第26部分(第3/7 页)

nown　as　humane；　righteous；　and　eager　to　help　the　distressed。　Therefore　at　his　mand　I　have　braved　all　dangers　and　fought　my　way　through　his　enemies　to　pray　you　save　him。〃

Liu　Bei　smiled；　saying；　〃And　does　he　know　there　is　a　Liu　Bei　in　this　world？〃

So　Liu　Bei；　together　with　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　told　off　three　thousand　troops　and　set　out　to　help　raise　the　siege。　When　the　rebel　leader　Guan　Hai　saw　these　new　forces　arriving；　he　led　out　his　army　to　fight　them；　thinking　he　could　easily　dispose　of　so　small　a　force。

The　brothers　and　Taishi　Ci　with　them　sat　on　their　horses　in　the　forefront　of　their　array。　Guan　Hai　hastened　forward。　Taishi　Ci　was　ready　to　fight；　but　Guan　Yu　had　opened　the　bat。　He　rode　forth　and　the　two　steeds　met。　The　soldiers　set　up　a　great　noise。　After　a　few　bouts　Guan　Yu's　green…dragon　saber　rose　and　fell；　and　with　the　stroke　fell　the　rebel　leader。

This　was　the　signal　for　Zhang　Fei　and　Taishi　Ci　to　take　a　share；　and　they　advanced　side　by　side。　With　their　spears　ready　they　dashed　in；　and　Liu　Bei　urged　forward　his　force。　The　besieged　Governor　saw　his　doughty　rescuers　laying　low　the　rebels　as　tigers　among　a　flock　of　sheep。　None　could　withstand　them；　and　he　then　sent　out　his　own　troops　to　join　in　the　battle　so　that　the　rebels　were　between　two　armies。　The　rebels'　force　was　pletely　broken　and　many　troops　surrendered；　while　the　remainder　scattered　in　all　directions。

The　victors　were　weled　into　the　city；　and　as　soon　as　possible　a　banquet　was　prepared　in　their　honor。　Mi　Zhu　was　presented　to　Liu　Bei。　Mi　Zhu　related　the　story　of　the　murder　of　Cao　Song　by　Zhang　Kai；　Cao　Cao's　vengeful　attack　on　Xuzhou；　and　his　ing　to　beg　for　assistance。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　a　kindly　man　of　high　character；　and　it　is　a　pity