第一小说网

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第13部分（第2页）

Luckily；　two　other　troops　led　by　Qiao　Mao　and　Yuan　Yi　came　up　and　rescued　the　wounded　Wang　Kuang；　and　Lu　Bu　pulled　back。　The　three；　having　lost　many　troops；　withdrew　ten　miles　and　made　a　stockade。　And　before　long　the　remaining　five　manders　came　up　and　joined　them。　They　held　a　council　and　agreed　Lu　Bu　was　a　hero　no　one　could　match。

And　while　they　sat　there　anxious　and　uncertain；　it　was　announced　that　Lu　Bu　had　returned　to　challenge　them。　They　mounted　their　horses　and　placed　themselves　at　the　heads　of　eight　forces；　each　body　in　its　station　on　the　high　ground。　Around　them　was　the　opposing　army　in　formation；　manded　by　Lu　Bu；　innumerable　horse　and　foot；　with　splendid　embroidered　banners　waving　in　the　breeze。

They　attacked　Lu　Bu。　Mu　Shun；　a　general　of　Governor　Zhang　Yang；　rode　out　with　his　spear　set；　but　soon　fell　at　the　first　encounter　with　Lu　Bu。　This　frightened　the　others。　Then　galloped　forth　Wu　Anguo；　a　general　under　Governor　Kong　Rong。　Wu　Anguo　raised　his　iron　mace　ready　at　his　rival。　Lu　Bu　whirling　his　halberd　and　urging　on　his　steed　came　to　meet　Wu　Anguo。　The　two　fought；　well　matched　for　ten　bouts；　when　a　blow　from　the　trident　halberd　broke　Wu　Anguos　wrist。　Letting　his　mace　fall　to　the　ground　he　fled。　Then　all　eight　of　the　lords　led　forth　their　armies　to　his　rescue；　and　Lu　Bu　retired　to　his　line。

The　fighting　then　ceased；　and　after　their　return　to　camp　another　council　met。

Cao　Cao　said；　〃No　one　can　stand　against　the　prowess　of　Lu　Bu。　Let　us　call　up　all　the　lords　and　evolve　some　good　plan。　If　only　Lu　Bu　were　taken；　Dong　Zhuo　could　easily　be　killed。〃

While　the　council　was　in　progress　again　came　Lu　Bu　to　challenge　them；　and　again　the　manders　moved　out　against　him。　This　time　Gongsun　Zan；　flourishing　his　spear；　went　to　meet　the　enemy。　After　a　very　few　bouts　Gongsun　Zan　turned　and　fled；　Lu　Bu　following　at　the　topmost　speed　of　Red　Hare。　Red　Hare　was　a　five…hundred…mile…a…day　horse；　swift　as　the　wind。　The　lords　watched　Red　Hare　gained　rapidly　upon　the　flying　horseman；　and　Lu　Bus　halberd　was　poised　ready　to　strike　Gongsun　Zan　just　behind　the　heart。　Just　then　dashed　in　a　third　rider　with　round　glaring　eyes　and　a　bristling　mustache；　and　armed　with　a　ten…foot　serpent　halberd。

＇e＇　Yan　was　a　state　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Located　in　the　northeast；　and　north　of　Qi。　。。。。。

〃Stay；　O　twice　bastard！〃　roared　he；　〃I；　Zhang　Fei　of　Yan*；　await　you！〃

Seeing　this　opponent；　Lu　Bu　left　the　pursuit　of　Gongsun　Zan　and　engaged　the　new　adversary。　Zhang　Fei　was　elated；　and　he　rode　forth　with　all　his　energies。　They　two　were　worthily　matched；　and　they　exchanged　half　a　hundred　bouts　with　no　advantage　to　either　side。　Then　Guan　Yu；　impatient；　rode　out　with　his　huge　and　weighty　green…dragon　saber　and　attacked　Lu　Bu　on　the　other　flank。　The　three　steeds　formed　a　triangle　and　their　riders　battered　away　at　each　other　for　thirty　bouts；　yet　still　Lu　Bu　stood　firm。

Then　Liu　Bei　rode　out　to　his　brothers　aid；　his　double　swords　raised　ready　to　strike。　The　steed　with　the　flowing　mane　was　urged　in　at　an　angle；　and　now　Lu　Bu　had　to　contend　with　three　surrounding　warriors　at　whom　he　struck　one　after　another；　and　they　at　him；　the　flashing　of　the　warriors　weapons　looking　like　the　revolving　lamps　suspended　at　the　new　year。　And　the　warriors　of　the　eight　armies　gazed　rapt　with　amazement　at　such　a　battle。

But　Lu　Bus　guard　began　to　weaken　and　fatigue　seized　him。　Looking　hard　in　the　face　of　Liu　Bei；　Lu　Bu　feigned　a　fierce　thrust　thus　making　Liu　Bei　suddenly　draw　back。　Then；　lowering　his　halberd；　Lu　Bu　dashed　through　the　angle　thus　opened　and　got　away。

But　was　it　likely　they　would　allow　him　to　escape？　They　whipped　their　steeds　and　followed　hard。　The　soldiers　of　the　eight　armies　cracked　their　throats　with　thunderous　cheers　and　all　dashed　forward；　pressing　after　Lu　Bu　as　he　made　for　the　shelter　of　the　Tiger　Trap　Pass。　And　first　among　his　pursuers　were　the　three　brothers。

An　ancient　poet　has　told　of　this　famous　fight　in　these　lines：

The　fateful　day　of　Han　came　in　the　reigns　of　Huan　and　Ling；

Their　glory　declined　as　the　sun　sinks　at　the　close　of　day。

Dong　Zhuo；　infamous　minister　of　state；　pulled　down　the　youthful　Bian。

It　is　true　the　new　Xian　was　a　weakling；　too　timid　for　his　times。

Then　Cao　Cao　proclaimed　abroad　these　wicked　deeds；

And　the　great　lords；　moved　with　anger；　assembled　their　forces。

In　council　met　they　and　chose　as　their　oath…chief　Yuan　Shao；

Pledged　themselves　to　maintain　the　ruling　house　and　tranquillity。

Of　the　warriors　of　that　time　matchless　Lu　Bu　was　the　boldest。

His　valor　and　prowess　are　sung　by　all　within　the　four　seas。

He　clothed　his　body　in　silver　armor　like　the　scales　of　a　dragon；

On　his　head　was　a　golden　headdress　with　pheasant　tails；

About　his　waist　a　shaggy　belt；　the　clasp；　two　wild　beasts　heads　with　gripping　jaws；

His　flowing；　embroidered　robe　fluttered　about　his　form；

His　swift　courser　bounded　over　the　plain；　a　mighty　wind　following；

His　terrible　trident　halberd　flashed　in　the　sunlight；　bright　as　a　placid　lake。

Who　dared　face　him　as　he　rode　forth　to　challenge？

The　bowels　of　the　confederate　lords　were　torn　with　fear　and　their　hearts　trembled。

Then　leaped　forth　Zhang　Fei；　the　valiant　warrior　of　the　north；

Gripped　in　his　mighty　hand　the　long　serpent　halberd；

His　mustache　bristled　with　anger；　standing　stiff　like　wire。

His　round　eyes　glared；　lightning　flashes　darted　from　them。

Neither　quailed　in　the　fight；　but　the　is