三国演义英文版-第124部分

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Yun　of　Changshan。〃
Zhou　Yu　was　fiercely　angry　and　gave　orders　to　assault　the　city；　but　the　defenders　sent　down　flights　and　flights　of　arrows；　and　his　troops　could　not　stay　near　the　rampart。　So　he　withdrew　and　took　counsel。　In　the　meantime　he　decided　to　send　Gan　Ning　with　a　force　of　several　thousand　to　capture　Jingzhou　City；　and　Ling　Tong　with　another　army　to　take　Xiangyang。　Nanjun　could　be　taken　later。
But　even　as　these　orders　were　being　given；　the　scouts　came　in　hurriedly　to　report；　saying；　〃After　Nanjun　fell；　Zhuge　Liang；　suddenly　forging　a　military　mission；　induced　the　guards　of　Jingzhou　City　to　leave　it　and　go　to　the　rescue　of　Cao　Ren。　Whereupon　Zhang　Fei　occupied　the　capital。〃
Soon　after　another　messenger　came；　saying；　〃Xiahou　Dun；　at　Xiangyang；　received　from　Zhuge　Liang　dispatches；　supported　by　a　mission　in　due　form；　saying　that　Cao　Ren　was　in　danger　and　needed　help；　whereupon　Xiahou　Dun　marched　off；　and　Guan　Yu　seized　that　city。〃
Thus　the　two　cities　that　Zhou　Yu　wanted　had　fallen；　without　the　least　effort；　into　the　hands　of　his　rival　Liu　Bei。
〃How　did　Zhuge　Liang　get　this　military　mission　with　which　he　has　imposed　on　the　generals？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
Cheng　Pu　replied；　〃He　seized　that　of　Chen　Jiao　and　so　has　got　all　this　region　into　his　power。〃
Zhou　Yu　uttered　a　great　cry；　for　at　that　moment　his　wound　had　suddenly　burst　open。

A　city　falls；　but　not　to　us　the　gain；
The　guerdon　is　another's；　ours　the　pain。

The　next　chapter　will　say　what　befell　Zhou　Yu。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　52　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　52
　Chapter　52
Zhuge　Liang　Negotiates　With　Lu　Su；
Zhao　Yun　Captures　Guiyang。
Zhou　Yu's　anger　at　seeing　that　his　rival；　Zhuge　Liang；　had　surprised　Nanjun；　and　at　hearing　the　same　news　of　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang；　was　but　natural。　And　this　sudden　fit　of　rage　caused　his　wound　to　reopen。　However；　he　soon　recovered。　All　his　officers　besought　him　to　accept　the　situation。
But　he　said；　〃What　but　the　death　of　that　bumpkin　Zhuge　Liang　will　assuage　my　anger？　If　Cheng　Pu　can　but　aid　me　in　an　attack　on　Nanjun；　I　can　certainly　restore　it　to　the　South　Land。〃
Soon　Lu　Su　came　in；　to　whom　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃I　simply　must　fight　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　till　it　is　decided　which　shall　have　the　upper　hand。　I　must　also　recapture　the　cities。　Perhaps　you　can　assist　me。〃
〃It　cannot　be　done；〃　replied　Lu　Su。　〃We　are　now　at　grips　with　Cao　Cao；　and　victory　or　defeat　is　undecided。　Our　lord　has　not　been　successful　in　overing　Hefei。　Do　not　fight　near　home；　or　it　will　be　like　people　of　the　same　household　destroying　each　other。　Should　Cao　Cao　take　advantage　of　this　position　to　make　a　sudden　descent；　we　should　be　in　a　parlous　condition。　Further；　you　must　remember　that　Liu　Bei　and　Cao　Cao　are　united　by　the　bonds　of　old　friendship。　If　the　pressure　bees　too　great；　Liu　Bei　may　relinquish　these　cities；　offer　them　to　Cao　Cao；　and　join　forces　with　him　to　attack　the　south。　That　would　be　a　real　misfortune。〃
〃I　cannot　help　being　angry；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃to　think　that　we　should　have　used　our　resources　for　their　benefit。　They　get　all　the　advantage。〃
〃Well；　let　me　go　and　see　Liu　Bei　and　talk　reason　to　him。　If　I　can　arrive　at　no　understanding；　then　attack　at　once。〃
〃Excellent　proposal！〃　cried　all　present。
So　Lu　Su；　with　his　escort；　went　away　to　Nanjun　to　carry　out　his　proposal　and　try　to　arrange　matters。　He　reached　the　city　wall　and　summoned　the　gate；　whereat　Zhao　Yun　came　out　to　speak　with　him。
〃I　have　something　to　say　to　Liu　Bei；〃　said　he。　〃I　wish　to　see　him。〃
〃My　lord　and　Zhuge　Liang　are　in　Jingzhou；〃　was　the　reply。
Lu　Su　turned　away　and　hasted　to　Jingzhou。　He　found　the　walls　bedecked　with　flags　and　everything　in　excellent　order。　In　his　heart　he　admired　the　sight；　and　thought　what　an　able　person　was　the　mander　of　that　army。
The　guards　reported　his　arrival；　and　Zhuge　Liang　ordered　them　to　throw　wide　the　gate。　Lu　Su　was　led　to　the　government　house　and；　after　the　usual　exchange　of　salutes；　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　visitor　took　their　respective　seats。
Having　finished　the　tea；　Lu　Su　said；　〃My　master；　Marquis　Sun　Quan；　and　the　mander　of　his　army；　Zhou　Yu；　have　sent　me　to　lay　before　the　Imperial　Uncle　their　views。　When　Cao　Cao　led　his　huge　host　southward；　he　gave　out　that　it　was　for　the　conquest　of　the　South　Land。　But　really　his　intention　was　to　destroy　Liu　Bei。　Happily　our　army　was　able　to　repulse　that　mighty　host　and　so　saved　him。　Wherefore　Jingzhou　with　its　nine　territories　of　forty…two　counties　ought　to　belong　to　us。　But　by　a　treacherous　move；　your　master　has　occupied　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang；　so　that　we　have　spent　our　treasure　in　vain　and　our　armies　have　fought　to　no　purpose。　The　Imperial　Uncle　has　reaped　the　benefits　to　the　full。　This　is　not　as　it　should　be。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Lu　Su；　you　are　a　man　of　high　intelligence。　Why　do　you　hold　such　language？　You　know　the　saying　that　all　things　return　to　their　owner。　These　places　have　never　belonged　to　the　South　Land；　but　were　of　the　patrimony　of　Liu　Biao；　and　though　he　is　dead；　his　son　remains。　Should　not　the　uncle　assist　the　nephew　to　recover　his　own？　Could　my　master　have　refrained？〃
〃If　the　nephew　Liu　Qi；　the　rightful　heir；　had　occupied　these　cities；　there　would　have　been　something　to　say。　But　he　is　at　Jiangxia　and　not　here。〃
〃Would　you　like　to　see　him？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
At　the　same　time　he　ordered　the　servants　to　request　Liu　Qi　to　e。　Thereupon　Liu　Qi　at　once　appeared；　supported　by　two　attendants。
Addressing　Lu　Su；　Liu　Qi　said；　〃I　am　too　weak　to　perform　the　correct　ceremonies。　I　pray　you　pardon　me；　Lu　Su。〃
Lu　Su　said　not　a　word。　He　was　too　much　taken　aback。　However；　he　recovered　himself　presently　and　said；　〃But　if　the　heir　had　not　been　here；　what　then？〃
〃The　heir　is　living　but　from　day　to　day。　Should　he　go；　then………there　will　be　something　to　talk　about。〃
〃Should　he　die；　then　you　ought　to　return　these　cities　to　us。〃
〃You　state　the　exact　facts；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Then　a　banquet　was　prepared　and；　that　over；　Lu　Su　took　his　leave。　He　hastened　back　to　his　own　camp　and　gave　Zhou　Yu　an　account　of　his　mission。
〃But　what　is　there　for　us　in　the　chance　of　Liu　Qi's　death？〃　said　Zhou　Yu。　〃He　is　in　his　very　first　youth。　When　will　these　places　fall　to　us？〃
〃Rest　content；　General。　Let　me　guarantee　the　return　of　these　places。〃
〃But　how　can　you？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
〃Liu　Qi　has　indulged　too　freely　in　wine　and　women。　He　is　a　wreck　and　rotten　to　the　core；　miserably　emaciated　and　panting　for　breath。　I　will　not　give　him　half　a　year's　life。　Then　I　will　go　to　Liu　Bei；　and　he　will　be　unable　to　deny　the　request。〃
But　Zhou　Yu　was　still　unmollified。
Suddenly　came　a　messenger　from　Sun　Quan；　who　said；　〃Our　lord　is　laying　siege　to　Hefei　but　in　several　battles　has　had　no　victory。　He　now　orders　you　to　withdraw　from　here　and　go　to　Hefei　to　help　him。〃
Thereupon　Zhou　Yu　marched　back　to　Chaisang。　Having　reached　home；　he　began　to　give　attention　to　the　recovery　of　his　health。　He　sent　Cheng　Pu　with　the　marine　and　land　forces　to　Hefei　ready　for　Sun　Quan's　call。
Liu　Bei　was　exceedingly　well　satisfied　with　the　possession　of　his　new　region；　and　his　thoughts　turned　to　more　ambitious　schemes。　Then　a　certain　man　came　to　him　to　suggest　a　plan。　This　man　was　Yi　Ji　and；　remembering　the　kindly　feeling　of　other　days；　Liu　Bei　received　him　most　graciously。
When　Yi　Ji　was　seated；　and　his　host　had　asked　what　he　proposed；　he　said；　〃You　wish　for　a　plan　to　acplish　yet　greater　deeds。　Why　not　seek　wise　people　and　ask　them？〃
〃Where　are　these　wise　people　to　be　found？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
Yi　Ji　replied；　〃In　this　region　there　is　a　certain　family　named　Ma；　five　brothers；　all　of　whom　are　known　as　men　of　ability。　The　youngest　is　called　Ma　Su。　The　ablest　is　Ma　Liang；　who　has　white　hairs　in　his　eyebrows；　and　the　villagers　have　a　little　rhyming　couplet　that　means　'There　are　five　sons　in　the　family　Ma；　but　white　eyebrows　is　the　best　of　them。'　You　should　get　this　man　to　draw　up　a　plan　for　you。〃
So　Liu　Bei　told　them　to　request　his　presence。　Ma　Liang　came　and　was　received　with　great　respect。
He　was　asked　to　suggest　a　plan　for　the　security　of　the　newly　acquired　region；　and　he　said；　〃Attacked　as　it　is　on　all　sides；　this　region　is　not　one　in　which　one　is　permanently　secure。　You　should　let　Liu　Qi　remain　here　till　he　is　recovered　from　his　present　illness；　but　the　actual　protection　of　the　place　is　to　be　placed　in　the　hands　of　trusty　friends。　Obtain　an　edict　appointing　him　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou；　and　the　people　will　be　content。　Then　conquer　Wuling；　Changsha；　Guiyang；　and　Lingling。　And　with　the　resources　you　will　thus　acquire；　you　will　have　the　means　for　further　plans。　That　should　be　your　policy。〃
〃Which　of　the　four　territories　should　be　first　taken？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃The　nearest；　Lingling；　which　lies　in　the　west　of　River　Xiang。　The　next　is　Wuling；　and　after　these　the　other　two。〃
Ma　Liang　was　given　an　appointment　as　Imperial　Protector　Assistant；　with　Yi　Ji　as　his　second。　Then　Liu　Bei　consulted　Zhuge　Liang　about　sending　Liu　Qi　to　Xiangyang；　so　that　Guan　Yu　could　be　free　to　return。　Next　they　made　preparations　to　attack　Lingling；　and　Zhang　Fei　was　to　lead　the　van。　Zhao　Yun　was　to　guard　the　rear；　while　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　were　to　mand　the　main　body。　A　fifteen　thousand　troops　were　left　to　hold　Jingzhou。　Mi　Zhu　and　Liu　Feng　were　left　to　guard　Jiangling。
The　Governor　of　Lingling　was　Liu　Du。　When　danger　thus　threatened；　he　called　in　his　son　Liu　Xiang；　and　they　discussed　the　case。
The　son　was　very　self…confident　and　said　to　his　father；　〃Have　no　anxiety。　They　may　have　the　known　and　famous　warriors；　Zhang　Fei　and　Zhao　Yun；　but　we　have　our　leader；　Xing　Darong；　who　is　match　for　any　number　of　men。　He　can　withstand　them。〃
So　Liu　Xiang；　with　the　famous　leader；　was　entrusted　with　the　defense。　At　the　head　of　a　full　ten　thousand　troops；　they　made　a　camp　about　ten　miles　from　the　city；　with　the　shelter　of　hills　and　a　river。　Their　scouts　brought　news　that　Zhuge　Liang　was　close　at　hand　with　one　army。　Xing　Darong　decided　to　check　his　advance　and　went　forth　to　oppose　him。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Xing　Darong　rode　to　the　front。　In　his　hand　he　held　a　battle…ax　called　Cleaver　of　Mountains。
In　a　mighty　voice　he　cried；　〃Rebels；　how　es　it　that　you　have　dared　to　enter　our　territory？〃
From　the　center　of　the　opposing　army；　where　appeared　a　cluster　of　yellow　flags；　there　came　out　a　small　four…wheeled　carriage　in　which　sat；　very　erect；　a　certain　man　dressed　in　white；　with　a　turban　on　his　head。　In　one　hand　he　held　a　feather　fan；　with　which　he　signed　to　the　warrior　to　approach。
At　the　same　time　he　said；　〃I　am　Zhuge　Liang　of　Nanyang；　whose　plans　broke　up　the　countless　legions　of　Cao　Cao　so　that　nothing　of　them　returned　whence　they　started。　How　then　can　you　hope　to　oppose　me？　I　now　offer　you　peace；　and　it　will　be　well　for　you　to　surrender。〃
Xing　Darong　laughed　derisively；　saying；　〃Their　defeat　was　owing　to　the　plan　of　Zhou　Yu。　You　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　How　dare　you　try　to　deceive　me？〃
So　saying　he　swung　up　his　battle…ax　and　came　running　toward　Zhuge　Liang。　But　Zhuge　Liang　turned　his　carriage　and　retired　within　the　lines　which　closed　up　behind　him。　Xing　Darong　came　rushing　on。　As　he　reached　the　array；　the　troops　fell　away　on　both　sides　and　let　him　enter。　Well　within　he　looked　round　for　his　chief　opponent。　Seeing　a　yellow　flag　moving　along　quietly；　he　concluded　that　Zhuge　Liang