三国演义英文版-第212章

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or　as　a　worthy　instance　of　daughterly　affection　and　remarkable　piety。
〃A　later　magistrate　had　the　story　inscribed　by　Handan　Chun　in　memory　of　the　event。　At　that　time　Handan　Chun　was　only　thirteen；　but　the　position　of　the　inscription　was　so　perfect　that　neither　jot　nor　tittle　could　be　added；　and　yet　he　had　written　it　impromptu　without　revision。　The　stone　was　set　up　beside　the　grave；　and　both　inscription　and　story　were　the　admiration　of　all　the　people　of　that　day。　My　father　went　to　see　it。　It　was　evening；　but　in　the　obscurity　he　felt　out　the　inscription　with　his　fingers。　He　got　hold　of　a　pencil　and　wrote　eight　large　characters　on　the　reverse　of　the　stone　and；　later；　some　person　recutting　the　stone　engraved　these　eight　words　as　well。〃
Cao　Cao　then　read　the　eight　words；　they　formed　an　enigma。　Literally　they　read；　〃yellow　silk；　young　wife；　a　daughter's　child；　pestle　and　mortar。〃
〃Can　you　explain？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　his　hostess。
〃No；　although　it　is　a　writing　of　my　father's；　thy　handmaid　cannot　interpret　it；〃　she　replied。
Turning　to　the　strategists　of　his　staff；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Can　anyone　of　you　explain　it？〃
But　no　one　made　any　reply。　Suddenly；　they　heard　one　voice；　〃I　have　grasped　the　meaning　of　it。〃
The　man　who　said　he　had　fathomed　the　meaning　was　First　Secretary　Yang　Xiu。
〃Do　not　tell　me　yet。　Let　me　think　it　out；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Soon　after　they　took　leave　of　the　lady；　went　out　of　the　farm；　and　rode　on。　About　one　mile　from　the　farm；　the　meaning　suddenly　dawned　upon　Cao　Cao。
He　laughingly　turned　to　Yang　Xiu；　saying；　〃Now；　you　may　try。〃
〃This　is　the　solution　of　the　enigma；〃　said　Yang　Xiu。　〃'Yellow　silk'　is　silk　threads　of　natural　color；　and　the　character　for　'silk'　placed　beside　that　for　'color'　forms　a　word　meaning　'finally；　decidedly'。　The　'young　wife'　is　a　'little　female'；　and　the　character　for　'female'　with　'little'；　or　'few'；　placed　beside　it　forms　a　word　meaning　'admirable；　fine'。　The　'daughter's　child'　is　'daughter'　and　'child'；　which　side　by　side　make　the　word　'good'。　And　a　'pestle　and　mortar'　suggest　pounding　together　the　five　bitter　herbs　in　a　receptacle：　The　character　for　'receptacle'　and　'bitter'　form　a　word　meaning　'to　tell'。　So　the　four　words　are　'Decidedly　fine　and　well　told。'〃
Cao　Cao　was　astonished　at　Yang　Xiu's　cleverness；　and　said；　〃Just　what　I　made　it。〃
Those　around　greatly　wondered　at　Yang　Xiu's　ingenuity　and　knowledge。
In　less　than　a　day　they　reached　Nanzheng；　where　Cao　Hong　weled　them。　He　told　the　tale　of　Zhang　He's　misfortunes。
〃To　suffer　defeat　is　no　crime；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃That　and　victory　are　things　that　happen　constantly　in　war。〃
〃Liu　Bei　has　sent　Huang　Zhong　to　take　Dingjun　Mountain；〃　said　Cao　Hong。　〃Xiahou　Yuan；　hearing　you　were　ing；　O　Prince；　has　been　defending　the　position　and　not　going　out　to　give　battle。〃
〃But　standing　always　on　the　defensive　is　showing　weakness；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Thereupon　he　bade　a　man　carry　an　authority　ensign　to　the　Mountain　mander　and　so　order　him　to　attack　the　enemy。
〃Xiahou　Yuan　is　very　stern　and　inflexible；　and　he　may　be　carried　too　far　and　fall　victim　to　some　vile　ruse；〃　said　Liu　Ye。
Wherefore　the　Prince　wrote　a　letter　to　him　to　acpany　the　authority　ensign。　And　when　the　messenger　arrived　and　the　letter　was　opened；　it　read：
〃Every　leader　must　exercise　a　bination　of　inflexibility　and　yielding。　Boldness　is　not　the　only　thing　that　counts；　if　he　makes　it　so；　then　is　he　a　mere　creature　to　fight。　Now　I　am　camped　at　Nanzheng　ready　to　watch　the　deeds　of　your　admirable　prowess　and　capacity；　and　all　I　have　to　say　is；　'Do　not　disgrace　your　previous　reputation。'〃
The　letter　pleased　the　mander　mightily。　Having　sent　away　the　bearer；　Xiahou　Yuan　called　in　Zhang　He　to　consult。
〃The　Prince　has　a　great　army　at　Nanzheng　ready　to　destroy　Liu　Bei。　We　have　been　on　the　defense　here　long　enough；　and　it　is　time　we　rendered　some　solid　service。　Tomorrow　I　am　going　out　to　battle；　and　hope　to　capture　Huang　Zhong。〃
〃Your　opponent　bines　ready　resource　with　boldness　and　prevision；〃　said　Zhang　He。　〃Beside；　he　has　Fa　Zheng　to　aid　him；　and　you　must　be　cautious；　for　the　country　is　very　difficult　and　dangerous。　You　had　better　keep　on　the　defensive。〃
〃How　shall　we　be　able　to　look　our　prince　in　the　face　when　other　leaders　render　good　services？　However；　you　just　keep　the　hill；　and　I　will　go　out　to　battle。〃
Then　an　order　was　issued　asking　who　would　go　out　to　reconnoiter　and　provoke　a　battle。　Xiahou　Shang　volunteered。
Xiahou　Yuan　said　to　him；　〃You　are　not　to　make　a　real　stand；　but　merely　to　begin　the　fight。　You　are　to　lose　and　not　win；　for　a　grand　ruse　is　ready　for　the　enemy。〃
He　explained　his　plans；　and　Xiahou　Shang　went　away　with　a　small　column。
Now　Huang　Zhong　and　his　helper　Fa　Zheng　were　camped　quite　close　to　the　Dingjun　Mountain。　They　had　endeavored　to　entice　Xiahou　Yuan　out　into　the　field　to　fight；　but　failed　to　attack　him　as　he　stood　in　that　difficult；　mountainous　country。　So　thus　far　no　advance　had　been　made。　But　as　soon　as　Xiahou　Shang's　troops　appeared　and　seemed　to　offer　battle；　Huang　Zhong　was　ready　to　march　out　to　meet　them　at　once。　But　General　Chen　Shi；　offered　his　services。
〃Do　not　trouble　yourself　to　move；　O　General；〃　said　Chen　Shi；　〃for　I　will　go　out　to　fight　them。〃
Huang　Zhong　consented；　and　placed　three　thousand　troops　under　Chen　Shi；　who　went　out　of　the　valley　and　set　his　army　in　array。　And　when　Xiahou　Shang　came　up　and；　as　arranged；　merely　fought　a　few　bouts　and　ran　away。　Chen　Shi　followed　to　take　advantage　of　his　success。　But　he　was　soon　brought　to　a　standstill　by　the　rolling　of　logs　and　hurling　of　stones　on　the　part　of　his　opponents。　As　he　turned　to　retire；　Xiahou　Yuan　brought　out　his　troops　and　attacked。　Chen　Shi　had　no　chance　against　them　and　was　quickly　made　prisoner。　Many　of　his　soldiers　joined　the　enemy；　but　a　few　escaped　to　their　own　side　and　told　Huang　Zhong　of　the　misfortune。
Huang　Zhong　at　once　asked　advice　from　Fa　Zheng；　who　said；　〃This　Xiahou　Yuan　is　easily　provoked　to　anger；　and　being　angry　he　is　bold　without　discretion。　Your　way　now　is　to　work　up　the　enthusiasm　of　your　soldiers；　then　break　camp　and　advance。　Do　this　in　a　series　of　marches；　and　you　will　excite　him　up　to　the　point　of　giving　battle；　when　you　can　capture　him。　They　call　this　the　'Ruse　of　the　Interchange　of　Host　and　Guest'。〃
So　Huang　Zhong　collected　all　the　things　his　soldiers　liked；　and　made　them　presents；　till　the　sound　of　rejoicing　filled　the　whole　valley　and　the　men　were　hot　to　fight。　Then　camp　was　broken；　and　the　army　marched　forward　a　certain　distance。　Then　they　encamped。　After　some　days'　rest　the　march　was　repeated；　and　then　again。
When　tidings　of　the　advance　reached　Xiahou　Yuan；　he　proposed　to　go　out　and　fight。
〃No；　no；〃　said　the　prudent　Zhang　He。　〃This　is　a　well　known　ruse；　and　you　should　remain　on　the　defensive。　You　will　lose　if　you　fight。〃
Xiahou　Yuan　was　not　the　man　to　stomach　this　moderate　advice；　so　he　sent　out　Xiahou　Shang　to　give　battle。　As　soon　as　this　force　reached　the　camp　of　Huang　Zhong；　the　Veteran　General　mounted　and　rode　out　to　fight。　In　the　very　first　bout　he　captured　Xiahou　Shang。　Those　who　escaped　told　how　their　leader　had　been　captured；　and　Xiahou　Yuan　at　once　sent　to　offer　an　exchange　of　prisoners。　This　was　agreed　to；　to　be　effected　the　following　day　in　front　of　both　armies。
So　next　day　both　sides　were　arrayed　in　a　spot　where　the　valley　widened；　the　two　leaders　on　horseback　beneath　their　respective　standards。　Beside　each　stood　his　prisoner。　Neither　was　encumbered　with　robe　or　helmet；　but　each　wore　thin；　simple　dress。　At　the　first　beat　of　the　drum　each　started　to　race　over　to　his　own　side。　Just　as　Xiahou　Shang　reached　the　ranks　of　his　own　side；　Huang　Zhong　shot　an　arrow　and　wounded　him　in　the　back。　The　wounded　man　did　not　fall；　but　went　on。
But　Xiahou　Yuan；　mad　with　rage；　could　contain　himself　no　longer。　He　galloped　straight　at　Huang　Zhong；　which　was　exactly　what　the　latter　wanted　to　irritate　him　into　doing。　The　fight　that　then　ensued　went　on　for　twenty　bouts；　when　suddenly　the　gongs　clanged　out　from　Xiahou　Yuan's　side　and　he　drew　off。　Huang　Zhong　pressed　on　and　shattered　the　army　of　Wei。
When　Xiahou　Yuan　reached　his　own　side；　he　asked　why　the　gong　had　sounded。
〃Because　we　saw　the　banners　of　Shu　through　openings　in　the　mountains　in　several　places；　and　we　feared　an　ambush；〃　said　Zhang　He。
Xiahou　Yuan　believed　him　and　did　not　return　to　the　battlefield。　He　simply　remained　defensive。
Before　long；　Huang　Zhong　had　got　quite　near　to　Xiahou　Yuan's　camp；　and　then　he　asked　further　advice　from　his　colleague。
Fa　Zheng　pointed　over　to　the　hills　and　said；　〃There　rises　a　steep　hill　on　the　west　of　Dingjun　Mountain；　difficult　of　access；　but　from　its　summit　one　has　a　plete　view　of　the　defenses　of　the　enemy。　If　you　can　take　this　hill；　the　mountain　lies　in　the　hollow　of　your　hand。〃
Huang　Zhong　looked　up　and　saw　the　top　of　the　hill　was　a　small　tableland　and　there　were　very　few　defenders　there。　So　that　evening　he　left　his　camp；　dashed　up　the　hill；　drove　out　the　small　host　of　one　hundred　under　Xiahou　Yuan's　General　Du　Xi　and　took　it。　It　was　just　opposite　to　Dingjun　Mountain。
Then　said　Fa　Zheng；　〃Now　take　up　position　half　way　up　the　hill；　while　I　go　to　the　top。　When　the　enemy　appears；　I　will　show　a　white　flag。　But　you　will　remain　quiet　till　the　enemy　bee　tired　and　remiss；　when　I　will　hoist　a　r