第123部分(第2/7 页)

gs　should　call　them　to　return。　He　took　mand　of　the　leading　force　in　person；　and　Cheng　Pu　manded　the　other。　Thus　they　advanced　to　attack　the　city。

The　armies　being　arrayed　facing　each　other；　the　drums　rolled　out　across　the　plain。　Cao　Hong　rode　forth　and　challenged；　and　Zhou　Yu；　from　his　place　by　the　standard；　bade　Han　Dang　respond。　The　two　champions　fought　near　two　score　bouts；　and　then　Cao　Hong　fled。　Thereupon　Cao　Ren　came　out　to　help　him；　and　Zhou　Tai　rode　out　at　full　speed　to　meet　him。　These　two　exchanged　a　half　score　passes　and　then　Cao　Ren　tied。

Cao　Ren's　army　fell　into　confusion。　Thereupon　Zhou　Yu　gave　the　signal　for　the　advance　of　both　his　wings；　and　the　forces　of　Cao　Ren　were　sore　smitten　and　defeated。　Zhou　Yu　pursued　to　the　city　wall；　but　Cao　Ren's　troops　did　not　enter　the　city。　Instead；　they　went　away　northwest。　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai　pressed　them　hard。

Zhou　Yu；　seeing　the　city　gates　standing　wide　open　and　no　guards　upon　the　walls；　ordered　the　raiding　of　the　city。　A　few　score　horsemen　rode　in　first；　Zhou　Yu　followed　and　whipping　his　steed。　As　he　galloped　into　the　enclosure　around　the　gate；　Chen　Jiao　stood　on　the　defense　tower。　When　he　saw　Zhou　Yu　enter；　in　his　heart　he　applauded　the　god…like　perspicacity　of　the　Prime　Minister　Cao　Cao。

Then　was　heard　the　clap…clap　of　a　watchman's　rattle。　At　this　signal　the　archers　and　crossbowmen　let　fly；　and　the　arrows　and　bolts　flew　forth　in　a　sudden　fierce　shower；　while　those　who　had　won　their　way　to　the　van　of　the　inrush　went　headlong　into　a　deep　trench。　Zhou　Yu　managed　to　pull　up　in　time；　but　turning　to　escape；　he　was　wounded　in　the　left　side　and　fell　to　the　ground。　Niu　Jin　rushed　out　from　the　city　to　capture　the　chief；　but　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng　at　the　risk　of　their　lives　got　him　away　safe。　Then