三国演义英文版-第39部分

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〃Be　not　anxious；　elder　brother；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃I　pledge　myself　not　to　be　guilty　of　such　an　infamous　crime。〃
Lu　Bu　again　and　again　expressed　his　gratitude；　and　Liu　Bei　kept　him　for　a　time。　They　remained　talking　and　drinking　wine　till　late。
Said　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　later；　〃Why　not　kill　him？〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Because　Cao　Cao　fears　that　Lu　Bu　and　I　may　attack　him；　he　is　trying　to　separate　us　and　get　us　to　swallow　each　other；　while　he　steps　in　and　takes　the　advantage。　Is　there　any　other　reason？〃
Guan　Yu　nodded　assent；　but　Zhang　Fei　said；　〃I　want　to　get　him　out　of　the　way　lest　he　trouble　us　later。〃
〃That　is　not　what　a　noble　man　should　do；〃　said　his　elder　brother。
Soon　the　messenger　was　dismissed　and　returned　to　the　capital　with　a　the　reply　from　Liu　Bei。　The　letter　only　said　the　instruction　would　take　time　to　plan　and　implement。　But　the　messenger；　when　he　saw　Cao　Cao；　told　him　the　story　of　Liu　Bei's　pledge　to　Lu　Bu。
Then　said　Cao　Cao；　〃The　plan　has　failed。　What　next？〃
Xun　Yu　replied；　〃I　have　another　trick　called　'Tiger　against　Wolf'　in　which　the　tiger　is　made　to　gobble　up　the　wolf。〃
〃Let　us　hear　it；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Send　to　Yuan　Shu　to　say　that　Liu　Bei　has　sent　up　a　secret　memorial　to　the　Throne　that　he　wishes　to　subdue　the　southern　regions　around　the　Huai　River。　Yuan　Shu　will　be　angry　and　attack　him。　Then　you　will　order　Liu　Bei　to　dispose　of　Yuan　Shu　and　so　set　them　destroying　each　other。　Lu　Bu　will　certainly　think　that　is　his　chance　and　turn　traitor。　This　is　the　'Tiger　against　Wolf'　trick。〃
Cao　Cao　thought　this　good　and　sent　the　messenger　and　also　sent　a　false　edict　to　Liu　Bei。　When　this　came；　the　messenger　was　received　with　all　the　ceremonies；　and　the　edict　ordered　the　capture　of　Yuan　Shu。　After　the　departure　of　the　bearer；　Liu　Bei　called　Mi　Zhu　who　pronounced　it　a　ruse。
〃It　may　be；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃but　the　royal　mand　is　not　to　be　disobeyed。〃
So　the　army　was　prepared　and　the　day　fixed。
Sun　Qian　said；　〃A　trusty　man　must　be　left　on　guard　of　the　city。〃
And　Liu　Bei　asked　which　of　his　brothers　would　undertake　this　task。
〃I　will　guard　the　city；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃I　am　constantly　in　need　of　your　advice；　so　how　can　we　part？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃I　will　guard　the　city；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃You　will　fail；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃After　one　of　your　drinking　bouts；　you　will　get　savage　and　flog　the　soldiers。　Beside　you　are　rash　and　will　not　listen　to　anyone's　advice。　I　shall　be　uneasy　all　the　time。〃
〃Henceforth　I　drink　no　more　wine。　I　will　not　beat　the　soldiers　and　I　will　always　listen　to　advice；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃I　fear　the　mouth　does　not　correspond　to　the　heart；〃　said　Mi　Zhu。
〃I　have　followed　my　elder　brother　these　many　years　and　never　broken　faith。　Why　should　you　be　contemptuous？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Though　you　say　this；　I　do　not　feel　quite　satisfied。　I　will　order　Adviser　Chen　Deng　to　help　you　and　keep　you　sober。　Then　you　will　not　make　any　mistake。〃
Chen　Deng　was　willing　to　undertake　this　duty；　and　the　final　orders　were　given。　The　army　of　thirty　thousand；　horse　and　foot；　left　Xuzhou　and　marched　toward　Nanyang。
When　Yuan　Shu　heard　that　a　memorial　had　been　presented　proposing　to　take　possession　of　his　territories；　he　broke　out　into　abuse　of　Liu　Bei。
〃You　weaver　of　mats！　You　plaiter　of　straw　shoes！　You　have　been　smart　enough　to　get　possession　of　a　large　region　and　elbow　your　way　into　the　ranks　of　the　nobles。　I　was　just　going　to　attack　you；　and　now　you　dare　to　scheme　against　me！　How　I　detest　you！〃
So　Yuan　Shu　at　once　gave　orders　to　prepare　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand；　under　Ji　Ling；　to　attack　Xuzhou。　The　two　armies　met　at　Xuyi；　where　Liu　Bei　was　encamped　in　a　plain　with　hills　behind　and　a　stream　on　his　flank；　for　his　army　was　small。
Ji　Ling　was　a　native　of　the　East　of　Huashang。　He　used　a　very　heavy　three…edged　sword。
After　he　had　made　his　camp；　he　rode　out　and　began　abusing　his　opponents；　shouting；　〃Liu　Bei；　you　rustic　bumpkin；　how　dare　you　invade　this　land？〃
〃I　have　a　decree　ordering　me　to　destroy　the　Governor　who　behaves　improperly。　If　you　oppose；　you　will　be　assuredly　punished；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
Ji　Ling　angrily　rode　out　brandishing　his　weapon。
But　Guan　Yu　cried；　〃Fool；　do　not　attempt　to　fight！〃
And　Guan　Yu　rode　out　to　meet　him。　Then　they　two　fought　and　after　thirty　bouts　neither　had　an　advantage。　Then　Ji　Ling　cried　out　for　a　rest。　So　Guan　Yu　turned　his　horse　away；　rode　back　to　his　own　array　and　waited　for　Ji　Ling。
When　the　moment　came　to　renew　the　bat；　Ji　Ling　sent　out　one　of　his　officers；　Xun　Zheng；　to　take　his　place。
But　Guan　Yu　said；　〃Tell　Ji　Ling　to　e。　I　must　settle　with　him　who　shall　be　tiger　and　who　shall　be　deer。〃
〃You；　a　reputationless　leader　and　unworthy　to　fight　with　our　general；〃　replied　Xun　Zheng。
This　reply　angered　Guan　Yu；　who　made　just　one　attack　on　Xun　Zheng　and　brought　him　to　the　ground。　At　this　success　Liu　Bei　urged　on　the　army；　and　Ji　Ling's　troops　were　defeated。　They　retired　to　the　mouth　of　the　River　Huaiyin　and　declined　all　challenges。
However；　many　of　their　troops　were　sent　into　Liu　Bei's　camp　for　harassment；　and　many　of　them　were　slain。　The　two　armies　thus　stood　facing　each　other。
In　Xuzhou；　after　Liu　Bei　had　started　on　his　expedition；　Zhang　Fei　placed　his　colleague　and　helper；　Chen　Deng；　in　charge　of　the　administration　of　the　region；　keeping　military　affairs　under　his　own　supervision。　After　thinking　over　the　matter　or　some　time；　he　gave　a　banquet　to　all　the　military　officers。
When　they　were　all　seated；　he　made　a　speech：　〃Before　my　brother　left；　he　bade　me　keep　clear　of　the　wine　cup　for　fear　of　accidents。　Now；　gentlemen；　you　may　drink　deep　today。　But　from　tomorrow　wine　is　forbidden；　for　we　must　keep　the　city　safe。　So　take　your　fill。〃
And　with　this　he　and　all　his　guests　rose　to　drink　together。　The　wine　bearer　came　to　Cao　Bao　who　declined　it；　saying；　〃I　never　drink　as　I　am　forbidden　of　heaven。〃
〃What！　A　fighting　man　does　not　drink　wine！〃　said　the　host。　〃I　want　you　to　take　just　one　cup。〃
Cao　Bao　was　afraid　to　offend；　so　he　drank。
Now　Zhang　Fei　drank　huge　goblets　with　all　his　guests　on　every　hand　and　so　swallowed　a　huge　quantity　of　liquor。　He　became　quite　intoxicated。　Yet　he　would　drink　more　and　insisted　on　a　cup　with　every　guest。　It　came　to　the　turn　of　Cao　Bao　who　declined。
〃Really；　I　cannot　drink；〃　said　Cao　Bao。
〃You　drank　just　now：　Why　refuse　this　time？〃
Zhang　Fei　pressed　him；　but　still　Cao　Bao　resisted。
Then　Zhang　Fei　in　his　drunken　madness　lost　control　of　his　temper　and　said；　〃If　you　disobey　the　orders　of　your　general；　you　shall　be　beaten　one　hundred　strokes。〃
And　he　called　in　his　guards。　Here　Chen　Deng　interfered　reminding　him　of　the　strict　injunctions　of　his　brother。
〃You　civilians　attend　to　your　civil　business　and　leave　us　alone；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
The　only　way　of　escape　for　the　guest　was　to　beg　remission；　and　Cao　Bao　did　so；　saying；　〃Sir；　if　you　saw　my　son…in…law's　face；　you　would　pardon　me。〃
〃Who　is　your　son…in…law？〃
〃Lu　Bu。〃
〃I　did　not　mean　to　have　you　really　beaten；　but　if　you　think　to　frighten　me　with　Lu　Bu；　I　will。　I　will　beat　you　as　if　I　was　beating　him；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
The　guests　interposed　to　beg　him　off；　but　their　drunken　host　was　obdurate；　and　the　unhappy　guest　received　fifty　blows。　Then　at　the　earnest　prayers　of　the　others　the　remainder　of　the　punishment　was　remitted。
The　banquet　came　to　an　end；　and　the　beaten　Cao　Bao　went　away　burning　with　resentment。　That　night　he　sent　a　letter　to　Xiaopei　relating　the　insults　he　had　received　from　Zhang　Fei。　The　letter　told　Lu　Bu　of　Liu　Bei's　absence　and　proposed　that　a　sudden　raid　should　be　made　that　very　night　before　Zhang　Fei　had　recovered　from　his　drunken　fit。　Lu　Bu　at　once　summoned　Chen　Gong　and　told　him。
〃Xiaopei　is　only　a　place　to　occupy　temporarily；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃If　you　can　seize　Xuzhou；　do　so。　It　is　a　good　chance。〃
Lu　Bu　got　ready　at　once　and　soon　on　the　way　with　five　hundred　cavalrymen；　ordering　Chen　Gong　and　Gao　Shun　to　follow　him　with　the　main　body。
Xiaopei　being　only　about　fifteen　miles　away；　Lu　Bu　was　under　the　walls　at　the　fourth　watch。　It　was　clear　moonlight。　No　one　on　the　ramparts　saw　him。
Lu　Bu　came　up　close　to　the　wall　and　called　out；　〃Liu　Bei's　secret　messenger　has　arrived！〃
The　guards　on　the　wall　were　Cao　Bao's　people；　and　they　called　him。　Cao　Bao　came；　and　when　he　saw　who　was　there　he　ordered　the　gates　to　be　opened。　Lu　Bu　gave　the　secret　signal；　and　the　soldiers　entered　shouting。
Zhang　Fei　was　in　his　apartment　sleeping　off　the　fumes　of　wine。　His　servants　hastened　to　arouse　him　and　told　him　an　enemy　had　got　the　gates　open。
They　said；　〃Lu　Bu　got　in；　and　there　is　fighting　in　the　city。〃
Zhang　Fei　savagely　got　into　his　armor　and　laid　hold　of　his　mighty　serpent　halberd。　But　as　he　was　mounting　his　horse　at　the　gate；　the　attacking　soldiers　came　up。　He　rushed　at　them　but　being　still　half　intoxicated　made　but　a　poor　fight。　Lu　Bu　knowing　Zhang　Fei's　prowess　did　not　press　him　hard；　and　Zhang　Fei　made　his　way；　with　eighteen　leading　Guards　of　Yan；　to　the　east　gate；　and　there　went　out；　leaving　Liu　Bei's　family　to　their　fate。
Cao　Bao；　seeing　Zhang　Fei　had　but　a　very　small　force　and　was　still　half　drunk　as　well；　came　in　pursuit。　Zhang　Fei　saw　who　it　was　and　was　mad　with　rage。　He　galloped　toward　Cao　Bao　and　drove　him　off　after　a　few　passes。　He　followed　Cao　Bao　to　the　moat　and　wounded　him　in　the　back。　Cao　Bao's　frightened　steed　carried　its　master　into　the　moat；　and　he　was　drowned。
Once　well　outside　the　city　Zhang　Fei　collected　his　troops；　and　they　rode　off　toward　the　south　direction。
Lu　Bu　having　surprised　the　city　set　himself　to　restore　order。　He　put　a　guard　over　the　residence　of　Liu　Bei　so　that　no　one　should　disturb　the　family。
Zhang　Fei　with　his　few　followers　went　to　his　brother's　camp　at　Xuyi　and　told　his　story　of　treachery　and　surprise。　All　were　greatly　distressed。
〃Success　is　not　worth　rejoicing　over；　failure　is　not　worth　grieving　over；〃　said　Liu　Bei　with　a　sigh。
〃Where　are　our　sisters？〃　asked　Guan　Yu。
〃They　shared　the　fate　of　the　city。〃
Liu　Bei　nodded　his　head　and　was　silent。
Guan　Yu　with　an　effort　controlled　his　reproaches　and　said；　〃What　did　you　say　when　you　promised　to　guard　the　city；　and　what　orders　did　our　brother　give　you？　Now　the　city　is　lost　and　therewith　our　sisters…in…law。　Have　you　done　well？〃
Zhang　Fei　was　overwhelmed　by　remorse。　He　drew　his　sword　to　kill　himself。

He　raised　the　cup　in　pledge；