第151部分(第2/7 页)

s　strength；〃　said　Wei　Yan。　〃The　two　generals　in　those　camps　we　know　are　the　best　and　boldest　in　the　country。　They　are　strong；　and；　veteran　as　you　are；　I　fear　you　will　be　unable　to　overe　them。　If　you　fail；　our　lord's　great　design　will　be　hindered。　Therefore　I　ask　that　I　may　replace　you；　and　my　intent　is　kindly。〃

This　reminder　of　his　age　angered　the　old　man。

〃Old；　am　I？　Dare　you　pete　with　me　in　the　use　of　warlike　weapons？〃　said　Huang　Zhong。

〃Yes；　I　dare。　And　our　lord　shall　be　the　judge。　The　winner　shall　undertake　this　expedition。　Do　you　agree？〃

Huang　Zhong　ran　down　the　steps　and　called　to　his　soldiers　to　bring　his　sword。

But　Liu　Bei　would　stop　this　contest　and　said；　〃I　have　need　of　both　of　you　in　the　task　that　lies　before　me。　When　two　tigers　fight；　one　is　sure　to　lose；　and　the　loss　of　either　of　you　is　more　than　I　could　bear。　Be　reconciled　and　quarrel　no　more。〃

〃You　two　must　not　quarrel；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃But　as　there　are　two　camps　to　be　taken　and　two　generals　to　fight；　take　one　each　and　let　each　lead　his　own　troops。　The　first　to　capture　his　camp　shall　be　held　to　have　rendered　the　greater　service　and　to　have　acquired　the　greater　merit。〃

This　decision　pacified　them；　and　it　was　settled　that　Huang　Zhong；　the　veteran；　should　go　against　Ling　Bao；　and　Wei　Yan；　the　younger　leader；　should　attack　Deng　Xiang。

But　after　they　had　marched　away；　Pang　Tong　remended；　〃You；　my　lord；　should　follow　them　lest　they　should　quarrel　on　the　way。〃

So　leaving　the　city　of　Fucheng　in　care　of　his　adviser；　Liu　Bei　also　marched；　taking　with　him　Liu　Feng；　his　adopted　son；　and　Guan　Ping；　his　nephew　by　adoption。　They　took　five　thousand　troops。

After　having　received　the　mand　to　take　one　of　the　camps；　Huang　Zhong　went　to　his　own　camp　and　is