第12部分(第5/7 页)

e　earth　and　set　off　at　full　gallop。

Then　spoke　Zu　Mao；　〃My　lord's　purple　turban　is　a　mark　that　the　rebels　will　too　easily　recognize。　Give　it　to　me；　and　I　will　wear　it！〃

So　Sun　Jian　exchanged　his　silver　helmet　with　the　turban　for　his　general's　headpiece；　and　the　two　men　parted；　riding　different　ways。　The　pursuers　looking　only　for　the　purple　turban　went　after　its　wearer；　and　Sun　Jian　escaped　along　a　by…road。

Zu　Mao；　hotly　pursued；　then　tore　off　the　headdress　which　he　hung　on　the　post　of　a　half…burned　house　as　he　passed　and　dashed　into　the　thick　woods。　Hua　Xiong's　troops　seeing　the　purple　turban　standing　motionless　dared　not　approach；　but　they　surrounded　it　on　every　side　and　shot　at　it　with　arrows。　Presently　they　discovered　the　trick；　went　up　and　seized　it。

This　was　the　moment　that　Zu　Mao　awaited。　At　once　he　rushed　forth；　his　two　swords　whirling　about；　and　dashed　at　the　leader。　But　Hua　Xiong　was　too　quick。　With　a　loud　yell；　Hua　Xiong　slashed　at　Zu　Mao　and　cut　him　down　the　horse。　Hua　Xiong　and　Li　Ru　continued　the　slaughter　till　the　day　broke；　and　they　led　their　troops　back　to　the　Pass。

Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang　in　time　found　their　chief　and　the　soldiers　gathered。　Sun　Jian　was　much　grieved　at　the　loss　of　Zu　Mao。

When　news　of　the　disaster　reached　Yuan　Shao；　he　was　greatly　chagrined　and　called　all　the　lords　to　a　council。　They　assembled　and　Gongsun　Zan　was　the　last　to　arrive。

When　all　were　seated　in　the　tent　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃The　brother　of　General　Bao　Xin；　disobeying　the　rules　we　made　for　our　guidance；　rashly　went　to　attack　the　enemy：　He　was　slain　and　with　him　many　of　our　soldiers。　Now　Sun　Jian　has　been　defeated。　Thus　our　fighting　spirit　has　suffered　and　what　is　to　be　done？〃

Everyone　was　silent。　Lifting　his　eyes；　Y