第3部分(第6/7 页)

l　side　a　general　of　Zhang　Ba；　Gao　Sheng；　came　out　to　offer　battle。　Liu　Bei　sent　Zhang　Fei　to　smite　Gao　Sheng。　Out　rode　Zhang　Fei　at　full　speed；　his　spear　ready　set。　After　a　few　bouts　Zhang　Fei　wounded　Gao　Sheng；　who　was　unhorsed。　At　this　Liu　Bei　signaled　the　main　army　to　advance。

Then　Zhang　Ba；　while　still　mounted；　loosened　his　hair；　grasped　his　sword；　and　uttered　his　incantations。　Thereupon　began　the　wind　to　howl　and　the　thunder　to　roll；　while　a　dense　black　cloud　from　the　heavens　settled　upon　the　field。　And　therein　seemed　to　be　horsemen　and　footmen　innumerable；　who　swept　to　attack　the　imperial　troops。　Fear　came　upon　them；　and　Liu　Bei　led　off　his　troops；　but　they　were　in　disorder　and　returned　defeated。

Zhu　Jun　and　Liu　Bei　considered　the　matter。

〃Zhang　Ba　uses　magic；〃　said　Zhu　Jun。　〃Tomorrow；　then；　will　I　prepare　counter　magic　in　the　shape　of　the　blood　of　slaughtered　swine　and　goats。　This　blood　shall　be　sprinkled　upon　their　hosts　from　the　precipices　above　by　soldiers　in　ambush。　Thus　shall　we　be　able　to　break　the　power　of　their　shamanic　art。〃

So　it　was　done。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　took　each　a　thousand　troops　and　hid　them　on　the　high　cliffs　behind　the　hills；　and　they　had　a　plentiful　supply　of　the　blood　of　swine　and　goats　and　all　manners　of　filthy　things。　And　so　next　day；　when　the　rebels　with　fluttering　banners　and　rolling　drums　came　out　to　challenge；　Liu　Bei　rode　forth　to　meet　them。　At　the　same　moment　that　the　armies　met；　again　Zhang　Ba　began　his　magic　and　again　the　elements　began　to　struggle　together。　Sand　flew　in　clouds；　pebbles　were　swept　along　the　ground；　black　masses　of　vapor　filled　the　sky；　and　rolling　masses　of　foot　and　horse　descended　from　on　high。　Liu　Bei　turned；　as　before；　to　flee　and　the　rebels　rushed　on。　But　as　they　pressed　through　th