第103部分(第1/7 页)

biggest　rivers　that　we　could　get　across。〃

So　orders　were　given　to　march；　and　they　went　by　a　bye…road　which　led　diagonally　to　Hanjin　by　the　road　of　Minyang。

The　two　generals　sent　by　Cao　Cao　to　reconnoiter　near　Long　Slope　Bridge　returned；　saying；　〃The　bridge　has　been　destroyed。　Zhang　Fei　has　left。〃

〃Then　he　is　afraid；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Cao　Cao　at　once　gave　orders　to　set　ten　thousand　men　at　work　on　three　floating　bridges　to　be　finished　that　night。

Li　Dian　said；　〃I　fear　this　is　one　of　the　wiles　of　Zhuge　Liang。　So　be　careful。〃

〃Zhang　Fei　is　just　a　bold　warrior；　but　there　is　no　guile　about　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

He　gave　orders　for　immediate　advance。

Liu　Bei　was　making　all　speed　to　Hanjin。　Suddenly　there　appeared　in　his　track　a　great　cloud　of　dust　whence　came　loud　rolls　of　drums　and　shoutings。

Liu　Bei　was　dismayed　and　said；　〃Before　us　rolls　the　Great　River；　behind　is　the　pursuer。　What　hope　is　there　for　us？〃

But　he　bade　Zhao　Yun　organize　a　defense。

Now　Cao　Cao　in　an　order　to　his　army　had　said；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　fish　in　the　fish　kettle；　a　tiger　in　the　pit。　Catch　him　this　time；　or　the　fish　will　get　back　to　the　sea　and　the　tiger　escape　to　the　mountains。　Therefore　every　general　must　use　his　best　efforts　to　press　on。〃

In　consequence　every　leader　bade　those　under　him　hasten　forward。　And　they　were　pressing　on　at　great　speed；　when　suddenly　a　body　of　soldiers　appeared　from　the　hills　and　a　voice　cried；　〃I　have　waited　here　a　long　time！〃

The　leader　who　had　shouted　this　bore　in　his　hand　the　green…dragon　saber　and　rode　Red　Hare；　for　indeed　it　was　no　other　than　Guan　Yu。　He　had　gone　to　Jiangxia　for　help　and　had　returned　with　a　whole　legion　of　ten　thousand。　Having　heard　of　the　battle；　he　had　taken　this　very　roa