第78部分(第4/7 頁)

so　were　Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　and　Mi　Fang。

They　told　him；　〃The　attack　on　Runan　was　too　strong　to　be　resisted；　and　so　we　were　pelled　to　abandon　the　defense；　and　the　enemy　followed；　and　only　Guan　Yu's　timely　arrival　saved　us　from　destruction。〃

〃I　do　not　know　where　my　brother　is；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃All　will　e　right　if　you　will　push　on；〃　said　Liu　Pi。

They　pushed　on。　Before　they　had　gone　far；　the　beating　of　drums　was　heard　and　suddenly　appeared　Zhang　He　with　a　thousand　soldiers。

Zhang　He　cried；　〃Liu　Bei；　quickly　dismount　and　surrender！〃

Liu　Bei　was　about　to　retire　when　he　saw　a　red　flag　waving　from　a　rampart　on　the　hills　and　down　came　rushing　another　body　of　troops　under　Gao　Lan。

Thus　checked　in　front　and　his　retreat　cut　off；　Liu　Bei　looked　up　to　Heaven　and　cried；　〃O　Heaven；　why　am　I　brought　to　this　state　of　misery？　Nothing　is　left　me　now　but　death！〃

And　he　drew　his　sword　to　slay　himself。

But　Liu　Pi　stayed　his　hand；　saying；　〃Let　me　try　to　fight　a　way　out　and　save　you。　Death　is　nothing　to　me！〃

As　he　spoke　Gao　Lan's　force　was　on　the　point　of　engaging　his。　The　two　leaders　met　and　in　the　third　bout　Liu　Pi　was　cut　down。　Liu　Bei　at　once　rushed　up　to　fight；　but　just　then　there　was　sudden　confusion　in　the　rear　ranks　of　the　opponents；　and　a　warrior　dashed　up　and　thrust　at　Gao　Lan　with　his　spear。　Gao　Lan　fell　from　his　steed。　The　newer　was　Zhao　Yun。

His　arrival　was　most　opportune。　He　urged　forward　his　steed　thrusting　right　and　left；　and　the　enemy's　ranks　broke　and　scattered。　Then　the　first　force　under　Zhang　He　came　into　the　fight；　and　the　leader　and　Zhao　Yun　fought　thirty　or　more　bouts。　However；　this　proved　enough；　for　Zhang　He　turned　his　horse　away　recognizing　that　he　was　worsted。　Zhao　Yun　vigorously　attacked；　bu