第101部分(第1/7 頁)

ossible。　Zhang　Fei　was　in　charge　of　the　rear　guard；　and　Zhao　Yun　was　to　protect　his　lord's　family。　Guan　Yu　had　been　sent　to　Jiangxia。

One　day　Zhuge　Liang　came　in　and　said；　〃There　is　as　yet　no　news　from　Jiangxia。　There　must　be　some　difficulties。〃

〃I　wish　that　you　yourself　would　go　there；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Liu　Qi　would　remember　your　former　kindness　to　him　and　consent　to　anything　you　proposed。〃

Zhuge　Liang　said　he　would　go　and　set　out　with　Liu　Feng；　the　adopted　son　of　Liu　Bei；　taking　an　escort　of　five　hundred　troops。

A　few　days　after；　while　on　the　march　in　pany　with　three　of　his　manders………Jian　Yong；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Mi　Fang………a　sudden　whirlwind　rose　just　in　front　of　Liu　Bei；　and　a　huge　column　of　dust　shot　up　into　the　air　hiding　the　face　of　the　sun。

Liu　Bei　was　frightened　and　asked；　〃What　might　that　portend？〃

Jian　Yong；　who　knew　something　of　the　mysteries　of　nature；　took　the　auspices　by　counting　secretly　on　his　fingers。

Pale　and　trembling；　he　announced；　〃A　calamity　is　threatening　this　very　night。　My　lord　must　leave　the　people　to　their　fate　and　flee　quickly。〃

〃I　cannot　do　that；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃If　you　allow　your　pity　to　overe　your　judgment；　then　misfortune　is　very　near；〃　said　Jian　Yong。

Thus　spoke　Jian　Yong　to　his　lord；　who　then　asked　what　place　was　near。

His　people　replied；　〃Dangyang　is　quite　close；　and　there　is　a　very　famous　mountain　near　it　called　Prospect　Mountain。〃

Then　Liu　Bei　bade　them　lead　the　way　thither。

The　season　was　late　autumn；　just　changing　to　winter；　and　the　icy　wind　penetrated　to　the　very　bones。　As　evening　fell；　long…drawn　howls　of　misery　were　heard　on　every　side。　At　the　middle　of　the　fourth　watch；　two　hours　after　midnight；　they　heard　a　rumbling　sound　in　the　northwest。　Liu