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第203章

三国演义英文版-第203章

小说: 三国演义英文版 字数: 每页3500字

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But Zhao Yun followed along the bank。
〃My lady may go or not as she pleases;〃 cried he; 〃but I have one word to say to her。〃
Zhou Shan turned a deaf ear and only urged his soldiers to get greater speed on the ship。 Zhao Yun followed down the bank for some three or more miles。 Then he saw a fishing boat made fast to the bank。 He at once dismounted; cast off the rope; took his spear; and leaped into the boat。 Then he made the two men row him toward the vessel in which sat Lady Sun。
As he approached; the soldiers of the South Land threatened him with their spears。 Thereupon he threw his spear into the bottom of the boat; drew the glittering steel blade he wore; dashed aside the opposing spears; and leaped upon the larger vessel。 The guards of the South Land fell back in surprise and fear; and Zhao Yun went down into the body of the ship。 There sat Lady Sun with little Liu Shan in her arms。
〃Why this rude intrusion?〃 said she angrily。
The warrior sheathed his sword and said humbly; 〃Whither may my mistress be going; and why goes she privily?〃
〃My mother is ill and on the point of death。 I had no time to inform any person of my departure;〃 said Lady Sun。
〃But why take the young master if you are going merely to see a sick person?〃 said Zhao Yun。
〃Liu Shan is my son; and I would not leave him behind to be neglected。〃
〃Mistress; you have acted wrongly。 My lord has but this one son of his body; and I rescued the child lord from among many thousand troops of Cao Cao in the great battle at Long Slope Bridge in Dangyang。 There is no reason for you to take him away。〃
Lady Sun took refuge in anger。 〃You leave my family affairs alone; you mon soldier!〃 cried she。
〃My lady; if you will go; then go; but leave the young master behind。〃
〃You are a rebel; jumping on board the ship like that!〃 cried Lady Sun。
〃If you will not leave the young lord behind; I refuse to let you go; e what may;〃 said Zhao Yun。
Lady Sun called in her maids to seize him; but he just pushed them off。 Then he took the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship。 He tried to get the vessel in to the bank; but no one would aid him; and he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately。 He knew not what to do in such a quandary。 And Lady Sun was screaming to her maids to take the boy away from him。 But he kept too firm a grip on the child; and the good sword in his other hand kept everyone at bay。
Zhou Shan was at the helm; giving all his attention to getting the ship out into the current and away down the river。 He steered for the middle of the stream; where the wind was strong。 Zhao Yun; one hand taken up with holding the boy; was quite unable to get the vessel in toward the shore。
Just as things looked most desperate; Zhao Yun saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream; flags fluttering and drums beating。 He thought that certainly all was over and he was about to fall a victim to a stratagem of the South Land; when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft。 He was armed with a long spear; and it was Zhang Fei。
Zhang Fei also shouted; 〃Sister…in…law! Leave the child lord。〃
Zhang Fei had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister…in…law's sudden departure; and he at once made for the River Yu with the intention of intercepting her flight。 He had arrived just in the nick of time to cut off the ships of the South Land。 Very soon; sword in hand; he had boarded the vessel。 As Zhang Fei came on board; Zhou Shan drew his sword and advanced toward him; but one sweep of Zhang Fei's blade laid him on the deck dead。 And the grim warrior hung his head at the feet of Lady Sun。
〃Why this very unseemly behavior?〃 cried Lady Sun; now quite frightened。
〃Sister;〃 said Zhang Fei; 〃you thought very little of my brother when you set out on this mad journey。 That was behaving rudely。〃
〃My mother is very ill。 It is a matter of life and death;〃 cried she。 〃If I had waited for your brother's permission to go; I should have been too late。 If you do not let me go now; I will throw myself into the river。〃
Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei took counsel together。 They said to each other; 〃It is hardly the correct thing for servants to force their lord's wife into mitting suicide。 Suppose we keep the child and let the vessel go。〃
Then they said; 〃O Lady; we cannot allow the wife of our exalted brother to die a death of shame; and so we will take our leave。 We trust you will not forget our brother and that you will return quickly。〃
Taking the child with them; they left the vessel; and the five ships of the South Land continued their voyage down stream。 One poet has praised the conduct of Zhao Yun:

Before; Zhao Yun saved Liu Shan;
What time his mother died;
Again like service he performs;
Upon the Great River's tide。
The soldiers of Wu all in the ship;
Were stricken down with fear
Search all the world; you never find
Of bold Zhao Yun the peer。

Another has eulogized Zhang Fei:

At Long Slope Bridge;
With rage Zhang Fei boiled;
Like wild beast roared;
And warriors recoiled。
From danger now
His prince is saved。
On history's page
His name is graved。

Quite satisfied with their success; the two warriors sailed homeward。 Before they had gone far; they met Zhuge Liang with a squadron of ships。 He was very pleased to find they had recovered the child; and they three joyfully returned to Jingzhou; whence an account of the whole adventure was written to Liu Bei。
When Lady Sun reached her home; she related the story of the death of Zhou Shan and the carrying off of the child。 Naturally Sun Quan was very wrath at the miscarriage of his scheme; and he resolved to attack Jingzhou in revenge for his messenger's murder。
〃Now that my sister has returned home; there is no longer any family tie to prevent the attack; and I will take full measure of revenge for the death of my general;〃 said Sun Quan。
So he called the council to consider the expedition。
But before they could decide upon any plan; their deliberations were suddenly cut short by the news that Cao Cao was ing down upon the South Land with four hundred thousand troops; burning to avenge his defeat at the Red Cliffs。 All thoughts now turned toward repelling his attack。
Adviser Zhang Hong; who had retired to his home ill; had just died; and his testament was sent to his lord to read。 Therein he advised Sun Quan:
〃My lord; the seat of government should be removed to the old land of Moling; where the scenery seems to bear the impress of kingly dignity; befitting a person who cherishes the ambition of founding an enduring dynasty。〃
Sun Quan read this document out to his councilors at this meeting; not without many tears in memory of the writer。
He told them; saying; 〃Zhang Hong was sincere till his death。 I cannot withstand his last advice!〃

'e' Jianye since then has been a southern capital of China for successive dynasties。 A beautiful place; Jianye was considered a treasure by the emperors of Yuan Dynasty (Mongol rule)。 Located near Shanghai where the Great River meets the East Sea; Jianye's modern name is Nanjing。
And Sun Quan at once gave orders to build a walled city named Shidou in Moling; and changed the name of the land to Jianye*。 Henceforth he intended to make his capital there。
As a protection against Cao Cao; Admiral Lu Meng proposed building a rampart at River Ruxu。
Some other officers opposed this; saying; 〃When the enemy appears; you will have to land in order to attack him; and after that you will return to your ships。 What is the use of a rampart?〃
Lu Meng replied; 〃One must prepare against possibilities。 Soldiers vary in keenness and sometimes lose battles。 If an urgent occasion arises; the soldiers may be unable to reach the water's edge; and how then are they to embark? They will then need shelter。〃

'e' Duke of Zhou was brother of King Wu; who was the founder of Zhou Dynasty。 After King Wu's death; the Duke of Zhou served his young son as regent。 The Duke of Zhou pletely ended the Shang domination; and he helped establish the Zhou administrative framework; which served as a model for future Chinese dynasties。 Zhou Dynasty lasted for 800 years (BC 1050…221)。 。。。。。
'e' Lu Wang was a master strategist; founding minist

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