第88部分(第4/7 页)

　for　safety。

About　three　miles　farther　on　they　found　their　retreat　barred　by　an　army　under　Zhang　Fei；　who　stood　in　the　way　with　a　long　spear　ready　to　thrust；　crying　out；　〃Zhang　Fei　is　waiting！〃

Zhang　Fei　bore　down　upon　Lu　Xiang；　who　was　slain　without　a　chance　of　striking　a　blow。　The　troops　again　fled　in　disorder。　They　were　pursued　by　Liu　Bei；　and　the　greater　part　killed　or　captured。

Then　Liu　Bei　returned　into　Xinye　where　he　rewarded　San　Fu　and　feasted　his　victorious　soldiers。

Some　of　the　defeated　troops　took　the　news　of　the　deaths　of　the　leaders　and　the　capture　of　their　rades　to　Cao　Ren　at　Fancheng。

Cao　Ren；　much　distressed；　consulted　Li　Dian　who　advised；　saying；　〃The　loss　is　due　to　our　underestimation　of　our　enemy。　Now　we　should　stay　where　we　are；　hold　on；　and　request　reinforcements。〃

〃Not　so；〃　said　Cao　Ren。　〃We　cannot　support　calmly　the　death　of　two　leaders　and　the　loss　of　so　many　soldiers。　We　must　avenge　them　quickly。　Xinye　is　but　a　crossbow…slug　of　a　place　and　not　worth　disturbing　the　Prime　Minister　for。〃

〃Liu　Bei　is　a　man　of　metal；〃　said　Li　Dian。　〃Do　not　esteem　him　lightly。〃

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　said　Cao　Ren。

〃The　Rule　of　War　says　'To　know　your　enemy　and　yourself　is　the　secret　of　victory；'〃　replied　Li　Dian。　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　the　battle；　but　I　do　not　think　we　can　conquer。〃

〃You　are　a　traitor！〃　cried　Cao　Ren　angrily。　〃Then　I　will　capture　Liu　Bei　myself。〃

〃Do　so。　I　will　guard　this　city；〃　said　Li　Dian。

〃If　you　do　not　go　with　me；　it　is　a　proof　that　you　are　a　traitor；〃　retorted　Cao　Ren。

At　this　reproach；　Li　Dian　felt　constrained　to　join　the　expedition。　So　they　told　off　twenty　five　thousand　troops　with　which　they　crossed　the　River　Yu　for　Xinye。

The　officers　all　keenly