第121部分(第2/7 页)

fficers。

And　the　soldiers　were　sent　along　the　bye　road。　They　were　very　hungry　and　many　almost　too　weak　to　travel。　The　horses　too　were　spent。　Some　had　been　scorched　by　the　flames；　and　they　rode　forward　resting　their　heads　on　their　whips。　The　wounded　struggled　on　to　the　last　of　their　strength。　All　were　soaking　wet　and　all　were　feeble。　Their　arms　and　accouterments　were　in　a　deplorable　state；　and　more　than　half　had　been　left　upon　the　road　they　had　traversed。　Few　of　the　horses　had　saddles　or　bridles；　for　in　the　confusion　of　pursuit　they　had　been　left　behind。　It　was　the　time　of　greatest　winter　cold；　and　the　suffering　was　indescribable。

Noticing　that　the　leading　party　had　stopped；　Cao　Cao　sent　to　ask　the　reason。

The　messenger　returned；　saying；　〃The　rain　water　collected　in　the　pits　makes　the　ground　a　mire；　and　the　horses　cannot　not　move。〃

Cao　Cao　raged。　He　said；　〃When　soldiers　e　to　hills；　they　cut　a　road；　when　they　happen　upon　streams；　they　bridge　them。　Such　a　thing　as　mud　cannot　stay　an　army。〃

So　he　ordered　the　weak　and　wounded　to　go　to　the　rear　and　e　on　as　they　could；　while　the　robust　and　able　were　to　cut　down　trees；　and　gather　herbage　and　reeds　to　fill　up　the　holes。　And　it　was　to　be　done　without　delay；　or　death　would　be　the　punishment　of　the　disobedient　or　remiss。

So　the　soldiers　dismounted　and　felled　trees　and　cut　bamboos；　and　they　leveled　the　road。　And　because　of　the　imminence　and　fear　of　pursuit；　a　party　of　one　hundred　under　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Chu；　and　Xu　Huang　was　told　off　to　hasten　the　workers　and　slay　any　that　idled。

The　soldiers　made　their　way　along　the　shallower　parts；　but　many　fell；　and　cries　of　misery　were　heard　the　whole　length　of　the　way。

〃What　are　you　howling　for？〃　cried　Cao　Cao。　〃The　number　of　your　days　is　fix