第172部分(第6/7 页)

p　the　hill；　whereupon　Zhang　He　and　Xiahou　Shang　hastily　moved　out　to　withstand　them。　But　a　great　red　glare　sprang　into　the　sky　from　behind　the　hill；　and　a　shouting　arose。　Hastily　Xiahou　De　led　off　his　troops　to　meet　the　danger　there　and　went　straight　into　the　arms　of　Yan　Yan。　The　Veteran　General's　arm　rose；　the　sword　fell；　and　Xiahou　De　dropped　from　his　steed　to　rise　no　more。

This　ambush；　into　which　the　dead　general　had　rushed；　had　been　carefully　prepared　by　Huang　Zhong；　who　had　sent　Yan　Yan　away　before　he　marched　himself　and　given　Yan　Yan　orders　what　to　do。　It　was　the　brushwood　that　Yan　Yan's　men　had　spent　the　time　in　collecting　that　now　sent　forth　the　flames　reaching　up　to　the　heavens　and　filling　the　valleys。

Yan　Yan；　after　slaying　Xiahou　De；　came　round　the　hill　to　aid　in　the　attack　so　that　the　defenders　were　taken　both　in　front　and　rear。　They　could　do　nothing　and　presently　left　the　battlefield　and　rushed　toward　Dingjun　Mountain　to　seek　refuge　with　Xiahou　Yuan。

Meanwhile　the　victors　took　steps　to　hold　the　position　they　had　won　and　sent　the　good　news　of　victory　to　Capital　Chengdu。　And　when　the　news　arrived；　Liu　Bei　called　together　all　his　officers　to　rejoice。

Then　said　Fa　Zheng；　〃Not　long　ago　Zhang　Lu　submitted　to　Cao　Cao；　and　thereby　Cao　Cao　got　possession　of　Hanzhong　quite　easily。　Instead　of　following　up　this　by　an　advance　westward；　he　left　two　generals　to　guard　it　and　went　south。　That　was　a　mistake。　Now；　my　lord；　do　not　make　a　mistake　yourself；　but　take　advantage　of　the　present　favorable　position；　with　Zhang　He　newly　defeated　and　Tiandang　Mountain　captured；　to　attack　Hanzhong　and　you　will　have　it　at　once。　Once　that　is　yours；　you　can　train　your　army　and　amass　supplies　ready　for　a　stroke　against　the　arch…rebel　himself。　This　God…given　advant