第141部分(第3/7 页)

　galloped　back　to　his　own　side；　stripped　off　his　armor；　showing　his　magnificent　muscles　and；　naked　as　he　was；　leaped　again　into　the　saddle　and　rode　out　to　continue　the　battle。

Again　the　champions　engaged；　while　both　armies　stood　aghast。　Thirty　bouts　more；　and　Xu　Chu；　summoning　up　all　his　force；　plunged　toward　Ma　Chao　with　his　sword　held　high　to　strike。　But　Ma　Chao　avoided　the　stroke　and　rode　in　with　his　spear　pointing　directly　at　his　opponent's　heart。　Throwing　down　his　sword；　Xu　Chu　dashed　aside　the　spear；　which　passed　underneath　his　arm。

Then　ensued　a　struggle　for　the　spear；　and　Xu　Chu　by　a　mighty　effort　snapped　the　shaft　so　that　each　held　one　half。　Then　the　duel　was　continued；　each　be　laboring　the　other　with　the　pieces　of　the　broken　spear。

At　this　point　Cao　Cao　began　to　fear　for　his　champion　and　so　ordered　two　of　his　generals；　Xiahou　Yuan　and　Cao　Hong；　to　go　out　and　take　a　hand。　At　this　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　gave　the　signal　to　their　armored　horsemen　to　attack。　They　rode　in；　and　a　melee　began　in　which　Cao　Cao's　troops　were　worsted；　and　the　great　champion　Xu　Chu　received　two　arrow　wounds　in　the　shoulder。　So　the　troops　of　Cao　Cao　retreated　to　their　stockade；　Ma　Chao　following　them　to　the　river。　Cao　Cao's　army　lost　more　than　half　their　number。

Cao　Cao　barred　his　gates　and　allowed　none　to　go　out。

Ma　Chao　went　down　to　the　river。　When　he　saw　Han　Sui；　he　said；　〃I　have　seen　some　wicked　fighters；　but　none　to　match　that　Xu　Chu。　He　is　aptly　nicknamed　Tiger　Lust〃

Thinking　that　by　strategy　he　might　get　the　better　of　Ma　Chao；　Cao　Cao　secretly　sent　two　bodies　of　troops　across　the　river　to　the　south　bank　to　take　up　position　so　that　he　might　attack　in　front　and　rear。

One　day　from　his　ramparts；　Cao　Cao　saw　Ma　Chao　and　a　few　horsemen　ride　clo