第一小说网

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第12部分（第1页）

All　being　ready；　the　chief　lord　was　invited　to　ascend　the　altar。　Clad　in　ceremonial　robes　and　girded　with　a　sword；　Yuan　Shao　reverently　ascended。　There　he　burned　incense；　made　obeisance　and　recited　the　oath：

〃The　House　of　Han　has　fallen　upon　evil　days；　the　bands　of　imperial　authority　are　loosened。　The　rebel　minister；　Dong　Zhuo；　takes　advantage　of　the　discord　to　work　evil；　and　calamity　falls　upon　honorable　families。　Cruelty　overwhelms　simple　folks。　We；　Yuan　Shao　and　his　confederates；　fearing　for　the　safety　of　the　imperial　prerogatives；　have　assembled　military　forces　to　rescue　the　state。　We　now　pledge　ourselves　to　exert　our　whole　strength　and　act　in　concord　to　the　utmost　limit　of　our　powers。　There　must　be　no　disconcerted　or　selfish　action。　Should　any　depart　from　this　pledge；　may　he　lose　his　life　and　leave　no　posterity。　Almighty　Heaven　and　Universal　Earth　and　the　enlightened　spirits　of　our　forebears；　be　ye　our　witnesses！〃

The　reading　finished；　Yuan　Shao　smeared　the　blood　of　the　sacrifice　upon　his　lips　and　upon　the　lips　of　those　who　shared　the　pledge。　All　were　deeply　affected　by　the　ceremony　and　many　shed　tears。

This　done；　the　chief　lord　was　supported　down　from　the　high　place　and　led　to　his　tent；　where　he　took　the　highest　place　and　the　others　arranged　themselves　according　to　rank　and　age。　Here　wine　was　served。

Presently　Cao　Cao　said；　〃It　behooves　us　all　to　obey　the　chief　we　have　this　day　set　up；　and　support　the　state。　There　must　be　no　feeling　of　rivalry　or　superiority　based　upon　numbers。〃

Yuan　Shao　replied；　〃Unworthy　as　I　am；　yet　as　elected　chief　I　must　impartially　reward　merit　and　punish　offenses。　Let　each　see　to　it　that　he　obeys　the　national　laws　and　the　army　precepts。　These　must　not　be　broken。〃

〃Only　thy　mands　are　to　be　obeyed！〃　cried　all。

Then　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃My　brother；　Yuan　Shu；　is　appointed　Chief　of　the　missariat。　He　must　see　to　it　that　the　whole　camp　is　well　supplied。　But　the　need　of　the　moment　is　a　van　leader　who　shall　go　to　River　Si　Pass　and　provoke　a　battle。　The　other　forces　must　take　up　strategic　positions　in　support。〃

Then　the　Governor　of　Changsha；　Sun　Jian；　offered　himself　for　this　service。

〃You　are　valiant　and　fierce；　and　equal　to　this　service！〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

The　force　under　Sun　Jian　set　out　and　presently　came　to　River　Si　Pass。　The　guard　there　sent　a　swift　rider　to　the　capital　to　announce　to　the　Prime　Minister　the　urgency　of　the　situation。

Ever　since　Dong　Zhuo　had　secured　his　position；　he　had　given　himself　up　to　luxury　without　stint。　When　the　urgent　news　reached　Adviser　Li　Ru；　he　at　once　went　to　his　master；　who　much　alarmed　called　a　great　council。

Lu　Bu　stood　forth　and　said；　〃Do　not　fear；　my　father。　I　look　upon　all　the　lords　beyond　the　Pass　as　so　much　stubble。　And　with　the　warriors　of　our　fierce　army；　I　will　put　everyone　of　them　to　death　and　hang　their　heads　at　the　gates　of　the　capital！〃

〃With　your　aid　I　can　sleep　secure！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

But　someone　behind　Lu　Bu　broke　in　upon　his　speech；　saying；　〃An　ox…cleaver　to　kill　a　chicken！　There　is　no　need　for　the　General　to　go：　I　will　cut　off　their　heads　as　easily　as　I　would　take　a　thing　out　of　my　pocket！〃

Dong　Zhuo　looked　up　and　his　eyes　rested　on　a　stalwart　man　of　fierce　mien；　lithe　and　supple　as　a　beast。　He　had　round　head　like　a　leopard　and　shoulders　like　an　apes。　His　name　was　Hua　Xiong　of　Guanxi。　Dong　Zhuo　rejoiced　at　Hua　Xiongs　bold　words　and　at　once　appointed　him　mander　of　the　Valiant　Cavalry　and　gave　him　fifty　thousand　of　horse　and　foot。　Hua　Xiong　and　three　other　generals………Li　Su；　Hu　Zhen；　and　Zhao　Cen………hastily　moved　toward　River　Si　Pass。

Among　the　feudal　lords；　Bao　Xin；　the　Lord　of　Jibei；　was　jealous　lest　the　chosen　Van　Leader　Sun　Jian　should　win　too　great　honors。　Wherefore　Bao　Xin　endeavored　to　meet　the　foe　first；　and　so　he　secretly　dispatched　his　brother；　Bao　Zhong；　with　three　thousand　by　a　bye　road。　As　soon　as　this　small　force　reached　the　Pass；　they　offered　battle。

Fast　reacting；　Hua　Xiong　at　the　head　of　five　hundred　armored　horsemen　swept　down　from　the　Pass；　crying；　〃Flee　not；　rebel！〃

But　Bao　Zhong　was　afraid　and　turned　back。　Hua　Xiong　came　on；　his　arm　rose；　the　sword　fell；　and　Bao　Zhong　was　cut　down　from　his　horse。　Most　of　Bao　Zhongs　pany　were　captured。　Bao　Zhongs　head　was　sent　to　the　Prime　Ministers　palace。　Hua　Xiong　was　promoted　to　mander　in　Chief。

Sun　Jian　presently　approached　the　Pass。　He　had　four　generals：　Cheng　Pu　of　Tuyin　whose　weapon　was　an　iron…spined　lance　with　snake…headed　blade；　Huang　Gai　of　Lingling　who　wielded　an　iron　whip；　Han　Dang　of　Lingzhi　using　a　heavy　saber；　and　Zu　Mao　of　Wujun　who　fought　with　a　pair　of　swords。

mander　Sun　Jian　wore　a　helmet　of　fine　silver　wrapped　round　with　a　purple　turban。　He　carried　across　his　body　his　sword　of　ancient　ingot　iron　and　rode　a　dappled　horse　with　flowing　mane。

Sun　Jian　advanced　to　the　Pass　and　hailed　the　defenders；　crying；　〃Helpers　of　a　villain！　Be　quick　to　surrender！〃

Hua　Xiong　bade　Hu　Zhen　lead　five　thousand　out　against　Sun　Jian。　Cheng　Pu　with　the　snaky　lance　rode　out　from　Sun　Jians　side　and　engaged。　After　a　very　few　bouts；　Cheng　Pu　killed　Hu　Zhen　on　the　spot　by　a　thrust　through　the　throat。　Then　Sun　Jian　gave　the　signal　for　the　main　army　to　advance。　But　from　the　Pass；　Hua　Xiongs　troops　rained　down　showers　of　stones；　which　proved　too　much　for　the　assailants；　and　they　retired　into　camp　at　Liangdong。　Sun　Jian　sent　the　report　of　victory　to　Yuan　Shao。

Sun　Jian　also　sent　an　urgent　message　for　supplies　to　the　missary。

But　a　counselor　said　to　the　Controller　Yuan　Shu；　〃This　Sun　Jian　is　a　very　tiger　in　the　east。　Should　he　take　the　capital　and　destroy　Dong　Zhuo；　we　should　have　a　tiger　in　place　of　a　wolf。　Do　not　send　him　grain。　Starve　his　troops；　and　that　will　decide　the　fate　of　that　army。〃

And　Yuan　Shu　gave　ears　to　the　detractor　and　sent　no　grain　or　forage。　Soon　Sun　Jians　hungry　soldiers　showed　their　disaffection　by　indiscipline；　and　the　spies　bore　the　news　to　the　defenders　of　the　Pass。

Li　Ru　made　a　plot　with　Hua　Xiong；　saying；　〃We　will　launch　tonight　a　speedy　attack　against　Sun　Jian　in　front　and　rear　so　that　we　can　capture　him。〃

Hua　Xiong　agreed　and　prepared　for　the　attack。　So　the　soldiers　of　the　attacking　force　were　told　off　and　given　a　full　meal。　At　dark　they　left　the　Pass　and　crept　by　secret　paths　to　the　rear　of　Sun　Jians　camp。　The　moon　was　bright　and　the　wind　cool。　They　arrived　about　midnight　and　the　drums　beat　an　immediate　attack。　Sun　Jian　hastily　donned　his　fighting　gear　and　rode　out。　He　ran　straight　into　Hua　Xiong　and　the　two　warriors　engaged。　But　before　they　had　exchanged　many　passes；　Li　Rus　army　came　up　from　behind　and　set　fire　to　whatever　would　burn。