北斗星小说网

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第118部分（第2页）

So　Lu　Su　left　him。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　manded　the　guards　on　no　account　to　absent　themselves；　to　maintain　strict　silence；　and　to　be　reverent。　Death　would　be　the　penalty　of　disobedience。

Next；　with　solemn　steps　he　ascended　the　altar；　faced　the　proper　quarter；　lighted　the　incense；　and　sprinkled　the　water　in　the　basins。　This　done　he　gazed　into　the　heavens　and　prayed　silently。　The　prayer　ended　he　descended　and　returned　to　his　tent。　After　a　brief　rest　he　allowed　the　soldiers　by　turns　to　go　away　to　eat。

Thrice　that　day　he　ascended　the　altar　and　thrice　descended；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　the　wind。

During　that　time；　Zhou　Yu；　with　Cheng　Pu　and　Lu　Su　and　other　military　officials　on　duty；　sat　waiting　in　the　tent　till　the　wished…for　wind　should　blow　and　the　attack　could　be　launched。　Messengers　were　also　sent　to　Sun　Quan　to　prepare　to　support　the　forward　movement。

Huang　Gai　had　his　fire　ships　ready；　twenty　of　them。　The　fore　parts　of　the　ships　were　thickly　studded　with　large　nails；　and　they　were　loaded　with　dry　reeds；　wood　soaked　in　fish　oil；　and　covered　with　sulfur；　saltpeter；　and　other　inflammables。　The　ships　were　covered　in　with　black　oiled　cloth。　In　the　prow　of　each　was　a　black　dragon　flag　with　indentations。　A　fighting　ship　was　attached　to　the　stern　of　each　to　propel　it　forward。　All　were　ready　and　awaited　orders　to　move。

Meanwhile　Cao　Caos　two　spies；　Cai　He　and　Cai　Zhong；　were　being　guarded　carefully　in　an　outer　camp　far　from　the　river　bank　and　daily　entertained　with　feasting。　They　were　not　allowed　to　know　of　the　preparations。　The　watch　was　so　close　that　not　a　trickle　of　information　reached　the　prisoners。

Presently；　while　Zhou　Yu　was　anxiously　awaiting　in　his　tent　for　the　desired　wind；　a　messenger　came　to　say　that　Sun　Quan　had　anchored　at　a　place　thirty　miles　from　the　camp；　where　he　awaited　news　from　the　mander…in…Chief。

Lu　Su　was　sent　to　warn　all　the　various　manders　to　be　ready；　the　ships　and　their　weapons；　sails　and　oars；　all　for　instant　use；　and　to　impress　upon　them　the　penalties　of　being　caught　unprepared。　The　soldiers　were　indeed　ready　for　the　fight　and　yearning　for　the　fray。

But　the　sky　remained　obstinately　clear；　and　as　night　drew　nigh　no　breath　of　air　stirred。

〃We　have　been　cajoled；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃Indeed　what　possibility　is　there　of　a　southeast　wind　in　midwinter？〃

〃Zhuge　Liang　would　not　use　vain　and　deceitful　words；〃　replied　Lu　Su。

Towards　the　third　watch；　the　sound　of　a　movement　arose　in　the　air。　Soon　the　flags　fluttered　out。　And　when　the　mander…in…Chief　went　out　to　make　sure；　he　saw　they　were　flowing　toward　the　northwest。　In　a　very　short　time　the　southeast　wind　was　in　full　force。

Zhou　Yu　was；　however；　frightened　at　the　power　of　the　man　whose　help　he　had　invoked。

He　said；　〃Really　the　man　has　power　over　the　heavens　and　authority　over　the　earth。　His　methods　are　incalculable；　beyond　the　ken　of　god　or　devil。　He　cannot　be　allowed　to　live　to　be　a　danger　to　our　land　of　the　south。　We　must　slay　him　soon　to　fend　off　later　evils。〃

So　Zhou　Yu　resolved　to　mit　a　crime　to　remove　his　dangerous　rival。

He　called　two　of　the　generals　of　his　guard；　Ding　Feng　and　Xu　Sheng；　and　said　to　them；　〃Each　of　you　take　a　party　of　one　hundred　troops；　one　along　the　river；　the　other　along　the　road；　to　the　altar　on　the　mountains。　As　soon　as　you　get　there；　without　asking　questions　or　giving　reasons；　you　are　to　seize　and　behead　Zhuge　Liang。　Rich　reward　will　be　given　when　you　bring　his　head　back。〃

Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　went　off　on　their　errand；　the　former　leading　dagger　and　ax…men　going　as　fast　as　oars　could　propel　them　along　the　river；　the　latter　at　the　head　of　archers　and　bowmen　on　horseback。　The　southeast　wind　buffeted　them　as　they　went　on　their　way。

High　was　raised　the　Seven　Stars　Altar；

On　it　prayed　the　Sleeping　Dragon

For　an　eastern　wind；　and　straightway

Blew　the　wind。　Had　not　the　wizard

Exercised　his　mighty　magic

Nought　had　Zhou　Yus　skill　availed。

Ding　Feng　first　arrived。　He　saw　the　guards　with　their　flags；　dropped　off　his　steed；　and　marched　to　the　altar；　sword　in　hand。　But　he　found　no　Zhuge　Liang。

When　he　asked　the　guards；　they　told　him；　saying；　〃He　has　just　gone　down。〃

Ding　Feng　ran　down　the　hill　to　search。　There　he　met　his　fellow　Xu　Sheng；　and　they　joined　forces。

Presently　a　simple　soldier　told　them；　saying；　〃The　evening　before　a　small；　fast　boat　anchored　there　near　a　sand　spit；　and　Zhuge　Liang　was　seen　to　go　on　board。　Then　the　boat　went　up　river。〃

So　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　divided　their　party　into　two；　one　to　go　by　water；　the　other　by　land。

Xu　Sheng　bade　his　boatmen　put　on　all　sail　and　take　every　advantage　of　the　wind。　Before　very　long　he　saw　the　fugitives　boat　ahead；　and　when　near　enough；　stood　in　the　prow　of　his　own　and　shouted；　〃Do　not　flee；　O　Instructor　of　the　Army！　The　General　requests　your　presence。〃

Zhuge　Liang；　who　was　seated　in　the　stern　of　his　boat；　just　laughed　aloud；　saying；　〃Return　and　tell　the　General　to　make　good　use　of　his　soldiers。　Tell　him　I　am　going　up　river　for　a　spell　and　will　see　him　again　another　day。〃

〃Pray　wait　a　little　while；〃　cried　Xu　Sheng。　〃I　have　something　most　important　to　tell　you！〃

〃I　knew　all　about　it；　that　Zhou　Yu　would　not　let　me　go　and　that　he　wanted　to　kill　me。　That　is　why　Zhao　Yun　was　waiting　for　me。　You　had　better　not　approach　nearer。〃

Seeing　the　other　ship　had　no　sail；　Xu　Sheng　thought　he　would　assuredly　e　up　with　it　and　so　maintained　the　pursuit。

Then　when　he　got　too　close；　Zhao　Yun　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　bowstring　and；　standing　up　in　the　stern　of　his　boat；　cried；　〃You　know　who　I　am；　and　I　came　expressly　to　escort　the　Directing　Instructor。　Why　are　you　pursuing　him？　One　arrow　would　kill　you；　only　that　would　cause　a　breach　of　the　peace　between　two　houses。　I　will　shoot　and　just　give　you　a　specimen　of　my　skill。〃

With　that　he　shot；　and　the　arrow　whizzed　overhead　cutting　the　rope　that　held　up　the　sail。　Down　came　the　sail　trailing　in　the　water　and　the　boat　swung　round。　Then　Zhao　Yuns　boat　hoisted　its　sail；　and　the　fair　wind　speedily　carried　it　out　of　sight。

On　the　bank　stood　Ding　Feng。　He　bade　his　rade　e　to　the　shore　and　said；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　too　clever　for　anyone；　and　Zhao　Yun　is　bravest　of　the　brave。　You　remember　what　he　did　at　Dangyang；　at　the　Long　Slope　Bridge。　All　we　can　do　is　to　return　and　report。〃

So　they　returned　to　camp　and　told　their　master　about　the　preparations　that　Zhuge　Liang　had　made　to　ensure　safety。　Zhou　Yu　was　indeed　puzzled　at　the　depth　of　his　rivals　insight。