三国演义英文版-第141部分

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Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃Zhang　Liao　is　full　of　guile。　I　think　you　will　find　him　prepared　for　your　ing。　Be　careful。〃
As　Taishi　Ci　urged　his　chief　to　let　him　go；　and　Sun　Quan　was　deeply　hurt　by　the　death　of　his　leader；　the　permission　was　given　and　the　force　started。
Now　here　it　must　be　said　that　Taishi　Ci　and　this　Ge　Ding　were　natives　of　the　same　place。　Ge　Ding　had　made　his　way　into　the　city　without　detection；　found　his　brother；　and　the　two　had　arranged　their　plot。
Ge　Ding　also　told　him；　saying；　〃Taishi　Ci　will　e　over　tonight　to　help　us。　What　need　to　be　done　now？〃
His　brother；　the　groom；　said；　〃As　the　troops　of　Sun　Quan　are　far　away；　I　fear　they　cannot　be　here　tonight；　so　we　will　make　a　huge　bonfire　of　straw　and　then　you　can　rush　out　and　cry　treachery。　That　will　throw　all　into　confusion　and　will　give　a　chance　to　kill　Zhang　Liao。〃
〃This　is　an　excellent　plan；〃　said　Ge　Ding。
Now　after　the　victory；　Zhang　Liao　returned　to　the　city　and　rewarded　his　soldiers；　but　he　issued　orders　that　no　one　was　to　doff　his　armor　or　sleep。
His　attendants　said；　〃You　have　gained　a　great　victory　today；　and　the　enemy　are　far　away。　You　might　doff　your　armor　and　get　some　repose。〃
But　Zhang　Liao　replied；　〃That　is　not　the　way　of　a　leader。　A　victory　is　no　reason　for　rejoicing；　nor　should　a　defeat　cause　sadness。　If　those　of　the　South　Land　suspect　that　I　am　unprepared；　they　will　attack。　And　we　must　be　ready　to　repel　them。　Be　ready　tonight　and　be　doubly　careful。〃
Scarcely　had　he　said　this　than　a　fire　started　and　cries　of　〃Treachery！〃　arose。　Many　rushed　to　tell　the　leader；　who　went　out　and　called　together　his　guard　of　about　half　a　score。　They　took　up　a　manding　position　in　the　way。
Those　about　him　said；　〃The　shouts　are　insistent。　You　ought　to　go　and　see　what　it　means。〃
〃A　whole　city　cannot　be　traitors；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃Some　discontented　person　has　frightened　the　soldiers。　If　I　see　anyone　doing　so；　I　will　slay　him。〃
Soon　after　this　Li　Dian　dragged　up　Ge　Ding　and　his　fellow　traitor。　After　a　few　brief　questions；　they　were　beheaded。
Then　arose　a　great　noise；　shouting　and　the　rolling　of　drums　was　heard　outside　the　gate。
〃That　means　the　troops　of　South　Land　are　there　to　help；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃But　we　will　destroy　them　by　a　simple　ruse。〃
He　bade　them　light　torches　and　yell　〃Treachery！　Rebellion！〃　and　throw　open　the　city　gates　and　let　down　the　drawbridge。
When　Taishi　Ci　saw　the　gates　swing　open；　he　thought　his　scheme　was　going　well　and　in　full　confidence　rode　in　at　the　gate。　But　just　at　the　entrance　a　signal　bomb　suddenly　exploded；　and　the　enemy　arrows　came　down　on　him　like　pelting　rain。　Then　he　knew　he　had　fallen　into　a　snare　and　turned　to　ride　out。　But　he　was　wounded　in　many　places。　And　in　the　pursuit　that　followed；　more　than　half　the　troops　under　Taishi　Ci　were　cut　off。　As　he　drew　near　his　own　lines；　a　rescue　force　led　by　Lu　Xun　and　Dong　Xi　came　to　his　aid；　and　the　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　ceased　from　pursuit。
Sun　Quan　was　exceedingly　sad　when　he　learned　that　his　faithful　general　had　been　grievously　wounded。　Then　Zhang　Zhao　prayed　him　to　cease　from　war；　and　Sun　Quan　was　content。　They　gathered　in　their　soldiers　to　their　ships　and　sailed　to　Nanxu　and　Runzhou　where　they　camped。
Meanwhile　Taishi　Ci　was　dying。
When　his　lord　went　to　ask　how　he　fared；　he　cried；　〃When　a　worthy　person　is　born　into　a　turbulent　world；　he　has　to　be　a　soldier　and　gird　on　a　three…span　sword　to　step　on　the　mountains　to　mend　the　sky。　I　have　not　rendered　great　service。　Why　must　I　die　before　I　have　attained　my　desire？〃
These　were　his　last　words。　He　was　forty…one　years　of　age。

Single　minded　and　perfectly　loyal；
Such　was　Taishi　Ci；　in　Donglai；
Far　distant　frontiers　rang　with　his　exploits；
Riding　or　archery；　all　humans　he　excelled；
One　in　Bohai　who　admired　his　valor；
Cared　for　his　mother　while　he　was　fighting；
How　he　roared　in　the　battle　at　Shenting！
Dying；　he　spoke　as　a　hero；
All　through　the　ages　people　sigh　for　his　fate。

Sun　Quan　was　exceedingly　grieved　when　this　second　of　his　leaders　died。　He　gave　orders　to　bury　his　remains　most　honorably　outside　the　north　wall　of　Nanxu　on　Beigu　Hill　and　took　his　son；　Taishi　Heng；　into　his　own　palace　to　be　brought　up。
In　Jingzhou；　when　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　series　of　misfortunes　that　had　befallen　Sun　Quan　and　of　his　retirement　to　Nanxu；　he　and　Zhuge　Liang　discussed　their　plans。
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　was　studying　the　sky　and　saw　a　falling　star　in　the　northwest。　The　imperial　family　is　to　suffer　a　loss。〃
Zhuge　Liang　had　scarcely　said　this　when　they　brought　news　of　the　death　of　Liu　Qi；　son　of　Liu　Biao。
Liu　Bei　at　once　began　to　wail　bitterly。
But　his　adviser　said　to　him；　〃Life　and　death　are　beyond　our　control；　wherefore　weep　not；　my　lord；　for　grief　harms　the　body。　Rather　consider　what　is　necessary　to　be　done。　Send　someone　to　assume　control　and　make　arrangements　for　the　interment。〃
〃Who　can　go？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃No　other　than　Guan　Yu。〃
So　they　sent　Guan　Yu　to　guard　the　city　of　Xiangyang。
Liu　Bei　at　once　began　to　feel　troubled　about　his　promise　to　surrender　Jingzhou　on　the　death　of　Liu　Qi。　Zhuge　Liang　did　not　consider　this　a　matter　of　moment。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　will　have　somewhat　to　say　to　anyone　who　es　to　ask　fulfillment　of　the　promise。〃
In　half　a　month　it　was　announced　that　Lu　Su　would　e　to　mourn　at　the　funeral。

To　claim　the　promise　one　will　e；
But　they　will　send　him　empty　home。

What　reply　Zhuge　Liang　made　may　be　read　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　54　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　54
　Chapter　54
The　Dowager　Marchioness　Sees　Her　Son…In…Law；
The　Imperial　Uncle　Takes　A　Worthy　Consort。
Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　went　out　of　the　city　to　wele　the　envoy　of　the　South　Land　and　led　him　to　the　guest…house。
After　the　usual　greetings；　Lu　Su　said；　〃Hearing　of　the　death　of　your　nephew；　my　lord　Sun　Quan　has　prepared　some　gifts　and　sent　me　to　take　his　place　at　the　funeral　sacrifices。　General　Zhou　Yu　also　sends　regards　to　the　Imperial　Uncle　and　to　you；　Master　Zhuge　Liang。〃
Both　rose　at　once　and　thanked　him　for　the　courtesy。　Then　the　gifts　were　handed　over　and　a　banquet　prepared；　and　while　it　was　in　progress；　the　guest　brought　up　the　real　object　of　his　visit。
〃You　said；　Sir；　that　Jingzhou　should　be　returned　to　us　after　the　death　of　Liu　Qi。　Now　that　that　event　has　happened；　rendition　bees　due；　and　I　should　be　glad　to　know　when　the　transfer　can　take　place。〃
〃We　will　discuss　that　later。　In　the　meantime　let　us　go　on　with　our　wine；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　the　feasting　continued。　Some　time　later　Lu　Su　returned　to　the　subject；　but　this　time　his　host　remained　silent。
However；　Zhuge　Liang；　changing　color；　said；　〃Lu　Su；　you　are　unreasonable。　You　could　not　wait　till　some　other　has　to　explain　this　matter　to　you。　From　the　very　foundation　of　the　empire　by　our　illustrious　ancestor；　the　great　heritage　has　descended　in　due　course　till　today　when；　unhappily；　evil　doers　have　risen　among　the　powerful　and　they　have　seized　upon　such　portions　as　they　could。　But　with　God's　favor　and　help；　unity　is　nearly　restored。　My　lord　is　a　scion　of　the　Imperial　House；　a　great　great　grandson　of　Emperor　Jing。　Now；　as　the　Emperor's　Uncle；　should　he　not　have　a　share　of　the　empire？　Moreover；　Liu　Biao　was　my　lord's　elder　brother；　and　there　is　certainly　nothing　extraordinary　in　one　brother's　succession　to　another's　estate。
〃What　is　your　master？　The　son　of　a　petty　official　on　the　banks　of　the　River　Qiantang；　absolutely　without　merit　so　far　as　the　state　is　concerned。　Just　because　he　is　powerful；　he　holds　actual　possession　of　six　territories　and　eighty…one　counties；　which　has　whetted　his　insatiable　appetite　till　he　now　desires　to　swallow　the　whole　empire。　The　land　is　the　estate　of　the　Liu　family　and　my　lord；　who　is　of　that　name；　has　no　share　thereof；　while　your　master；　whose　name　is　Sun；　would　dispute　with；　and　even　fight　him。　Beside；　at　the　battle　at　the　Red　Cliffs　my　lord　did　good　service　and　acquired　great　merit　while　his　manders　risked　their　lives。　Was　it　solely　the　strength　of　your　southern　soldiers　that　won　that　fight？　Had　I　not　brought　that　southeast　wind　that　meant　so　much　for　Zhou　Yu；　could　he　have　done　anything？　Had　the　South　Land　been　conquered；　it　is　needless　to　say　that　the　two　paramount　beauties　would　now　be　gracing　the　Bronze　Bird　Palace。　And　as　for　yourself　and　other　officers；　insignificant　though　your　families　be；　could　you　have　been　sure　to　survive？　Just　now　my　lord　did　not　reply　because　he　was　willing　to　believe　rather　that　a　scholar　of　your　abilities　would　understand　without　a　detailed　explanation；　and　I　trust　now　that　you　will。〃
This　speech　absolutely　shut　the　guest's　mouth　for　a　time；　and　he　said　no　word　in　reply。　But　after　an　interval　he　said；　〃What　you　say；　Zhuge　Liang；　I　think　is　devoid　of　reason；　and　means　much　unpleasantness　for　me。〃
〃What　unpleasantness？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
The　guest　replied；　〃When　Liu　Bei　was　in　serious　straits　at　Dangyang；　I　conducted　you　across　the　river　and　introduced　you　to　my　lord。　I　opposed　Zhou　Yu　when　he　was　going　to　capture　Jingzhou；　and　then　it　came　to　agreement　that　the　place　was　to　be　ours　when　the　young　man　died。　And　I　pledged　myself　to　that。　Now　how　can　I　go　back　and　say　you　break　your　promise？　Both　my　lord　and　Zhou　Yu　will　hold　me　guilty。　I　would　not　mind　death　so　much；　but　I　fear　that　my　master　will　be　very　wrathful　and　make　war　on　the　Imperial　Uncle；　who　will　have　no　place　of　refuge　and　he　will　look　ridiculous　in　the　eyes　of　the　world　for　no　reason。〃
Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　care　not　for　Cao　Cao　with　his　million　troops　and　the　Emperor　in　name　at　his　back；　and　do　you　think　I　fear　such　a　youngster　as　Zhou　Yu？　However；　as　it　may　cause　you　some　loss　of　consideration；　I　will　try　to　persuade　my　master　to　put　the　matter　in　writing　and　give　you　a　paper　to　the　effect　that　he　is　temporarily　occupying　Jingzhou　as　a　base。　When　he　can　obtain　possession　of　some　other　city；　this　shall　be　returned　to　you。　What　think　you　the　South　Land　would　say　to　this？〃
〃Wait　till　what　other　place　was　obtained？〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃My　master　can　scarcely　think　of　attacking　the　Middle　Land　yet；　but　Liu　Zhang　in　Yizhou　is　ignorant　and　weak；　and　my　master　will　attack　him。　If　he　gets　the　western　region；　then　this　place　will　be　given　up　to　you。〃
Lu　Su　had　no　alternative　and　accepted　the　offer。　Liu　Bei　with　his　own　hand　wrote　the　pledge　and　seale