第一小说网

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第117部分（第3页）

Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　sailed　out　each　with　a　small　squadron　of　five　ships　in　line。

The　two　braggarts　from　the　north；　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng；　really　only　trusted　to　their　boldness　and　luck。　Their　ships　came　down　under　the　powerful　strokes　of　the　oars。　As　they　neared；　the　two　leaders　put　on　their　heart…protectors；　gripped　their　spears；　and　each　took　his　station　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　ship　of　his　division。　Jiao　Chus　ship　led　and　as　soon　as　he　came　near　enough；　his　troops　began　to　shoot　at　Han　Dang；　who　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　buckler。　Jiao　Chu　twirled　his　long　spear　as　he　engaged　his　opponent。　But；　at　the　first　thrust；　he　was　killed。

His　rade　Zhang　Neng　with　the　other　ships　was　ing　up　with　great　shouts；　when　Zhou　Tai　sailed　up　at　an　angle；　and　these　two　squadrons　began　shooting　arrows　at　each　other　in　clouds。　Zhou　Tai　fended　off　the　arrows　with　his　shield　and　stood　gripping　his　sword　firmly　till　his　ships　came　within　a　few　spans　of　the　enemys　ships；　when　he　leaped　across　and　cut　down　Zhang　Neng。　Zhang　Nengs　dead　body　fell　into　the　water。　Then　the　battle　became　confused；　and　the　attacking　ships　rowed　hard　to　get　away。　The　southerners　pursued　but　soon　came　in　sight　of　Wen　Pings　supporting　fleet。　Once　more　the　ships　engaged　and　the　forces　fought　with　each　other。

Zhou　Yu　with　his　officers　stood　on　the　summit　of　a　mountain　and　watched　his　own　and　the　enemy　ships　out　on　the　river。　The　flags　and　the　ensigns　were　all　in　perfect　order。　Then　he　saw　Wen　Ping　and　his　own　fleets　engaged　in　battle；　and　soon　it　was　evident　that　the　former　was　not　a　match　for　his　own　sailors。　Wen　Ping　turned　about　to　retire；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　pursued。　Zhou　Yu　fearing　lest　his　sailors　should　go　too　far；　then　hoisted　the　white　flag　of　recall。

To　his　officers　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃The　masts　of　the　northern　ships　stand　thick　as　reeds。　Cao　Cao　himself　is　full　of　wiles。　How　can　we　destroy　him？〃

No　one　replied；　for　just　then　the　great　yellow　flag　that　flapped　in　the　breeze　in　the　middle　of　Cao　Caos　fleet　suddenly　fell　over　into　the　river。

Zhou　Yu　laughed。

〃That　is　a　bad　omen；〃　said　he。

Then　an　extra　violent　blast　of　wind　came　by；　and　the　waves　rose　high　and　beat　upon　the　bank。　A　corner　of　his　own　flag　flicked　Zhou　Yu　on　the　cheek；　and　suddenly　a　thought　flashed　through　his　mind。　Zhou　Yu　uttered　a　loud　cry；　staggered；　and　fell　backward。　They　picked　him　up。　There　was　blood　upon　his　lips；　and　he　was　unconscious。　Presently；　however；　he　revived。

And　once　he　laughed；　then　gave　a　cry；

This　is　hard　to　ensure　a　victory。

Zhou　Yus　fate　will　appear　as　the　story　unfolds。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　49　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　49

Chapter　49

On　Seven…Star　Altar；　Zhuge　Liang　Sacrifices　To　The　Winds；

At　Three　Gorges；　Zhou　Yu　Liberates　The　Fire。

In　the　last　chapter　Zhou　Yu　was　seized　with　sudden　illness　as　he　watched　the　fleets　of　his　enemy。　He　was　borne　to　his　tent；　and　his　officers　came　in　multitudes　to　inquire　after　him。

They　looked　at　each　other；　saying；　〃What　a　pity　our　general　should　be　taken　ill；　when　Cao　Caos　legions　threaten　so　terribly！　What　would　happen　if　Cao　Cao　attacked？〃

Messengers　with　the　evil　tidings　were　sent　to　Sun　Quan；　while　the　physicians　did　their　best　for　the　invalid。　Lu　Su　was　particularly　sad　at　the　illness　of　his　patron　and　went　to　see　Zhuge　Liang　to　talk　it　over。

〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Good　luck　for　Cao　Cao；　bad　for　us；〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃I　could　cure　him；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　laughing。

〃If　you　could；　Wu　would　be　very　fortunate；〃　said　Lu　Su。

Lu　Su　prayed　Zhuge　Liang　to　go　to　see　the　sick　man。　They　went；　and　Lu　Su　entered　first。　Zhou　Yu　lay　in　bed；　his　head　covered　by　a　quilt。

〃How　are　you；　General？〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃My　heart　pains　me。　Every