第223部分(第4/7 页)

rike；　but　Zhao　Yun　slipped　past；　got　within　his　guard　and　made　Han　Yao　a　prisoner。　Zhao　Yun　quickly　galloped　into　his　own　array　with　his　captive；　dropped　him　and　then；　dashing　out；　recovered　his　spear；　which　had　fallen　when　he　seized　his　man。

Han　De　was　overwhelmed　with　the　loss　of　all　his　sons　and　went　behind　the　battle　array。　His　Qiang　tribesmen　were　too　frightened　at　the　prowess　of　Zhao　Yun　to　be　of　any　use　in　battle；　and　no　one　dared　to　meet　the　old　warrior。　So　they　retired；　while　Zhao　Yun　rode　to　and　fro　among　them　slaying　at　his　will。

I　thought　of　brave　old　people；　of　Zhao　Yun；

Who；　in　spite　of　numbered　years　three　scores　and　ten；

Was　marvelous　strong　in　battle；　who　one　day

Slew　four　opposing　generals；　as　great　as

When　at　Dangyang　he　had　saved　his　lord。

Seeing　the　successful　battle　that　Zhao　Yun　was　waging；　Deng　Zhi　led　on　his　troops　to　join　in　the　fight。　This　pleted　the　disfiture　of　the　Xiliang　army；　and　they　ran　away。　Han　De；　seeing　the　danger　of　being　captured；　threw　off　his　armor　and　went　on　foot。　The　soldiers　of　Shu　drew　off　and　returned　to　their　camp。

In　camp　Deng　Zhi　felicitated　his　veteran　colleague。

〃For　a　man　of　seventy　years；　you　are　unique　and　wonderful；〃　said　he。　〃You　are　as　much　the　hero　as　you　ever　were。　It　is　almost　an　inparable　feat　to　have　slain　four　generals　in　one　day。〃

〃Yet　the　Prime　Minister　thought　me　too　old　and　did　not　wish　to　employ　me。　I　had　to　give　him　a　proof。〃

The　captive　Han　Yao　was　sent　to　the　main　body　with　the　messenger　who　bore　an　account　of　the　victory。

In　the　meantime；　Han　De　led　his　defeated　army　back　to　his　chief；　to　whom　he　related　his　sad　story　with　many　tears。　Then　Xiahou　Mao　got　angry　and　decided　to　lead　his　own　army　out　against　Zhao　Yun。