第176部分(第2/7 页)

Liu　Bei　asked　the　next　move；　he　was　told；　but　also　told　to　keep　the　plan　a　secret。

Seeing　Liu　Bei　thus　encamped；　Cao　Cao　became　doubtful　and　anxious；　and；　to　bring　things　to　a　decision；　he　sent　a　written　declaration　of　war；　to　which　Zhuge　Liang　replied　that　they　would　fight　a　battle　on　the　morrow。

On　the　morrow　the　armies　faced　each　other　half　way　between　the　two　camps　in　front　of　the　Mountain　of　Five　Borders；　and　there　they　arrayed。　Cao　Cao　presently　rode　up　stood　beside　his　banner；　with　his　officers　right　and　left　and　the　dragon　and　phoenix　banners　fluttering　in　the　wind。　His　drums　rolled　thrice；　and　then　he　summoned　Liu　Bei　to　a　parley。　Liu　Bei　rode　out　supported　by　Liu　Feng；　Meng　Da；　and　other　leaders。　Then　Cao　Cao　insolently　flourizshed　his　whip　and　vilified　his　opponent。

〃Liu　Bei；　you　have　forgotten　kindness　and　lost　the　sense　of　right。　You　are　a　rebel　against　the　government。〃

Liu　Bei　answered；　〃I　am　related　to　the　imperial　family；　and　I　hold　an　edict　authorizing　me　to　seize　all　rebels。　You　have　dared　to　lift　up　your　hand　against　Empress　Fu；　made　yourself　a　king；　and　arrogantly　presume　to　an　imperial　chariot。　If　you　are　not　a　rebel；　what　are　you？〃

Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　Xu　Huang　out　to　give　battle；　and　Liu　Feng　went　to　meet　him。　As　the　bat　began；　Liu　Bei　retired　within　the　ranks　of　his　array。　Liu　Feng　was　no　match　for　his　opponent；　and　fled。

Cao　Cao　issued　an　order　to　capture　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃He　who　captures　Liu　Bei　will　be　made　Prince　of　Hanzhong！〃

At　this　the　army　of　Wei　uttered　one　great　roar　of　rage；　then　they　came　surging　on。　The　troops　of　Shu　fled　toward　the　river　abandoning　everything；　even　throwing　aside　their　weapons；　which　littered　the　road。　But　as　Cao　Cao's　army　pressed　forward；　he　suddenly　clanged　the　gon