第12部分(第3/7 页)

generals………Li　Su；　Hu　Zhen；　and　Zhao　Cen………hastily　moved　toward　River　Si　Pass。

Among　the　feudal　lords；　Bao　Xin；　the　Lord　of　Jibei；　was　jealous　lest　the　chosen　Van　Leader　Sun　Jian　should　win　too　great　honors。　Wherefore　Bao　Xin　endeavored　to　meet　the　foe　first；　and　so　he　secretly　dispatched　his　brother；　Bao　Zhong；　with　three　thousand　by　a　bye　road。　As　soon　as　this　small　force　reached　the　Pass；　they　offered　battle。

Fast　reacting；　Hua　Xiong　at　the　head　of　five　hundred　armored　horsemen　swept　down　from　the　Pass；　crying；　〃Flee　not；　rebel！〃

But　Bao　Zhong　was　afraid　and　turned　back。　Hua　Xiong　came　on；　his　arm　rose；　the　sword　fell；　and　Bao　Zhong　was　cut　down　from　his　horse。　Most　of　Bao　Zhong's　pany　were　captured。　Bao　Zhong's　head　was　sent　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。　Hua　Xiong　was　promoted　to　mander　in　Chief。

Sun　Jian　presently　approached　the　Pass。　He　had　four　generals：　Cheng　Pu　of　Tuyin　whose　weapon　was　an　iron…spined　lance　with　snake…headed　blade；　Huang　Gai　of　Lingling　who　wielded　an　iron　whip；　Han　Dang　of　Lingzhi　using　a　heavy　saber；　and　Zu　Mao　of　Wujun　who　fought　with　a　pair　of　swords。

mander　Sun　Jian　wore　a　helmet　of　fine　silver　wrapped　round　with　a　purple　turban。　He　carried　across　his　body　his　sword　of　ancient　ingot　iron　and　rode　a　dappled　horse　with　flowing　mane。

Sun　Jian　advanced　to　the　Pass　and　hailed　the　defenders；　crying；　〃Helpers　of　a　villain！　Be　quick　to　surrender！〃

Hua　Xiong　bade　Hu　Zhen　lead　five　thousand　out　against　Sun　Jian。　Cheng　Pu　with　the　snaky　lance　rode　out　from　Sun　Jian's　side　and　engaged。　After　a　very　few　bouts；　Cheng　Pu　killed　Hu　Zhen　on　the　spot　by　a　thrust　through　the　throat。　Then　Sun　Jian　gave　the　signal　for　the　main　army　to　advance。　But　from　the　Pass；　Hua　Xiong's　troops　rained　down　showers　of　stones；