第125部分(第1/7 页)

und　for　his　chief　opponent。　Seeing　a　yellow　flag　moving　along　quietly；　he　concluded　that　Zhuge　Liang　was　with　it　and　so　followed　it。　When　the　flag　had　gone　over　the　shoulder　of　a　hill　it　stopped。　Then　suddenly　as　if　the　earth　had　opened　and　swallowed　it　up；　the　four…wheeled　carriage　disappeared；　while　in　its　place　came　a　ferocious　warrior；　with　a　long　serpent　halberd　in　his　hand　and　mounted　on　a　curvetting　steed。　It　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　dashed　at　Xing　Darong　with　a　tremendous　roar。

Nothing　daunted；　Xing　Darong　whirled　up　his　battle…ax　and　went　to　meet　Zhang　Fei。　But　after　four　or　five　bouts；　Xing　Darong　saw　that　there　was　no　chance　of　victory　for　him；　so　he　turned　his　horse　and　ran。　Zhang　Fei　pursued；　the　air　shaking　with　the　thunder　of　his　voice。　Then　the　ambushing　troops　appeared。　Xing　Darong；　nothing　daunted；　rushed　into　their　midst。

But　in　front　appeared　another　warrior　barring　the　way；　who　called　out；　〃Do　you　know　me？　I　am　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan。〃

Xing　Darong　knew　that　all　was　over。　He　could　neither　fight　nor　fly。　So　he　dismounted　and　gave　in。　He　was　fettered　and　taken　to　camp；　where　were　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang。　Liu　Bei　ordered　him　out　to　execution；　but　Zhuge　Liang　hastily　checked　him。

〃We　will　accept　your　submission　if　you　capture　Liu　Xiang　for　us；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

The　captive　accepted　the　offer　without　the　least　hesitation。

When　Zhuge　Liang　asked　how　he　intended　to　do　it；　he　replied；　〃If　you　will　set　me　free；　I　shall　be　cunning　of　speech。　If　you　raid　the　camp　this　evening；　you　will　find　me　your　helper　on　the　inside。　I　will　make　Liu　Xiang　a　prisoner　and　will　hand　him　over　to　you。　He　being　captured；　his　father　will　surrender　at　once。〃

Liu　Bei　doubted　the　good　faith　of　the　man；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Xing　Darong　i