第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第57部分（第1页）

Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　deploy　troops　along　the　Yellow　River；　Cao　Ren　to　quarter　the　main　force　at　Guandu。　Then　Cao　Cao　with　an　army　marched　back　to　Capital　Xuchang。

The　five　legions　sent　against　Liu　Bei　went　into　camp　thirty…five　miles　from　Xuzhou。　The　camp　made　an　imposing　display　of　the　banners　of　the　Prime　Minister；　but　no　attacks　followed。　Their　spies　were　very　busy　north　of　the　river　to　get　news　of　Cao　Caos　movement。　On　the　defensive　side；　Liu　Bei；　as　he　was　uncertain　of　the　strength　of　the　force　against　him；　dared　not　move。

Suddenly　orders　came　for　the　Cao　Caos　army　to　attack；　and　then　discord　showed　itself。

Liu　Dai　said；　〃The　Prime　Minister　orders　an　attack：　You　advance。〃

Wang　Zhong　replied；　〃You　were　named　first。〃

〃I　am　the　mander…in…Chief。　It　is　not　my　place　to　go　first。〃

〃I　will　go　with　you　in　joint　mand；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。

〃Let　us　cast　lots；　and　he　upon　whom　the　lot　falls　must　go；〃　said　Liu　Dai。

They　drew　lots；　and　it　fell　to　Wang　Zhong；　who　advanced　toward　Xuzhou　with　half　the　force。

When　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　threatened　attack；　he　called　Chen　Deng　to　consult。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃There　is　dissension　in　Yuan　Shaos　camp　at　Liyang；　so　they　do　not　advance。　We　do　not　know　where　Cao　Cao　is；　but　his　own　banner　is　not　displayed　in　his　Liyangs　camp。　Why　then　is　it　shown　here？〃

Chen　Deng　replied；　〃His　tricks　take　a　hundred　forms。　It　must　be　that　he　regards　the　north　as　more　important　and　has　gone　there　to　look　after　its　defense。　He　dares　not　show　his　flag　there；　and　I　feel　sure　it　is　only　meant　to　mislead　us。　He　is　not　here。〃

Liu　Bei　then　asked　whether　one　of　his　brothers　would　find　out　the　truth；　and　Zhang　Fei　volunteered　to　go。

〃I　fear　you　are　unsuited　for　this；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃You　are　too　impetuous。〃

〃If　Cao　Cao　is　there；　I　will　haul　him　over　here；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

〃Let　me　go　first　and　find　out；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃If　you　go；　I　shall　feel　more　at　ease；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　Guan　Yu　set　out　with　three　thousand　soldiers　to　reconnoiter。　It　was　then　early　winter；　and　snow　was　falling　from　a　gloomy　sky。　They　marched　regardless　of　the　snow　and　came　near　Wang　Zhongs　camp　with　arms　all　ready　to　attack。　Guan　Yu　summoned　Wang　Zhong　to　a　parley。

〃The　Prime　Minister　is　here。　Why　do　you　not　surrender？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。

〃Beg　him　to　e　to　the　front；　for　I　would　speak　with　him；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。

〃Is　he　likely　to　e　out　to　see　such　as　you；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。

Guan　Yu　angrily　dashed　forward；　and　Wang　Zhong　set　his　spear　to　meet　him。　Guan　Yu　rode　till　he　came　close　to　his　antagonist；　then　suddenly　wheeled　away。　Wang　Zhong　went　after　him　and　followed　up　a　slope。　Just　as　they　passed　the　crest；　Guan　Yu　suddenly　wheeled　again；　shouted；　and　came　on　flourishing　the　mighty　sword。　Wang　Zhong　could　not　withstand　that　and　fled。　But　Guan　Yu；　changing　the　huge　sword　to　his　left　hand；　with　his　right　laid　hold　of　his　victim　by　the　straps　of　his　breastplate；　lifted　him　out　of　the　saddle；　and　rode　away　to　his　own　lines　with　the　captive　laid　across　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　Wang　Zhongs　army　scattered。

The　captive　was　sent　to　Xuzhou；　where　he　was　summoned　into　the　presence　of　Liu　Bei。

〃Who　are　you？　What　office　do　you　hold？　How　dare　you　falsely　display　the　ensigns　of　the　Prime　Minister？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　falsely　when　I　simply　obeyed　my　orders？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。　〃My　master　wanted　to　produce　the　impression　that　he　was　present。　Really　he　was　not　there。〃

Liu　Bei　treated　him　kindly；　giving　him　food　and　clothing；　but　put　him　in　prison　till　his　colleague　could　be　captured。

Guan　Yu　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃I　knew　you　had　peaceful　intentions　in　your　mind；　therefore；　I　captured　Wang　Zhong　instead　of　slaying　him。〃

〃I　was　afraid　of　Zhang　Feis　hasty　and　impulsive　temper；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃He　would　have　slain　this　man。　So　I　could　not　send　him。　There　is　no　advantage　in　killing　people　of　this　sort；　and　while　alive　they　are　often　useful　in　amicable　settlements。〃