第一小说网

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第88部分（第2页）

Thereupon　San　Fu　was　made　manding　Adviser　of　the　army。

The　one　idea　that　held　Cao　Cao　after　his　return　from　Jizhou　was　the　capture　of　Jingzhou。　He　sent　Cao　Ren　and　Li　Dian；　with　the　two　brothers　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　who　had　surrendered；　to　camp　at　Fancheng　with　thirty　thousand　troops　and　so　threaten　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang。　Thence　he　sent　spies　to　find　out　the　weak　points。

Then　the　two　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　petitioned　Cao　Ren；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　strengthening　his　position　at　Xinye　and　laying　in　large　supplies。　Some　great　scheme　is　afoot；　and　he　should　be　checked。　Since　our　surrender　we　have　performed　no　noteworthy　service　and；　if　you　will　give　us　five　thousand　soldiers；　we　promise　to　bring　you　the　head　of　Liu　Bei。〃

Cao　Ren　was　only　too　glad；　and　the　expedition　set　out。　The　scouts　reported　this　to　Liu　Bei　who　turned　to　San　Fu　for　advice。

San　Fu　said；　〃They　must　not　be　permitted　to　cross　the　boundary。　Send　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　left　and　right；　each　with　one　thousand　troops；　one　to　attack　the　enemy　on　the　march；　the　other　to　cut　off　the　retreat。　You　and　Zhao　Yun　will　make　a　front　attack。〃

Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　started；　and　then　Liu　Bei　went　out　at　the　gate　with　two　thousand　troops　to　oppose　the　enemy。　Before　they　had　gone　far　they　saw　a　great　cloud　of　dust　behind　the　hills。　This　marked　the　approach　of　the　Lu　brothers。　Presently；　both　sides　being　arrayed；　Liu　Bei　rode　out　and　stood　by　his　standard。

He　called　out；　〃Who　are　you　who　thus　would　encroach　on　my　territory？〃

〃I　am　the　great　General　Lu　Kuang；　and　I　have　the　order　of　the　Prime　Minister　to　make　you　prisoner！〃　said　the　leader。

Liu　Bei　ordered　Zhao　Yun　to　go　out；　and　the　two　generals　engaged。　Very　soon　Zhao　Yun　with　a　spear　thrust　had　disposed　of　his　opponent；　and　Liu　Bei　gave　the　signal　to　attack。　Lu　Xiang　could　not　maintain　his　position　and　led　his　troops　off。　Soon　his　force　found　themselves　attacked　by　an　army　rushing　in　from　the　side　led　by　Guan　Yu。　The　loss　was　more　than　a　half；　and　the　remainder　fled　for　safety。

About　three　miles　farther　on　they　found　their　retreat　barred　by　an　army　under　Zhang　Fei；　who　stood　in　the　way　with　a　long　spear　ready　to　thrust；　crying　out；　〃Zhang　Fei　is　waiting！〃

Zhang　Fei　bore　down　upon　Lu　Xiang；　who　was　slain　without　a　chance　of　striking　a　blow。　The　troops　again　fled　in　disorder。　They　were　pursued　by　Liu　Bei；　and　the　greater　part　killed　or　captured。

Then　Liu　Bei　returned　into　Xinye　where　he　rewarded　San　Fu　and　feasted　his　victorious　soldiers。

Some　of　the　defeated　troops　took　the　news　of　the　deaths　of　the　leaders　and　the　capture　of　their　rades　to　Cao　Ren　at　Fancheng。

Cao　Ren；　much　distressed；　consulted　Li　Dian　who　advised；　saying；　〃The　loss　is　due　to　our　underestimation　of　our　enemy。　Now　we　should　stay　where　we　are；　hold　on；　and　request　reinforcements。〃

〃Not　so；〃　said　Cao　Ren。　〃We　cannot　support　calmly　the　death　of　two　leaders　and　the　loss　of　so　many　soldiers。　We　must　avenge　them　quickly。　Xinye　is　but　a　crossbow…slug　of　a　place　and　not　worth　disturbing　the　Prime　Minister　for。〃

〃Liu　Bei　is　a　man　of　metal；〃　said　Li　Dian。　〃Do　not　esteem　him　lightly。〃

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　said　Cao　Ren。

〃The　Rule　of　War　says　To　know　your　enemy　and　yourself　is　the　secret　of　victory；〃　replied　Li　Dian。　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　the　battle；　but　I　do　not　think　we　can　conquer。〃

〃You　are　a　traitor！〃　cried　Cao　Ren　angrily。　〃Then　I　will　capture　Liu　Bei　myself。〃

〃Do　so。　I　will　guard　this　city；〃　said　Li　Dian。

〃If　you　do　not　go　with　me；　it　is　a　proof　that　you　are　a　traitor；〃　retorted　Cao　Ren。

At　this　reproach；　Li　Dian　felt　constrained　to　join　the　expedition。　So　they　told　off　twenty　five　thousand　troops　with　which　they　crossed　the　River　Yu　for　Xinye。

The　officers　all　keenly　felt　the　shame　of　many　slain；

The　chief　determines　on　revenge　and　marches　out　again。

What　measure　of　success　the　expedition　met　with　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　36　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　36

Chapter　36