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第47部分（第2页）

The　scouts　told　Lu　Bu；　who　was　then　in　Xuzhou；　whither　he　had　gone　to　start　an　expedition　to　save　Xiaopei。　He　left　the　protection　of　Xuzhou　to　Chen　Gui　and　set　out　with　Chen　Deng。

As　Chen　Deng　was　starting；　Chen　Gui　said　to　him；　〃Remember　the　words　of　Cao　Cao；　that　the　business　of　the　east　is　in　our　hands。　Now　is　our　moment；　for　Lu　Bu　is　about　to　suffer　defeat。〃

〃Father；　I　can　look　after　the　outside。　But　when　Lu　Bu　returns　beaten；　you　must　arrange　with　Mi　Zhu　to　keep　him　out　of　the　city。　I　shall　find　a　means　of　escape；〃　said　Chen　Deng。

〃His　family　is　here；　and　he　has　many　friends。　How　about　them？〃

〃I　also　have　a　scheme　to　settle　them。〃

Then　Chen　Deng　went　to　see　Lu　Bu；　to　whom　he　said；　〃Xuzhou　is　surrounded；　and　this　city　will　be　fiercely　attacked。　We　ought　to　provide　for　possible　retreat；　and　I　advise　storing　grain　and　money　in　Xiapi。　We　could　retreat　there　if　the　day　went　adversely。　Why　not　see　about　this　in　good　time？〃

〃Your　words　are　indeed　wise。　I　will　also　send　my　wives　and　little　ones　thither；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

The　family　left　under　escort　of　Wei　Xu　and　Song　Xian；　and　with　them　was　sent　much　grain　and　treasures　and　coins。

And　then　the　soldiers　marched　to　the　relief　of　the　pass。　About　half　way　there　Chen　Deng　said；　〃Let　me　go　first　to　reconnoiter　so　that　you；　my　lord；　may　advance　with　confidence。〃

Thus　Chen　Deng　parted　pany　with　his　chief　and　preceded　him　to　the　pass　where　he　was　received　by　Chen　Gong。

Chen　Deng　said；　〃The　General　greatly　wonders　why　you　do　not　advance。　He　is　going　to　inquire　into　it。〃

〃The　enemy　is　in　great　force；　and　we　cannot　be　too　careful；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃We　are　holding　the　pass；　and　you　should　persuade　our　master　to　take　steps　to　guard　Xiaopei。〃

Chen　Deng　said；　〃Your　words　are　true。〃

That　evening　he　went　up　to　the　heights　from　which　he　could　see　Cao　Caos　army；　which　was　quite　close　to　the　pass。　Then　he　wrote　three　notes；　tied　them　to　arrows；　and　shot　them　into　Cao　Caos　camp。

Next　day　he　left　and　hastened　back　to　Lu　Bu　and　said；　〃Those　bandits　are　about　to　give　up　the　pass　to　the　enemy；　but　I　have　left　Chen　Gong　to　hold　it。　You　had　better　make　an　attack　tonight　and　hold　him。〃

〃Had　it　not　been　for　you；　the　pass　would　have　been　lost；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

Then　he　sent　Chen　Deng　back　to　arrange　a　fire　signal　with　Chen　Gong　for　simultaneous　action。

So　Chen　Deng　returned　to　Chen　Gong　to　whom　he　said；　〃Cao　Caos　troops　have　found　a　secret　way　through　the　pass；　and　I　fear　Xuzhou　is　already　lost。　You　ought　to　go　back　at　once。〃

At　this　the　pass　was　abandoned；　and　Chen　Gong　began　to　retreat。　Then　Chen　Deng　gave　the　prearranged　signal。

Lu　Bu　saw　the　fire　and　advanced　in　the　darkness　to　the　relief　of　the　pass。　Presently　he　met　Chen　Gongs　army；　and　as　neither　recognized　the　other　in　the　darkness；　a　fierce　battle　ensued。　Nor　was　the　trick　discovered　till　daylight　came。

While　these　things　were　going　on；　Cao　Cao　had　noted　the　signal　and　advanced　as　fast　as　possible。　The　bandits；　who　alone　remained　to　hold　the　pass；　were　easily　driven　out　and　scattered　in　all　directions。

When　daylight　came　and　the　trick　was　discovered；　Lu　Bu　and　Chen　Gong　set　off　together　for　Xuzhou。　But　when　they　arrived　and　summoned　the　gate；　instead　of　opening　the　doors；　the　guards　on　the　wall　saluted　them　with　a　thick　flight　of　arrows。

At　the　same　time　Mi　Zhu　appeared　on　the　defense　tower　and　shouted；　〃You　stole　our　masters　city；　and　now　we　are　going　to　give　it　back　to　him。　You　will　not　enter　here　again！〃

〃Where　is　Chen　Gui？〃　cried　Lu　Bu；　angrily。

〃We　have　slain　him！〃　was　the　reply。

〃Where　is　Chen　Deng？〃　said　Lu　Bu　turning　to　Chen　Gong。

〃Do　you　still　hold　to　your　delusion；　General；　that　you　ask　where　this　specious　rogue　is？〃

Lu　Bu　bade　them　search　through　all　the　ranks；　but　Chen　Deng　was　not　to　be　found。　Then　they　decided　to　go　to　Xiaopei。　But　ere　they　had　got　half　way　there；　suddenly　appeared　the　troops　under　the　mand　of　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao。

They　said；　〃Chen　Deng　came　to　us　saying　you；　General；　was　surrounded　and　wanted　help；　so　we　came　at　once。〃

〃Another　trick　of　that　false　rogue！〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃Surely　he　shall　die　for　this。〃

They　went　with　all　speed　to　Xiaopei；　only　to　see　as　they　drew　near；　the　ensigns　of　the　enemy　displayed　all　along　the　walls；　for　the　city　had　been　taken　by　Cao　Ren。

While　Lu　Bu　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　rampart　reviling　the　traitor；　Chen　Deng　himself　appeared　on　the　wall　and　pointing　to　Lu　Bu　cried；　〃Did　you　think　that　I；　a　minister　of　the　dynasty；　would　serve　a　rebel　like　you？〃

Lu　Bu　in　his　wrath　was　about　to　make　a　desperate