三国演义英文版-第165部分

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e　he　talked　with　his　brother。　Zhang　Su　noticed　his　anxious　inquietude；　which　he　could　not　explain。　Wine　was　brought　in　and；　as　the　two　brothers　chatted　over　it；　the　letter　dropped　to　the　floor　unnoticed　by　Zhang　Song。　One　of　Zhang　Su's　servants　saw　it；　picked　it　up；　and　gave　it　to　his　master；　who　opened　and　read　it。
This　is　about　how　it　ran：
〃What　I　said　to　you　lately　was　not　mere　meaningless　talk。　Why；　then；　postpone　action？　The　ancients　valued　the　person　who　took　by　force　and　held　by　conciliation。　If　you　act　at　once；　the　whole　matter　is　in　your　hand。　Why　abandon　all　and　return　to　Jingzhou？　Surely　I　do　not　hear　aright！　When　you　get　this　letter；　attack　without　a　moment's　delay　and　remember　that　I　am　your　ally　on　the　inside。　Above　all；　no　delay！〃
〃This　plot　of　my　brother's　will　end　in　the　destruction　of　the　whole　family；〃　said　Zhang　Su。　〃I　must　get　in　the　first　word。〃
So　at　once　he　went　in　and　laid　the　whole　matter　before　the　Imperial　Protector。
〃I　have　always　treated　your　brother　so　well！〃　said　Liu　Zhang；　very　angry。
Liu　Zhang　issued　orders　to　arrest　Zhang　Song　and　behead　him　and　all　his　household　in　the　market　place。

Zhang　Song；　such　as　he　have　been　but　few；
Little　thought　he　that　a　letter　would　betray
When　he　plotted　for　another。　But　success　he　never　knew；
For　himself　there　opened　out　a　gory　way。

Having　thus　learned　of　a　real　conspiracy　to　deprive　him　of　his　heritage；　Liu　Zhang　assembled　his　officers　and　asked　their　advice。
Huang　Quan　spoke　out；　saying；　〃Prompt　action　is　needed。　Send　to　every　strategic　point　telling　them　to　increase　the　garrisons　and　keep　careful　guard　and；　above　all；　prevent　the　entrance　of　any　person　from　Jingzhou。〃
Such　orders　were　sent　to　all　points　of　vantage　where　were　garrisons。
In　the　meantime；　carrying　out　Pang　Tong's　scheme；　Liu　Bei　had　marched　down　to　Fucheng；　where　he　halted　and　sent　in　a　messenger　to　invite　the　two　generals　to　e　forth　and　say　farewell。　But　they　did　not　respond　immediately　to　this　invitation。
〃What　is　the　real　meaning　of　this　retirement？〃　said　one　to　the　other。
〃This　Liu　Bei　ought　to　die；〃　said　Gao　Pei。　〃Let　us　hide　daggers　under　our　dress　and　stab　him　at　the　place　of　farewell。　That　will　end　all　our　lord's　troubles。〃
〃A　most　excellent　plan；〃　said　Yang　Huai。
So　they　two；　taking　only　a　small　escort　of　two　hundred；　went　down　out　of　the　Pass　to　say　goodbye。　Most　of　their　forces　were　left　in　the　camp。
On　the　way　down　to　River　Fu；　Pang　Tong　had　said　to　his　master；　〃You　have　need　to　be　on　your　guard　against　those　two　if　they　e　to　bid　you　farewell。　If　they　do　not　e；　then　the　Pass　must　be　attacked　without　delay。〃
Just　as　he　said　this；　a　violent　gust　of　wind　overthrew　the　leading　flag　of　the　army；　and　Liu　Bei　asked　what　this　portended。
〃That　means　a　surprise。　Those　two　intend　to　assassinate　you；　so　be　on　your　guard。〃
Accordingly；　Liu　Bei　put　on　double　armor　and　girded　on　his　sword　in　readiness。　When　the　two　generals　arrived；　the　army　halted　while　the　generals　should　pay　the　farewell　visit。
Then　Pang　Tong　said　to　his　two　generals；　Wei　Yan　and　Huang　Zhong；　〃However　many　soldiers　e　down　from　the　Pass；　see　to　it　that　none　return。〃
The　two　generals　of　West　River　Land；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei；　armed　with　hidden　daggers；　came　up；　their　escort　bearing　gifts　of　sheep　and　wine。　They　marked　no　precautions　being　taken　against　an　attack　and　began　to　think　their　task　of　murder　would　be　an　easy　one。　They　were　led　in　to　where　Liu　Bei　sat　under　a　tent；　his　adviser　with　him。
They　said；　〃We　hear；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　that　you　contemplate　a　long　march；　and　therefore　we　e　to　offer　a　few　poor　gifts　to　speed　you　on　your　way。〃
The　cups　of　farewell　were　duly　filled。
Then　Liu　Bei　replied；　〃You　have　a　heavy　responsibility　to　defend　the　Pass；　Generals。　I　pray　you　drink　first。〃
They　drank。　Then　Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　have　a　secret　matter　to　talk　over　with　you。〃
So　all　the　two　hundred　soldiers　of　the　escort　were　sent　away　and　led　to　the　midst　of　the　camp。
As　soon　as　they　had　gone；　Liu　Bei　shouted；　〃My　generals；　lay　hands　upon　these　two　rebels！〃
Thereupon　Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping　rushed　out　from　behind　the　tent。　The　two　generals　of　the　Pass　were　taken　aback；　but　began　to　struggle。　However；　Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping　each　seized　one　man　and　held　him。
〃Your　lord　and　I　are　of　the　same　house；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Why　then　have　you　plotted　against　me　and　conspired　to　sow　enmity　between　us？〃
Pang　Tong　bade　them　search　the　captives；　and　the　hidden　daggers　were　found。　So　both　were　ordered　to　immediate　execution。　However；　Liu　Bei　hesitated　and　was　unwilling　to　confirm　the　sentence　and　put　them　to　death。　But　his　adviser　insisted　that　they　were　worthy　of　death　for　the　assassination　they　had　penned；　and　bade　the　executioners　fall　on。　So　the　two　men　were　beheaded。　Of　their　following　not　one　had　been　allowed　to　slip　away。
Liu　Bei　summoned　the　soldiers　of　the　escort　to　his　tent；　gave　them　wine　to　fort　them；　and　said；　〃Your　leaders　conspired　to　sow　dissension　between　brothers　and　were　found　with　daggers　hidden　beneath　their　clothing。　They　were　assassins　in　intent　and　have　met　the　fate　they　merited。　You　have　mitted　no　crime　and　need　feel　no　alarm。〃
The　soldiers　thanked　him　for　his　clemency　with　low　obeisance。
Then　said　Pang　Tong；　〃If　you　will　now　show　the　way　so　that　our　troops　may　capture　the　Pass；　you　shall　even　be　rewarded。〃
They　consented。　That　same　night　the　army　set　out；　with　the　soldiers　of　the　renegade　escort　leading　the　way。
When　they　reached　the　Pass　they　hailed　the　gate；　saying；　〃Open　the　gate　quickly！　The　generals　have　returned　earlier　than　they　expected　because　of　important　business。〃
Hearing　the　voices　of　their　rades；　the　gate　guards　had　no　suspicion　of　treachery　and　threw　open　the　gates。　In　rushed　the　enemy　soldiers　and　so　gained　possession　of　River　Fu　Pass　without　shedding　a　drop　of　blood。　The　defenders　came　over　to　the　side　of　Liu　Bei　and　were　liberally　rewarded。　This　done；　the　army　was　posted　so　as　to　guard　the　approaches　and　maintain　what　they　had　captured。
The　next　few　days　were　spent　in　banquets　and　feasts　in　celebration　of　success。
At　one　of　these　feasts；　Liu　Bei　turned　to　his　adviser；　saying；　〃This　is　what　one　might　call　a　joyful　occasion。〃
〃To　employ　warlike　weapons　in　making　an　attack　upon　the　possession　of　another　is　not　using　them　in　the　best　way；〃　replied　Pang　Tong。　〃Nor　is　such　attack　the　most　proper　occasion　for　rejoicing。〃

＇e＇　King　Wu；　aka　the　Martial　King；　founded　the　Zhou　Dynasty；　with　the　help　of　the　Duke　of　Zhou；　who　was　his　brother。　。。。。。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　success　of　King　Wu　of　Zhou*　was　celebrated　with　music。　I　suppose　weapons　were　not　well　used　on　that　occasion　either。　Why　do　you　talk　so　wide　of　reason？　You　had　better　retire。〃
Pang　Tong　laughed　and　withdrew　from　the　table；　while　the　attendants　supported　Liu　Bei　to　his　own　chamber；　where　he　had　a　long　sleep。　About　midnight　he　awoke　from　his　wine；　and　then　the　servants　told　him　that　he　had　driven　sway　his　adviser　from　the　feast。　He　was　at　once　filled　with　remorse。　Next　day；　having　dressed　early　in　full　costume　of　ceremony；　he　took　his　seat　in　the　great　hall；　summoned　his　adviser　and　apologized　handsomely　for　his　rude　behavior　the　night　before。
〃I　drank　too　much　last　night　and　spoke　rudely。　Pray　forgive　me。〃
Pang　Tong；　who　had　taken　the　whole　episode　in　very　good　part　from　the　first；　laughed　and　talked　as　usual。
But　Liu　Bei　went　on；　〃Really　I　was　the　only　one　to　blame　yesterday。〃
〃We　both　slipped　up。　It　was　not　only　you；　my　lord；〃　said　Pang　Tong。
Then　Liu　Bei　laughed　too；　and　the　two　were　as　good　friends　again　as　ever。
When　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang　heard　of　the　doings　of　his　relative　and　guest；　he　said；　〃I　did　not　think　that　such　things　would　e　to　pass。〃
The　officers　of　Yizhou　met　to　consider　how　to　oppose　the　further　advance　of　Liu　Bei。
Huang　Quan　said；　〃Let　us　send　without　delay　a　force　to　hold　Luocheng；　which　is　the　very　throat　of　the　road　he　must　take。　He　may　have　veteran　soldiers　and　fiery　generals；　but　he　will　not　be　able　to　pass。〃
So　the　four　ablest　generals………Deng　Xiang；　Ling　Bao；　Liu　Gui；　and　Zhang　Ren………were　told　off　for　this　duty；　and　they　led　fifty　thousand　troops。
As　they　marched；　Liu　Gui　said；　〃In　the　Silky　Hills　there　is　a　wonderful　Taoist　who　calls　himself　'The　Super　Human　of　the　Dark　Void。'　He　has　the　gift　of　second　sight；　so　let　us　visit　him　as　we　pass　and　inquire　what　our　fortunes　are　to　be。〃
〃What　should　one　seek　of　a　hermit　when　one　is　out　to　repulse　an　enemy？〃　said　his　colleague；　Zhang　Ren；　contemptuously。
〃Your　view　is　wrong；〃　said　Liu　Gui。　〃The　Holy　One　（Confucius）　has　said　that　it　is　characteristic　of　the　most　entire　sincerity　to　be　able　to　foreknow。　So　let　us　inquire　of　this　man　of　high　intelligence　that　we　may　know　what　to　do　and　what　to　avoid。〃
Whereupon　they　went　up　into　the　hills　and　sought　the　hermit's　retreat。　They　were　a　small　party；　on　horseback。　Meeting　a　wood…cutter；　they　inquired　the　whereabouts　of　the　dwelling　of　the　wise　man；　and　he　pointed　to　one　of　the　highest　hills；　saying　that　the　Sage　lived　on　the　very　summit。　They　climbed　up　to　the　spot　he　had　told　them　of　and　found　a　small　hut。　At　their　summons；　a　lad　in　Taoist　garb　came　out　to　speak　with　them。　He　asked　their　names　and　led　them　into　the　presence　of　the　Super　Human；　who　received　them　seated　on　a　rush　cushion。　They　made　a　low　obeisance；　told　him　the　reason　of　their　ing；　and　asked　of　the　future。
〃How　can　a　poor　Taoist　recluse　know　ought　of　fortunes；　good　or　evil？〃　said　he。
However；　after　a　time；　as　Liu　Gui　repeated　his　request　again　and　again　and　ported　himself　most　humbly；　the　hermit　bade　the　lad　bring　paper　and　ink　and　he　wrote　eight　lines；　which　he　handed　to　his　questioner。

〃Supported　by　dragon　and　phoenix；
So　flies　he　westward。
But　the　phoenix　shall　fall　to　the　earth。
And　the　dragon　shall　soar　to　the　sky；
There　shall　be　successes　and　failures；
For　such　is　the　eternal　law。
See　that　ye　act　when　occasion　offers；
Lest　ye　descend　to　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃

Having　read　the　oracle；　they　pressed　the　seer　to　reveal　them　their　individual　fortunes；　but　he　replied；　〃Why　ask　these　things？　None　can　escape　his　fate。〃
Liu　Gui　ventured　to　question　the　Sage　further；　but　his　eyelids　dropped　as　if　he　slumbered。　Nor　would　he　vouchsafe　a　word　more；　and　the　four　generals　took　leave　and　descended　the　hill。
〃One　must　have　faith