第97部分(第2/7 页)

　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　finish　setting　out　the　battle　array。

Presently　Xiahou　Dun　began　to　laugh　and；　when　they　asked　the　cause　of　this　merriment；　he　replied；　〃Xu　Shu　praised　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　very　skies　as　something　more　than　human。　But　now　that　I　see　how　he　has　placed　his　soldiers　and　the　stuff　he　has　put　into　his　vanguard；　it　seems　to　me　that　he　is　sending　dogs　or　sheep　against　tigers　and　leopards。　I　bragged　a　little　when　I　said　I　would　take　him　prisoner；　but　I　am　going　to　make　good　my　boast。〃

Then　he　rode　forward　at　full　speed。

Zhao　Yun　rode　to　meet　him；　and　Xiahou　Dun　opened　a　volley　of　abuse；　〃You　lot；　followers　of　Liu　Bei；　are　only　like　wraiths　following　devils！〃

This　angered　Zhao　Yun　and　a　bat　began。　In　a　little　time　Zhao　Yun　turned　and　retreated　as　if　he　was　worsted。　Xiahou　Dun　pressed　after　him　and　kept　up　the　chase　for　some　three　miles。　Then　Zhao　Yun　suddenly　turned　again　and　offered　fight；　but　only　to　retreat　after　a　few　passes。

Seeing　these　tactics　Han　Hao；　one　of　Xiahou　Dun's　generals；　rode　up　to　his　chief　and　urged　him　to　use　caution；　saying；　〃I　fear　he　is　trying　to　lead　us　into　an　ambush。〃

〃With　such　antagonists　as　these；　I　should　not　fear　even　Ten　Ambushes；〃　replied　Xiahou　Dun；　pressing　forward　eagerly。

Just　as　he　reached　the　slope；　he　heard　the　roar　of　a　bomb　and　out　came　Liu　Bei　to　attack。

〃Here　is　your　ambush！〃　said　Xiahou　Dun；　laughing。　〃I　will　get　to　Xinye　this　evening　before　I　have　done。〃

Xiahou　Dun　urged　his　soldiers　forward；　and　his　opponents　retired　in　measure　as　he　advanced。　As　evening　came　on；　thick　clouds　overcast　the　whole　sky。　The　wind　increased　but　the　leader　still　urged　his　troops　after　the　retreating　foe。

The　two　generals　in　the　rear　came　to　a　narrow　part　of　the　road