第49部分(第1/7 页)

Then　Lu　Bu　ordered　Zhang　Liao　and　Gao　Shun；　〃Get　ready　three　thousand　troops　for　the　venture；　and　prepare　a　light　carriage。　I　will　lead　the　first　seventy　miles；　thence　you　can　escort　the　bride…elect　the　remainder　of　the　way　to　her　new　home。〃

Next　evening　toward　the　second　watch；　Lu　Bu　wrapped　up　his　daughter　in　soft　wadded　garments；　bound　her　about　with　a　mailed　coat；　and　took　her　on　his　back。　Then　with　his　mighty　trident　halberd　in　hand；　he　mounted　Red　Hare　and　rode　at　the　head　of　the　cavalcade　out　of　the　city　gate。　Zhang　Liao　and　Gao　Shun　followed。

In　this　order　they　approached　Liu　Bei's　camp。　The　drums　at　once　beat　the　alarm；　and　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　barred　the　way。

〃Stop！〃　they　shouted。

Lu　Bu　had　no　desire　to　fight；　all　he　wished　was　to　get　through；　so　he　made　for　a　side　road。　Liu　Bei　came　in　pursuit　and　the　two　parties　engaged。　Brave　as　he　might　be；　Lu　Bu　was　almost　helpless　now　that　he　was　hampered　by　a　girl　on　his　shoulders；　whom　he　was　desperately　anxious　to　preserve　from　hurt。　Beside　other　parties　came　up　all　shouting　and　attacking；　and　he　had　no　alternative　but　to　give　up　his　project　and　return　into　the　city　of　Xiapi。　He　reached　his　palace　very　sad　at　heart。　The　besiegers　returned　to　camp　well　pleased　that　no　one　had　got　beyond　their　lines。

Lu　Bu　found　consolation　in　the　wine　cup。　The　siege　had　gone　on　for　two　months；　and　still　the　city　stood。　Then　they　heard　that　Zhang　Yang；　Governor　of　Henei；　had　been　inclined　to　e　to　the　help　of　Lu　Bu。　But　one　of　his　subordinates；　Yang　Chou；　had　assassinated　him　and　was　bringing　his　head　as　an　offering　to　Cao　Cao；　when　Yang　Chou　had　also　been　slain　by　Kui　Gu；　one　of　the　Governor's　adherents。　Kui　Gu　had　then　led　the　force　to　Daicheng。

In　the　camp　of　the　besiegers；　there　now　aros