三国演义英文版-第17部分

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he　seal　to　the　water　as　a　propitiatory　offering；　and　the　storm　immediately　ceased。　Ten　years　later　again；　when　the　First　Emperor　was　making　a　progress　and　had　reached　Huaying；　an　old　man　by　the　road　side　handed　a　seal　to　one　of　the　attendants　saying；　'This　is　now　restored　to　the　ancestral　dragon！'　and　had　then　disappeared。　Thus　the　jewel　returned　to　Qin。
〃The　next　year　the　First　Emperor　died。　Later　Zi　Ying；　the　last　Emperor　of　Qin　and　grandson　of　the　First　Emperor；　presented　the　seal　to　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　the　founder　of　Han　Dynasty。　Two　hundred　years　later；　in　Wang　Mang's　rebellion；　the　Emperor's　mother；　Lady　Yuan；　struck　two　of　the　rebels；　Wang　Xun　and　Su　Xian；　with　the　seal　and　broke　off　a　corner；　which　was　repaired　with　gold。　Liu　Xiu　the　Latter　Han　Founder　got　possession　of　it　at　Yiyang；　and　it　has　been　regularly　bequeathed　hereafter。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。
〃I　heard　this　treasured　seal　had　been　lost　during　the　trouble　in　the　Palace　when　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants　hurried　off　the　Emperor。　It　was　missed　on　His　Majesty's　return。　Now　my　lord　has　it　and　certainly　will　e　to　the　imperial　dignity。　But　you　must　not　remain　here　in　the　north。　Quickly　go　home　to　Changsha；　south　of　the　Great　River*；　where　you　can　lay　plans　for　the　acplishment　of　the　great　design。〃
〃Your　words　exactly　accord　with　my　thoughts；〃　said　Sun　Jian。　〃Tomorrow　I　will　make　an　excuse　that　I　am　unwell　and　get　away。〃
The　soldiers　were　told　to　keep　the　discovery　a　secret。　But　one　among　them　was　a　patriot　of　the　elected　chief　of　the　confederacy………Yuan　Shao。　He　thought　this　might　be　of　great　advantage　to　him；　so　he　stole　away　out　of　the　camp　and　betrayed　his　master。　He　went　to　Yuan　Shao's　camp；　informed　the　secret；　and　received　a　liberal　reward。　Yuan　Shao　kept　the　informant　in　his　own　camp。
Next　morning　Sun　Jian　came　to　take　leave；　saying；　〃I　am　rather　unwell　and　wish　to　return　to　Changsha。〃
Yuan　Shao　laughed；　saying；　〃I　know　what　you　are　suffering　from：　It　is　called　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal！〃
This　was　a　shock　to　Sun　Jian；　and　he　paled　but　said；　〃Whence　these　words？〃
Yuan　Shao　said；　〃The　armies　were　raised　for　the　good　of　the　state　and　to　relieve　it　from　oppression。　The　seal　is　state　property；　and　since　you　have　got　hold　of　it；　you　should　publicly　hand　it　over　to　me　as　chief。　When　Dong　Zhuo　has　been　slain；　it　must　go　back　to　the　government。　What　do　you　mean　by　concealing　it　and　going　away？〃
〃How　could　the　seal　get　into　my　hands？〃　said　Sun　Jian。
〃Where　is　the　article　out　of　the　well　near　the　Hall　of　Paragons？〃
〃I　have　it　not：　Why　harass　me　thus？〃
〃Quickly　produce　it；　or　it　will　be　the　worst　for　you！〃
Sun　Jian　pointing　toward　the　heavens　as　an　oath　said；　〃If　I　have　this　jewel　and　am　hiding　it　myself；　may　my　end　be　unhappy　and　my　death　violent！〃
The　lords　all　said；　〃After　an　oath　like　this；　we　think　he　cannot　have　it。〃
Then　Yuan　Shao　called　out　his　informant。
〃When　you　pulled　that　thing　out　of　the　well；　was　this　man　there？〃　asked　he　of　Sun　Jian。
Sun　Jian's　anger　burst　forth；　and　he　sprang　forward　to　kill　the　man。
Yuan　Shao　also　drew　his　sword；　saying；　〃You　touch　that　soldier　and　it　is　an　insult　to　me！〃
Behind　Sun　Jian；　Generals　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang　stepped　forth；　behind　Yuan　Shao；　Generals　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　were　ready　to　act。　In　a　moment　on　all　sides　swords　flew　from　their　scabbards。　But　the　confusion　was　stayed　by　the　efforts　of　the　others；　and　Sun　Jian　left　the　assembly。　Soon　he　broke　up　his　camp　and　marched　to　his　own　place。
Yuan　Shao　was　not　satisfied。　He　wrote　to　Jingzhou　Region　and　sent　the　letter　by　a　trusty　hand　to　tell　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Biao　to　stop　Sun　Jian　and　take　away　the　seal。
Just　after　this　came　the　news　of　the　defeat　and　misfortune　of　Cao　Cao；　and　when　he　was　ing　home；　Yuan　Shao　sent　out　to　wele　him　and　conduct　him　into　camp。　They　also　prepared　a　feast　to　console　him。
During　the　feast　Cao　Cao　said　sadly；　〃My　object　was　for　the　public　good；　and　all　you　gentlemen　nobly　supported　me。　My　plan　was　to　get　Yuan　Shao　with　his　Henei　troops　to　approach　Mengching；　and　my　force　at　Qiao　to　keep　Chenggao；　while　the　others　of　you　to　hold　Suanzao；　to　close　the　passes　of　Huanyuan　and　Daigu；　and　to　take　possession　of　the　granaries；　to　control　the　points　of　vantage；　and　thus　to　secure　the　Capital　District。　I　planned　for　Yuan　Shu　with　his　Nanyang　army　to　occupy　the　counties　of　Danshi　and　Xilin　and　go　into　Wu　Pass　to　help　the　three　supports。　All　were　to　fortify　their　positions　and　not　to　fight。　Advantage　lay　in　a　diverse　military　coalition　that　could　show　the　empire　a　possibility　of　dealing　with　the　rebellion。　We　could　have　convinced　the　people　to　side　with　us　against　Dong　Zhuo。　Victory　would　have　been　ours　at　once。　But　then　came　delays　and　doubts　and　inaction；　and　the　confidence　of　the　people　was　lost；　and　I　am　ashamed。〃

＇e＇　Liu　Dai　was　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou　at　that　time。
No　reply　was　possible　and　the　guests　dispersed。　Cao　Cao　saw　that　the　others　mistrusted　him；　and　in　his　heart　knew　that　nothing　could　be　acplished。　So　he　led　off　his　force　to　Yanzhou　Region*。
Then　Gongsun　Zan　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃This　Yuan　Shao　is　an　incapable；　and　things　will　turns　chaotic。　We　had　better　go　too。〃
So　he　broke　camp　and　went　north。　At　Pingyuan　he　left　Liu　Bei　in　mand　and　went　to　strengthen　his　own　position　and　refresh　his　troops。
The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　Liu　Dai；　wished　to　borrow　grain　of　the　Governor　of　Dongjun；　Qiao　Mao。　Being　denied；　Liu　Dai　attacked　the　camp；　killed　Qiao　Mao　and　took　over　all　his　army。　Yuan　Shao　seeing　the　confederacy　breaking　up　also　marched　away　and　went　east。
On　the　way　home；　Sun　Jian　was　passing　through　Jingzhou　Region。　The　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou；　Liu　Biao；　was　a　scion　of　the　imperial　house　and　a　native　of　Shanyang。　As　a　young　man　he　had　made　friends　with　many　famous　people；　and　he　and　his　panions　were　called　the　Eight　Wise　Ones。　The　other　seven　were：

。1。　Chen　Xiang　from　Runan
。2。　Fan　Pang　from　Runan
。3。　Kong　Yu　from　Luting
。4。　Fan　Kang　from　Bohai
。5。　Tan　Fu　from　Shanyang
。6。　Zhang　Jian　from　Shanyang
。7。　Cen　Zhi　from　Nanyang

Liu　Biao　was　friends　with　all　these。　He　had　three　famous　persons　who　helped　him　in　the　government　of　his　region。　They　were　Kuai　Liang　and　Kuai　Yue　from　Yanping；　and　Cai　Mao　from　Xiangyang。
When　Yuan　Shao's　letter　detailing　the　fault　of　Sun　Jian　arrived；　Liu　Biao　ordered　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　with　ten　thousand　soldiers　to　bar　the　way。　When　Sun　Jian　drew　near；　the　force　was　arranged　in　fighting　order　and　the　leaders　were　in　the　front。
〃Why　are　you　thus　barring　the　road　with　armed　troops？〃　asked　Sun　Jian。
〃Why　do　you；　a　servant　of　Han；　secrete　the　Emperor's　special　seal？　Leave　it　with　me　at　once　and　you　go　free；〃　said　Kuai　Yue。
Sun　Jian　angrily　ordered　out　General　Huang　Gai。　On　the　other　side　Cai　Mao　rode　forth　with　his　sword　set　to　strike。　But　after　a　few　bouts　Huang　Gai　dealt　Cai　Mao　a　blow　with　the　iron　whip　on　the　armor　just　over　the　heart。　Cai　Mao　turned　his　steed　and　fled；　and　Sun　Jian　got　through　with　a　sudden　rush。
However；　there　arose　the　sound　of　gongs　and　drums　on　the　hills　behind；　and　there　was　Liu　Biao　in　person　with　a　large　army。
Sun　Jian　rode　straight　up　to　him　and　bowing　low　spoke；　〃Why　did　you；　on　the　faith　of　a　letter　from　Yuan　Shao；　try　to　coerce　the　chief　of　a　neighboring　region？〃
〃You　have　concealed　the　state　jewel；　and　I　want　you　to　restore　it；〃　was　Liu　Biao's　reply。
〃If　I　have　this　thing；　may　I　die　a　violent　death！〃
〃If　you　want　me　to　believe　you；　let　me　search　your　baggage。〃
〃What　force　have　you　that　you　dare　e　to　flout　me　thus？〃
And　only　Liu　Biao's　prompt　retirement　prevented　a　battle。　Sun　Jian　proceeded　on　his　way。　But　from　the　rear　of　the　second　hill　an　ambush　suddenly　discovered　itself；　and　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　were　still　pursuing。　Sun　Jian　seemed　entirely　hemmed　in。

What　does　a　man　to　hold　the　state　jewel　for；
If　its　possession　lead　to　strife？

How　Sun　Jian　got　clear　of　the　difficulty　will　presently　be　told。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　7　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　7
　Chapter　7
Yuan　Shao　Fights　Gongsun　Zan　At　The　River　Pan；
Sun　Jian　Attacks　Liu　Biao　Across　The　Great　River。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。
At　the　close　of　the　last　chapter　Sun　Jian　was　surrounded。　However；　aided　by　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang；　he　eventually　fought　his　way　through；　though　with　the　loss　of　more　than　half　his　troops。　Sun　Jian　he　returned　to　the　South　Land；　southeast　of　the　Great　River*。　Henceforward　Sun　Jian　and　Liu　Biao　were　open　enemies。
Yuan　Shao　was　in　Henei。　Being　short　of　supplies；　he　sent　to　borrow　from　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou；　Han　Fu；　whence　he　obtained　the　wherewithal　to　support　his　army。
Then　one　of　Yuan　Shao's　advisers；　Peng　Ji；　said　to　him；　〃You　are　really　the　strongest　power　here　about。　Why　then　depend　upon　another　for　food？　Jizhou　Region　is　rich　and　wide。　Why　not　seize　it？〃
〃I　have　no　good　plan；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。
〃You　could　secretly　send　a　letter　to　Gongsun　Zan；　asking　him　to　attack；　promising　him　your　support。　Imperial　Protector　Han　Fu　of　Jizhou；　being　incapable；　must　ask　you　to　take　over　his　region；　and　you　will　get　it　without　lifting　a　finger。〃
So　the　letter　was　sent。　When　Gongsun　Zan　saw　therein　the　proposal　to　make　a　joint　attack　and　divide　the　territory；　he　agreed　to　give　his　help。　In　the　meantime　Yuan　Shao　had　sent　to　warn　Han　Fu　of　Gongsun　Zan's　threat。　Han　Fu　sought　advice　from　Advisers　Xun　Chang　and　Xin　Ping。
Xun　Chang　said；　〃Governor　Gongsun　Zan　of　Beiping　is　manding　a　huge　and　strong　army。　If　he　came　to　attack　us；　we　could　not　stand　against　him；　especially　if　he　had　the　help　of　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers。　At　present；　Yuan　Shao　is　bolder　than　most；　and　he　has　many　able　and　famous　leaders　under　him。　You　cannot　do　better　than　ask　him　to　assist　in　administering　this　region。　Yuan　Shao　will　certainly　treat　you　with　generosity；　and　you　need　have　no　fear　from　Gongsun　Zan。〃
Han　Fu　agreed　and　sent　a　message　to　Yuan　Shao　by　the　hand　of　Guan　Chun。
But　mander　Geng　Wu　remonstrated　with　his　master；　saying；　〃Yuan　Shao　is　a　needy　man　with　a　hungry　army　and　as　dependent　on　us　for　existence　as　an　infant　in　arms　on　its　mother。　Stop　the　flow　of　mil