三国演义英文版-第94部分

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〃In　this　period　of　disruption；　with　strife　on　every　side；　one　cannot　pretend　that　there　will　be　no　more　opportunities。　If　you　only　take　what　that　offers；　there　will　be　nothing　to　regret。〃
〃What　you　say；　brother；　is　quite　to　the　point；〃　replied　Liu　Biao。
They　drank　on　for　a　time　till　presently　Liu　Bei　noticed　that　his　host　was　weeping；　and　when　he　asked　the　cause　of　these　tears；　Liu　Biao　replied；　〃It　is　that　secret　sorrow　I　spoke　of　to　you　before。　I　wished　to　tell　you；　but　there　was　no　opportunity　that　day。〃
〃O　brother；　what　difficulty　have　you；　and　can　I　assist　you？　I　am　entirely　at　your　service。〃
〃My　first　wife；　of　the　Chen　family；　bore　me　a　son　Liu　Qi；　my　eldest。　He　grew　up　virtuous　but　weakly　and　unfitted　to　succeed　me　in　my　office。　Later　I　took　a　wife　of　the　Cai　family；　who　bore　me　a　son　named　Liu　Zong；　fairly　intelligent。　If　I　pass　over　the　elder　in　favor　of　the　younger；　there　is　the　breach　of　the　rule　of　primogeniture。　But　if　I　follow　law　and　custom；　there　are　the　intrigues　of　the　Cai　family　and　clan　to　be　reckoned　with。　Further；　the　army　is　in　the　hollow　of　their　hands。　There　will　be　trouble；　and　I　cannot　decide　what　to　do。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃All　experience　proves　that　to　set　aside　the　elder　for　the　younger　is　to　take　the　way　of　confusion。　If　you　fear　the　power　of　the　Cai　faction；　then　gradually　reduce　its　power　and　influence；　but　do　not　let　doting　affection　lead　you　into　making　the　younger　your　heir。〃
Liu　Biao　pondered　silent。　But　Lady　Cai　had　had　a　suspicion　why　her　lord　had　summoned　Liu　Bei　and　what　was　the　subject　of　discussion；　so　she　had　determined　to　listen　secretly。　She　was　behind　the　screen　when　the　matter　was　talked　over；　and　she　conceived　deep　resentment　against　Liu　Bei　for　what　he　had　said。
On　his　side；　Liu　Bei　felt　that　his　advice　had　fallen　upon　a　forbidden　subject；　and　he　arose　and　walked　across　the　room。　As　he　did　so　he　noticed　that　he　was　getting　heavy　and　stiff；　and　a　furtive　tear　stole　down　his　cheek　as　he　thought　of　the　past。　When　he　returned　and　sat　down；　his　host　noticed　the　traces　of　weeping　and　asked　the　cause　of　his　sorrow。
〃In　the　past　I　was　always　in　the　saddle；　and　I　was　slender　and　lithe。　Now　it　is　so　long　since　I　rode　that　I　am　getting　stout；　and　the　days　and　months　are　slipping　by………wasted。　I　shall　have　old　age　on　me　in　no　time；　and　I　have　acplished　nothing。　So　I　am　sad。〃
〃I　have　heard　a　story　that　when　you　were　at　Xuchang　at　the　season　of　green　plums；　you　and　Cao　Cao　were　discussing　heroes。　You　mentioned　this　name　and　that　to　him　as　humans　of　parts；　and　he　rejected　everyone　of　them。　Finally　he　said　that　you　and　he　were　the　only　two　persons　of　real　worth　in　the　whole　empire。　If　he　with　all　his　power　and　authority　did　not　dare　to　place　himself　in　front　of　you；　I　do　not　think　you　need　grieve　about　having　acplished　nothing。〃
At　this　flattering　speech　Liu　Bei；　as　wine　was　getting　the　better　of　him　and　in　a　half　maudlin　manner；　replied；　〃If　I　only　had　a　starting　point；　then　I　would　not　be　afraid　of　anyone　in　a　world　full　of　fools。〃
His　host　said　no　more　and　the　guest；　feeling　that　he　had　slipped　up　in　speech；　rose　as　if　drunk；　took　leave；　and　staggered　out　saying　he　must　return　to　his　lodging　to　recover。
The　episode　has　been　celebrated　in　a　poem：

When　with　crooking　fingers　counting；
Cao　Cao　reckoned　up　the　forceful
Humans　of　real　determination；
Only　two　he　found；　and　one　was
Liu　Bei。　But　by　inaction
He　had　grown　both　fat　and　slothful；
Yet　the　months　and　years　in　passing
Fretted　him　with　nought　acplished。

Though　Liu　Biao　kept　silence　when　he　heard　the　words　of　Liu　Bei；　yet　he　felt　the　more　uneasy。　After　the　departure　of　his　guest；　he　retired　into　the　inner　quarters　where　he　met　his　wife。
Lady　Cai　said；　〃I　happened　to　be　behind　the　screen　just　now　and　so　heard　the　words　of　Liu　Bei。　They　betray　scant　regard　for　other　people　and　mean　that　he　would　take　your　territory　if　he　could。　If　you　do　not　remove　him；　it　will　go　ill　with　you。〃
Her　husband　made　no　reply；　but　only　shook　his　head。
Then　Lady　Cai　took　counsel　with　her　kinsman　Cai　Mao；　who　said；　〃Let　me　go　to　the　guest…house　and　slay　him　forthwith；　and　we　can　report　what　we　have　done。〃
His　sister　consented　and　he　went　out；　and　that　night　told　off　a　party　of　soldiers　to　do　the　foul　deed。
Now　Liu　Bei　sat　in　his　lodging　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle　till　about　the　third　watch；　when　he　prepared　to　retire　to　bed。　He　was　startled　by　a　knock　at　his　door　and　in　came　Yi　Ji；　who　had　heard　of　the　plot　against　his　new　master　and　had　e　in　the　darkness　to　warn　him。　He　related　the　details　of　the　plot　and　urged　speedy　departure。
〃I　have　not　said　farewell　to　my　host。　How　can　I　go　away？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　you　go　to　bid　him　farewell；　you　will　fall　a　victim　to　the　Cai　faction；〃　said　Yi　Ji。
So　Liu　Bei　said　a　hasty　good…bye　to　his　friend；　called　up　his　escort；　and　they　all　mounted　and　rode　away　by　the　light　of　the　stars　toward　Xinye。　Soon　after　they　had　left　the　soldiers　arrived　at　the　guest…house；　but　their　intended　victim　was　already　well　on　his　way。
Naturally　the　failure　of　the　plot　chagrined　the　treacherous　Cai　Mao；　but　he　took　the　occasion　to　scribble　some　calumnious　verses　on　one　of　the　partitions。
Then　he　went　to　see　Liu　Biao　to　whom　he　said；　〃Liu　Bei　has　treacherous　intentions；　as　can　be　seen　from　some　lines　written　on　the　wall。　And　his　hurried　departure　is　suspicious。〃
Liu　Biao　felt　doubtful；　but　he　went　to　the　guest…house　and　there　on　the　wall　he　read　this　poem：

Too　long；　far　too　long　I　have　dreamed　life　away；
Gazing　at　scenery　day　after　day。
A　dragon　can　never　be　kept　in　a　pond；
He　should　ride　on　the　thunder　to　heaven　and　beyond。

Greatly　angered　by　what　he　read；　Liu　Biao　drew　his　sword　and　swore　to　slay　the　writer。　But　before　he　had　gone　many　paces；　his　anger　had　already　died　down；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　seen　much　of　the　man；　but　have　never　known　him　write　verses。　This　is　the　handiwork　of　someone　who　wishes　to　sow　discord　between　us。〃
So　saying；　he　turned　back　and　with　the　point　of　his　sword　scraped　away　the　poem。　Then；　putting　up　his　sword；　he　mounted　and　rode　home。
By　and　bye　Cai　Mao　reminded　him；　saying；　〃The　soldiers　are　awaiting　your　orders　to　go　to　Xinye　and　arrest　Liu　Bei。〃
'There　is　no　hurry；〃　he　replied。
Cai　Mao　saw　his　brother…in…law's　hesitation　and　again　sought　his　sister。
She　said；　〃Soon　there　is　to　be　the　great　gathering　at　Xiangyang；　and　we　can　arrange　something　for　that　day。〃
Next　day　Cai　Mao　petitioned　the　Imperial　Protector；　saying；　〃We　have　had　several　fruitful　harvests　recently。　I　pray　you；　Sir；　attend　the　Full　Harvest　Festival　at　Xiangyang。　It　would　be　an　encouragement　to　the　people。〃
〃I　have　been　feeling　my　old　trouble　lately。　I　certainly　cannot　go；〃　replied　he；　〃but　my　two　sons　can　go　to　represent　me　and　to　receive　the　guests。〃
〃They　are　full　young；〃　replied　Cai　Mao。　〃They　may　make　some　mistakes。〃
〃Then　go　to　Xinye　and　request　Liu　Bei　to　receive　the　guests；〃　said　Liu　Biao。
Nothing　could　have　pleased　Cai　Mao　more；　for　this　would　bring　Liu　Bei　within　reach　of　his　plot。　Without　loss　of　time　he　sent　to　Liu　Bei　requesting　him　to　go　to　preside　at　the　Festival。
It　has　been　said　that　Liu　Bei　made　the　best　of　his　way　home　to　Xinye。　He　felt　that　he　had　offended　by　that　slip　in　speech；　but　determined　to　keep　silence　about　it　and　attempt　no　explanation。　So　he　discussed　it　with　nobody。　Then　came　the　message　asking　him　to　preside　at　the　Festival；　and　he　needed　counsel。
Sun　Qian　said；　〃You　have　seemed　worried　and　preoccupied　lately；　and　I　think　something　untoward　happened　at　Jingzhou。　You　should　consider　well　before　you　accept　this　invitation。〃
Thereupon　Liu　Bei　told　his　confidants　the　whole　story。
Guan　Yu　said；　〃You　yourself　think　your　speech　offended　the　Imperial　Protector；　but　he　said　nothing　to　show　displeasure。　You　need　pay　no　attention　to　the　babble　of　outsiders　like　Yi　Ji。　Xiangyang　is　quite　near　and；　if　you　do　not　go；　Liu　Biao　will　begin　to　suspect　something　really　is　wrong。〃
〃You　speak　well；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃Banquets　are　no　good；　gatherings　are　no　better。　It　is　best　not　to　go。〃
〃Let　me　take　three　hundred　horse　and　foot　as　escort：　There　will　be　no　trouble　then；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。
〃That　is　the　best　course；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
They　soon　set　out　for　the　gathering　place；　and　Cai　Mao　met　them　at　the　boundary　and　was　most　affable　and　courteous。　Soon　arrived　the　Imperial　Protector's　sons　at　the　head　of　a　great　pany　of　officers；　civil　and　military。　Their　appearance　put　Liu　Bei　more　at　ease。　He　was　conducted　to　the　guest…house；　and　Zhao　Yun　posted　his　men　so　as　to　guard　it　pletely；　while　he　himself；　armed；　remained　close　to　his　chief。
Liu　Qi　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃My　father　is　feeling　unwell　and　could　not　e；　wherefore　he　begs　you；　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　to　preside　at　the　various　ceremonies　and　give　encouragement　to　the　officers　who　administer　the　region。〃
〃Really　I　am　unfit　for　such　responsibilities；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃But　my　brother's　mand　must　be　obeyed。〃
Next　day　it　was　reported　that　the　officials　from　forty…two　counties　of　nine　territories　of　Jingzhou　had　all　arrived。
Then　Cai　Mao　said　to　Kuai　Yue；　〃This　Liu　Bei　is　the　villain　of　the　age　and　if　left　alive　will　certainly　work　harm　to　us。　He　must　be　got　rid　of　now。〃
〃I　fear　you　would　forfeit　everybody's　favor　if　you　harmed　him；〃　replied　Kuai　Yue。
〃I　have　already　secretly　spoken　in　these　terms　to　the　Imperial　Protector；〃　said　Cai　Mao；　〃and　I　have　his　word　here。〃
〃So　it　may　be　regarded　as　settled。　Then　we　can　prepare。〃
Cai　Mao　added；　〃My　brothers　are　ready。　Cai　He　is　posted　on　the　road　to　the　Xian　Hills　from　the　east　gate；　Cai　Zhong　and　Cai　Xun　are　on　the　north　and　south　roads。　No　guard　is　needed　on　the　west　as　the　Tan　Torrent　is　quite　safeguard　enough。　Even　with　legions；　Liu　Bei　could　not　get　over　that。〃
Kuai　Yue　replied；　〃I　notice　that　Zhao　Yun　never　leaves　him。　I　feel　sure　he　expects　some　attack。〃
〃I　have　placed　five　hundred　men　in　ambush　in　the　city。〃
〃We　will　tell　Wen　Ping　and　Wang　Wei　to　invite　all　the　military　officers　to　a　banquet　at　one　of　the　pavilions　outside　the　city；　and　Zhao　Yun　will　be　among　them。　Then　will　be　our　opportunity。〃
Cai　Mao　thought　this　a　good　device　for　getting　Zhao　Yun　out　of　the　way。
Now　oxen　and　horses　had　been　slaughtered　and　a　grand　banquet　prepared。　Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　residence　on　the　horse　of　ill　omen；　and　whe