第39部分(第2/7 页)

Ci　advanced　and　Wang　Lang　came　toward　him　waving　a　sword。　Before　they　had　exchanged　many　passes；　Zhou　Xin　dashed　out　to　help　Wang　Lang。　Thereupon　Huang　Gai　rode　out　to　make　the　sides　more　equal。　These　latter　two　were　just　engaging　when　the　drums　rolled　on　both　sides；　and　a　general　battle　began。

Suddenly　confusion　was　caused　in　the　rear　of　Wang　Lang's　army　by　the　sudden　onslaught　of　a　small　army。　Wang　Lang　galloped　off　to　see　the　attackers　were　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu。　Then　an　attack　was　made　on　his　flank；　so　that　he　was　in　a　hopeless　position；　and　he　and　Yan　Baihu　and　Zhou　Xin；　fighting　desperately　to　cut　an　alley　out；　only　just　managed　to　reach　the　shelter　of　the　city。　The　drawbridges　were　raised；　the　gates　closed；　and　preparations　made　to　sustain　a　siege。

Sun　Ce　followed　right　up　to　the　walls　and　then　divided　his　troops　so　as　to　attack　all　four　gates。　Seeing　that　the　city　was　being　fiercely　attacked；　Wang　Lang　was　for　making　a　sortie；　but　Yan　Baihu　opposed　this　as　hopeless　against　so　strong　a　force　outside。

〃We　can　only　strengthen　our　position　and　remain　behind　the　shelter　of　the　ramparts　until　hunger　forces　the　besiegers　to　retire；〃　said　Yan　Baihu。

Wang　Lang　agreed；　and　the　siege　went　on。　For　several　days　a　vigorous　attack　was　maintained；　but　with　little　success。

In　a　council；　Sun　Jing；　who　was　the　uncle　of　Sun　Ce；　said；　〃Since　they　are　holding　the　city　with　such　resolution；　it　will　be　difficult　to　dislodge　them。　But　the　bulk　of　their　supplies　is　stored　at　Chadu；　distant　only　some　ten　miles。　Our　best　plan　is　to　seize　this　place；　thus　attacking　where　the　enemy　is　unprepared；　and　doing　what　they　do　not　expect。〃

Sun　Ce　approved；　saying；　〃My　uncle's　plan　is　admirable　and　will　crush　the　rebels。〃

So　he　issued　orders　to　kindle　w