第88部分(第3/7 页)

　camp　at　Fancheng　with　thirty　thousand　troops　and　so　threaten　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang。　Thence　he　sent　spies　to　find　out　the　weak　points。

Then　the　two　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　petitioned　Cao　Ren；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　strengthening　his　position　at　Xinye　and　laying　in　large　supplies。　Some　great　scheme　is　afoot；　and　he　should　be　checked。　Since　our　surrender　we　have　performed　no　noteworthy　service　and；　if　you　will　give　us　five　thousand　soldiers；　we　promise　to　bring　you　the　head　of　Liu　Bei。〃

Cao　Ren　was　only　too　glad；　and　the　expedition　set　out。　The　scouts　reported　this　to　Liu　Bei　who　turned　to　San　Fu　for　advice。

San　Fu　said；　〃They　must　not　be　permitted　to　cross　the　boundary。　Send　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　left　and　right；　each　with　one　thousand　troops；　one　to　attack　the　enemy　on　the　march；　the　other　to　cut　off　the　retreat。　You　and　Zhao　Yun　will　make　a　front　attack。〃

Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　started；　and　then　Liu　Bei　went　out　at　the　gate　with　two　thousand　troops　to　oppose　the　enemy。　Before　they　had　gone　far　they　saw　a　great　cloud　of　dust　behind　the　hills。　This　marked　the　approach　of　the　Lu　brothers。　Presently；　both　sides　being　arrayed；　Liu　Bei　rode　out　and　stood　by　his　standard。

He　called　out；　〃Who　are　you　who　thus　would　encroach　on　my　territory？〃

〃I　am　the　great　General　Lu　Kuang；　and　I　have　the　order　of　the　Prime　Minister　to　make　you　prisoner！〃　said　the　leader。

Liu　Bei　ordered　Zhao　Yun　to　go　out；　and　the　two　generals　engaged。　Very　soon　Zhao　Yun　with　a　spear　thrust　had　disposed　of　his　opponent；　and　Liu　Bei　gave　the　signal　to　attack。　Lu　Xiang　could　not　maintain　his　position　and　led　his　troops　off。　Soon　his　force　found　themselves　attacked　by　an　army　rushing　in　from　the　side　led　by　Guan　Yu。　The　loss　was　more　than　a　half；　and　the　remainder　fled