按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Zhuge Liang laughed and replied； 〃First I advised you to attack Jingzhou； but you would not listen。 Do you remember？〃
〃But it belonged to Liu Biao； and I could not bear to attack it then。 Now it belongs to Cao Cao； I might do so。〃
〃Do not be anxious；〃 replied the adviser。 〃Let Zhou Yu go and attack it。 Some day； my lord； I shall make you sit in the high place thereof。〃
〃But what design have you？〃
〃So and so；〃 said Zhuge Liang； whispering。
Liu Bei was satisfied with the reply； and only strengthened his position at Youkou。
In the meantime Zhou Yu and Lu Su returned to their own camp； and the latter said； 〃Why did you tell Liu Bei that he might attack Nanjun？〃
〃I can take it with a flick of my finger；〃 replied Zhou Yu； 〃but I just manifested a little pretended kindliness。〃
Then he inquired among his officers for a volunteer to attack the city。 Jiang Qin offered himself； and was put in mand of the vanguard； with Xu Sheng and Ding Feng as helpers。 He was given five thousand of veterans； and they moved across the river。 Zhou Yu promised to follow with supports。
On the other side Cao Ren ordered Cao Hong to guard Yiling； and so hold one corner of an ox…horn defense。
When the news came that the South Land's force had crossed the River Han； Cao Ren said； 〃We will defend and not offer battle。〃
But General Niu Jin said impetuously； 〃To let the enemy approach the walls and not offer battle is timidity。 Our troops； lately worsted； need heartening and must show their mettle。 Let me have five hundred of veterans； and I will fight to a finish。〃
Cao Ren could not withstand this offer； and so the five hundred went out of the city。 At once Ding Feng came to challenge the leader； and they fought a few bouts。 Then Ding Feng pretended to be defeated； gave up the fight； and retreated into his own lines。 Niu Jin followed him hard。 When he had got within the South Land's formation； at a signal from Ding Feng； the army closed round and Niu Jin was surrounded。 He pushed right and left； but could find no way out。 Seeing Niu Jin in the toils； Cao Ren； who had watched the fight from the wall； donned his armor and came out of the city at the head of his own bold pany of horsemen and burst in among the forces of the South Land to try to rescue his colleague。 Beating back Xu Sheng； Cao Ren fought his way in and presently rescued Niu Jin。
However； having got out； Cao Ren saw several score of horsemen still in the middle unable to make their way out； whereupon he turned again to the battle and dashed in to their rescue。 This time he met Jiang Qin on whom Cao Ren and Niu Jin made a violent attack。 Then his brother Cao Chun came up with supports； and the great battle ended in a defeat for the troops of the South Land。
So Cao Ren went back victor； while the unhappy Jiang Qin returned to report his failure。 Zhou Yu was very angry and would have put to death his hapless subordinate but for the intervention of the other officers。 Then Zhou Yu prepared for another attack where he himself would lead。
But Gan Ning said； 〃General； do not be in too great hurry。 Let me go first and attack Yiling； the supporting angle of the ox…horn formation。 After that the conquest of Nanjun will be easy。〃
Zhou Yu accepted the plan and Gan Ning； with three thousand troops； went to attack Yiling。
When news of the approaching army reached him； Cao Ren called to his side Chen Jiao； who said； 〃If Yiling be lost； then Nanjun is lost too。 So help must be sent quickly。〃
Thereupon Cao Chun and Niu Jin were sent by secret ways to the aid of Cao Hong。 Cao Chun sent a messenger to the city to ask that they should cause a diversion by a sortie at the time the reinforcements should arrive。
So when Gan Ning drew near； Cao Hong went out to meet and engage him。 They fought a score of rounds； but Cao Hong was overe at last； and Gan Ning took the city。 However； as evening fell the reinforcements under Cao Chun and Niu Jin came up； and the captor was surrounded in the city he had taken。 The scouts went off immediately to tell Zhou Yu of this sudden change of affairs which greatly alarmed him。
〃Let us hasten to his rescue；〃 said Cheng Pu。
〃Our place is of the greatest importance；〃 said Zhou Yu； 〃and I am afraid to leave it undefended lest Cao Ren should attack。〃
〃But Gan Ning is one of our first leaders and must be rescued；〃 said Lu Meng。
〃I should like to go myself to his aid； but whom can I leave here in my place？〃 said Zhou Yu。
〃Leave Ling Tong here；〃 said Lu Meng。 〃I will push on ahead； and you can protect my advance。 In less than ten days we shall be singing the paean of victory。〃
〃Are you willing？〃 said Zhou Yu to the man who was to act for him。
Ling Tong said； 〃If the ten…day period is not exceeded； I may be able to carry on for that time。 I am unequal to more than that。〃
Ling Tong's consent pleased Zhou Yu who started at once； leaving ten thousand troops for the defense of the camp。
Lu Meng said to his chief； 〃South of Yiling is a little…used road that may prove very useful in an attack on Nanjun。 Let us send a party to fell trees and barricade this road so that horses cannot pass。 In case of defeat； the defeated will take this road and will be pelled to abandon their horses； which we shall capture。〃
Zhou Yu approved； and the men set out。 When the main army drew near Yiling； Zhou Yu asked who would try to break through the besiegers； and Zhou Tai offered himself。 He girded on his sword； mounted his steed； and burst straight into the Cao Hong's army。 He got through to the city wall。
From the city wall Gan Ning saw the approach of his friend Zhou Tai and went out to wele him。 Zhou Tai told him the mander…in…Chief was on the way to his relief； and Gan Ning at once bade the defenders prepare from within to support the attack of the rescuers。
When the news of the approach of Zhou Yu had reached Yiling； Cao Hong； Cao Chun； and Niu Jin had sent to tell Cao Ren； who was at Nanjun； and at the same time they prepared to repel the assailants。
As the army of the South Land came near； they at once attacked。 Simultaneously Gan Ning and Zhou Tai went out to attack on two sides； and the troops of Cao Hong were thrown into confusion。 The soldiers of the South Land fell on lustily； and the three leaders all fled by a bye road； but； finding the way barred with felled trees and other obstacles； they had to abandon their horses and go afoot。 In this way the troops of the South Land gained some five hundred steeds。
Zhou Yu； pressing on as quickly as possible toward Nanjun； came upon Cao Ren and his army marching to save Yiling。 The two armies engaged and fought a battle which lasted till late in the evening。 Then both drew off； and Cao Ren withdrew into the city。
During the night he called his officers to a council。
Then said Cao Hong； 〃The loss of Yiling has brought us to a dangerous pass。 Now it seems the time to open the guide…letter of the Prime Minister； and see what plans he arranged for our salvation in this peril。〃
〃You but say what I think；〃 replied Cao Ren。
Whereupon he tore open the guide…letter and read it。 His face lighted up with joy； and he at once issued orders to have the morning meal prepared at the fifth watch。 At daylight the whole army moved out of the city through three gates； but they left a semblance of occupation in the shape of banners on the walls。
Zhou Yu went up to the tower of observation and looked over the city。 He saw that the flags along the battlements had no guards behind them； and he noticed that all troops carried bundles at their waists behind so that they were ready for a long march。
Thought Zhou Yu to himself； 〃Cao Ren must be prepared for a long march。〃
So Zhou Yu went down from the tower of observation and sent out an order for two wings of the army to be ready。 One of these was to attack and； in case of its success； the other was to pursue at full speed till the clanging of the gongs should call them to return。 He took mand of the leading force in person； and Cheng Pu manded the other。 Thus they advanced to attack the city。
The armies being arrayed facing each other； the drums rolled out across the plain。 Cao Hong rode forth and challenged； and Zhou Yu； from his place by the standard； bade Han Dang respond。 The two champions fought near two score