第272部分(第3/7 页)

morrow　with　all　vigor。

Next　day；　at　dawn；　the　assault　began。　The　soldiers；　fresh　from　their　rest；　vied　with　each　other　who　should　be　first　on　the　wall。　They　shot　over　the　ramparts　fire…arrows　and　firebombs　and　burned　all　the　buildings　on　the　wall。　They　next　brought　up　brushwood　and　piled　it　against　the　rampart　and　set　it　alight；　so　that　the　flames　rose　high。

When　the　city　seemed　about　to　fall；　the　defenders　set　up　a　howling　and　a　lamentation　that　could　be　heard　all　around。　But　suddenly　a　great　rolling　of　drums　diverted　the　attention　of　the　assailants　from　the　city；　and　they　turned　their　faces　to　see　a　great　host　of　Wei　soldiers　marching　up　in　all　the　glory　of　waving　banners。　Jiang　Wei　faced　about　to　meet　this　attack　and　took　his　place　beneath　the　great　standard。

Presently　Jiang　Wei　made　out　a　youthful…looking　leader　riding　in　advance　with　his　spear　ready　to　thrust。　He　looked　scarcely　more　than　twenty　years　of　age；　his　face　was　smooth　as　if　powdered；　and　his　lips　were　crimson。　But　from　them　came　fierce　words。

〃Do　you　recognize　General　Deng？〃　cried　he。

〃So　this　is　Deng　Ai；〃　thought　Jiang　Wei。

Thereupon　Jiang　Wei　set　his　spear　and　rode　out。　Both　were　adepts　in　arms　and　neither　gave　the　other　an　opening；　so　that　at　the　end　of　near　half　a　hundred　bouts　neither　could　claim　advantage。　The　youth　wielded　his　spear　with　perfect　skill。

〃If　I　cannot　gain　the　advantage　by　some　ruse；　how　shall　I　win？〃　thought　Jiang　Wei。

So　he　turned　aside　his　steed　and　dashed　along　a　certain　road　that　led　to　the　hills。　The　youth　followed。　Presently　Jiang　Wei　slung　his　spear；　laid　hands　upon　his　bow；　chose　with　care　a　feathered　arrow；　and　laid　it　on　the　string。　But　the　youth　was　quick　of　eye；　and　as　the　bowstring　sang；　he　bent　his　head　over　the　s