。　This　is　the　last　year　of　the　cycle；　the　bowl　of　the　Dipper　is　in　the　western　quarter；　and　the　planet　Venus　approaches　Luocheng。　The　configuration　is　inimical　to　leaders；　and　the　utmost　caution　is　necessary。〃

Having　read　this　and　sent　Ma　Liang　away；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　will　return　myself　to　Jingzhou　and　discuss　the　matter。〃

But　Pang　Tong　opposed　this；　for　he　thought　in　his　heart　that　Zhuge　Liangs　warning　was　due　to　a　jealous　desire　to　prevent　him　from　winning　the　glory　of　conducting　a　victorious　campaign　in　West　River　Land。

Therefore　Pang　Tong　said；　〃I　also　have　made　calculations；　and　I　read　the　signs　to　mean　that　the　time　is　favorable　for　you　to　get　possession　of　this　land；　and　no　evil　is　foreshown。　Therefore　be　not　of　doubtful　heart；　my　lord；　but　advance　boldly。〃

Liu　Bei　was　won　over　and　decided　to　follow　Pang　Tongs　advice。　He　ordered　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　to　lead。

Pang　Tong　asked　of　Fa　Zheng　what　roads　there　were　to　follow；　and　the　latter　drew　a　map；　which　was　found　to　agree　exactly　with　that　left　by　Zhang　Song。

Fa　Zheng　said；　〃North　of　the　mountains　is　a　high　road　leading　to　the　east　gate。　South　of　the　mountains　is　another　path　leading　to　the　west　gate。　Both　these　roads　are　suitable　for　the　advance　of　an　army。〃

So　Pang　Tong　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃With　Wei　Yan　to　lead　the　way；　I　will　go　along　the　southern　road；　while　you；　my　lord；　will　advance　along　the　high　road；　with　Huang　Zhong　in　the　van。　We　will　attack　Luocheng　at　the　same　time。〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　was　trained　as　a　mounted　archer　and　am　accustomed　to　by…roads；　wherefore；　O　Instructor；　I　think　you　should　take　the　high　road　and　let　me　take　the　other。〃

〃There　will　be　opposition　on　the　high　road；　and　you　are　the　best　to　deal　with　it。　Let　me　take　the　by…road。〃

〃No；　this　does　not　suit　me；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。　〃A　spirit　bearing　a　massive　iron　club　appeared　to　me　in　a　dream　and　struck　my　right　arm；　so　that　I　suffered　great　pain。　I　feel　sure　this　expedition　will　turn　out　badly。〃

Pang　Tong　replied；　〃When　a　soldier　goes　into　battle；　he　may　be　killed；　or　he　may　be　wounded。　He　accepts　whichever　is　his　fate。　But　should　one　hesitate　because　of　a　dream？〃

〃The　real　reason　of　my　hesitation　is　the　letter　from　Zhuge　Liang。　Wherefore　I　wish　you　to　remain　and　guard　River　Fu　Pass。　Do　you　agree　to　that？〃

Pang　Tong　smiled；　saying；　〃Zhuge　Liang　has　indeed　filled　your　mind　with　doubts。　The　real　thing　is　that　he　is　unwilling　to　let　me　have　the　merit　of　acplishing　a　great　undertaking　alone。　That　is　why　he　has　written　this。　And　your　doubts　and　hesitations　have　produced　the　dream。　But　I　see　nothing　ill…omened；　and　I　am　prepared　for　any　sacrifice　and　mean　just　what　I　say。　Pray；　my　lord；　say　no　more；　but　prepare　to　set　forth。〃

So　the　order　went　forth　that　the　morning　meal　was　to　be　taken　early　and　the　army　was　to　march　at　dawn。　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　were　to　take　the　lead；　one　along　each　road。　These　two　set　out　first；　and　in　due　time　Liu　Bei　and　Pang　Tong　mounted　and　followed。　Suddenly　Pang　Tongs　horse　shied　and　stumbled；　throwing　him　off。

Liu　Bei　jumped　down　and　seized　the　horse　by　the　bridle；　saying；　〃Why　do　you　ride　this　wretched　beast？〃

〃I　have　ridden　him　a　long　time；　and　he　has　never　done　this　before；〃　was　the　reply。

〃A　shying　steed　risks　a　persons　life；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Ride　my　horse；　which　is　thoroughly　trained　and　will　never　fail　you。　Give　me　yours。〃

They　exchanged　horses。

〃I　am　deeply　affected　by　your　kindness；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃I　could　never　repay　you　if　I　suffered　death　a　thousand　times。〃

Soon　their　ways　diverged。　After　his　adviser　had　left；　Liu　Bei　felt　ill　at　ease　and　rode　gloomily。