第12部分(第4/7 页)

　which　proved　too　much　for　the　assailants；　and　they　retired　into　camp　at　Liangdong。　Sun　Jian　sent　the　report　of　victory　to　Yuan　Shao。

Sun　Jian　also　sent　an　urgent　message　for　supplies　to　the　missary。

But　a　counselor　said　to　the　Controller　Yuan　Shu；　〃This　Sun　Jian　is　a　very　tiger　in　the　east。　Should　he　take　the　capital　and　destroy　Dong　Zhuo；　we　should　have　a　tiger　in　place　of　a　wolf。　Do　not　send　him　grain。　Starve　his　troops；　and　that　will　decide　the　fate　of　that　army。〃

And　Yuan　Shu　gave　ears　to　the　detractor　and　sent　no　grain　or　forage。　Soon　Sun　Jian's　hungry　soldiers　showed　their　disaffection　by　indiscipline；　and　the　spies　bore　the　news　to　the　defenders　of　the　Pass。

Li　Ru　made　a　plot　with　Hua　Xiong；　saying；　〃We　will　launch　tonight　a　speedy　attack　against　Sun　Jian　in　front　and　rear　so　that　we　can　capture　him。〃

Hua　Xiong　agreed　and　prepared　for　the　attack。　So　the　soldiers　of　the　attacking　force　were　told　off　and　given　a　full　meal。　At　dark　they　left　the　Pass　and　crept　by　secret　paths　to　the　rear　of　Sun　Jian's　camp。　The　moon　was　bright　and　the　wind　cool。　They　arrived　about　midnight　and　the　drums　beat　an　immediate　attack。　Sun　Jian　hastily　donned　his　fighting　gear　and　rode　out。　He　ran　straight　into　Hua　Xiong　and　the　two　warriors　engaged。　But　before　they　had　exchanged　many　passes；　Li　Ru's　army　came　up　from　behind　and　set　fire　to　whatever　would　burn。

Sun　Jian's　army　were　thrown　into　confusion　and　fled　in　disorder。　A　melee　ensued；　and　soon　only　Zu　Mao　was　left　at　Sun　Jian's　side。　These　two　broke　through　the　Pass　and　fled。　Hua　Xiong　ing　in　hot　pursuit；　Sun　Jian　took　his　bow　and　let　fly　two　arrows　in　quick　succession；　but　both　missed。　He　fitted　a　third　arrow　to　the　string；　but　drew　the　bow　so　fiercely　that　it　snapped。　He　cast　the　bow　to　th