第139部分(第4/7 页)

e　center　standard　whence　he　looked　at　his　opponents。

He　saw　before　him　a　body　of　fine　troops；　everyone　with　the　bearing　of　a　hero。　And　the　leader；　Ma　Chao；　was　worthy　of　them；　with　his　vivid　face　as　if　powdered　and　red　lips　as　if　colored；　his　supple　hips　and　broad　shoulders；　his　deep　voice　and　fierce　strength。　He　was　wearing　silver　helmet　and　armor　and　gripping　a　long　spear　as　he　sat　there　on　his　charger。　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　supported　him；　and　Cao　Cao　admired　Ma　Chao　in　his　secret　heart。

However；　Cao　Cao　urged　forward　his　steed　and　shouted　to　Ma　Chao；　〃Why　are　you　arrayed　against　the　Hans；　whom　your　father　and　grandfather　served　faithfully？〃

Ma　Chao　ground　his　teeth　and　cursed　Cao　Cao；　〃Rebel！　Betrayer　of　both　prince　and　people！　Murderer　of　my　father　and　brothers！　My　hate　for　you　is　to　the　death：　The　same　sky　shall　not　continue　to　cover　us；　for　I　will　take　you　captive　and　satiate　my　appetite　on　your　living　flesh。〃

With　this　he　set　his　spear　and　rode　over　toward　Cao　Cao　as　if　to　slay　him。　But　Yu　Jin　came　out　from　behind　and　engaged　Ma　Chao　in　battle。　These　two　fought　some　half　score　bouts；　and　then　Yu　Jin　had　to　flee。　Zhang　He；　however；　took　his　place　and　the　two　warriors　exchanged　twenty　passes。　Then　Zhang　He；　too；　ran　away。

Next　to　e　forth　was　Li　Tong。　Ma　Chao's　martial　prowess　was　now　at　its　height；　and　he　made　short　work　of　Li　Tong；　who　went　out　of　the　saddle　at　the　first　blow。　Then　Ma　Chao　flourished　his　spear　at　the　troops　behind　him　as　a　signal　for　them　to　e　on；　which　they　did　like　a　flood。　They　overwhelmed　Cao　Cao's　forces；　and　Ma　Chao；　Pang　De；　and　Ma　Dai　rode　forward　to　try　to　capture　Cao　Cao。

They　came　close。　Cao　Cao　heard　one　of　his　pursuers　shout　to　another；　〃Cao　Cao　is　he　in　the　red　dress！〃

So　he　hastily　tore