第172部分(第2/7 页)

iahou　Shang　and　Han　Hao　were　sent　with　reinforcements。　Xiahou　Shang　was　a　nephew　of　Xiahou　Dun；　and　Han　Hao　was　the　brother　of　Han　Xuan；　the　late　Governor　of　Changsha。　They　had　five　thousand　troops。

The　two　generals　soon　reached　Zhang　He；　and　asked　how　now　the　situation　was　going。

〃That　old　man　Huang　Zhong　is　really　a　hero；〃　said　Zhang　He；　〃and　with　Yan　Yan's　help　he　is　very　formidable。〃

〃When　I　was　at　Changsha；　I　heard　the　old　man　was　very　fierce。　He　and　Wei　Yan　yielded　the　city　to　Liu　Bei　and　killed　my　own　brother。　Now　that　I　shall　meet　him；　I　can　have　my　revenge；〃　said　Han　Hao。

So　he　and　Xiahou　Shang　led　out　the　new　army。

Now；　by　means　of　spies　Huang　Zhong　had　got　a　thorough　knowledge　of　the　country。

Yan　Yan　said；　〃Hereabout　there　is　a　mountain　named　Tiandang　Mountain　wherein　Cao　Hong　has　stored　his　supplies。　If　we　can　gain　its　possession；　we　shall　reduce　the　enemy　to　want　and　we　shall　get　Hanzhong。〃

Huang　Zhong　replied；　〃I　think　so；　too；　and　so　let　us　do　so　and　so。〃

Yan　Yan　agreed　with　him　and　marched　off　with　a　body　of　troops　to　carry　out　his　part　in　the　stratagem。

At　news　of　the　ing　of　new　armies；　Huang　Zhong　marched　out　to　meet　them。　He　found　Han　Hao　in　front　of　his　array；　and　Han　Hao　began　to　abuse　the　veteran；　shouting　out；　〃Disgraceful　old　ruffian！〃

Then　Han　Hao　whipped　up　his　steed　and　set　his　spear　at　Huang　Zhong。　Xiahou　Shang　also　rode　out　and　took　part　in　the　bat。　The　veteran　held　them　both　at　bay　for　some　half　score　bouts　and　then　fled。　They　pursued　him　for　seven　miles；　when　they　reached　and　seized　his　camp。　Huang　Zhong；　however；　quickly　made　another　defense　of　brushwood。　Next　day　Xiahou　Shang　and　Han　Hao　renewed　the　pursuit；　which　ended　with　the　capture　of　the　temporary　camp　of　the　day