第一小说网

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第163部分（第2页）

〃Pang　De　of　Nanan。　Pang　De　surrendered　at　the　same　time　as　Ma　Chao；　but　could　not　go　with　Ma　Chao　into　Yizhou　as　he　was　ill。　You　have　treated　him　generously。　He　will　save　you。〃

Pang　De　was　summoned。　He　came；　and　Zhang　Lu　loaded　him　with　gifts　and　gave　him　a　force　of　ten　thousand　troops；　with　which　he　marched　and　camped　three　miles　from　the　city；　near　the　besieging　force。　His　camp　made；　Pang　De　rode　out　and　challenged。

Now　Cao　Cao；　remembering　Pang　Des　boldness　at　the　battle　of　River　Wei　Bridge；　was　desirous　of　winning　the　warrior　for　himself。

So　Cao　Cao　told　his　generals；　saying；　〃Pang　De　is　a　bold　general　of　Xiliang　formerly　serving　under　Ma　Chao。　Though　he　is　now　under　Zhang　Lu；　that　is　not　his　real　wish。　I　want　to　win　him　over。　So　you　should　try　to　weary　him　by　prolonging　the　fights；　and　so　make　him　captive。〃

Wherefore　first　rode　out　Zhang　He　to　answer　the　challenger。　He　fought　a　few　bouts　and　returned。　Then　Xiahou　Yuan　did　the　same　thing。　So　did　Xu　Huang。　Lastly　went　Xu　Chu；　who　kept　up　the　fight　to　half　a　hundred　bouts　before　he　retired。　Still　Pang　De　showed　no　signs　of　fatigue　nor　of　fear；　and　all　those　who　had　fought　with　him　praised　his　prowess　and　skill。

〃If　only　I　could　win　him　over　to　my　side！〃　said　Cao　Cao　longingly。

Said　Jia　Xu；　〃I　know　one　of　Zhang　Lus　subordinates；　Yang　Song。　He　is　avaricious　and　open　to　bribes。　You　might　send　him　secret　presents　and　get　him　to　slander　Pang　De　to　his　master　so　as　to　weaken　Pang　Des　position。〃

〃But　how　can　one　get　at　this　man？　He　is　in　Nanzheng。〃

〃In　the　next　battle；　pretend　defeat；　flee；　and　let　Pang　De　take　possession　of　this　camp。　Return　in　the　night　in　force　and　drive　him　out；　and　he　must　retreat　into　the　city。　Let　one　of　our　own　people　with　a　persuasive　tongue　mingle　with　his　troops；　disguised　as　one　of　his　soldiers；　and　so　gain　entrance　into　the　city。〃

A　subtle　agent　was　found；　and　goodly　gifts　were　his　in　advance；　and　he　was　entrusted　with　a　golden　breastplate　as　a　bribe。　He　put　it　on　and　over　it　put　on　the　dress　of　an　ordinary　soldier　of　Hanzhong。　And　he　made　his　way　quietly　to　a　point　on　the　road　along　which　the　soldiers　of　Hanzhong　would　retreat　into　the　city。　There　he　waited。

Next　day；　two　parties　under　Xiahou　Yuan　and　Zhang　He　were　sent　to　lie　in　ambush；　and　Xu　Huang　was　sent　to　challenge；　but　with　orders　to　be　defeated。　The　scheme　went　well；　and　as　Pang　De　came　on　to　smite；　Cao　Caos　army　retired　before　Pang　De　till　he　found　himself　at　their　very　camp。　And　therein　he　entered　and　was　exceedingly　pleased　to　find　fodder　and　forage　in　great　quantities。

Having　sent　off　a　messenger　to　his　chief；　Pang　De　spread　a　feast　in　celebration　of　the　victory；　and　when　night　came　on　they　slept。　But　about　the　second　watch　there　was　an　alarm　from　three　directions；　and　the　camp　was　threatened　by　three　forces：　Xu　Chu　and　Xu　Huang　attacking　in　the　center；　Zhang　He　from　the　left；　and　Xiahou　Yuan　from　the　right。　It　was　the　night　attack　arranged　by　Cao　Cao；　and　Pang　De　could　not　make　any　defense。　He　got　to　horse；　cut　his　way　through；　and　made　for　the　city。　With　the　attackers　in　close　pursuit；　Pang　De　reached　the　gate；　got　it　opened；　and　rushed　in。

And　the　false　soldier　got　in　amid　the　confusion。　He　made　his　way　quickly　to　Yang　Songs　residence　and　saw　him。

He　told　Yang　Song；　saying；　〃The　Great　Prime　Minister；　Duke　of　Wei；　knows　you　by　reputation　and　holds　you　in　great　esteem。　And　as　a　token　thereof　he　has　sent　you　his　golden　breastplate　and　a　confidential　letter　as　well。〃

Yang　Song　took　it　all　in；　read　the　letter；　and　said；　〃I　will　reply　by　and　by；　and　the　Duke　of　Wei　needs　feel　no　anxiety　for　I　shall　find　a　means　of　proving　my　gratitude。　You　may　return。〃

Soon　after；　Yang　Song　went　to　see　Zhang　Lu　and　told　him；　saying；　〃Pang　De　has　been　defeated　because　he　has　been　bribed　by　Cao　Cao。〃

Forthwith　Zhang　Lu　summoned　his　general；　abused　him；　and　threatened　to　put　him　to　death。　Yan　Pu；　however；　protested　and　proposed　to　test　Pang　De　in　another　encounter。

Zhang　Lu　then　said；　〃Tomorrow；　if　you　lose；　I　will　take　your　head！〃

Pang　De　retired　full　of　resentment。

The　next　day　Cao　Cao　attacked；　and　Pang　De　went　out　to　repel　him。　Cao　Cao　sent　out　Xu　Chu；　but　bade　him　pretend　defeat。　When　Pang　De　pursued；　Cao　Cao　rode　toward　the　hills；　where　he　halted　and　presently　got　speech　with　Pang　De。

Cao　Cao　called　out；　〃Pang　De！　Why　not　surrender？〃

But　Pang　De　thought　within　himself　that　to　capture　Cao　Cao　would　be　a　fine　exploit；　so　he　boldly　faced　his　escort　and　rode　up　the　hills。　But　there　arose　a　great　shouting　as　if　heaven　and　earth　were　clashing　together；　and　he　and　his　followers　went　headlong　into　ditches　and　pits　that　had　been　dug。　Out　flew　Cao　Caos　troops　with　ropes　and　hooks；　and　Pang　De　was　a　prisoner。

When　he　was　taken　to　Cao　Cao；　he　was　received　with　the　greatest　kindness。　Cao　Cao　himself　dismounted；　loosed　the　captives　bonds；　and　asked　him；　〃Do　you　surrender？〃

Pang　De　thought　of　the　ill…treatment　he　had　just　received　at　the　hands　of　his　master　and　of　his　injustice；　and　gave　in。　At　once　Pang　De　was　helped　to　mount　a　horse　by　Cao　Cao　himself　and　led　to　the　great　camp。

Soldiers　placed　for　the　purpose　on　the　city　wall　saw　what　happened　and　reported　to　Zhang　Lu：　〃Pang　De　has　ridden　off　on　friendly　terms　with　Cao　Cao。〃

Whereby　Zhang　Lu　was　persuaded　that　Yang　Song　had　spoken　truly。

Soon　after；　scaling　ladders　were　set　against　the　city　walls；　and　catapults　threw　in　great　stones。

The　danger　being　imminent；　Zhang　Wei　counseled；　saying；　〃Set　all　supplies　on　fire　and　flight　to　the　Southern　Mountains；　where　we　might　be　able　to　defend　Bazhong。〃

On　the　other　hand；　Yang　Song　said；　〃The　best　course　is　to　throw　open　the　gates　and　surrender。〃

Zhang　Lu　could　not　decide　which　to　do。　His　brother；　Zhang　Wei；　maintained　that　burning　everything　and　flight　was　the　only　course。

Zhang　Lu　said；　〃I　have　been　always　loyal　at　heart　and　desir