第一小说网

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第209部分（第2页）

In　just　a　short　time　several　reports　came：　〃A　long　wall　by　the　Great　River　has　grown　up　in　a　night　and　stood　there　with　carts　and　masts　of　ships　lying　along　it；　stretching　some　one　hundred　miles　from　Shidou　to　Nanxu。〃

The　fact　was　that　the　wall　was　an　imitation；　and　the　warriors　that　manned　it　were　bundles　of　reeds　dressed　in　soldiers　uniforms。　And　this　was　Xu　Shengs　tactic。　But　the　sight　chilled　the　ardor　of　the　invaders。

〃My　hosts　of　troops　are　no　use　against　such　warriors。　We　can　do　nothing　against　those　talents　of　the　South　Land；〃　said　Cao　Pi。

He　thought　over　this　sadly　enough。　But　now　the　wind　had　increased　in　force；　and　white　bers　began　to　heave　up　in　the　river；　and　waters　broke　over　his　boat；　drenching　the　dragon　robes。　The　ship　seemed　as　if　it　would　roll　right　over。　So　Cao　Zhen　sent　out　small　boats　to　rescue　his　master　and　his　people。　But　they　were　too　affrighted　to　move。　Wherefore　Wen　Ping；　who　was　in　charge；　leaped　on　board　and　helped　the　Emperor　down　into　one　of　the　smaller　craft；　which　then　flew　away　before　the　wind　and　got　safely　into　a　creek。

Soon　came　a　hasty　messenger　to　report：　〃Zhao　Yun　is　marching　out　through　Yangping　Pass　and　threatening　Changan。〃

This　frightened　Cao　Pi　so　badly　that　he　decided　to　retreat；　and　gave　orders　to　retire。　The　whole　army　were　in　a　mood　to　run　away；　and　moved　off　toward　the　north；　pursued　by　the　troops　of　Wu。　To　hasten　the　march；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　bade　his　soldiers　abandon　all　the　imperial　paraphernalia　and　impediments。　The　dragon　ships　withdrew　into　River　Huai　one　by　one。

As　they　moved　in　disorder；　suddenly　arose　the　sounds　of　an　enemy　force；　shouts　and　the　rolling　of　drums　and　the　blaring　of　trumpets；　and　a　cohort　marched　down　obliquely　on　to　their　line。　And　at　the　head　was　Sun　Shao。

The　troops　of　Wei　could　make　no　effective　stand；　and　many　were　slain；　while　large　numbers　were　driven　into　the　river　and　drowned。　By　dint　of　great　efforts；　the　Emperor　was　saved　and　got　away　up　the　river。　But　when　they　had　sailed　about　ten　miles；　they　saw　ahead　a　tract　of　blazing　reeds。　The　enemy　had　poured　fish　oil　over　the　dry　reeds　and　set　them　afire。　The　wind　was　spreading　the　flames　down　river　toward　the　fleet　of　Wei；　and　the　heat　was　intense。　The　dragon　ships　had　to　stop。

Cao　Pi　was　put　into　a　smaller　craft　and　taken　on　shore。　His　larger　ships　were　presently　set　on　fire　and　destroyed。　They　mounted　the　Emperor　on　a　horse　and　moved　along　the　bank；　but　soon　they　fell　in　with　another　body　of　troops。　This　time　it　was　the　supports　under　Ding　Feng。

Zhang　Liao　rode　ahead　to　engage　the　leader；　but　was　soon　wounded　by　an　arrow　of　Ding　Feng　in　the　loins。　However；　he　was　helped　away　by　Xu　Huang；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　gotten　safely　out　of　the　turmoil。　The　loss　of　soldiers　was　heavy；　and　a　huge　booty　of　horses；　carts；　ships；　and　weapons　fell　to　the　victors。

So　the　Wei　armies　went　away　north　thoroughly　beaten；　while　Xu　Sheng　had　scored　a　great　success。　Sun　Quan　richly　rewarded　him。

Zhang　Liao　got　to　Xuchang；　but　only　to　die　from　the　effects　of　his　wound。　He　was　honorably　buried　by　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

It　has　been　said　that　Zhao　Yun　was　threatening　Changan。　But　soon　after　he　went　through　Yangping　Pass；　the　Prime　Minister　of　Shu　sent　a　dispatch　to　recall　him　because　General　Yong　Kai　in　Yizhou　had　joined　himself　with　the　Mangs　and　invaded　the　four　southern　territories。　So　Zhao　Yun　returned。　Meanwhile　Ma　Chao　was　ordered　to　take　mand　of　Yangping　Pass。　The　Prime　Minister　was　about　to　go　to　subdue　the　nations　along　the　south　border。　He　was　then　preparing　at　Chengdu　for　this　expedition。

First　Wu　met　Wei　and　drove　them　north；

Then　Shu　against　the　Mangs　went　south。

The　story　of　this　campaign　will　follow　in　the　next　chapters。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　87　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　87

Chapter　87

Conquering　The　South　Mang；　The　Prime　Minister　Marches　The　Army；

Opposing　Heaven　Troops；　The　King　Of　The　Mangs　Is　Captured。

＇e＇　Vision　of　Confucius　became　reality：　When　the　Great　Principle　prevails；　the　world　is　a　monwealth　in　which　officials　are　selected　according　to　their　wisdom　and　ability。　Mutual　confidence　is　promoted　and　good　neighborliness　cultivated。　Hence；　people　do　not　regard　only　their　own　parent　and　children；　but　regard　the　parents　and　children　of　others　as　well。　Provision　is　secured　for　the　aged　till　death；　employment　for　the　able…bodied；　and　the　mean　of　growing　up　for　the　young。　Helpless　widows　and　widowers；　orphans　and　the　lonely；　as　well　as　the　sick　and　the　disable；　are　well　cared　for。　Men　and　women　have　their　respective　occupations　and　homes。　They　do　not　like　to　see　wealth　lying　idle；　yet　they　do　not　use　it　for　their　own　gratification。　They　despise　indolence；　yet　they　do　not　use　their　energies　for　their　own　benefit。　In　this　way；　selfish　scheming　are　repressed；　and　robbers；　thieves　and　the　lawless　no　longer　exist；　and　there　is　no　need　for　people　to　shut　their　outer　doors。　This　is　called　the　Great　Harmony。

With　Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liangs　administration　of　affairs　in　the　two　River　Lands　began　a　period　of　happiness　and　prosperity　for　the　people。　Tranquillity　prevailed；　and　the　state　of　society　was　well　nigh　perfect：　Doors　unbolted　at　night；　property　left　by　the　roadside　remaining　untouched　till　the　owner　returned　for　it。　Moreover；　the　harvests　were　rich　year　after　year；　and　old　and　young；　with　fair；　round　bellies；　well　lined；　simply　sang　with　joy。　The　people　hastened　to　fulfill　their　state　duties　and　vied　with　each　other　in　the　performance　of　all　arts。　As　a　natural　consequence　all　military　preparations　were　perfect；　the　granaries　bursting　with　grain　and　the　treasury　full　to　overflowing。*

Such　was　the　state　of　things　when；　in　the　third　year　of　Beginning　Prosperity　（AD　225）；　the　news　came　from　Yizhou　to　the　capital　to　report：　〃The　Mang　King；　Meng　Huo；　leading　one　hundred　thousand　Mang　tribesmen；　has　invaded　the　south　and　is　laying　waste　the　country。　Yong　Kai；　the　Governor　of　Jianning；　a　descent　of　the　Han　Lord　Yong　Chi　of　Shifang；　had　joined　Meng　Huo　to　rebel。　Zhu　Bao　and　Gao　Ding；　the　Governors　of　Zangge　and　Yuesui；　have　yielded　to　the　invaders。　But　the　Governor　of　Yongchang；　Wang　Kang；　is　staunchly　holding　out。　The　three　rebels………Yong　Kai；　Gao　Ding；　and　Zhu　Bao………；　who　had　joined　the　invaders；　are　now　acting　as　guides　and　assisting　in　the　attack　on　Yongchang；　which　has　remained　faithful。　Governor　Wang　Kang；　ably　assisted　by　Lu　Kai；　his　Deputy　Governor；　is　making　a　all…out　effort　to　defend　the　city　with　only　its　ordinary　inhabitants　as　fighting　men。　The　position　is　very　desperate。〃

When　this　news　came；　Zhuge　Liang　went　into　the　Palace　and　thus　memorialized　to　his　lord；　〃The　contumacy　of　the　Mangs　is　a　real　danger　to　our　state。　I　feel　it　incumbent　upon　me　to　lead　an　expedition　to　reduce　the　tribespeople　to　obedience。〃

But　the　Latter　Ruler　was　afraid；　and　said；　〃Sun　Quan　is　in　the　east；　and　Cao　Pi　the　north。　If　you　abandon　me　and　either　of　them　es；　what　shall　I　do？〃

〃Your　Majesty　need　have　no　fear。　We　have　just　concluded　a　league　of　peace　with　Wu；　and　I　think　they　will　be　true　to　their　pledge。　Li　Yan　in　Baidicheng　is　quite　a　match　for　Lu　Xun。　Cao　Pis　recent　defeat　has　taken　the　keenness　out　of　his　army；　so　that　he　will　not　feel　inclined　t