按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
eeping Dragon to help you and need have no anxiety about the ultimate achievement of your undertaking。 But I must go。〃
And Xu Shu took his leave。 Liu Bei felt he could not press his friend to stay。 Xu Shu returned to Cao Cao's camp and reported that Liu Bei had no intention of surrender。 This angered Cao Cao who gave orders to begin the advance and siege。
When Liu Bei asked what Zhuge Liang meant to do； Zhuge Liang replied； 〃We shall abandon Fancheng and take Xiangyang。〃
〃But what of the people who have followed us？ They cannot be abandoned。〃
〃You can tell them to do as they wish。 They may e if they like； or remain here。〃
They sent Guan Yu to prepare boats and told Sun Qian to proclaim to the people that Cao Cao was ing； that the city could not be defended； and those who wished to do so might cross the river with the army。
All the people cried； 〃We will follow the Prince even if it be to death！〃
They started at once； some lamenting； some weeping； the young helping the aged； parents leading their children； the strong soldiers carrying the women。 As the crowds crossed the river； from both banks arose the sound of lamentation。
Liu Bei was much affected as he saw all this from the boat。
〃Why was I ever born；〃 said he； 〃to be the cause of all this misery to the people？〃
He made to leap into the river； but they held him back。 All were deeply sympathetic。 When the boat reached the southern shore； he looked back at the weeping crowds waiting still on the other bank and was again moved to tears。 He bade Guan Yu hasten the boats before he mounted and rode on。
When Xiangyang came in sight； they saw many flags flying on the walls and that the moat was protected by barbed barriers。
Liu Bei checked his horse and called out； 〃Liu Zong； good nephew！ I only wish to save the people and nothing more。 I pray you quickly open the gates。〃
But Liu Zong was too frightened to appear。 Cai Mao and Zhang Yun went up to one of the fighting towers and ordered the soldiers to shoot arrows down on those without the walls。 The people gazed up at the towers and wept aloud。
Suddenly there appeared a general； with a small following； who cried out； 〃Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are two traitors。 The princely Liu Bei is a most upright man and has e here to preserve his people。 Why do you repulse him？〃
All looked at this man。 He was of eight…span height； with a face dark brown as a ripe date。 He was from Yiyang and named Wei Yan。 At that moment he looked very terrible； whirling his sword as if about to slice up the gate guards。 They lost no time in throwing open the gate and dropping the bridge。
〃e in； Uncle Liu Bei；〃 cried Wei Yan； 〃and bring your army to slay these traitors！〃
Zhang Fei plunged forward to take Cai Mao and Zhang Yun； but he was checked by his brother； who said； 〃Do not frighten the people！〃
Thus Wei Yan let in Liu Bei。 As soon as he entered； he saw a general galloping up with a few men。
The newer yelled； 〃Wei Yan； you nobody！ How dare you create trouble？ Do you not know me； General Wen Ping？〃
Wei Yan turned angrily； set his spear； and galloped forward to attack the general。 The soldiers joined in the fray and the noise of battle rose to the skies。
〃I wanted to preserve the people； and I am only causing them injury；〃 cried Liu Bei distressed。 〃I do not wish to enter the city。〃
〃Jiangling is an important point。 We will first take that as a place to dwell in；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃That pleases me greatly；〃 said Liu Bei。
So they led the people thither and away from Xiangyang。 Many of the inhabitants of that city took advantage of the confusion to escape； and they also joined themselves to Liu Bei。
Meanwhile； within the inhospitable city； Wei Yan and Wen Ping fought。 The battle continued for four or five watches； all through the middle of the day； and nearly all the batants fell。 Then Wei Yan got away。 As he could not find Liu Bei； he rode off to Changsha and sought an asylum with Governor Han Xuan。
Liu Bei wandered away from the city of Xiangyang that had refused shelter。 Soldiers and people； his following numbered more than a hundred thousand。 The carts numbered scores of thousands； and the burden bearers were innumerable。 Their road led them past the tomb of Liu Biao； and Liu Bei turned aside to bow at the grave。
He lamented； saying； 〃Shameful is thy brother； lacking both in virtue and in talents。 I refused to bear the burden you wished to lay upon me； wherein I was wrong。 But the people mitted no sin。 I pray your glorious spirit descend and rescue these people。〃
His prayer was fraught with sorrow； and all those about him wept。
Just then a scout rode up with the news that Fancheng was already taken by Cao Cao and that his army were preparing boats and rafts to cross the river。
The generals of Liu Bei said； 〃Jiangling is a defensible shelter； but with this crowd we can only advance very slowly； and when can we reach the city？ If Cao Cao pursue； we shall be in a parlous state。 Our counsel is to leave the people to their fate for a time and press on to Jiangling。〃
But Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃The success of every great enterprise depends upon humanity。 How can I abandon these people who have joined me？〃
Those who heard him repeat this noble sentiment were greatly affected。
In time of stress his heart was tender toward the people；
And he wept as he went down into the ship；
Moving the hearts of soldiers to sympathy。
Even today； in the countryside；
Fathers and elders recall the Princely One's kindness。
The progress of Liu Bei； with the crowd of people in his train； was very slow。
〃The pursuers will be upon us quickly；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Let us send Guan Yu to Jiangxia for succor。 Liu Qi should be told to bring soldiers and prepare boats for us at Jiangling。〃
Liu Bei agreed to this and wrote a letter which he sent by the hands of Guan Yu and Sun Qian and five hundred troops。 Zhang Fei was put in mand of the rear guard。 Zhao Yun was told to guard Liu Bei's family； while the others ordered the march of the people。
They only traveled three or four miles daily and the halts were frequent。
Meanwhile Cao Cao was at Fancheng； whence he sent troops over the river toward Xiangyang。 He summoned Liu Zong； but Liu Zong was too afraid to answer the call。 No persuasion could get him to go。
Wang Wei said to him privately； 〃Now you can overe Cao Cao if you are wise。 Since you have announced surrender and Liu Bei has gone away； Cao Cao will relax his precautions； and you can catch him unawares。 Send a well…prepared but unexpected force to waylay him in some manding position； and the thing is done。 If you were to take Cao Cao prisoner； your fame would run throughout the empire； and the land would be yours for the taking。 This is a sort of opportunity that does not recur； and you should not miss it。〃
The young man consulted Cai Mao； who called Wang Wei an evil counselor and spoke to him harshly。
〃You are mad！ You know nothing and understand nothing of destiny；〃 said Cai Mao。
Wang Wei angrily retorted； saying； 〃Cai Mao is the betrayer of the country； and I wish I could eat him alive！〃
The quarrel waxed deadly； and Cai Mao wanted to slay Wang Wei。 But eventually peace was restored by Kuai Yue。
Then Cai Mao and Zhang Yun went to Fancheng to see Cao Cao。
Cai Mao was by instinct specious and flattering； and when his host asked concerning the resources of Jingzhou； he replied； 〃There are fifty thousand of horse； one hundred fifty thousand of foot； and eighty thousand of marines。 Most of the money and grain are at Jiangling。 The rest is stored at various places。 There are ample supplies for a year。〃
〃How many war vessels are there？ Who is in mand？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃The ships； of all sizes； number seven thousands； and we two are the manders。〃
Upon this Cao Cao conferred upon Cai Mao the title of the Lord Who Controls the South； and Supreme Admiral of the Naval Force； and Zhang Yun was his Vice…Admiral with the title of the Lord Who Brings Obedience。
When they went to thank Cao Cao for these honors； he told them； saying； 〃I am about to propose to the Throne that Liu Biao's son should be perpetual Imperial Protector of Jingzhou in succession to his late father。〃
With this promise for their young master and the honors for themselves； they retired。