第132部分(第2/7 页)

　wife　were　pressing　forward　with　all　speed。　When　night　fell；　they　rested　for　a　time　by　the　roadside；　but　not　for　long。　Just　as　they　reached　the　confines　of　Chaisang；　they　turned　and　saw　a　great　cloud　of　dust　and　the　soldiers　said　that　a　force　was　ing　in　pursuit。

〃What　shall　we　do　if　they　e　up　with　us？〃　said　Liu　Bei　excitedly　to　Zhao　Yun。

〃My　lord；　you　go　on　in　front　and　I　will　prevent　pursuit。〃

As　they　turned　the　foot　of　a　hill；　they　saw　a　troop　of　soldiers　blocking　their　road　in　front。

Two　generals　were　there　and　they　bellowed；　〃Liu　Bei；　dismount　and　yield　yourself　captive。　We　are　here　by　order　of　mander　Zhou　Yu；　and　you　have　kept　us　waiting　long！〃

Now　the　thought　had　e　to　Zhou　Yu　that　Liu　Bei　would　try　to　flee；　and　so　he　had　sent　Xu　Sheng　and　Ding　Feng；　with　three　thousand　troops；　to　intercept　him　at　this　critical　spot。　They　had　made　a　camp　there　and　kept　a　lookout　from　the　hilltops；　for　Zhou　Yu　had　calculated　that　Liu　Bei　would　certainly　pass　that　way。　So　when　Liu　Bei　and　his　cavalcade　appeared；　they　all　buckled　on　their　arms　and　barred　the　way。

Greatly　fearing；　Liu　Bei　rode　back　to　consult　Zhao　Yun；　to　whom　he　said；　〃In　front　a　force　barring　the　road；　in　rear　pursuers。　There　is　no　escape。　What　can　we　do？〃

〃Do　not　be　alarmed；　my　lord。　The　Directing　Instructor　gave　me　three　plans　enclosed　in　three　silken　bags。　Two　have　been　used　and　have　answered　admirably。　There　is　yet　the　third；　and　my　orders　were　to　open　the　bag　in　such　a　strait　as　this。　This　is　a　day　of　great　danger　such　as　calls　me　to　open　the　bag。〃

Thereupon　Zhao　Yun　opened　the　bag　and　handed　it　to　Liu　Bei。

As　soon　as　Liu　Bei　had　seen　the　contents；　he　hastened　to　Lady　Sun's　carriage　and　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃I　have　something　private　to　say；　and　I　m