第149部分(第1/7 页)

Soon　Cao　Hong　reported：　〃The　enemy's　fleet　blankets　the　river；　but　no　sign　of　movements。〃

Feeling　suspicious；　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　to　the　river　to　watch　the　enemy　and　deploy　his　troops。　On　the　river　he　saw　displayed　a　fleet　of　ships　all　arranged　in　admirable　order；　the　divisions　being　marked　by　distinctive　flags。　The　equipment　glittered　in　the　sunlight。　In　the　center　was　a　large　ship　whereon　was　a　huge　umbrella；　and　beneath　the　shade　sat　Sun　Quan　in　the　midst　of　his　staff。

〃That　is　the　sort　of　son　to　have；〃　said　Cao　Cao　in　admiration；　〃not　such　piglets　and　puppies　as　Liu　Biao's。〃

Suddenly；　at　the　explosion　of　a　bomb；　the　ships　got　under　way　and　came　flying　toward　him；　while　a　force　moved　out　of　River　Ruxu。　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　at　once　retired　in　great　haste。　A　pany　led　by　the　green…eyed；　purple…bearded　Sun　Quan　made　straight　for　Cao　Cao；　who　hastily　retreated。　But　Cao　Cao　was　sore　pressed　by　other　Sun　Quan's　manders；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai；　and　it　had　gone　hard　with　him　but　that　Xu　Chu　came　to　his　rescue　and　fought　with　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　till　his　master　could　escape。　Xu　Chu　fought　some　score　bouts　before　he　could　draw　off　and　return　to　his　own　aide。

When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　camp；　he　conferred　rich　rewards　upon　his　henchman　who　had　saved　him；　and　he　reprimanded　his　other　leaders　for　their　too　hasty　retirement。

〃You　blunt　the　keen　spirits　of　the　army。　And　if　you　do　such　a　thing　again；　I　will　put　you　to　death；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

About　midnight　that　night　there　arose　great　motion　at　the　gates　of　the　camp。　When　Cao　Cao　went　outside；　he　found　that　the　enemy　had　crept　up　secretly　and　started　a　conflagration。　The　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　forced　their　way　into　the　stockade　and　went　hither　and　thither；　slaying　till　morning　broke