第123部分(第1/7 页)

rown　into　confusion。　The　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　fell　on　lustily；　and　the　three　leaders　all　fled　by　a　bye　road；　but；　finding　the　way　barred　with　felled　trees　and　other　obstacles；　they　had　to　abandon　their　horses　and　go　afoot。　In　this　way　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　gained　some　five　hundred　steeds。

Zhou　Yu；　pressing　on　as　quickly　as　possible　toward　Nanjun；　came　upon　Cao　Ren　and　his　army　marching　to　save　Yiling。　The　two　armies　engaged　and　fought　a　battle　which　lasted　till　late　in　the　evening。　Then　both　drew　off；　and　Cao　Ren　withdrew　into　the　city。

During　the　night　he　called　his　officers　to　a　council。

Then　said　Cao　Hong；　〃The　loss　of　Yiling　has　brought　us　to　a　dangerous　pass。　Now　it　seems　the　time　to　open　the　guide…letter　of　the　Prime　Minister；　and　see　what　plans　he　arranged　for　our　salvation　in　this　peril。〃

〃You　but　say　what　I　think；〃　replied　Cao　Ren。

Whereupon　he　tore　open　the　guide…letter　and　read　it。　His　face　lighted　up　with　joy；　and　he　at　once　issued　orders　to　have　the　morning　meal　prepared　at　the　fifth　watch。　At　daylight　the　whole　army　moved　out　of　the　city　through　three　gates；　but　they　left　a　semblance　of　occupation　in　the　shape　of　banners　on　the　walls。

Zhou　Yu　went　up　to　the　tower　of　observation　and　looked　over　the　city。　He　saw　that　the　flags　along　the　battlements　had　no　guards　behind　them；　and　he　noticed　that　all　troops　carried　bundles　at　their　waists　behind　so　that　they　were　ready　for　a　long　march。

Thought　Zhou　Yu　to　himself；　〃Cao　Ren　must　be　prepared　for　a　long　march。〃

So　Zhou　Yu　went　down　from　the　tower　of　observation　and　sent　out　an　order　for　two　wings　of　the　army　to　be　ready。　One　of　these　was　to　attack　and；　in　case　of　its　success；　the　other　was　to　pursue　at　full　speed　till　the　clanging　of　the　gon