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第198部分（第2页）

Now　the　Shu　General　Hu　Ban　had　received　his　seal　as　Leader　of　the　Van。　From　the　day　he　left　the　borders　of　the　River　Lands；　he　had　had　uninterrupted　success。　Everyone　had　submitted　at　the　mere　rumor　of　his　ing。　He　had　conducted　his　campaign　with　unstained　swords　as　far　as　Yidu。　When　he　heard　that　Sun　Huan　was　camped　there　to　oppose　his　progress；　he　sent　back　rapid　messengers　to　the　First　Ruler；　who　was　then　at　Zigui。

The　First　Ruler　got　angry；　saying；　〃So　they　think　this　youth　is　able　to　withstand　me？〃

〃Since　this　nephew　of　Sun　Quan　has　been　made　a　leader；〃　said　Guan　Xing；　〃it　is　unnecessary　to　send　a　leader　of　high　rank。　Let　me　go。〃

〃I　was　just　wishing　to　see　what　you　could　do；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　and　he　gave　him　orders　to　go。

Just　as　Guan　Xing　was　leaving；　Zhang　Bao　stepped　forth　and　asked　permission　to　go　too。

〃Then　both　go；　my　nephews；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃But　you　must　be　prudent　and　not　hasty。〃

So　they　took　leave；　collected　their　troops　and　advanced。　Sun　Huan；　hearing　of　the　ing　of　a　large　army；　called　out　all　his　troops　and　drew　up　his　array。　His　two　famous　generals；　Li　Yi　and　Xie　Jing；　were　placed　by　the　great　standard。　They　watched　the　soldiers　of　Shu　filing　out　and　noted　two　leaders　in　silver　helmets　and　silver　armors；　riding　on　white　horses；　and　the　flags　were　white。　First　came　Zhang　Bao　with　a　long　spear；　and　then　Guan　Xing　carrying　a　great　saber。

〃Sun　Huan；　you　tiny　rascal；　your　time　has　e！〃　cried　Zhang　Bao　abusively。　〃How　dare　you　stand　against　the　forces　of　Heaven？〃

〃Your　father　is　a　headless　devil；〃　cried　Sun　Huan；　no　way　backward　in　reviling；　〃and　you　are　going　just　now　to　join　him。　Dont　you　see？〃

Then　Zhang　Bao　rode　at　Sun　Huan。　From　behind　his　chief；　Xie　Jing　dashed　out　to　meet　him。　They　fought　nearly　forty　bouts；　and　then　Xie　Jing　ran　away　with　Zhang　Bao　in　pursuit。

When　Li　Yi　saw　his　rade　overe；　he　whipped　up　his　steed　and　came　into　the　fray；　whirling　his　silvered　battle…ax。　Zhang　Bao　fought　twenty　bouts　with　him；　but　neither　got　the　better。

Then　in　the　army　of　Wu；　a　marching　general　named　Tan　Xiong；　seeing　that　his　two　rades　could　not　overe　Zhang　Bao；　shot　a　treacherous　arrow　from　the　ranks　and　wounded　Zhang　Baos　steed。　Feeling　the　pang　of　the　wound；　the　horse　bolted　back　to　its　own　side；　but　fell　before　it　reached　it；　throwing　its　rider　sprawling　on　the　ground。　Seeing　this；　Li　Yi　turned　and　rode　toward　the　prostrate　leader　to　slay　him　with　his　battle…ax。　But　just　as　he　was　about　to　deliver　his　blow；　lo！　a　red　flash　came　between；　and　his　head　rolled　along　the　earth。

The　red　flash　was　Guan　Xings　great　sword。　Seeing　the　horse　fall　and　Li　Yi　ing　up；　he　had　rushed　in　and　dealt　that　fatal　blow。　And　he　had　saved　Zhang　Bao　from　death。　Then　they　attacked　and　lay　on　so　that　Sun　Huan　suffered　a　great　defeat。　Then　each　side　beat　the　retreat　and　drew　off。

Next　day　Sun　Huan　came　out　to　offer　battle　again；　and　the　two　cousins　went　forth　together。　Guan　Xing；　from　horseback　by　the　main　standard；　challenged　his　enemy。　Sun　Huan　rode　out　fiercely；　and　they　two　fought　near　thirty　bouts。　But　Sun　Huan　was　not　strong　enough　and　drew　off。　The　two　youths　followed　and　reached　his　camp。　Hu　Ban；　together　with　Feng　Xi　and　Zhang　Nan；　also　launched　another　attack。　Zhang　Bao　helped　them　with　all　his　force　and　was　the　first　to　force　his　way　into　the　ranks　of　Wu。　He　came　across　Xie　Jing；　whom　he　slew　with　a　spear　thrust。　The　soldiers　of　Wu　scattered　and　fled；　and　the　victory　was　on　the　side　of　Shu。

But　Guan　Xing　was　missing。　Zhang　Bao　was　desperate；　saying；　〃If　something　wrong　happens　to　Guan　Xing；　I　will　not　live！〃

So　he　girded　on　his　huge　spear　and　rode　far　and　wide　seeking　him。　Presently　he　met　Guan　Xing；　bearing　his　sword　in　his　left　hand；　while　his　right　held　a　captive。

〃Who　is　this？〃　asked　Zhang　Bao。

〃In　the　melee　I　met　an　enemy；〃　said　Guan　Xing；　〃and　I　took　him　prisoner。〃

Then　Zhang　Bao　recognized　Tan　Xiong；　the　man　who　had　let　fly　the　treacherous　arrow　that　had　brought　down　his　horse。　The　two　returned　to　camp；　where　they　slew　their　prisoner　and　poured　a　libation　of　his　blood　to　the　dead　horse。

After　this　they　drew　up　a　report　of　the　victory　for　the　First　Ruler。　Sun　Huan　had　lost　his　generals………Li　Yi；　Xie　Jing；　and　Tan　Xiong………as　well　as　several　other　officers　and　many　troops。　His　army　was　too　weakened　to　continue　the　campaign；　so　he　halted　and　sent　back　to　Wu　for　reinforcements。

Then　Generals　Zhang　Nan　and　Feng　Xi　said　to　Hu　Ban；　〃The　power　of　Wu　is　broken。　Let　us　raid　their　encampment。〃

But　Hu　Ban　said；　〃Though　so　many　have　been　lost；　there　are　many　left。　Zhu　Rans　marine　force　is　in　a　strong　position　on　the　river　and　is　untouched。　If　you　carry　out　your　plan　and　the　marines　land　in　force　and　cut　off　our　retreat；　we　shall　be　in　difficulties。〃

〃That　is　easily　met；〃　said　Zhang　Nan。　〃Let　each　of　the　two　leaders　Guan　Xing　and　Zhang　Bao　take　five　thousand　troops　and　go　into　ambush　in　the　valleys　to　guard　against　any　such　move。〃

Said　Hu　Ban；　〃I　think　it　better　to　send　some　persons　to　pretend　to　be　deserters。　Let　them　tell　Zhu　Ran　of　the　plan　to　raid　the　camp；　and　Zhu　Ran　will　e　to　the　rescue　as　soon　as　he　sees　fire。　Then　the　ambushing　soldiers　can　attack　him。〃

They　thought　this　a　fine　plan；　and　they　made　the　necessary　arrangements。

Hearing　of　the　ill　success　and　losses　of　his　colleague　Sun　Huan；　Zhu　Ran　was　already　thinking　of　going　to　his　help；　when　a　few　deserters　appeared　and　hoarded　his　ship。

He　questioned　them；　and　they　said；　〃We　are　Feng　Xis　soldiers；　and　we　have　deserted　because　of　unfair　treatment。　We　have　a　secret　to　tell。〃

〃What　secret　can　you　betray？〃

〃Tonight　Feng　Xi　is　going　to　make　an　attack　upon　General　Sun　Huans　camp。　He　thinks　it　is　a　good　chance。　They　are　going　to　raise　a