第36部分(第3/7 页)

g　in　the　city。〃

Zhang　Fei　savagely　got　into　his　armor　and　laid　hold　of　his　mighty　serpent　halberd。　But　as　he　was　mounting　his　horse　at　the　gate；　the　attacking　soldiers　came　up。　He　rushed　at　them　but　being　still　half　intoxicated　made　but　a　poor　fight。　Lu　Bu　knowing　Zhang　Fei's　prowess　did　not　press　him　hard；　and　Zhang　Fei　made　his　way；　with　eighteen　leading　Guards　of　Yan；　to　the　east　gate；　and　there　went　out；　leaving　Liu　Bei's　family　to　their　fate。

Cao　Bao；　seeing　Zhang　Fei　had　but　a　very　small　force　and　was　still　half　drunk　as　well；　came　in　pursuit。　Zhang　Fei　saw　who　it　was　and　was　mad　with　rage。　He　galloped　toward　Cao　Bao　and　drove　him　off　after　a　few　passes。　He　followed　Cao　Bao　to　the　moat　and　wounded　him　in　the　back。　Cao　Bao's　frightened　steed　carried　its　master　into　the　moat；　and　he　was　drowned。

Once　well　outside　the　city　Zhang　Fei　collected　his　troops；　and　they　rode　off　toward　the　south　direction。

Lu　Bu　having　surprised　the　city　set　himself　to　restore　order。　He　put　a　guard　over　the　residence　of　Liu　Bei　so　that　no　one　should　disturb　the　family。

Zhang　Fei　with　his　few　followers　went　to　his　brother's　camp　at　Xuyi　and　told　his　story　of　treachery　and　surprise。　All　were　greatly　distressed。

〃Success　is　not　worth　rejoicing　over；　failure　is　not　worth　grieving　over；〃　said　Liu　Bei　with　a　sigh。

〃Where　are　our　sisters？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。

〃They　shared　the　fate　of　the　city。〃

Liu　Bei　nodded　his　head　and　was　silent。

Guan　Yu　with　an　effort　controlled　his　reproaches　and　said；　〃What　did　you　say　when　you　promised　to　guard　the　city；　and　what　orders　did　our　brother　give　you？　Now　the　city　is　lost　and　therewith　our　sisters…in…law。　Have　you　done　well？〃

Zhang　Fei　was　overwhelmed　by　remorse。　He　drew　his　sword　to　kill　hi