第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第125部分（第1页）

und　for　his　chief　opponent。　Seeing　a　yellow　flag　moving　along　quietly；　he　concluded　that　Zhuge　Liang　was　with　it　and　so　followed　it。　When　the　flag　had　gone　over　the　shoulder　of　a　hill　it　stopped。　Then　suddenly　as　if　the　earth　had　opened　and　swallowed　it　up；　the　four…wheeled　carriage　disappeared；　while　in　its　place　came　a　ferocious　warrior；　with　a　long　serpent　halberd　in　his　hand　and　mounted　on　a　curvetting　steed。　It　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　dashed　at　Xing　Darong　with　a　tremendous　roar。

Nothing　daunted；　Xing　Darong　whirled　up　his　battle…ax　and　went　to　meet　Zhang　Fei。　But　after　four　or　five　bouts；　Xing　Darong　saw　that　there　was　no　chance　of　victory　for　him；　so　he　turned　his　horse　and　ran。　Zhang　Fei　pursued；　the　air　shaking　with　the　thunder　of　his　voice。　Then　the　ambushing　troops　appeared。　Xing　Darong；　nothing　daunted；　rushed　into　their　midst。

But　in　front　appeared　another　warrior　barring　the　way；　who　called　out；　〃Do　you　know　me？　I　am　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan。〃

Xing　Darong　knew　that　all　was　over。　He　could　neither　fight　nor　fly。　So　he　dismounted　and　gave　in。　He　was　fettered　and　taken　to　camp；　where　were　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang。　Liu　Bei　ordered　him　out　to　execution；　but　Zhuge　Liang　hastily　checked　him。

〃We　will　accept　your　submission　if　you　capture　Liu　Xiang　for　us；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

The　captive　accepted　the　offer　without　the　least　hesitation。

When　Zhuge　Liang　asked　how　he　intended　to　do　it；　he　replied；　〃If　you　will　set　me　free；　I　shall　be　cunning　of　speech。　If　you　raid　the　camp　this　evening；　you　will　find　me　your　helper　on　the　inside。　I　will　make　Liu　Xiang　a　prisoner　and　will　hand　him　over　to　you。　He　being　captured；　his　father　will　surrender　at　once。〃

Liu　Bei　doubted　the　good　faith　of　the　man；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Xing　Darong　is　not　deceiving。〃

Wherefore　Xing　Darong　was　set　free　and　went　back　to　camp；　where　he　related　all　that　had　occurred。

〃What　can　we　do？〃　asked　Liu　Xiang。

〃We　can　meet　trick　with　trick。　Put　soldiers　in　ambush　tonight　outside　our　camp　while　within　everything　will　appear　as　usual。　When　Zhuge　Liang　es　we　shall　capture　him。〃

The　ambush　was　prepared。　At　the　second　watch　an　army　came　out　of　the　darkness　and　appeared　in　the　gate。　Each　carried　a　torch　and　they　began　to　set　fire　to　all　about　them。　Out　dashed　Liu　Xiang　and　Xing　Darong；　and　the　incendiaries　forthwith　fled。　The　two　warriors　pursued　them；　but　the　fugitives　ran　and　then　suddenly　disappeared　at　about　three　miles　from　the　camp。

Much　surprised　the　two　turned　to　wend　their　way　back　to　their　own　camp。　It　was　still　burning　for　no　one　had　extinguished　the　flames。　Soon　from　behind　them　came　out　Zhang　Fei。

Liu　Xiang　called　out　to　his　panion；　saying；　〃Do　not　enter　the　burning　camp；　but　to　go　to　attack　Zhuge　Liangs　stockade。〃

Thereupon　they　turned　again；　but　at　a　distance　of　three　miles　Zhao　Yun　and　an　army　suddenly　debouched　upon　their　road。　Zhao　Yun　attacked　and　slew　Xing　Darong　by　a　spear　thrust。　Liu　Xiang　turned　to　flee；　but　Zhang　Fei　was　close　upon　him　and　made　him　prisoner。　He　was　thrown　across　a　horse；　bound；　and　taken　to　camp。

When　he　saw　Zhuge　Liang；　Liu　Xiang　said；　〃The　ruse　was　Xing　Darongs　evil　counsel。　I　was　forced　to　follow。〃

Zhuge　Liang　ordered　them　to　loose　his　bonds；　had　him　properly　dressed；　and　gave　him　wine　to　cheer　him　and　help　him　forget　his　troubles。　When　he　was　recovered；　he　was　told　to　go　to　his　father　and　persuade　him　to　yield。

〃And　if　he　does　not；　the　city　shall　be　destroyed　and　everyone　put　to　death；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　as　Liu　Xiang　left。

The　son　returned　to　the　city　and　told　his　father　these　things。　Liu　Du　at　once　decided　to　yield　and　forthwith　hoisted　the　flag　of　surrender；　opened　the　gates；　and　went　out　taking　his　seal　of　office　with　him。　He　was　reappointed　to　his　governorship；　but　his　son　was　sent　to　Jingzhou　for　service　with　the　army。

The　people　of　Lingling　all　rejoiced　greatly　at　the　change　of　rulers。　Liu　Bei　entered　the　city；　calmed　and　reassured　the　people；　and　rewarded　his　army。

But　he　at　once　began　to　think　of　the　next　move　and　asked　for　an　officer　to　volunteer　to　take　Guiyang。　Zhao　Yun　offered；　but　Zhang　Fei　vehemently　proposed　himself　for　the　mand　of　the　expedition。　So　they　wrangled　and　contended。

Then　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Undoubtedly　Zhao　Yun　was　first　to　volunteer；　wherefore　he　is　to　go。〃

Still　Zhang　Fei　opposed　and　insisted　on　going。　They　were　told　to　decide　the　dispute　by　drawing　lots；　and　Zhao　Yun　drew　the　winning　lot。

Zhang　Fei　was　still　very　angry　and　grumbled；　〃I　would　not　have　wanted　any　helpers：　Just　three　thousand　soldiers　and　I　would　have　done　it。〃

〃I　also　only　want　three　thousand　soldiers；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃And　if　I　fail；　I　am　willing　to　suffer　the　penalties。〃

Zhuge　Liang　was　pleased　that　Zhao　Yun　recognized　his　responsibility　so　fully；　and　with　the　mission　he　gave　Zhao　Yun　three　thousand　of　veterans。

Though　the　matter　was　thus　settled；　Zhang　Fei　was　discontented　and　pressed　his　claim　till　Liu　Bei　bade　him　desist　and　retire。

With　his　three　thousand　troops；　Zhao　Yun　took　the　road　to　Guiyang。　The　Governor；　Zhao　Fan；　soon　heard　of　his　approach　and　hastily　called　his　officers　to　take　counsel。　Two　of　them；　Chen　Ying　and　Bao　Long；　offered　to　meet　the　invaders　and　turn　them　back。

These　two　warriors　belonged　to　Guiyang　and　had　made　themselves　famous　as　hunters。　Chen　Ying　used　a　〃Flying　Fork；〃　and　Bao　Long　could　draw　a　bow　with　such　force　that　he　had　been　known　to　send　an　arrow　through　two　tigers。　So　strong　were　they；　as　well　as　bold。