第103部分(第2/7 页)

d　to　intercept　pursuit。

As　soon　as　Guan　Yu　appeared；　Cao　Cao　stopped　and　said　to　his　officers；　〃Here　we　are；　tricked　again　by　that　Zhuge　Liang！〃

Without　more　ado　he　ordered　a　retreat。　Guan　Yu　followed　him　some　three　miles　and　then　drew　off　to　act　as　guard　to　his　elder　brother　on　his　way　to　the　river。　There　boats　were　ready；　and　Liu　Bei　and　family　went　on　board。　When　all　were　settled　fortably　in　the　boat；　Guan　Yu　asked　where　was　his　sister；　the　second　wife　of　his　brother；　Lady　Mi。　Then　Liu　Bei　told　him　the　story　of　Dangyang。

〃Alas！〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Had　you　taken　my　advice　that　day　of　the　hunting　in　Xutian；　we　should　have　escaped　the　misery　of　this　day。〃

〃But；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃on　that　day　it　was　'Ware　damaged　when　pelting　rats。'〃

Just　as　Liu　Bei　spoke；　he　heard　war　drums　on　the　south　bank。　A　fleet　of　boats；　thick　as　a　flight　of　ants；　came　running　up　with　swelling　sails　before　the　fair　wind。　He　was　alarmed。

The　boats　came　nearer。　There　Liu　Bei　saw　the　white　clad　figure　of　a　man　wearing　a　silver　helmet　who　stood　in　the　prow　of　the　foremost　ship。

The　leader　cried；　〃Are　you　all　right；　my　uncle？　I　am　very　guilty。〃

It　was　Liu　Qi。　He　bowed　low　as　the　ship　passed；　saying；　〃I　heard　you　were　in　danger　from　Cao　Cao；　and　I　have　e　to　aid　you。〃

Liu　Bei　weled　Liu　Qi　with　joy；　and　his　soldiers　joined　in　with　the　main　body；　and　the　whole　fleet　sailed　on；　while　they　told　each　other　their　adventures。

Unexpectedly　in　the　southwest　there　appeared　a　line　of　fighting　ships　swishing　up　before　a　fair　wind。

Liu　Qi　said；　〃All　my　troops　are　here；　and　now　there　is　an　enemy　barring　the　way。　If　they　are　not　Cao　Cao's　ships；　they　must　be　from　the　South　Land。　We　have　a　poor　chance。　What　now？〃

Liu　Bei　went　to　the　prow　and　ga