第37部分(第6/7 页)

his　horse　at　a　gallop　and　setting　his　spear。

Sun　Ce　braced　himself　for　the　shock；　and　the　battle　began。　Fifty　bouts　were　fought　and　still　neither　batant　had　the　advantage。　Sun　Ce's　manders　whispered　to　each　other　their　admiration　and　amazement。　Taishi　Ci　saw　that　the　spearmanship　of　his　opponent　showed　no　weak　point　whereby　he　could　gain　the　advantage；　so　he　decided　to　resort　to　guile。　Feigning　defeat　he　would　lead　Sun　Ce　to　pursue。　Taishi　Ci　however　did　not　retire　along　the　road　by　which　he　had　e；　but　took　a　path　leading　around　the　hill　instead　of　over　it。　His　antagonist　followed；　shouting；　〃He　who　retreats　is　no　worthy　soldier！〃

But　Taishi　Ci　thought　within　himself；　〃He　has　twelve　others　at　his　back　and　I　only　one。　If　I　capture　him；　the　others　will　retake　him。　I　will　inveigle　him　into　some　secret　spot　and　then　try。〃

So　flying　and　fighting　by　turns　he　led　Sun　Ce；　an　eager　pursuer；　down　to　the　plain。　Here　Taishi　Ci　suddenly　wheeled　about　and　attacked。　Again　they　exchanged　half　a　hundred　bouts；　without　result。　Then　Sun　Ce　made　a　fierce　thrust；　which　his　opponent　evaded　by　gripping　the　spear　under　his　arm；　while　he　himself　did　the　same　with　his　opponent's　spear。　Neither　was　wounded　but　each　exerting　his　utmost　strength　to　pull　the　other　out　of　the　saddle　they　both　came　to　the　ground。

Their　steeds　galloped　off　they　knew　not　whither；　while　the　two　men；　each　dropping　his　spear；　began　a　hand　to　hand　struggle。　Soon　their　fighting　robes　were　in　tatters。　Sun　Ce　gripped　the　short　lance　that　Taishi　Ci　carried　at　his　back；　while　Taishi　Ci　tore　off　Sun　Ce's　helmet。　Sun　Ce　tried　to　stab　with　the　short　lance　but　Taishi　Ci　fended　off　the　blow　with　the　helmet　as　a　shield。

Then　arose　a　great　shouting。　Liu　Yao　had　e　up　with　a　thousand　soldiers。　Sun　Ce　se