北斗星小说网

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第200部分（第1页）

ung　at　his　belt。　He　was　terrible　to　look　upon。

Gan　Ning　recognized　that　he　had　no　chance　of　victory　against　such　a　man　and　did　not　engage　Shamo　Ke；　but　turned　his　steed　to　flee。　But　as　Gan　Ning　fled；　Shamo　Ke　shot　an　arrow　that　pierced　Gan　Nings　skull。　Wounded　as　he　was；　Gan　Ning　rode　on　to　Fuchikou；　but　there　he　dismounted　and　sat　under　a　big　tree；　where　he　died。　On　the　tree　were　many　hundreds　of　crows；　and　they　gathered　round　the　corpse　as　if　to　protect　it。

＇e＇　Gan　Nings　temple　on　the　mouth　of　Fuchi　River　is　still　here　today。　When　visitors　e　to　pay　respect；　they　often　see　crows　bidding　farewell　to　them　when　they　leave。

The　Prince　of　Wu　was　sore　grieved　at　the　news　of　Gan　Nings　death；　and　had　the　remains　buried　honorably。　Moreover；　he　raised　a　temple　in　Fuchikou　to　Gan　Nings　memory*。

Gan　Ning　was　first　of　warriors　in　Wu；

With　silken　sails　he　stemmed　the　Great　Rivers　tide；

Right　loyally　he　served　his　prince；　and　true；

He　made　two　ill　friends　put　their　hate　aside。

Light　horse　led　he　by　night　a　camp　to　raid；

And　first　he　warmed　his　soldiers　with　generous　wine。

In　his　resting　place　the　holy　crows　wele　guests；

And　fragrant　incense　smolders　at　his　shrine。

This　victory　gave　the　First　Ruler　possession　of　Xiaoting。　But　at　the　muster　after　the　battle；　Guan　Xing　did　not　appear。　Search　parties　were　sent　to　find　him；　and　they　went　far　and　wide　beating　the　country　around。

However；　the　dashing　young　soldier　was　only　following　in　his　fathers　foe。　When　Guan　Xing　had　got　in　among　the　army　of　Wu；　he　had　caught　sight　of　Pan　Zhang；　his　especial　enemy；　and　galloped　in　pursuit。　In　terror；　Pan　Zhang　took　to　the　hills　and　disappeared　in　one　of　the　valleys。

In　seeking　him；　Guan　Xing　lost　his　way　and　went　to　and　fro　till　it　grew　dark　without　finding　a　way　out。　It　was　clear　moonlight。　Near　midnight　he　came　to　a　farm；　where　he　dismounted　and　knocked　at　the　door。　A　venerable　old　man　appeared　and　asked　who　he　was。

〃I　am　a　leader　of　the　army；　and　I　have　lost　my　way。　I　beg　a　meal；　for　I　am　starving；〃　said　Guan　Xing。

The　old　man　led　him　into　a　hall　lit　by　many　candles；　and　there　he　saw　in　the　family　altar　a　picture　of　Guan　Yu。　At　once　he　began　to　wail　and　bowed　before　it。

〃Why　do　you　wail　thus？〃　asked　the　old　man。

〃This　is　my　father；〃　said　Guan　Xing。

At　this；　the　old　man　prostrated　himself　before　his　guest。

〃Why　should　you　treat　my　father　with　such　respect？〃　asked　Guan　Xing。

〃This　place　is　sacred　to　his　honored　spirit。　While　he　lived　the　people　served　him；　and　now　that　he　is　a　spirit　should　they　not　revere　him　the　more？　I　have　been　waiting　for　the　armies　of　Shu　to　avenge　his　death；　and　it　is　indeed　the　great　good　fortune　of　the　people　that　you　have　e。〃

Then　the　host　brought　forth　wine　and　food　and　served　his　guest。　Moreover；　he　unsaddled　and　fed　his　horse。

In　the　third　watch　a　knocking　came　at　the　door；　and　when　the　old　man　opened　it；　the　visitor　was　no　other　than　Pan　Zhang；　the　General　of　Wu。　He　also　asked　shelter。

As　Pan　Zhang　came　in；　Guan　Xing　recognized　him　and　drew　his　sword；　crying；　〃Stay；　you　ruffian！　Do　not　flee！〃

Pan　Zhang　turned　to　flee。　But　before　he　could　turn；　Guan　Xing　raised　his　sword：　It　fell；　and　Pan　Zhang　lay　dead。　Taking　the　heart…blood　of　his　dead　enemy；　Guan　Xing　poured　it　in　libation　before　the　picture　of　his　father。　After　that　he　took　possession　of　his　fathers　green…dragon　saber；　curved　as　the　young　moon。　Having　hacked　off　the　head　of　his　fallen　enemy；　he　fastened　it　to　his　bridle。　Then　he　took　leave　of　his　aged　host；　saddled　his　enemys　horse；　and　rode　away　toward　his　own　camp。

The　old　man　dragged　the　corpse　of　the　dead　mander　outside　and　burned　it。

Guan　Xing　had　not　gone　very　far　when　he　heard　the　neighing　of　horses　and　soon　met　a　troop　led　by　Ma　Zhong；　one　of　Pan　Zhangs　generals；　who　was　looking　for　his　chief。　Ma　Zhong　fell　into　a　great　rage　when　he　saw　the　head　of　Pan　Zhang　swinging　at　the　neck　of　Guan　Xings　horse　and　beheld　the　famous　sword　in　his　hand。　Ma　Zhong　galloped　up　furiously；　and　Guan　Xing；　who　recognized　an　enemy　of　his　late　father；　rushed　to　meet　him。　Just　as　he　would　strike；　however；　Ma　Zhongs　three　hundred　troops　galloped　up　to　support　their　general；　and　Guan　Xing　was　surrounded。　He　was　in　dire　danger；　but　just　opportunely　came　up　a　troop　of　horse　led　by　his　cousin　Zhang　Bao。　At　this；　Ma　Zhong；　thinking　discretion　the　better　part；　drew　off　his　army　and　rode　away。

The　two　cousins　pursued　him。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　they　met　another　force　under　Mi　Fang　and　Fu　Shiren；　who　had　e　out　to　seek　Ma　Zhong。　The　two　bodies　of　soldiers　met　and　fought；　but　the　troops　of　Shu　were　too　few　for　victory　and　drew　off。　Thence　they　made　their　way　to　headquarters　in　Xiaoting；　where　they　told　their　adventures　and　presented　the　head　of　Pan　Zhang。　The　First　Ruler　was　very　pleased　and　rewarded　all　armed　forces。

Ma　Zhong　went　back　and　rejoined　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai。　Then　they　collected　their　troops；　many　wounded；　and　stationed　them　in　various　points。

Ma　Zhong；　together　with　Mi　Fang　and　Fu　Shiren；　marched　to　the　river　bank　and　encamped。　The　night　they　arrived；　many　soldiers　were　groaning　with　the　pain　of　their　wounds。