第一小说网

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第57部分（第2页）

Here　Zhang　Fei　said；　〃You　have　got　this　Wang　Zhong；　now　I　will　go　and　get　the　other　man。〃

〃Be　careful；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Liu　Dai　was　once　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　and　he　was　one　of　the　nobles　who　met　at　Tiger　Trap　Pass　to　destroy　Dong　Zhuo。　He　is　not　to　be　despised。〃

〃I　do　not　think　him　worth　talking　about　so　much。　I　will　bring　him　in　alive　just　as　Second　Brother　did　this　other。〃

〃I　fear　that　if　his　life　be　lost；　it　may　upset　our　designs；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃If　I　kill　him；　I　will　forfeit　my　own　life；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

So　he　was　given　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　off　quickly。

The　capture　of　his　colleague　made　Liu　Dai　careful。　He　strengthened　his　defenses　and　kept　behind　them。　He　took　no　notice　of　the　daily　challenges　and　continual　insults　which　began　with　Zhang　Feis　arrival。

After　some　days　Zhang　Fei　evolved　a　ruse。　He　issued　orders　to　prepare　to　rush　the　enemys　camp　at　night；　but　he　himself　spent　the　day　drinking。　Pretending　to　be　very　intoxicated；　he　held　a　court…martial；　and　one　soldier　was　severely　flogged　for　a　breach　of　discipline。

The　man　was　left　bound　in　the　midst　of　the　camp；　Zhang　Fei　saying；　〃Wait　till　I　am　ready　to　start　tonight：　You　shall　be　sacrificed　to　the　flag。〃

At　the　same　time　he　gave　secret　orders　to　the　custodians　to　let　the　man　escape。　The　man　found　his　opportunity；　crept　out　of　camp；　and　went　over　to　the　enemy；　to　whom　he　betrayed　the　plan　of　a　night　attack。　As　the　man　bore　signs　of　savage　punishment；　Liu　Dai　was　the　more　disposed　to　credit　his　desertion　and　tale。　So　Liu　Dai　made　his　arrangements；　putting　the　greater　part　of　his　troops　in　ambush　outside　his　camp　so　that　it　was　empty。

That　night；　having　divided　his　army　into　three　parties；　Zhang　Fei　went　to　attack　the　camp。　A　few　men　were　ordered　to　advance　directly；　dash　in　and　set　fire　going。　Two　larger　bodies　of　troops　were　to　go　round　to　the　rear　of　the　camp　and　attack　when　they　saw　the　fire　well　started。　At　the　third　watch；　Zhang　Fei；　with　his　veterans；　went　to　cut　off　Liu　Dais　road　to　the　rear。

The　thirty　men　told　off　to　start　a　conflagration　made　their　way　into　the　camp　and　were　successful。　When　the　flames　arose；　the　ambushing　troops　rushed　out　but　only　to　find　themselves　attacked　on　both　sides。　This　confused　them；　and　as　they　knew　nothing　of　the　number　of　their　assailants；　they　were　panic　stricken　and　scattered。

Liu　Dai；　with　a　pany　of　footmen　got　clear　of　the　fight　and　fled；　but　he　went　straight　toward　Zhang　Fei。　Escape　was　impossible；　and　the　two　men　rode　up　each　to　attack　the　other。　Zhang　Fei　captured　his　opponent；　and　the　men　surrendered。　Zhang　Fei　sent　news　of　this　success　to　his　brothers。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃Hitherto　Zhang　Fei　has　been　rather　violent；　but　this　time　he　has　acted　wisely；　and　I　am　very　pleased。〃

They　rode　out　to　wele　Zhang　Fei。

〃You　said　I　was　too　rough。　How　now？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　to　his　brothers。

〃If　I　had　not　put　you　on　your　mettle；　you　would　not　have　evolved　this　stratagem；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

Zhang　Fei　laughed。　Then　appeared　the　captive　Liu　Dai；　in　bonds。

Liu　Bei　at　once　dismounted　and　loosed　the　cords；　saying；　〃My　young　brother　was　rather　hasty；　but　you　must　pardon　him。〃

So　Liu　Dai　was　freed。　He　was　taken　into　the　city；　his　colleague　was　released；　and　both　were　cared　for。

Liu　Bei　said　to　them；　〃I　could　not　help　putting　Deputy　Imperial　Protector　Che　Zhou　to　death　when　he　tried　to　kill　me；　but　Cao　Cao　took　it　as　disaffection　and　sent　you　two　generals　to　punish　me。　I　have　received　much　kindness　from　him　and　certainly　would　not　show　ingratitude　by　killing　you。　I　wish　you　to　speak　for　me　and　explain　when　you　get　back。〃

〃We　are　deeply　grateful　that　you　spare　our　lives；　and　we　will　certainly　do　so　in　gratitude　for　what　our　wives　and　children　owe　you。〃

Next　day　the　two　leaders　and　their　army　were　allowed　to　depart　unscathed。　But　before　they　had　got　three　miles　from　the　boundary；　they　heard　a　mighty　shouting　and　there　appeared　Zhang　Fei　barring　the　road。

〃My　brother　made　a　mistake　in　letting　you　go。　He　did　not　understand。　How　could　he　give　freedom　to　two　rebels？〃

This　made　the　two　men　quake　with　fear；　but　as　the　fierce　eyed　warrior　with　uplifted　sword　was　bearing　down　upon　them；　they　heard　another　man　galloping　up　and　shouting；　〃Do　not　behave　so　disgracefully！〃

The　newer　was　Guan　Yu；　and　his　appearance　relieved　the　unhappy　men　of　all　fear。

〃Why　do　you　stop　them　since　our　brother　set　them　free？〃　cried　Guan　Yu。

〃If　they　are　let　go　today；　they　will　surely　e　back；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。