第17部分(第3/7 页)

e　struggle　between　their　protector　and　his　enemy；　Yuan　Shao；　and　had　at　once　set　out　to　help。　Now　the　three　riders；　each　with　his　peculiar　weapon；　flew　straight　at　Yuan　Shao；　who　was　so　frightened　that　his　soul　seemed　to　leave　his　body　and　fly　beyond　the　confines　of　heaven。

His　sword　fell　from　his　hand　and　he　fled　for　his　life。　He　was　chased　across　the　bridge　when　Gongsun　Zan　called　in　his　army；　and　they　returned　to　camp。

After　the　usual　greetings　Gongsun　Zan　said；　〃If　you　had　not　e　to　our　help；　we　should　have　been　in　very　bad　case。〃

Liu　Bei　and　Zhao　Yun　were　made　acquainted　with　each　other；　and　a　warm　affection　sprang　up　from　the　very　first　so　that　they　were　always　together。

Yuan　Shao　had　lost　that　battle；　and　Gongsun　Zan　would　not　risk　another。　They　strengthened　their　defenses；　and　the　armies　lay　inactive　for　over　a　month。　In　the　meantime　news　of　the　fighting　had　reached　Capital　Changan；　and　Dong　Zhuo　was　told。

His　adviser；　Li　Ru；　went　to　see　his　master　and　said；　〃The　two　active　leaders　of　today　are　Yuan　Shao　and　Gongsun　Zan；　who　are　at　grips　at　River　Pan。　Pretend　you　have　an　imperial　mand　to　make　peace　between　them；　and　both　will　support　you　out　of　gratitude　for　your　intervention。〃

〃Good！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

So　he　sent　the　Imperial　Guardian；　Ma　Midi；　and　the　Minister　of　the　Inner　Bureau；　Zhao　Qi；　on　the　mission。　When　these　men　were　arriving　at　the　North　of　Yellow　River；　Yuan　Shao　sent　out　to　wele　them　thirty　miles　from　his　headquarters　and　received　the　imperial　mand　with　the　greatest　respect。　Then　the　two　officers　went　to　Gongsun　Zan　and　made　known　their　errand。　Gongsun　Zan　sent　letters　to　his　adversary　proposing　friendship。　The　two　emissaries　returned　to　report　their　task　acplished。　Gongsun　Zan　drew　off　his　army。　He　also