第120部分(第5/7 页)

　they　heard　a　shouting　and　a　party　of　soldiers　came　out；　the　leader　of　them　shouting；　〃I　am　Gan　Ning　of　Wu！〃

Nothing　daunted　the　two　leaders；　but　the　redoubtable　Gan　Ning　cut　down　Ma　Yan。　And　when　his　brother　warrior　Zhang　Zi　set　his　spear　and　dashed　forward；　he　too　fell　beneath　a　stroke　from　the　fearsome　sword　of　Gan　Ning。　Both　leaders　dead；　the　soldiers　fled　to　give　Cao　Cao　the　bad　news。

At　this　time　Cao　Cao　expected　aid　from　Hefei；　for　he　knew　not　that　Sun　Quan　was　barring　the　road。　But　when　Sun　Quan　saw　the　fires　and　so　knew　that　his　soldiers　had　won　the　day；　he　ordered　Lu　Xun　to　give　the　answering　signal。　Taishi　Ci　seeing　this　came　down　and　his　force　joined　up　with　that　of　Lu　Xun；　and　they　went　against　Cao　Cao。

As　for　Cao　Cao；　he　could　only　get　away　toward　Yiling。　On　the　road　Cao　Cao　fell　in　with　Zhang　He　and　ordered　him　to　protect　the　retreat。　Cao　Cao　pressed　on　as　quickly　as　possible。

At　the　fifth　watch　he　was　a　long　way　from　the　glare　and　he　felt　safer。　He　asked；　〃What　is　this　place？〃

They　told　him；　〃It　is　west　of　the　Black　Forest　and　north　of　Yidu。〃

Seeing　the　thickly　crowded　trees　all　about　him；　and　the　steep　hills　and　narrow　passes；　Cao　Cao　threw　up　his　head　and　laughed。

Those　about　him　asked；　〃Why　are　you；　Sir；　so　merry？〃

And　he　said；　〃I　am　only　laughing　at　the　stupidity　of　Zhou　Yu　and　the　ignorance　of　Zhuge　Liang。　If　they　have　only　set　an　ambush　there；　as　I　would　have　done；　why；　there　is　no　escape。〃

Cao　Cao　had　scarcely　finished　his　explanation　when　from　both　sides　came　a　deafening　roll　of　drums　and　flames　sprang　up　to　heaven。　Cao　Cao　nearly　fell　off　his　horse………he　was　so　startled。

And　from　the　side　dashed　in　a　troop；　with　Zhao　Yun　leading；　who　cried；　〃I　am　Zhao　Yun；　and　long　have　I　been