第172部分(第1/7 页)

In　due　course　the　two　Veteran　Generals　arrived　at　the　Pass。

At　sight　of　them；　Meng　Da　and　Huo　Jun；　the　defenders　of　the　Pass；　laughed　in　their　hearts；　thinking：　〃Zhuge　Liang　has　slipped　up　in　his　calculations　in　sending　such　a　pair　of　dotards　on　such　an　important　mission。〃

Huang　Zhong　said　to　Yan　Yan；　〃You　see　the　behavior　of　these　people？　They　are　laughing　at　us　because　we　are　old。　Now　we　will　do　something　that　will　win　admiration　from　all　the　world。〃

〃I　should　be　glad　to　hear　your　orders；〃　replied　Yan　Yan。

The　two　generals　came　to　a　decision　how　to　act。　Huang　Zhong　led　his　army　down　below　to　meet　Zhang　He　in　the　open　plain。　Both　drew　up　their　array。　When　Zhang　He　rode　out　and　saw　his　venerable　opponent；　he　laughed　in　his　face。

〃You　must　be　very　old；　and　yet　you　are　unashamed　to　go　into　the　battle；　eh？〃　said　Zhang　He。

〃You　menial！〃　replied　the　veteran。　〃Do　you　despise　me　for　my　age？　You　will　find　my　good　sword；　however；　keen　enough。〃

So　he　urged　forward　his　steed　and　rode　at　Zhang　He。　The　two　chargers　met　and　a　score　of　bouts　were　fought。　Then　suddenly　a　great　shouting　came　from　the　rear。　Yan　Yan　had　e　up　and　fallen　upon　the　rear　portion　of　Zhang　He's　army。　Thus　attacked　on　two　sides；　Zhang　He　was　defeated。　The　pursuit　did　not　cease　with　nightfall；　and　Zhang　He　was　driven　back　near　thirty　miles。　Contented　with　this　success；　Huang　Zhong　and　Yan　Yan　went　into　their　camp；　where　they　rested　their　soldiers　for　a　time。

When　Cao　Hong　heard　of　Zhang　He's　new　defeat；　he　was　going　to　exact　the　penalty。　But　Guo　Huai　persuaded　him　to　forbear。

〃If　he　is　pressed　too　hard；　he　may　take　refuge　in　Shu；〃　said　Guo　Huai。　〃Rather　send　him　help。　You　will　thus　keep　a　hold　over　him　and　prevent　his　desertion。〃

Wherefore　X