第224部分(第1/7 页)

a　man's　head　hanging　at　his　bridle。

Soon　Zhang　Bao　reached　the　veteran　general's　side　and　cried；　〃The　Prime　Minister　feared　some　misfortune　had　befallen　you；　so　he　sent　me　to　your　help！　I　have　five　thousand　troops　here。　We　heard　that　you　were　surrounded。　On　the　way　I　met　Xue　Ze　and　slew　him。〃

Zhao　Yun's　courage　revived；　and　he　and　the　young　general　went　on　toward　the　southwest；　driving　the　soldiers　of　Wei　before　them　in　disorder。　Soon　another　cohort　came　in　from　the　side；　the　leader　wielding　the　green…dragon　saber。

This　was　Guan　Xing；　and　he　cried；　〃The　Prime　Minister　sent　me　with　five　thousand　troops　to　your　aid。　On　the　way　I　encountered　Dong　Xin　and　slain　him。　Here　is　his　head。　The　Prime　Minister　is　ing　up　too！〃

〃But　why　not　press　on　to　capture　Xiahou　Mao　since　you　have　had　such　wonderful　success？〃　cried　Zhao　Yun。

Zhang　Bao　took　the　hint　and　went　forward。　Guan　Xing　followed。

〃They　are　as　my　own　children；〃　said　Zhao　Yun　to　those　who　stood　near。　〃And　they　press　on　wherever　there　is　merit　to　be　won。　I　am　an　old　leader　and　high　in　rank；　but　I　am　not　worth　so　much　as　these　two　youths。　Yet　will　I　risk　my　life　once　more　for　the　sake　of　my　old　lord　the　First　Ruler。〃

So　he　led　the　remnant　of　his　troops　to　try　to　capture　Xiahou　Mao。

During　that　night　the　army　of　Wei　was　smitten　till　corpses　covered　the　earth　and　gore　ran　in　rivers。　Xiahou　Mao　was　unskillful；　and　young；　and　inexperienced　in　battle。　His　army　was　in　utter　rout；　and　he　could　not　think　but　only　flee。　At　the　head　of　a　hundred　cavalries；　he　made　for　Nanan。　His　army；　leaderless；　scattered　like　rats。

Zhang　Bao　and　Guan　Xing　set　out　for　Nanan。　At　the　news　of　their　ing；　Xiahou　Mao　closed　the　city　gates　and　urged　his　soldiers　to　defend。　Zhao　Yun　soon　joined