第99部分(第3/7 页)

e　decided　to　move　on。　Then　he　heard　from　the　hills　the　sound　of　musical　instruments　and；　looking　up；　saw　on　the　hill　top　two　umbrellas　surrounded　by　many　banners。　There　sat　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　quietly　drinking。

Angry　at　their　coolness；　Xu　Chu　sought　for　a　way　up；　but　logs　of　wood　and　great　stones　were　thrown　down；　and　he　was　driven　back。　Further；　from　the　rear　of　the　hills　came　a　confused　roar。　He　could　find　no　way　to　attack；　and　the　sun　began　to　set。

Then　Cao　Ren　and　Cao　Hong　arrived　and　ordered　an　attack　on　Xinye　that　he　might　have　a　place　to　rest　in。　They　marched　to　the　walls　and　found　the　gates　wide　open。　They　entered　and　found　a　deserted　city。　No　one　was　visible。

〃This　shows　they　are　done；〃　said　Cao　Hong。　〃They　have　all　run　away；　people　and　all。　We　may　as　well　occupy　the　city　and　rest　our　soldiers　ready　for　tomorrow。〃

The　soldiers　were　fatigued　with　marching　and　hungry　as　well；　so　they　lost　no　time　in　scattering　among　the　houses　and　setting　about　preparing　food　in　the　deserted　kitchens。　The　leaders　took　up　their　quarters　in　the　state　residence　to　rest。

After　the　first　watch　the　wind　began　to　blow。　Soon　after　the　gate　guards　reported　that　a　fire　had　started。

〃The　careless　men　have　let　sparks　fly　about；〃　said　Cao　Ren。

He　thought　no　more　about　it　just　then；　but　along　came　other　reports　of　like　nature；　and　soon　he　realized　that　fires　breaking　out　in　all　quarters　were　not　due　to　accident。　So　he　gave　orders　to　evacuate　the　city。　Soon　the　whole　city　seemed　on　fire；　and　a　red　glow　hung　in　the　sky。　The　army　was　beset　with　fire　fiercer　than　what　Xiahou　Dun　had　experienced　at　Bowang　Slope。

Thrice　wicked　was　Cao　Cao；　but　he　was　bold；

Though　all　in　the　capital　he　controlled；

Yet　with　this　he　was　not　conte