第12部分(第2/7 页)

d！〃　cried　all。

Then　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃My　brother；　Yuan　Shu；　is　appointed　Chief　of　the　missariat。　He　must　see　to　it　that　the　whole　camp　is　well　supplied。　But　the　need　of　the　moment　is　a　van　leader　who　shall　go　to　River　Si　Pass　and　provoke　a　battle。　The　other　forces　must　take　up　strategic　positions　in　support。〃

Then　the　Governor　of　Changsha；　Sun　Jian；　offered　himself　for　this　service。

〃You　are　valiant　and　fierce；　and　equal　to　this　service！〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

The　force　under　Sun　Jian　set　out　and　presently　came　to　River　Si　Pass。　The　guard　there　sent　a　swift　rider　to　the　capital　to　announce　to　the　Prime　Minister　the　urgency　of　the　situation。

Ever　since　Dong　Zhuo　had　secured　his　position；　he　had　given　himself　up　to　luxury　without　stint。　When　the　urgent　news　reached　Adviser　Li　Ru；　he　at　once　went　to　his　master；　who　much　alarmed　called　a　great　council。

Lu　Bu　stood　forth　and　said；　〃Do　not　fear；　my　father。　I　look　upon　all　the　lords　beyond　the　Pass　as　so　much　stubble。　And　with　the　warriors　of　our　fierce　army；　I　will　put　everyone　of　them　to　death　and　hang　their　heads　at　the　gates　of　the　capital！〃

〃With　your　aid　I　can　sleep　secure！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

But　someone　behind　Lu　Bu　broke　in　upon　his　speech；　saying；　〃An　ox…cleaver　to　kill　a　chicken！　There　is　no　need　for　the　General　to　go：　I　will　cut　off　their　heads　as　easily　as　I　would　take　a　thing　out　of　my　pocket！〃

Dong　Zhuo　looked　up　and　his　eyes　rested　on　a　stalwart　man　of　fierce　mien；　lithe　and　supple　as　a　beast。　He　had　round　head　like　a　leopard　and　shoulders　like　an　ape's。　His　name　was　Hua　Xiong　of　Guanxi。　Dong　Zhuo　rejoiced　at　Hua　Xiong's　bold　words　and　at　once　appointed　him　mander　of　the　Valiant　Cavalry　and　gave　him　fifty　thousand　of　horse　and　foot。　Hua　Xiong　and　three　other