第39部分(第3/7 页)

atch　fires　at　all　the　gates；　and　leave　the　flags　standing　to　maintain　the　appearance　of　soldiers　in　position　while　the　expedition　went　south。

Zhou　Yu　came　to　utter　a　warning；　〃When　you；　my　lord；　go　away；　the　besieged　will　surely　e　out　and　follow　you。　We　might　prepare　a　surprise　for　them。〃

Sun　Ce　replied；　〃My　preparations　are　plete；　and　the　city　will　be　captured　tonight。〃

So　the　army　set　out。　Wang　Lang　heard　that　the　besiegers　had　gone；　and　he　went　up　to　the　tower　to　reconnoiter。　He　saw　the　fires　blazing；　the　smoke　rising；　and　the　pennons　fluttering　in　the　breeze　as　usual　and　hesitated。

Zhou　Xin　said；　〃He　has　gone　and　this　is　only　a　strategy。　Let　us　go　out　and　smite　them。〃

Yan　Baihu　said；　〃If　he　has　gone；　it　is　to　attack　Chadu。　Let　us　pursue。〃

〃The　place　is　our　base　of　supply；〃　said　Wang　Lang；　〃and　must　be　defended。　You　two　lead　the　way；　and　I　will　follow　with　reserves。〃

So　Yan　Baihu　and　Zhou　Xin　went　forth　with　five　thousand　soldiers　and　drew　near　their　enemy　about　the　first　watch；　at　seven　miles　from　the　city。　The　road　led　through　dense　forest。　Then　suddenly　the　drums　beat　and　lighted　torches　sprang　up　on　all　sides。　Yan　Baihu　was　frightened；　turned　his　horse　and　started　to　retreat。　At　once　a　leader　appeared　in　front　in　whom；　by　the　glare　of　the　torches；　he　recognized　Sun　Ce。　Zhou　Xin　made　a　rush　at　him　but　fell　under　Sun　Ce's　spear。　The　men　surrendered。　However；　Yan　Baihu　managed　to　cut　his　way　out　and　fled　to　Yuhang。

Wang　Lang　soon　heard　of　the　loss　and；　not　daring　to　return　to　the　city；　fled　in　all　haste　to　the　coastal　regions。　And　so　Sun　Ce　got　possession　of　the　city　of　Kuaiji。

Having　restored　order；　a　few　days　later　a　man　came　bringing　the　head　of　the　White　Tiger　as　an　offering　to　Sun　Ce。　This　man　was　a