波波小说

第197部分（第1页）

It　was　Guan　Xing；　son　of　Guan　Yu。

〃I　have　already　received　my　mission；〃　said　Zhang　Bao。

〃What　abilities　have　you　for　such　a　task？〃　cried　Guan　Xing。

〃That　I　have　been　training　as　a　soldier　since　my　boyhood。　I　can　shoot　and　never　miss。〃

〃I　should　like　to　see　your　prowess；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　〃that　I　may　decide　who　is　the　better。〃

Zhang　Bao　ordered　some　of　his　people　to　set　up　a　flag　at　a　hundred　paces；　and　on　the　flag　he　drew　a　heart　in　red。　Then　he　took　his　bow　and　shot　three　arrows；　each　of　which　went　through　the　heart。　Those　present　mended　the　performance。

Then　Guan　Xing　seized　his　bow；　saying；　〃What　is　it　to　hit　such　a　mark？〃

Just　as　he　said　this　a　flock　of　wild　geese　flew　over　his　head。

〃I　will　hit　the　third　of　the　flying　geese；〃　said　he。

He　shot；　and　the　third　fell。

〃Fine！〃　cried　all　the　assembly　as　one　voice。

But　Zhang　Bao　was　enraged。　Leaping　on　his　steed；　he　seized　the　long　serpent　halberd　left　him　by　his　father；　crying；　〃Dare　you　try　a　real　bat？〃

Guan　Xing　took　up　the　challenge　at　once。　He　sprang　into　the　saddle；　took　his　great　saber；　and　galloped　out。

〃You　can　use　the　spear；　think　you　that　I　cannot　wield　a　sword？〃　cried　he。

The　two　impetuous　youths　were　on　the　point　of　a　battle　when　the　First　Ruler　bade　them　hold。

〃Do　not　behave　so　badly！〃　cried　he。

Both　dropped　out　of　the　saddle；　threw　aside　their　weapons；　ran　to　his　feet；　and　begged　pardon。

〃Young　men；　from　the　time　I　left　my　native　place　Zhuo　and　swore　brotherhood　with　your　fathers；　they　were　as　my　own　flesh　and　blood。　You　two　are　also　brothers；　and　you　should　help　each　other　in　vengeance　rather　than　quarrel　and　dispute。　You　have　lost　the　sense　of　rectitude　while　your　fathers　deaths　are　still　recent；　and　what　will　happen　in　future？〃

Both　fell　at　his　feet　and　implored　forgiveness。

〃Which　of　you　two　is　the　elder？〃　asked　the　First　Ruler。

〃I　am　the　elder　by　a　year；〃　said　Zhang　Bao。

The　First　Ruler　then　bade　Guan　Xing　bow　to　Zhang　Bao　as　to　an　elder　brother；　and　there；　in　front　of　all；　they　broke　an　arrow　as　a　pledge　that　each　would　always　succor　the　other。

Then　the　First　Ruler　issued　a　mandate　appointing　Hu　Ban　the　Van　Leader；　and　the　two　young　men　were　enrolled　as　his　own　escort。

The　advance　began　on　land　and　on　water；　and　they　made　a　brave　show　as　they　moved　against　the　land　of　Wu。

In　the　meantime　the　two　assassins；　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da；　with　the　grim　evidence　of　their　deed；　duly　reached　Wu　and　told　their　story　to　the　Marquis　who　received　them。

Then　Sun　Quan　said　to　his　assembled　officers；　〃Liu　Bei　has　declared　himself　Emperor　and　is　leading　against　us　in　person　a　great　host　of　more　than　seven　hundred　thousand。　What　shall　we　do；　for　the　danger　is　imminent？〃

They　all　turned　pale　and　looked　one　at　another。　Then　Zhuge　Jin　spoke　out。

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