北斗星小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第151部分（第2页）

With　uplifted　sword　Huang　Zhong　rode　toward　Ling　Bao；　who　turned　his　steed　and　galloped　off　to　the　rear。　Huang　Zhong　pursued；　and　the　army　of　Yizhou　were　thrown　into　confusion。　So　Huang　Zhong　was　able　to　rescue　his　colleague　Wei　Yan。　Huang　Zhong　had　thus　slain　Deng　Xiang　and　forced　his　way　up　to　the　gate　of　the　camp。　Once　again　Ling　Bao　came　and　engaged　Huang　Zhong。　The　two　had　fought　some　ten　bouts　when　appeared　another　body　of　soldiers。　Thereupon　Ling　Bao　fled　again；　and　this　time　he　made　for　the　other　camp；　abandoning　his　own　to　the　troops　of　Jingzhou。

But　when　he　drew　near　his　camp；　he　saw　no　longer　the　familiar　flags　of　his　own　side。　Instead；　alien　banners　fluttered　in　the　breeze。　He　checked　his　steed　and　stared　at　the　new　force。　The　leader　was　a　general　wearing　a　silver　breastplate　and　clad　in　a　silken　robe；　no　other　than　Liu　Bei　himself。　On　his　left　was　his　son　and　on　his　right　rode　his　nephew。

〃Whither　would　you　e？〃　cried　Liu　Bei。　〃The　camp　is　ours。　I　have　captured　it。〃

Now　Liu　Bei　had　led　his　troops　in　the　track　of　the　other　two　armies　ready　to　help　either　in　case　of　need。　He　had　e　across　the　empty　and　undefended　camp　and　taken　possession。

Left　with　no　place　of　refuge；　Ling　Bao　set　off　along　a　byway　to　try　to　get　back　to　Luocheng。　He　had　not　gone　far　when　he　fell　into　an　ambush　and　was　taken　prisoner。　Bound　with　cords　he　was　taken　to　the　camp　of　Liu　Bei。

The　ambush　had　been　prepared　by　Wei　Yan；　who；　knowing　he　had　mitted　a　fault　that　could　in　no　wise　be　explained　away；　had　collected　as　many　of　his　soldiers　as　he　could　find　and　made　some　of　the　captured　soldiers　of　Yizhou　guide　him　to　a　spot　suitable　for　laying　an　ambush。

Liu　Bei　had　hoisted　the　flag　of　amnesty　for　his　enemies；　and　whenever　any　soldier　of　the　West　River　Land　laid　down　his　weapons　and　stripped　off　his　armor　he　was　spared。　Also　all　the　wounded　were　granted　life。　Liu　Bei　told　his　enemies　that　they　had　liberty　of　choice。

He　said；　〃You　soldiers　have　parents　and　wives　and　little　ones　at　home；　and　those　who　wish　to　return　to　them　are　free　to　go。　If　any　wish　to　join　my　army；　they　also　will　be　received。〃

At　this　proof　of　generosity　the　sound　of　rejoicing　filled　the　land。

Having　made　his　camp；　Huang　Zhong　came　to　Liu　Bei　and　said；　〃Wei　Yan　should　be　put　to　death　for　disobedience！〃

The　culprit　was　summoned　and　came；　bringing　with　him　his　prisoner。　Liu　Bei　decided　that　the　merit　of　capturing　an　enemy　should　be　set　against　his　fault　and　bade　him　thank　his　rescuer；　enjoining　upon　them　both　to　quarrel　no　more。　Wei　Yan　bowed　his　head　and　confessed　his　fault；　and　Huang　Zhong　was　handsomely　rewarded。

The　prisoner　was　then　taken　before　Liu　Bei　to　decide　upon　his　fate。　Liu　Bei　loosened　Ling　Baos　bonds　by　his　own　hands　and　gave　him　the　cup　of　consolation。　After　he　had　drunk；　Liu　Bei　asked　if　he　was　willing　to　surrender。

〃Since　you　give　me　my　life；　I　can　do　no　other；〃　said　he。　〃Moreover；　my　two　panions；　Liu　Gui　and　Zhang　Ren；　and　I　are　sworn　to　live　or　die　together。　If　you　will　release　me；　I　will　return　and　bring　them　also　to　you　and　therewith　you　will　get　possession　of　Luocheng。〃

Liu　Bei　gladly　accepted　the　offer。　He　gave　Ling　Bao　clothing　and　a　horse　and　bade　him　go　to　the　city　to　carry　out　his　plan。

〃Do　not　let　him　go；〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃If　you　do；　you　will　never　see　him　again。〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃If　I　treat　humans　with　kindness　and　justice；　they　will　not　betray　my　trust。〃

So　the　prisoner　was　set　free。

When　Ling　Bao　reached　the　city　and　saw　his　two　friends；　he　told　them；　saying；　〃I　slew　many　of　the　enemy　and　escaped　by　mounting　the　steed　of　one　of　them。〃

Ling　Bao　said　no　word　of　having　been　captured。　Messengers　were　sent　in　haste　to　Chengdu　for　help。

The　loss　of　his　general；　Deng　Xiang；　disturbed　the　Imperial　Protector　greatly。　He　called　his　advisers　together　to　consult。

Then　his　eldest　son；　Liu　Xun；　said；　〃Father；　let　me　go　to　defend　Luocheng。〃

〃You　may　go；　my　son；　but　who　is　there　to　go　with　you？〃

One　Wu　Yi　at　once　offered　himself。　He　was　brother…in…law　to　Liu　Zhang。

Liu　Zhang　said；　〃It　is　well　that　you　go；　brother…in…law；　but　who　will　second　you？〃

Wu　Yi　at　once　remended　two　men；　Wu　Lan　and　Lei　Tong；　who　were　appointed　to　assist　in　the　mand。　Twenty　thousand　troops　were　given　them；　and　they　set　out　for　Luocheng。　Liu　Gui　and　Zhang　Ren　came　out　to　wele　them　and　told　them　what　had　happened。

Wu　Yi　said；　〃If　the　enemy　draw　near　to　the　walls；　it　will　be　hard　to　drive　them　off　again。　What　do　you　two　think　should　be　done？〃

Ling　Bao　replied；　〃The　city　lies　along　River　Fu　and　the　current　is　strong。　The　enemy　camp　lies　low　at　the　foot　of　the　hills。　With　five　thousand　people　I　can　cut　the　river　banks；　flood　their　camp；　and　drown　Liu　Bei　and　his　army　with　him。〃

The　plan　was　approved；　and　Ling　Bao　went　away　to　carry　it　out。　Wu　Lan　and　Lei　Tong　were　told　off　to　supervise　the　workers。　They　began　to　prepare　the　tools　for　cutting　the　bank。

Leaving　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　in　mand　of　the　two　camps；　Liu　Bei　went　away　to　Fucheng　to　consult　with　Pang　Tong；　the　armys　instructor。　Intelligence　had　been　received　that　Sun　Quan　had　sent　a　messenger　to　see