第13部分(第4/7 页)

irt　to　his　waist　with　a　belt　fastened　by　a　beautiful　lion…head　clasp。　His　bow　and　arrows　were　slung　on　his　shoulders；　and　he　carried　a　long　heavy　trident　halberd。　He　was　seated　on　his　snorting　steed　Red　Hare。　Indeed　Lu　Bu　was　the　man　among　humans；　as　Red　Hare　was　the　horse　among　horses。

〃Who　dares　go　out　to　fight　him？〃　asked　Wang　Kuang　turning　to　those　behind　him。

In　response　a　valiant　general　from　Henei　named　Fang　Yue　spurred　to　the　front；　his　spear　set　ready　for　battle。　Lu　Bu　and　Fang　Yue　met：　Before　the　fifth　bout　Fang　Yue　fell　under　a　thrust　of　the　trident　halberd；　and　Lu　Bu　dashed　forward。　Wang　Kuang's　troops　could　not　stand　and　scattered　in　all　directions。　Lu　Bu　went　to　and　fro　slaying　all　he　met。　He　was　irresistible。

Luckily；　two　other　troops　led　by　Qiao　Mao　and　Yuan　Yi　came　up　and　rescued　the　wounded　Wang　Kuang；　and　Lu　Bu　pulled　back。　The　three；　having　lost　many　troops；　withdrew　ten　miles　and　made　a　stockade。　And　before　long　the　remaining　five　manders　came　up　and　joined　them。　They　held　a　council　and　agreed　Lu　Bu　was　a　hero　no　one　could　match。

And　while　they　sat　there　anxious　and　uncertain；　it　was　announced　that　Lu　Bu　had　returned　to　challenge　them。　They　mounted　their　horses　and　placed　themselves　at　the　heads　of　eight　forces；　each　body　in　its　station　on　the　high　ground。　Around　them　was　the　opposing　army　in　formation；　manded　by　Lu　Bu；　innumerable　horse　and　foot；　with　splendid　embroidered　banners　waving　in　the　breeze。

They　attacked　Lu　Bu。　Mu　Shun；　a　general　of　Governor　Zhang　Yang；　rode　out　with　his　spear　set；　but　soon　fell　at　the　first　encounter　with　Lu　Bu。　This　frightened　the　others。　Then　galloped　forth　Wu　Anguo；　a　general　under　Governor　Kong　Rong。　Wu　Anguo　raised　his　iron　mace　ready　at　his　rival。　Lu　Bu　whirling　his　halberd　and　u