She replied； 〃I may not do that。 What would you do without a steed？ But the boy here I confide to your care。 I am badly wounded and cannot hope to live。 Pray take him and go your way。 Do not trouble more about me。〃
〃I hear shouting；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃The soldiers will be upon us again in a moment。 Pray mount quickly！〃
〃But really I cannot move；〃 she said。 〃Do not let there be a double loss！〃
And she held out the child toward him as she spoke。
〃Take the child！〃 cried Lady Mi。 〃His life and safety are in your hands。〃
Again and again Zhao Yun besought her to get on his horse； but she would not。
The shouting drew nearer and nearer； Zhao Yun spoke harshly； saying； 〃If you will not do what I say； what will happen when the soldiers e up？〃
She said no more。 Throwing the child on the ground； she turned over and threw herself into the old well。 And there she perished。
The warrior relies upon the strength of his charger；
Afoot； how could he bear to safety his young prince？
Brave mother！ Who died to preserve the son of her husband's line；
Heroine was she； bold and decisive！
Seeing that Lady Mi had resolved the question by dying； there was nothing more to be done。 Zhao Yun pushed over the wall to fill the well； and thus making a grave for the lady。 Then he loosened his armor； let down the heart…protecting mirror； and placed the child in his breast。 This done he slung his spear and remounted。
Zhao Yun had gone but a short distance； when he saw a horde of enemy led by Yan Ming； one of Cao Hong's generals。 This warrior used a double edged； three pointed weapon and he offered battle。 However； Zhao Yun disposed of him after a very few bouts and dispersed his troops。
As the road cleared before him； Zhao Yun saw another detachment barring his way。 At the head of this was a general exalted enough to display a banner with his name Zhang He of Hejian 。 Zhao Yun never waited to parley but attacked。 However； this was a more formidable antagonist； and half a score bouts found neither any nearer defeat。 But Zhao Yun； with the child in his bosom； could only fight with the greatest caution； and so he decided to flee。
Zhang He pursued； and as Zhao Yun thought only of thrashing his steed to get away； and little of the road； suddenly he went crashing into a pit。 On came his pursuer； spear at poise。 Suddenly a brilliant flash of light seemed to shoot out of the pit； and the fallen horse leapt with it into the air and was again on firm earth。
A bright glory surrounds the child of the imperial line； now in danger；
The powerful charger forces his way through the press of battle；
Bearing to safety him who was destined to the throne two score years and two；
And the general thus manifested his godlike courage。
This apparition frightened Zhang He； who abandoned the pursuit forthwith； and Zhao Yun rode off。
Presently he heard shouts behind； 〃Zhao Yun； Zhao Yun； stop！〃 and at the same time he saw ahead of him two generals who seemed disposed to dispute his way。
Ma Yan and Zhang Zi following and Jiao Chu and Zhang Neng in front； his state seemed desperate； but Zhao Yun quailed not。
As the men of Cao Cao came pressing on； Zhao Yun drew Cao Cao's own sword to beat them off。 Nothing could resist the blue blade sword。 Armor； clothing； it went through without effort and blood gushed forth in fountains wherever it struck。 So the four generals were soon beaten off； and Zhao Yun was once again free。
Now Cao Cao from a hilltop of the Prospect Mountain saw these deeds of derring…do and a general showing such valor that none could withstand him； so Cao Cao asked of his followers whether any knew the man。 No one recognized him。
So Cao Hong galloped down into the plain and shouted out； 〃We should hear the name of the warrior！〃
〃I am Zhao Yun of Changshan！〃 replied Zhao Yun。
Cao Hong returned and told his lord； who said； 〃A very tiger of a leader！ I must get him alive。〃
Whereupon he sent horsemen to all detachments with orders that no arrows were to be fired from an ambush at any point Zhao Yun should pass： He was to be taken alive。
And so Zhao Yun escaped most imminent danger； and Liu Shan's safety； bound up with his savior's； was also secured。 On this career of slaughter which ended in safety； Zhao Yun； bearing in his bosom the child lord Liu Shan； cut down two main banners； took three spears； and slew or wounded of Cao Cao's generals half a hundred； all men of renown。
Blood dyed the fighting robe and crimsoned his buff coat；
None dared engage the terrible warrior at Dangyang；
In the days of old lived the brave Zhao Yun；
Who fought in the battlefield for his lord in danger。
Having thus fought his way out of the press； Zhao Yun lost no time in getting away from the battle field。 His white battle robe was soaked in blood。
On his way； near the rise of the hills； he met with two other bodies of troops under two brothers； Zhong Jin and Zhong Shen。 One of these was armed with a massive ax； the other a halberd。
As soon as they saw Zhao Yun； they knew him and shouted； 〃Quickly dismount and be bound！〃
He has only escaped from the tiger cave；
To risk the dragon pool's sounding wave。
How Zhao Yun escaped will be next related。
Main Next to Chapter 42 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Screaming Zhang Fei Triumphs At Long Slope Bridge；
Defeated Liu Bei Goes To Hanjin。
As related in the last chapter two generals appeared in front of Zhao Yun； who rode at them with his spear ready for a thrust。 Zhong Jin was leading； flourishing his battle…ax。 Zhao Yun engaged and very soon unhorsed him。 Then Zhao Yun galloped away。 Zhong Shen rode up behind ready with his halberd； and his horse's nose got so close to the other's tail that Zhao Yun could see in his armor the reflection of the play of Zhong Shen's weapon。 Then suddenly； and without warning； Zhao Yun wheeled round his horse so that he faced his pursuer； and their two steeds struck breast to breast。 With his spear in his left hand； Zhao Yun warded off the halberd strokes； and in his right he swung the blue blade sword。 One slash and he had cut through both helmet and head。 Zhong Shen fell to the ground； a corpse with only half a head on his body。 His followers fled； and Zhao Yun retook the road toward Long Slope Bridge。
But in his rear arose another tumultuous shouting； seeming to rend the very sky； and Wen Ping came up behind。 However； although the man was weary and his steed spent； Zhao Yun got close to the bridge where he saw standing； all ready for any fray； Zhang Fei。
〃Help me； Zhang Fei！〃 he cried and crossed the bridge。
〃Hasten！〃 cried Zhang Fei； 〃I will keep back the pursuers！〃
About seven miles from the bridge； Zhao Yun saw Liu Bei with his followers reposing in the shade of some trees。 He dismounted and drew near； weeping。 The tears also started to Liu Bei's eyes when he saw his faithful mander。
Still panting from his exertions； Zhao Yun gasped out； 〃My fault………death is too light a punishment。 Lady Mi was severely wounded。 She refused my horse and threw herself into a well。 She is dead； and all I could do was to fill in the well with the rubbish that lay around。 But I placed the babe in the breast of my fighting robe and have won my way out of the press of battle。 Thanks to the little lord's grand luck I have escaped。 At first he cried a good deal； but for some time now he has not stirred or made a sound。 I fear I may not have saved his life after all。〃
Then Zhao Yun opened his robe and looked： The child was fast asleep。
〃Happily； Sir； your son is unhurt；〃 said Zhao Yun as he drew him forth and presented him in both hands。
Liu Bei took the child but threw it aside angrily； saying； 〃To preserve that suckling I very nearly lost a great mander！〃
Zhao Yun picked up the child again and； weeping； said； 〃Were I ground to powder； I could not prove my gratitude。〃
From out Cao Cao's host a tiger rushed；
His wish but to destroy；
Though Liu Bei's consort lost her life；
Zhao Yun preserved her boy。
〃Too great the risk you ran to save
This child；〃 the father cried。
To show he rated Zhao Yun high；
He threw his son aside。
Wen Ping and his pany pursued Zhao Yun till they saw Zhang Fei's bristling mustache and fiercely glaring eyes before them。 There he was seated on his battle steed； his hand grasping his terrible serpent spear； guarding the bridge。 They also saw great clouds of dust rising above the trees and concluded they would fall into an ambush if they ventured across the bridge。 So they stopped the pursuit； not daring to advance further。
In a little time Cao Ren； Xiahou Dun； Xiahou Yuan； Li Dian； Yue Jing； Zhang Liao； Xu Chu； Zhang He； and other generals of Cao Cao came up； but none dared advance； frightened not only by Zhang Fei's fierce look； but lest they should bee victims of a ruse of Zhuge Liang。 As they came up； they formed a line on the west side； halting till they could inform their lord of the position。
As soon as the messengers arrived and Cao Cao heard about it； he mounted and rode to the bridge to see for himself。 Zhang Fei's fierce eye scanning the hinder position of the army opposite him saw the silken umbrella； the axes and banners ing along； and concluded that Cao Cao came to see for himself how matters stood。
So in a mighty voice he shouted： 〃I am Zhang Fei of Yan。 Who dares fight with me？〃
At the sound of this thunderous voice； a terrible quaking fear seized upon Cao Cao； and he bade them take the umbrella away。
Turning to his followers； he said； 〃Guan Yu had said that his brother Zhang Fei was the sort of man to go through an army of a hundred legions and take the head of its mander…in…chief； and do it easily。 Now here is this terror in front of us； and we must be careful。〃
As he finished speaking； again that terrible voice was heard； 〃I am Zhang Fei of Yan。Who dares fight with me？〃
Cao Cao； seeing his enemy so fierce and resolute； was too frightened to think of anything but retreat。
Zhang Fei； seeing a movement going on in the rear； once again shook his spear and roared； 〃What mean you？ You will not fight nor do you run away！〃
This roar had scarcely begun when one of Cao Cao's staff； Xiahou Jie； reeled and fell from his horse terror…stricken； paralyzed with fear。 The panic touched Cao Cao and spread to his whole