北斗星小说网

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第223部分（第2页）

Who；　in　spite　of　numbered　years　three　scores　and　ten；

Was　marvelous　strong　in　battle；　who　one　day

Slew　four　opposing　generals；　as　great　as

When　at　Dangyang　he　had　saved　his　lord。

Seeing　the　successful　battle　that　Zhao　Yun　was　waging；　Deng　Zhi　led　on　his　troops　to　join　in　the　fight。　This　pleted　the　disfiture　of　the　Xiliang　army；　and　they　ran　away。　Han　De；　seeing　the　danger　of　being　captured；　threw　off　his　armor　and　went　on　foot。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　drew　off　and　returned　to　their　camp。

In　camp　Deng　Zhi　felicitated　his　veteran　colleague。

〃For　a　man　of　seventy　years；　you　are　unique　and　wonderful；〃　said　he。　〃You　are　as　much　the　hero　as　you　ever　were。　It　is　almost　an　inparable　feat　to　have　slain　four　generals　in　one　day。〃

〃Yet　the　Prime　Minister　thought　me　too　old　and　did　not　wish　to　employ　me。　I　had　to　give　him　a　proof。〃

The　captive　Han　Yao　was　sent　to　the　main　body　with　the　messenger　who　bore　an　account　of　the　victory。

In　the　meantime；　Han　De　led　his　defeated　army　back　to　his　chief；　to　whom　he　related　his　sad　story　with　many　tears。　Then　Xiahou　Mao　got　angry　and　decided　to　lead　his　own　army　out　against　Zhao　Yun。

When　the　scouts　reported　his　ing；　Zhao　Yun　took　his　spear　and　mounted　his　steed。　He　led　one　thousand　troops　out　to　Phoenix　Song　Mountain；　at　the　foot　of　which　he　made　his　array。　Xiahou　Mao　was　wearing　a　golden　casque；　riding　a　white　horse；　and　carrying　a　huge　sword。　From　his　place　beneath　the　great　standard；　he　saw　Zhao　Yun　galloping　to　and　fro。　He　was　going　out　to　give　battle；　when　Han　De　checked　him。

〃Is　it　not　mine　to　avenge　my　four　sons？〃　said　Han　De。

Han　De　seized　his　mountain…splitter　ax；　and　rode　directly　at　the　warrior；　who　advanced　with　fury。　The　contest　was　but　short；　for　in　the　third　encounter　Zhao　Yuns　spear　thrust　brought　Han　De　to　the　earth。　Without　waiting　a　moment　he　made　for　Xiahou　Mao；　who　hastily　dashed　in　behind　his　ranks　and　so　escaped。　Then　Deng　Zhi　led　on　the　main　body　and　pleted　the　victory。　The　force　of　Wei　retired　three　miles　and　made　a　camp。

This　first　battle　having　gone　against　him；　Xiahou　Mao　called　his　officers　to　consult。

He　said；　〃I　have　heard　Zhao　Yun　long　ago；　but　have　never　met　face…to…face。　Now　though　that　warrior　is　old；　he　still　has　incredible　prowess。　The　story　of　Dangyang　where　he　alone　fought　against　a　whole　host　and　came　out　victor　is　really　not　fabricated。　But　what　to　be　done　against　such　a　champion？〃

Then　Cheng　Wu；　son　of　Cheng　Yu；　said；　〃My　opinion　is　that　this　Zhao　Yun；　though　brave　in　the　field；　is　lacking　in　the　council　chamber。　Really　he　is　not　greatly　to　be　feared。　Give　battle　again　soon；　but　first　prepare　a　two…pronged　ambush。　You　can　retreat　and　so　draw　him　into　it。　Then　go　up　on　the　hill　top　and　direct　the　attack　from　that　point　of　vantage　so　that　he　may　be　hemmed　in　on　all　sides　and　be　captured。〃

The　necessary　plans　for　this　were　made；　and　two　parties　of　thirty　thousand　each；　led　by　Dong　Xin　and　Xue　Ze；　went　into　ambush　right　and　left。　The　ambush　laid；　Xiahou　Mao　advanced　once　more　to　attack；　drums　rolling　and　flags　flying。　As　soon　as　he　appeared；　Zhao　Yun　and　Deng　Zhi　went　to　meet　him。

Deng　Zhi　said；　〃The　army　of　Wei　were　beaten　only　yesterday。　This　renewed　attempt　must　mean　that　they　are　trying　some　trick。　You　should　be　cautious；　General。〃

〃I　do　not　think　this　youth；　with　the　smell　of　mothers　milk　still　on　his　lips；　worth　talking　about。　We　shall　surely　capture　him　today。〃

Zhao　Yun　pranced　out；　and　Pan　Sui　came　to　meet　him　from　the　side　of　Wei。　But　Pan　Sui　made　no　stand　and　quickly　ran　away。　Zhao　Yun　plunged　in　to　try　to　capture　Xiahou　Mao。　Then　there　came　out　to　stop　him　no　less　than　eight　generals　of　Wei；　all　of　whom　passed　in　front　of　Xiahou　Mao。　But　one　by　one　they　too　fled。　Zhao　Yun　pressed　forward　at　full　speed；　Deng　Zhi　ing　up　behind。

When　Zhao　Yun　had　got　deeply　involved；　with　the　battle　raging　all　around　him；　Deng　Zhi　decided　to　retire。　This　was　the　signal　for　the　ambush　to　e　out；　Dong　Xin　from　the　right　and　Xue　Ze　from　the　left。　Deng　Zhi　was　so　hampered　that　he　could　not　attempt　to　rescue　his　colleague。　Zhao　Yun　was　thus　entirely　surrounded。　However；　he　struggled　on；　losing　men　at　every　dash；　till　he　had　but　one　thousand　troops　left。　He　was　then　at　the　foot　of　the　hill　whence　Xiahou　Mao　was　directing　operations；　and　observing　his　enemy　from　this　point　of　vantage；　Xiahou　Mao　sent　troops　to　check　Zhao　Yun　whithersoever　he　went。　Zhao　Yun　decided　to　charge　up　the　hill；　but　was　stopped　by　rolling　bulks　of　timber　and　tumbling　rocks。

The　battle　had　lasted　long；　and　Zhao　Yun　was　fatigued。　So　he　halted　to　rest　a　time；　intending　to　renew　the　struggle　when　the　moon　should　be　up。　But　just　as　he　had　taken　off　his　armor　the　moon　rose　and；　with　it；　his　enemies　began　to　attack　with　fire　as　well；　and　the　thunder　of　the　drums　was　acpanied　by　showers　of　stones　and　arrows。

The　oning　host　shouted；　〃Zhao　Yun！　Why　dont　dismount　and　be　bound？〃

However；　Zhao　Yun　did　not　think　of　that；　but　got　upon　his　steed　to　strive　once　more　to　extricate　himself。　And　his　enemies　pressed　closer　and　closer；　pouring　in　flights　and　flights　of　arrows。　No　advance　was　possible；　and　the　end　seemed　very　near。

〃I　refused　the　repose　of　age；〃　sighed　he；　〃and　now　my　end　will　e　to　me　here！〃

Just　then　he　heard　new　shouting　from　the　northeast；　and　the　array　of　Wei　became　disordered。　To　his　joy；　Zhao　Yun　saw　Zhang　Bao　ing　toward　him；　the　serpent　halberd　in　his　hand；　and　a　mans　head　hanging　at　his　bridle。

Soon　Zhang　Bao　reached　the　veteran　generals　side　and　cried；　〃