第57部分(第2/7 页)

ou　are　too　impetuous。〃

〃If　Cao　Cao　is　there；　I　will　haul　him　over　here；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

〃Let　me　go　first　and　find　out；〃　said　Guan　Yu。

〃If　you　go；　I　shall　feel　more　at　ease；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　Guan　Yu　set　out　with　three　thousand　soldiers　to　reconnoiter。　It　was　then　early　winter；　and　snow　was　falling　from　a　gloomy　sky。　They　marched　regardless　of　the　snow　and　came　near　Wang　Zhong's　camp　with　arms　all　ready　to　attack。　Guan　Yu　summoned　Wang　Zhong　to　a　parley。

〃The　Prime　Minister　is　here。　Why　do　you　not　surrender？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。

〃Beg　him　to　e　to　the　front；　for　I　would　speak　with　him；〃　replied　Guan　Yu。

〃Is　he　likely　to　e　out　to　see　such　as　you；〃　said　Wang　Zhong。

Guan　Yu　angrily　dashed　forward；　and　Wang　Zhong　set　his　spear　to　meet　him。　Guan　Yu　rode　till　he　came　close　to　his　antagonist；　then　suddenly　wheeled　away。　Wang　Zhong　went　after　him　and　followed　up　a　slope。　Just　as　they　passed　the　crest；　Guan　Yu　suddenly　wheeled　again；　shouted；　and　came　on　flourishing　the　mighty　sword。　Wang　Zhong　could　not　withstand　that　and　fled。　But　Guan　Yu；　changing　the　huge　sword　to　his　left　hand；　with　his　right　laid　hold　of　his　victim　by　the　straps　of　his　breastplate；　lifted　him　out　of　the　saddle；　and　rode　away　to　his　own　lines　with　the　captive　laid　across　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　Wang　Zhong's　army　scattered。

The　captive　was　sent　to　Xuzhou；　where　he　was　summoned　into　the　presence　of　Liu　Bei。

〃Who　are　you？　What　office　do　you　hold？　How　dare　you　falsely　display　the　ensigns　of　the　Prime　Minister？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　falsely　when　I　simply　obeyed　my　orders？〃　said　Wang　Zhong。　〃My　master　wanted　to　produce　the　impression　that　he　was　present。　Really　he　was　not　there。〃

Liu　Bei　treated　him　kindly；　giving　him　f