第一小说网

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第153部分（第2页）

〃When　a　person　of　honor　accepts　such　a　task；　he　is　only　released　by　death；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。

But　that　ill…omened　word　〃death〃　displeased　Zhuge　Liang；　and　even　then　he　would　have　retracted　but　that　Guan　Yus　word　had　gone　forth。　Zhuge　Liang　went　on。

〃Now　if　Cao　Cao　attack　what　is　to　be　done？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

〃Repel　him　with　all　my　strength。〃

〃But　if　Cao　Cao　and　Sun　Quan　attack　you　together；　what　then？〃

〃Fight　both；　half　my　force　against　each。〃

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃In　that　case；　Jingzhou　would　be　in　danger。　I　will　give　you　my　advice　in　a　few　words；　and　if　you　remember　them　the　region　is　safe。〃

〃What　are　these　few　words？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。

〃North；　fight　Cao　Cao；　south；　ally　with　Sun　Quan。〃

〃These　words；　O　mander；　are　engraved　on　my　heart。〃

Thereupon　the　seal　was　placed　in　his　hands。　Zhuge　Liang　also　appointed　tried　and　worthy　people　to　assist　the　new　mander。　Guan　Yus　civil　staff　included　Ma　Liang；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Yi　Ji；　and　on　military　side；　he　was　assisted　by　Mi　Fang；　Liao　Hua；　Guan　Ping；　and　Zhou　Cang。

This　done；　Zhuge　Liang　began　to　prepare　for　his　march　to　the　River　Lands。　Zhang　Fei；　with　ten　thousand　troops；　was　sent　to　fight　his　way　into　the　country　west　of　Bazhou　and　Luocheng；　and　he　was　to　go　with　all　speed。　The　earlier　he　got　through；　the　greater　merit　would　be　his。　Zhao　Yun　was　to　lead　a　force　up　the　Great　River　and　make　a　junction　at　Luocheng。　Zhuge　Liang；　with　his　own　body　of　fifteen　thousand　troops；　would　follow。

Among　those　who　followed　Zhuge　Liang　were　Jian　Yong　and　one　Jiang　Wan。　Jiang　Wan　was　a　noted　scholar　from　Lingling；　and　he　held　the　office　of　Secretary。

Zhuge　Liang　and　Zhang　Fei　set　out　the　same　day。

Just　before　leaving；　the　Directing　Instructor　said　to　Zhang　Fei；　〃Do　not　think　lightly　of　the　soldiers　of　Yizhou；　for　there　are　many　mighty　warriors　among　them。　On　the　march　restrain　your　soldiers　from　plunder　and　license　lest　the　ordinary　people　be　against　us。　Wherever　you　halt；　be　passionate　and　kindly　and　do　not　give　way　to　anger　and　flog　your　soldiers。　I　shall　expect　you　to　reach　Luocheng　very　soon。〃

Zhang　Fei　joyously　mounted　and　left。　He　marched　rapidly；　and　on　the　way　all　places　that　surrendered　suffered　nothing　whatever。

When　they　drew　near　the　county　of　Bazhou；　the　scouts　of　West　River　Land　sent　out　by　the　Governor　of　that　place　informed　their　master；　Yan　Yan。　This　Yan　Yan　was　one　of　the　famous　generals　of　Yizhou；　and　even　then；　although　he　was　rather　old；　he　had　lost　none　of　his　boldness　and　could　still　pull　the　stiffest　bow　and　wield　the　heaviest　sword。

Being　so　famous；　Yan　Yan　was　not　the　man　to　surrender　at　the　first　approach　of　an　enemy。　So　when　Zhang　Fei　came　near；　he　cautiously　encamped　about　three　miles　from　the　city。　Thence　he　sent　a　messenger　to　summon　the　Governor　to　surrender。

Zhang　Fei　said；　〃Tell　the　old　fool　to　give　in；　or　I　will　trample　down　his　walls　and　leave　no　soul　alive。〃

Yan　Yan　had　never　favored　inviting　Liu　Bei　into　Yizhou。

When　he　had　first　heard　of　the　Imperial　Protectors　intention；　he　said；　〃This　is　like　calling　a　tiger　to　protect　a　person　when　that　person　is　alone　on　a　bare　hill　side。〃

When　he　heard　of　the　seizure　of　River　Fu　Pass；　he　was　very　angry　and　offered　again　and　again　to　lead　an　army　and　drive　out　the　aggressors。　He　had　feared　that　his　city　would　be　attacked　along　this　very　road；　so　he　had　prepared　his　army；　and　when　Zhang　Feis　message　came；　he　mustered　them；　five　thousand　or　so；　to　oppose　him。

Then　a　certain　person　said　to　Yan　Yan；　〃You　must　be　careful　how　you　oppose　a　man　who　by　the　mere　sound　of　his　voice　scared　the　many　legions　of　Cao　Cao　at　Long　Slope　Bridge。　Even　Cao　Cao　himself　was　careful　to　keep　out　of　his　way。　Your　safety　is　in　defense；　lying　behind　your　ramparts　and　within　your　deep　moats　till　hunger　shall　have　vanquished　your　enemies。　This　Zhang　Fei　has　a　very　violent　temper。　If　he　is　provoked；　he　vents　his　anger　in　flogging　his　soldiers。　If　you　avoid　battle；　he　will　be　irritated；　and　his　cruelty　to　his　soldiers　will　cause　them　to　mutiny。　Then　you　can　attack　and　will　succeed。〃

Yan　Yan　thought　the　advice　good。　He　therefore　resolved　only　to　defend；　and　he　set　all　his　soldiers　on　the　walls。　When　one　of　Zhang　Feis　soldiers　came　up　to　the　gate　and　shouted　for　them　to　open；　Yan　Yan　gave　orders　to　open　the　gate　and　admit　the　man。　When　the　soldier　had　e　within；　he　gave　the　submission　demand　as　has　been　related　before。

But　the　Governor　was　exceedingly　angry　and　said；　〃Fool　that　you　are！　How　dare　you　speak　thus　to　me？　Think　you　that　I；　General　Yan　Yan；　will　surrender　to　such　as　him。　By　your　mouth　indeed　will　I　send　a　message。〃

Then　Yan　Yan　bade　the　executioner　cut　off　the　mans　ears　and　nose。　And　thus　mutilated　he　returned　to　Zhang　Fei。　When　Zhang　Fei　heard　of　it；　his　wrath　boiled　up　and　he　cursed　the　defender　of　the　city。　Grinding　his　teeth　and　glaring　with　rage；　he　put　on　his　armor；　mounted　his　steed；　and　went　up　close　to　the　walls　with　a　few　mounted　follo