三國演義英文版

第18部分 (第2/7頁)

my's　formation　and　make　for　Xian　Hills。　You　will　be　pursued；　but　send　a　hundred　soldiers　up　the　hill　to　prepare　large　stones；　and　place　a　hundred　archers　in　ambush　in　the　woods。　These　are　not　to　flee　from　the　pursuers　but　to　beguile　them　along　devious　ways　round　to　the　place　where　the　boulders　have　been　prepared。　There　stones　will　be　rolled　down　and　arrows　shot。　If　you　succeed；　fire　off　a　series　of　bombs　as　a　signal；　and　the　armies　in　the　city　will　e　out　to　help。　If　you　are　not　pursued；　get　away　as　fast　as　possible。　Tonight　will　be　suitable　as　there　is　very　little　moon。　Start　at　dusk。〃

Lu　Gong　having　received　these　directions；　prepared　his　force　to　carry　them　out。　As　soon　as　day　began　to　close　in；　he　went　quietly　out　at　the　east　gate。

Sun　Jian　was　in　his　tent　when　he　heard　shouting；　and　a　soldier　came　to　report：　〃There　was　a　group　of　horsemen　going　out　from　the　city！〃

Sun　Jian　at　once　mounted　and　rode　out　with　thirty　horsemen　to　discover　the　cause。　Lu　Gong's　troops　had　already　hidden　themselves　in　the　thick　woods。　Sun　Jian　rode　ahead　of　his　escort；　and　soon　he　found　himself　alone　and　close　to　the　enemy。　He　called　out　to　them　to　halt。　Lu　Gong　at　once　turned　back　and　came　as　if　to　fight。　But　they　had　only　exchanged　a　single　pass　when　Lu　Gong　again　fled；　taking　the　road　among　the　hills。　Sun　Jian　followed　but　soon　lost　sight　of　his　foe。

Sun　Jian　turned　up　the　hill。　Then　the　gongs　clanged　and　down　the　hills　fell　showers　of　stones；　while　from　among　the　trees　the　arrows　flew　in　clouds。　Sun　Jian　was　hit　by　several　arrows　and　a　huge　stone　crushed　in　his　head。　Both　he　and　his　steed　were　killed。　Sun　Jian　was　only　thirty…seven　years　old　at　his　death。

His　escort　was　overpowered　and　every　man　of　them　slain。　Then　Lu　Gong　let　off　a　series　of　bombs；　th