第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第128部分（第1页）

Then　said　Li　Dian　to　Yue　Jing；　〃He　there　opposite　us　with　the　golden　helm　is　Sun　Quan。　Could　we　but　capture　him；　the　loss　of　our　eight　hundred　thirty　thousand　soldiers　at　the　Red　Cliffs　would　be　amply　avenged。〃

So　speaking　Yue　Jing　rode　out；　alone；　just　one　man　and　one　sword；　and　went　sidelong　toward　the　two　batants。　Then　suddenly；　swift　as　a　flash　of　lightning；　he　ran　forward　and　slashed　at　Sun　Quan。　But　Sun　Quans　two　guards　were　too　quick　for　him。　Up　went　the　two　halberds　of　Song　Qian　and　Jia　Hua　guarding　their　lords　head。　The　blow　fell；　but　on　the　crossed　halberds　which　were　shorn　through　near　the　head；　and　in　another　moment　they　were　hammering　away　on　the　head　of　Yue　Jings　steed　with　the　shafts　of　their　broken　weapons　and　forcing　it　back。

Song　Qian　snatched　a　spear　from　a　soldier　near　and　went　in　pursuit　of　Yue　Jing；　but　Li　Dian；　on　the　other　side；　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow　and　aimed　at　Song　Qians　heart　from　behind。　And　Song　Qian　fell　as　the　bowstring　twanged。

Then　Taishi　Ci；　seeing　his　colleague　fell；　left　off　the　fight　with　Zhang　Liao　and　returned　to　his　own　line。　At　this　Zhang　Liao　fell　on　in　a　swift　attack；　and　the　army　of　Sun　Quan；　thrown　into　confusion；　scattered　and　fled。

Zhang　Liao；　having　distinguished　Sun　Quan　in　the　distance；　galloped　in　pursuit　and　had　nearly　e　up　with　him；　when　Cheng　Pu　happily　rushed　in　from　one　side　of　the　line　of　fight；　stayed　the　pursuit；　and　saved　his　master。　Zhang　Liao　withdrew　to　Hefei。　Sun　Quan　was　escorted　back　to　his　main　camp；　where　his　beaten　soldiers　gradually　rejoined　him　and　their　ranks　were　reformed。

When　Sun　Quan　knew　of　the　death　of　Song　Qian；　he　was　greatly　pained　and　wept　aloud。

But　Adviser　Zhang　Hong　reproached　him；　saying；　〃My　lord；　you　relied　too　much　upon　your　martial　prowess　and　lightly　engaged　in　battle　with　a　formidable　enemy。　Every　person　in　the　army　was　chilled　with　fear；　and　you　lost　a　general　and　some　of　your　banners。　It　is　not　for　you　to　exhibit　prowess　on　the　actual　battlefield　and　encroach　upon　the　duties　of　a　general。　Rather　curb　and　repress　such　physical　feats　as　those　ancient　Xia　Yu　and　Meng　Ben；　and　contemplate　schemes　of　exercising　princely　virtues　with　the　hegemony　of　all　the　feudal　states。　It　is　because　of　your　ill…regulated　action　in　engaging　in　battle　that　Song　Qian　perished　at　the　hands　of　your　enemies。　Hereafter　you　should　regard　as　most　important　your　personal　safety。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　indeed　a　fault；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃I　will　reform。〃

Soon　after；　Taishi　Ci　entered　the　tent　and　said；　〃In　my　mand　there　is　a　certain　Ge　Ding；　brother　of　a　groom　in　the　army　of　Zhang　Liao。　This　servant　is　deeply　resentful　on　account　of　a　punishment　inflicted　upon　him　and　is　anxious　to　be　revenged。　He　has　sent　over　to　say　that　he　will　show　a　signal　tonight　when　he　has　assassinated　Zhang　Liao　in　revenge　for　the　death　of　your　late　leader　Song　Qian。　I　wish　to　take　some　troops　over　to　await　this　signal　to　attack。〃

〃Where　is　Ge　Ding？〃　asked　Sun　Quan。

〃Ge　Ding　has　mingled　with　the　enemy　and　gone　into　the　city。　Let　me　have　five　thousand　soldiers。〃

Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃Zhang　Liao　is　full　of　guile。　I　think　you　will　find　him　prepared　for　your　ing。　Be　careful。〃

As　Taishi　Ci　urged　his　chief　to　let　him　go；　and　Sun　Quan　was　deeply　hurt　by　the　death　of　his　leader；　the　permission　was　given　and　the　force　started。

Now　here　it　must　be　said　that　Taishi　Ci　and　this　Ge　Ding　were　natives　of　the　same　place。　Ge　Ding　had　made　his　way　into　the　city　without　detection；　found　his　brother；　and　the　two　had　arranged　their　plot。

Ge　Ding　also　told　him；　saying；　〃Taishi　Ci　will　e　over　tonight　to　help　us。　What　need　to　be　done　now？〃

His　brother；　the　groom；　said；　〃As　the　troops　of　Sun　Quan　are　far　away；　I　fear　they　cannot　be　here　tonight；　so　we　will　make　a　huge　bonfire　of　straw　and　then　you　can　rush　out　and　cry　treachery。　That　will　throw　all　into　confusion　and　will　give　a　chance　to　kill　Zhang　Liao。〃

〃This　is　an　excellent　plan；〃　said　Ge　Ding。

Now　after　the　victory；　Zhang　Liao　returned　to　the　city　and　rewarded　his　soldiers；　but　he　issued　orders　that　no　one　was　to　doff　his　armor　or　sleep。

His　attendants　said；　〃You　have　gained　a　great　victory　today；　and　the　enemy　are　far　away。　You　might　doff　your　armor　and　get　some　repose。〃

But　Zhang　Liao　replied；　〃That　is　not　the　way　of　a　leader。　A　victory　is　no　reason　for　rejoicing；　nor　should　a　defeat　cause　sadness。　If　those　of　the　South　Land　suspect　that　I　am　unprepared；　they　will　attack。　And　we　must　be　ready　to　repel　them。　Be　ready　tonight　and　be　doubly　careful。〃

Scarcely　had　he　said　this　than　a　fire　started　and　cries　of　〃Treachery！〃　arose。　Many　rushed　to　tell　the　leader；　who　went　out　and　called　together　his　guard　of　about　half　a　score。　They　took　up　a　manding　position　in　the　way。

Those　about　him　said；　〃The　shouts　are　insistent。　You　ought　to　go　and　see　what　it　means。〃

〃A　whole　city　cannot　be　traitors；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃Some　discontented　person　has　frightened　the　soldiers。　If　I　see　anyone　doing　so；　I　will　slay　him。〃

Soon　after　this　Li　Dian　dragged　up　Ge　Ding　and　his　fellow　traitor。　After　a　few　brief　questions；　they　were　beheaded。

Then　arose　a　great　noise；　shouting　and　the　rolling　of　drums　was　heard　outside　the　gate。

〃That　means　the　troops　of　South　Land　are　there　to　help；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃But　we　will　destroy　them　by　a　simple　ruse。〃

He　bade　them　light　torches　and　yell　〃Treachery！　Rebellion！〃　and　throw　open　the　city　gates　and　let　down　the　drawbridge。

When　Taishi　Ci　saw　the　gates　swing　open；　he　thought　his　scheme　was　going　well　and　in　full　confidence　rode　in　at　the　gate。　But　just　at　the　entrance　a　signal　bomb　suddenly　exploded；　and　the　enemy　arrows　came　down　on　him　like　pelting　rain。　Then　he　knew　he　had　fallen　into　a　snare　and　turned　to　ride　out。　But　he　was　wounded　in　many　places。　And　in　the　pursuit　that　followed；　more　than　half　the　troops　under　Taishi　Ci　were　cut　off。　As　he　drew　near　his　own　lines；　a　rescue　force　led　by　Lu　Xun　and　Dong　Xi　came　to　his　aid；　and　the　Cao　Caos　soldiers　ceased　from　pursuit。

Sun　Quan　was　exceedingly　sad　when　he　learned　that　his　faithful　general　had　been　grievously　wounded。　Then　Zhang　Zhao　prayed　him　to　cease　from　war；　and　Sun　Quan　was　content。　They　gathered　in　their　soldiers　to　their　ships　and　sailed　to　Nanxu　and　Runzhou　where　they　camped。

Meanwhile　Taishi　Ci　was　dying。

When　his　lord　went　to　ask　how　he　fared；　he　cried；　〃When　a　worthy　person　is　born　into　a　turbulent　world；　he　has　to　be　a　soldier　and　gird　on　a　three…span　sword　to　step　on　the　mountains　to　mend　the　sky。　I　have　not　rendered　great　service。　Why　must　I　die　before　I　have　attained　my　desire？〃

These　were　his　last　words。　He　was　forty…one　years　of　age。

Single　minded　and　perfectly　loyal；

Such　was　Taishi　Ci；　in　Donglai；

Far　distant　frontiers　rang　with　his　exploits；