三国演义英文版-第159部分

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　back；　Liu　Zhang　will　expect　great　things。　Now　I　am　returning　empty　handed　and　a　failure　to　endure　the　laughter　of　my　fellow　country　people。　I　will　not　go　back。　I　have　heard　of　the　virtues　of　Liu　Bei；　and　I　will　go　to　him　and　see　what　manner　of　man　he　is。　Then　I　can　decide　what　to　do。〃
So　with　his　little　escort　and　following　he　made　for　Jingzhou。　He　had　reached　the　boundaries　of　Wuchang　when　he　met　a　body　of　horsemen；　at　the　head　of　whom　rode　a　general　in　simple　dress。
The　general　pulled　up；　saying；　〃Surely　you　are　the　Charioteer　Zhang　Song。〃
〃I　am　he；〃　said　Zhang　Song。
The　general　quickly　dismounted　and　humbly　said；　〃I　have　expected　you　these　many　days。　I　am　Zhao　Yun。〃
Zhang　Song　dismounted　and　returned　the　salutation；　saying；　〃Then　you　are　no　other　than　the　Fine　Man　of　Changshan。〃
〃No　other；〃　was　the　reply。　〃And　my　lord　Liu　Bei　bade　me　await　you　here　and　offer　you　refreshment　after　your　long　and　toilsome　journey。〃
At　this　some　soldiers　brought　forward　wine　and　food　which　they　offered　kneeling。
Zhang　Song　said；　〃I　am　e　because　the　world　says　Liu　Bei　is　liberal　and　kindly　disposed。〃
After　a　few　cups　of　wine；　the　two　retook　the　road　toward　Jingzhou　City；　which　they　neared　next　day　at　evening。　They　went　to　the　guest…house。　Here　they　found　a　large　number　of　people　who　received　the　visitor　with　the　beating　of　drums　and　every　sign　of　respect。
And　the　officer　in　mand；　bowing　low；　said；　〃My　brother　sent　me　to　meet　you　after　your　long　and　dusty　journey　and　prepare　the　guest…house　for　your　reception。　My　name　is　Guan　Yu。〃
So　Zhang　Song　and　Zhao　Yun　dismounted　and　entered　the　guest…house；　where　hosts　and　guest　exchanged　formal　salutations　and　took　their　seats。　In　a　short　time　refreshments　were　served；　and　both　men　were　most　diligent　in　their　attention　to　the　traveler。　This　roadside　banquet　was　prolonged　to　the　time　of　setting　the　watch；　when　they　prepared　for　rest。
Next　morning；　after　the　early　meal；　they　mounted　and　continued　their　journey。　Very　soon　they　met　Liu　Bei　himself；　with　an　escort；　and　his　two　chief　advisers；　deferentially　standing　by　the　roadside。
As　soon　as　he　recognized　them；　Zhang　Song　dismounted　and　walked　toward　them。　Liu　Bei　received　him　with　extreme　respect。
〃Your　exalted　name　has　been　long　known　to　me；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃And　it　has　reverberated　through　my　ears。　My　one　regret　is　that　cloudy　hills　and　long　distances　have　hitherto　prevented　me　from　enjoying　the　advantage　of　your　instruction。　Hearing　that　you　were　passing　through；　I　have　e　to　meet　you。　And　if　you　would　be　willing　to　notice　me　and　condescend　to　rest　for　a　time　in　my　city；　thus　allowing　me　to　satisfy　my　long　disappointed　desire　to　see　you；　I　should　indeed　hold　myself　fortunate。〃
Naturally　the　traveler's　vanity　was　tickled；　and　he　joyfully　remounted。　They　rode　bridle　to　bridle　into　the　city。　When　they　reached　the　residence；　again　they　exchanged　profound　salutations　and　pliments　before　they　took　their　various　places　as　host　and　guest。　And　then　a　banquet　was　served。　But　all　throughout　Liu　Bei　refrained　from　saying　a　word　about　the　west。　He　only　chatted　on　general　and　mon　things。
The　visitor　noted　this　steady　avoidance　and　resolved　to　probe　his　host's　thoughts。
〃How　many　counties　are　there　in　Jingzhou；　where　you　are　now；　O　Imperial　Uncle？〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Jingzhou　is　only　ours　temporarily。　We　have　borrowed　it　from　the　South　Land。　They　are　always　sending　messengers　to　demand　its　return。　However；　now　that　our　lord　has　married　their　daughter；　his　position　is　more　secure。　But　it　is　still　temporary。〃
〃The　South　Land　is　large；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃yet　their　six　territories　and　their　eighty…one　counties　do　not　satisfy　them。　The　people　are　strong　and　the　land　is　fruitful。〃
Said　Pang　Tong；　〃Our　lord；　being　of　the　dynastic　family；　has　never　occupied　a　territory　of　the　empire。　Those　others；　rebellious　as　they　are；　may　indeed　seize　upon　as　much　territory　as　they　are　strong　enough　to　hold。　People　of　reasons　do　not　approve　such　wrongs。〃
〃Noble　Sirs；　pray　say　no　more。　What　virtue　have　I　that　I　should　expect　anything　from　the　future？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Not　so；　indeed；〃　said　Zhang　Song。　〃Illustrious　Sir；　you　are　of　the　lineage　of　Han。　Your　noble　character　is　widely　known。　No　one　could　say　that　your　fate　excludes　all　thoughts　of　occupying　territory；　where　you　might　begin　to　set　up　authority　and　take　an　emperor's　position。〃
Liu　Bei　deprecated　such　a　suggestion；　〃Sir；　you　go　too　far。　This　really　is　too　much。〃
The　next　three　days　were　spent　in　banquets　and　wine　parties；　but　all　the　time　no　mention　was　made　of　West　River　Land。　And　when；　at　the　end　of　that　time；　Zhang　Song　took　leave；　his　host　was　at　the　three…mile　〃parting　road〃　to　bid　him　farewell　and　offer　refreshment。
When　the　moment　came　for　the　parting；　Liu　Bei　raised　his　wine…cup　and　said；　〃I　am　sincerely　grateful　that　you　deigned　to　e　here。　You　have　prolonged　your　visit　to　three　days；　but　now　the　moment　of　parting　has　e。　Who　knows　when　I　may　have　the　privilege　of　receiving　your　instructions　again？〃
As　Liu　Bei　said　this；　the　tears　flowed；　but　he　hid　them　while　Zhang　Song；　willing　to　believe　that　this　emotion　was　on　his　account；　thought　how　wonderfully　kind　and　noble　his　host　must　be　to　be　thus　affected。　Quite　overe；　Zhang　Song　decided　to　speak　about　the　west。
So　he　said；　〃I　have　thought　that　I；　too；　would　e　to　you　one　day；　but　so　far　I　have　found　no　way。　In　Jingzhou　I　see　Sun　Quan　on　the　east；　always　ready　to　pounce；　I　see　Cao　Cao　on　the　north；　greedy　to　swallow。　So　this　is　not　a　wholly　desirable　place　for　you　to　remain　in。〃
〃I　know　this　but　too　well；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃but　I　have　no　secure　place　to　go　to。〃
〃Yizhou　is　well　protected；　has　much　fertile　soil；　is　populous　and　well　governed。　Its　scholars　are　attracted　by　your　virtue。　If　you　marched　your　armies　westward；　you　could　easily　bee　a　real　power　there　and　restore　the　glory　of　the　Hans。〃
〃But　how　dare　I　attempt　this？　The　ruler　is　also　of　the　Imperial　House。　The　whole　region　is　devoted　to　him　for　his　good　deeds；　and　no　other　person　could　attain　such　a　hold。〃
〃I　am　no　traitor；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃but　in　your　presence　I　feel　constrained　to　be　perfectly　open　and　plain。　Liu　Zhang；　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou；　is　naturally　weak　and　can　neither　use　the　wise　nor　employ　the　capable。　Then　again　Zhang　Lu　threatens　on　the　north。　People　are　distracted　and　would　gladly　wele　an　appreciative　ruler。　The　journey　I　have　just　made　was　to　propose　to　support　Cao　Cao　and　place　the　region　under　him；　but　I　found　him　rebellious　and　set　on　evil；　proud　and　arrogant。　So　I　have　turned　aside　to　you。　If　you　will　take　Yizhou；　you　will　have　a　base　from　which　to　deal　with　Hanzhong　when　you　will；　and　the　whole　empire　beside。　You　will　continue　the　rightful　line；　and　your　name　will　live　in　history。　Would　not　that　be　real　fame？　If　then　you　think　of　taking　our　region；　I　am　willing　to　do　what　little　I　can　as　an　ally　within。　But　do　you　contemplate　such　a　step？〃
〃I　am　deeply　grateful　that　you　think　so　well　of　me。　But　the　Imperial　Protector　being　a　member　of　the　family；　I　should　lay　myself　open　to　general　execration；　were　I　to　attack　him。〃
〃When　a　hero　finds　himself　in　the　world；　his　duty　is　to　work　out　his　destiny；　to　exert　himself　and　perform　his　task　as　best　as　he　can；　to　press　forward　among　the　foremost。　At　the　moment　the　position　is　that；　if　you　fail　to　seize　this　opportunity；　some　other　will　take　possession　of　Yizhou；　and　you　will　regret　when　too　late。〃
〃And　I　have　heard　much　of　the　difficult　nature　of　the　country；　its　many　high　mountains　and　numerous　streams；　and　its　narrow　roads。　How　could　such　a　country　be　invaded？〃
Then　Zhang　Song　drew　the　map　from　his　sleeve；　saying；　〃I　am　so　deeply　affected　by　your　virtue　that　I　offer　you　this　map　of　the　country；　whereby　its　roads　and　rivers　may　be　known。〃
Liu　Bei　unrolled　the　map。　It　was　covered　with　notes；　on　the　lie　of　the　land；　lengths　and　widths；　and　such　matters。　Strategic　points　on　rivers　and　hills　were　shown；　and　store…houses　and　granaries　and　treasuries。　Everything　was　plainly　stated。
Zhang　Song　went　on；　〃Sir；　you　can　prepare　your　plans　promptly。　I　have　two　friends　who　will　certainly　help　you。　And　when　they　e　to　see　you；　you　may　be　perfectly　frank　with　them。　Their　names　are　Fa　Zheng　and　Meng　Da。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　with　joined　hands。
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃As　the　blue　mountains　grow　not　old　and　the　green　waters　always　remain；　so　shall　I　never　forget。　And　when　I　shall　have　acplished　my　task；　you　shall　have　no　mean　reward。〃
Replied　Zhang　Song；　〃I　look　for　no　reward。　Having　met　with　an　enlightened　lord；　I　felt　pelled　to　unbosom　myself　to　him。〃
Zhang　Song　left　soon　after；　and　Guan　Yu　escorted　him　for　several　miles。
After　arrival　in　Yizhou；　Zhang　Song　lost　no　time　in　visiting　his　close　friend　Fa　Zheng；　who　was　from　Fufeng。　Fa　Zheng　was　told　of　Cao　Cao's　arrogance　and　haughtiness　toward　scholars　and　good　people。
〃As　for　the　man　himself；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃he　is　a　man　to　grieve　with　but　not　a　person　to　rejoice　with。　I　have　promised　Yizhou　to　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　I　want　your　especial　advice　and　assistance。〃
〃I　think　Liu　Zhang　is　incapable；〃　said　Fa　Zheng；　〃and　I　have　felt　drawn　to　Liu　Bei　for　some　time　past。　So　we　are　in　sympathy　here。〃
Shortly　after　Meng　Da　arrived。　Meng　Da　and　Fa　Zheng　were　fellow　townsmen。　When　Meng　Da　entered　the　room；　he　saw　the　other　two　in　earnest　and　secret　conversation。
And　he　said；　〃I　know　what　you　two　are　about。　You　are　scheming　to　hand　over　Yizhou　to　somebody。〃
〃It　is　really　so。　You　have　guessed　right；〃　said　Zhang　Song。
〃But　to　whom　ought　it　to　go？〃　said　Fa　Zheng。
〃There　is　but　one：　Liu　Bei；〃　said　Meng　Da。
All　three　clapped　their　hands　and　laughed。
Then　said　Fa　Zheng　to　Zhang　Song；　〃You　will　see　our　lord　tomorrow。　What　about　that？〃
〃I　shall　remend　that　you　two　be　sent　to　Jingzhou　on　a　mission。〃
They　thought　that　a　suitable　scheme。
And　when　the　lately　arrived　messenger　saw　his　master　and　was　asked　how　he　had　fared；　Zhang　Song　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel　who　desires　to　get　the　whole　empire　into　his　hands。　I　need　hardly　tell　you　that。　But　he　also　hankers　after　this　region。〃
〃Then　what　will　bee　of　us？〃　said　Liu　Zhang。
〃I　have　a　plan　to　check　both　our　enemies。　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　now　in　Jingzhou；　is　a　relative　of　yours；　and　he　is　generous　and　well　disposed。　This　is　a　matter　of　mon　knowledge。　Cao　Ca