第一小说网

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第48部分（第2页）

She　wept　saying；　〃If　you　go；　do　you　think　Chen　Gong　and　others　equal　to　the　defense　of　the　city？　Should　anything　go　wrong；　you　would　be　very　sorry。　You　abandoned　me　at　Changan；　and　it　was　only　through　the　fortunate　kindness　of　Pang　Shu　that　I　was　hidden　from　our　enemies　and　rejoined　you。　Who　would　have　thought　you　would　leave　me　again？　But　go；　go　your　way　as　far　as　you　wish；　and　do　not　mind　your　wife。〃

And　she　wept　bitterly。

Lu　Bu　very　sadly　went　to　take　leave　of　Diao　Chan　who　said；　〃You　are　my　lord　and　my　life。　You　must　not　be　careless　and　ride　out　alone。〃

〃You　need　not　fear。　With　my　mighty　trident　halberd　and　Red　Hare；　who　dare　e　near　me？〃

He　went　out。　But　when　he　met　Chen　Gong；　he　said；　〃That　story　about　supplies　for　Cao　Cao　is　all　false；　one　of　his　many　ruses。　I　am　not　going　to　stir。〃

Chen　Gong　sighed。　He　felt　all　was　lost。

〃We　shall　die；　and　no　one　shall　know　our　burial　place；〃　said　he。

Thereupon　Lu　Bu　remained　in　his　own　quarters　with　his　ladies；　drinking　freely　to　dissipate　his　sorrows。

Two　of　his　advisers；　Xu　Si　and　Wang　Kai；　went　in　and　proposed；　〃Yuan　Shu　in　the　South　of　River　Huai　is　very　powerful。　Why　not　write　to　him　to　renew　the　marriage　alliance？　Yuan　Shu　can　hardly　refuse　to　rescue　the　affianced　bride　of　his　son。〃

So　Lu　Bu　wrote　and　bade　these　two　take　the　letter。

Xu　Si　said；　〃You　ought　to　send　a　strong　escort　with　us　to　force　a　way　through。〃

So　Lu　Bu　told　off　one　thousand　troops　and　two　of　his　generals；　Zhang　Liao　and　He　Meng；　to　conduct　his　messenger　beyond　the　pass。　They　started　that　same　night　at　the　second　watch；　Zhang　Liao　leading　and　He　Meng　bringing　up　the　rear。　They　got　out　of　the　city；　crept　past　Liu　Beis　camp；　and　got　beyond　the　danger　zone。　Then　half　the　escort　went　on；　and　Zhang　Liao　led　the　remainder　back　toward　the　city。　At　the　pass　he　found　Guan　Yu　waiting。　However；　at　that　moment　Gao　Shun　came　to　his　help；　and　they　all　returned　and　reentered　the　gates。

The　two　messengers　presently　reached　Shouchun；　saw　Yuan　Shu；　and　presented　the　letter。

〃How　is　this？〃　said　Yuan　Shu。　〃Formerly　he　slew　my　messenger　and　repudiated　the　marriage。　Now　he　sends　to　ask　for　it。〃

〃It　is　all　due　to　the　vile　plans　of　that　monster　Cao　Cao。　If　pray　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　consider　it　carefully；〃　replied　Xu　Si。

〃But　if　your　master　was　not　hemmed　in　by　his　enemy　and　in　imminent　danger；　he　would　never　have　thought　of　renewing　this　proposal　of　marriage。〃

The　messengers　said；　〃You　may　decide　not　to　help　him；　but　the　teeth　are　cold　when　the　lips　are　gone。　It　will　not　make　for　your　happiness　and　fort。〃

Said　Yuan　Shu；　〃Lu　Bu　is　unreliable。　Tell　him　that　I　will　send　soldiers　after　the　girl　has　arrived　here。〃

This　was　final；　and　the　two　messengers　took　leave　and　headed　back　to　Xiapi。

When　the　party　reached　Liu　Beis　camp；　Xu　Si　decided；　〃We　must　wait　the　night　falls；　and　Wang　Kai　and　I　will　try　to　get　through　in　the　darkness。　The　escort　of　He　Meng　remaining　behind　to　protect　our　rear。〃

They　tried　that　very　night；　and　the　two　messengers　crept　across　without　discovery。　But　the　escort　found　themselves　faced　by　Zhang　Fei。　He　Meng　tried　to　fight　but　was　captured　in　the　very　first　bout；　and　the　five　hundred　troops　of　his　half　pany　were　either　killed　or　they　fled。

The　prisoner　was　taken　to　Liu　Bei；　who　forwarded　him　to　the　main　camp。　There　he　told　the　story　of　the　marriage　and　the　scheme　to　save　the　city。　Cao　Cao　was　angry　and　ordered　the　execution　of　He　Meng　at　the　main　gate。

Then　Cao　Cao　sent　orders　to　each　camp　to　exercise　the　greatest　diligence　with　threats　of　rigorous　punishment　of　the　officers　of　any　corps　that　permitted　any　munication　between　the　besieged　and　the　outer　world。

Every　soldier　felt　mightily　afraid。

Liu　Bei　returned　to　camp　and　cautioned　his　brothers；　saying；　〃We　are　in　the　most　important　place　with　regard　to　the　South　of　River　Huai；　and　you　must　be　very　careful　not　to　allow　any　breach　of　this　mand。〃

Zhang　Fei　was　inclined　to　grumble；　saying；　〃We　have　just　captured　one　of　the　enemys　leaders；　and　there　is　no　word　of　praise　or　reward　for　us：　Nothing　but　new　orders　and　threats。　What　do　you　make　of　that？〃

〃You　are　wrong　to　plain；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃These　are　orders　of　the　mander…in…Chief；　and　what　would　happen　were　there　no　orders？　Do　not　disobey　them；　brother。〃

They　promised　obedience　and　withdrew。　In　the　meantime　Xu　Si　and　Wang　Kai　had　got　back　to　Lu　Bu　and　told　him　what　Yuan　Shu　had　said；　that　if　the　girl　came　the　soldiers　should　go。

〃But　how　can　she　be　sent？〃　said　Lu　Bu。

Xu　Si　said；　〃That　is　the　difficulty。　He　Mengs　capture　means　that　Cao　Cao　knows　the　whole　plan　of　getting　help　from　the　South　of　River　Huai。　I　do　not　see　how　anyone　but　you　yourself　could　hope　to　get　through　the　close　siege。〃

〃Suppose　we　tried；　today？〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃This　is　an　ill…omened　day。　You　must　not　try　today。　Tomorrow　is　a　very　lucky　day；　especially　in　the　evening；　for　any　military　action。〃

Then　Lu　Bu　ordered　Zhang　Liao　and　Gao　Shun；　〃Get　ready　three　thousand　troops　for　the　venture；　and　prepare　a　light　carriage。　I　will　lead　the　first　seventy　miles；　thence　y