三国演义英文版-第197部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


It　was　Guan　Xing；　son　of　Guan　Yu。
〃I　have　already　received　my　mission；〃　said　Zhang　Bao。
〃What　abilities　have　you　for　such　a　task？〃　cried　Guan　Xing。
〃That　I　have　been　training　as　a　soldier　since　my　boyhood。　I　can　shoot　and　never　miss。〃
〃I　should　like　to　see　your　prowess；〃　said　the　First　Ruler；　〃that　I　may　decide　who　is　the　better。〃
Zhang　Bao　ordered　some　of　his　people　to　set　up　a　flag　at　a　hundred　paces；　and　on　the　flag　he　drew　a　heart　in　red。　Then　he　took　his　bow　and　shot　three　arrows；　each　of　which　went　through　the　heart。　Those　present　mended　the　performance。
Then　Guan　Xing　seized　his　bow；　saying；　〃What　is　it　to　hit　such　a　mark？〃
Just　as　he　said　this　a　flock　of　wild　geese　flew　over　his　head。
〃I　will　hit　the　third　of　the　flying　geese；〃　said　he。
He　shot；　and　the　third　fell。
〃Fine！〃　cried　all　the　assembly　as　one　voice。
But　Zhang　Bao　was　enraged。　Leaping　on　his　steed；　he　seized　the　long　serpent　halberd　left　him　by　his　father；　crying；　〃Dare　you　try　a　real　bat？〃
Guan　Xing　took　up　the　challenge　at　once。　He　sprang　into　the　saddle；　took　his　great　saber；　and　galloped　out。
〃You　can　use　the　spear；　think　you　that　I　cannot　wield　a　sword？〃　cried　he。
The　two　impetuous　youths　were　on　the　point　of　a　battle　when　the　First　Ruler　bade　them　hold。
〃Do　not　behave　so　badly！〃　cried　he。
Both　dropped　out　of　the　saddle；　threw　aside　their　weapons；　ran　to　his　feet；　and　begged　pardon。
〃Young　men；　from　the　time　I　left　my　native　place　Zhuo　and　swore　brotherhood　with　your　fathers；　they　were　as　my　own　flesh　and　blood。　You　two　are　also　brothers；　and　you　should　help　each　other　in　vengeance　rather　than　quarrel　and　dispute。　You　have　lost　the　sense　of　rectitude　while　your　fathers'　deaths　are　still　recent；　and　what　will　happen　in　future？〃
Both　fell　at　his　feet　and　implored　forgiveness。
〃Which　of　you　two　is　the　elder？〃　asked　the　First　Ruler。
〃I　am　the　elder　by　a　year；〃　said　Zhang　Bao。
The　First　Ruler　then　bade　Guan　Xing　bow　to　Zhang　Bao　as　to　an　elder　brother；　and　there；　in　front　of　all；　they　broke　an　arrow　as　a　pledge　that　each　would　always　succor　the　other。
Then　the　First　Ruler　issued　a　mandate　appointing　Hu　Ban　the　Van　Leader；　and　the　two　young　men　were　enrolled　as　his　own　escort。
The　advance　began　on　land　and　on　water；　and　they　made　a　brave　show　as　they　moved　against　the　land　of　Wu。
In　the　meantime　the　two　assassins；　Fan　Jiang　and　Zhang　Da；　with　the　grim　evidence　of　their　deed；　duly　reached　Wu　and　told　their　story　to　the　Marquis　who　received　them。
Then　Sun　Quan　said　to　his　assembled　officers；　〃Liu　Bei　has　declared　himself　Emperor　and　is　leading　against　us　in　person　a　great　host　of　more　than　seven　hundred　thousand。　What　shall　we　do；　for　the　danger　is　imminent？〃
They　all　turned　pale　and　looked　one　at　another。　Then　Zhuge　Jin　spoke　out。
〃I　have　been　in　your　service　these　many　years　and　have　never　justified　the　favor　you　have　shown　me。　I　will　risk　my　life　and　go　to　this　Liu　Bei　of　Shu　that　I　may　talk　to　him　plainly　and　prove　to　him　the　advantages　of　friendship　and　alliance　against　Cao　Pi。〃
This　offer　pleased　Sun　Quan；　who　then　appointed　Zhuge　Jin　as　his　messenger　to　try　to　induce　the　First　Ruler　to　keep　the　peace。

Messengers　pass　when　states　are　at　wrangle；
May　this　one　succeed　and　unravel　this　tangle！

What　fortune　attended　this　messenger　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　82　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　82
　Chapter　82
Sun　Quan　Submits　To　Wei；　Receiving　The　Nine　Dignities；
The　First　Ruler　Attacks　Wu；　Rewarding　Six　Armies。
In　the　eighth　month　of　the　first　year　of　Manifest　Might　（AD　221）　the　First　Ruler　marched　at　the　head　of　his　army　and　camped　at　Baidicheng　（City　of　the　White　Emperor）；　through　the　Kui　Pass。　His　advanced　guard　had　gone　beyond　the　River　Lands　when　his　attendants　told　him　that　Zhuge　Jin　had　e　as　a　messenger　from　Wu。　He　told　them　not　to　admit　Zhuge　Jin。
But　Huang　Quan　said；　〃His　brother　being　your　Prime　Minister；　Zhuge　Jin　is　certainly　e　on　some　important　mission。　Your　Majesty　ought　to　see　him　and　hear　what　he　says。　If　his　proposals　are　admissible；　then　agree；　if　not；　he　can　be　made　use　of　to　take　knowledge　of　your　intentions　to　Sun　Quan　and　let　Sun　Quan　know　that　you　intend　to　punish　his　crime。〃
Then　the　First　Ruler　gave　way；　and　the　messenger　was　brought　in。　He　bowed　down　to　the　earth。
〃Zhuge　Jin；　you　have　e　a　long　journey。　What　is　its　object？〃　said　the　First　Ruler。
〃My　brother　has　long　served　Your　Majesty；　I　have　e　at　the　risk　of　my　life　to　discuss　Jingzhou　affairs。　When　Guan　Yu　was　at　Jingzhou；　my　master　repeatedly　sought　to　ally　the　two　families　by　marriage；　but　was　refused。　When　Guan　Yu　attacked　Xiangyang；　Cao　Cao　wrote　again　and　again　urging　my　master　to　attack　Jingzhou。　But　the　Marquis　was　unwilling；　and　it　was　the　enmity　between　your　brother　and　Lu　Meng　that　led　to　the　attack　and　the　unfortunate　success。
〃My　master　is　now　very　sorry　for　it；　but　it　was　Lu　Meng's　doing。　However；　Lu　Meng　is　now　dead；　and　his　enmity　has　died　with　him。　Moreover；　Lady　Sun　is　always　thinking　over　returning　to　you。　My　master　now　proposes　to　send　back　the　lady；　to　bind　and　hand　over　to　you　those　officers　who　surrendered；　and　to　restore　Jingzhou。　If　the　two　houses　swear　perpetual　amity；　then　we　may　join　forces　against　Cao　Pi　and　punish　his　usurpation。〃
To　this　harangue　the　First　Ruler　only　replied；　〃You　of　East　Wu　killed　my　brother。　Yet　you　dare　e　with　your　artful　talk！〃
Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃I　only　wish　to　discuss　the　relative　importance　of　the　issues。　Your　Majesty　is　an　Imperial　Uncle；　and　Cao　Pi　has　seized　the　throne　of　your　House。　Yet　you　do　not　think　of　destroying　the　usurper；　but　on　the　other　hand　you　disregard　the　most　honorable　position　in　the　world　for　the　sake　of　a　so…called　brother；　a　connection　of　another　name。　Surely　this　is　rejecting　the　chief　for　the　subordinate；　the　main　issue　for　a　detail。
〃The　Middle　Land　is　the　biggest　part　of　the　empire；　and　the　two　capitals；　Luoyang　and　Changan；　are　both　famous　as　places　whence　the　two；　one　the　Founder；　the　other　the　Restorer；　of　the　Hans；　initiated　their　mighty　task。　Your　Majesty　takes　no　thought　of　these；　but　would　dispute　over　Jingzhou。　In　other　words；　the　important　is　abandoned　for　the　worthless。
〃All　the　world　knows　of　your　assumption　of　the　dignity　of　Emperor　and　that　you　will　assuredly　restore　the　Hans　and　rescue　their　territory。　Only　now　you　do　not　try　to　deal　with　Wei；　you　only　desire　to　attack　Wu。　I　venture　to　think　you　have　made　a　bad　choice。〃
All　this　argument　only　added　fuel　to　the　fire。
〃The　slayer　of　my　brother　shall　not　live　in　the　same　world　as　I。　You　ask　me　not　to　fight。　I　will　cease　when　I　have　slain　your　master。　Were　it　not　for　the　sake　of　your　brother；　I　would　behead　you　at　once。　As　it　is；　you　may　go；　and　you　may　tell　your　master　to　cleanse　his　neck　ready　for　the　blade　of　the　executioner。〃
Zhuge　Jin　saw　that　the　position　was　hopeless　and　took　his　leave　to　return　to　the　South　Land。
But　while　Zhuge　Jin　had　been　absent；　Zhang　Zhao　said　to　Sun　Quan；　〃Zhuge　Jin　knows　something　of　the　strength　of　the　Shu　armies；　and　he　made　this　mission　an　excuse　to　get　out　of　danger。　He　will　not　return。〃
The　Marquis　replied；　〃He　and　I　are　sworn　friends………friends　to　the　death。　I　shall　not　wrong　him；　nor　will　he　betray　me。　When　he　was　at　Chaisang　and　Zhuge　Liang　came　to　our　country；　I　wanted　my　friend　Zhuge　Jin　to　persuade　his　brother　to　remain　with　me。　His　reply　was　that　his　brother　would　not　remain　any　more　than　he　himself　would　go：　Each　would　be　faithful　to　his　salt。　That　was　quite　clear　enough。　How　could　he　desert　me　after　that？　Our　friendship　has　something　of　the　divine　in　it；　and　no　talk　from　outside　can　sow　dissension　between　us。〃
Even　as　Sun　Quan　spoke；　the　servants　told　him　that　Zhuge　Jin　had　returned。
〃What　do　you　think　now？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Zhang　Zhao　retired　overwhelmed　with　shame。　The　luckless　messenger　unfolded　his　tale　of　failure。
〃Then　the　South　Land　is　in　great　danger；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　as　he　heard　the　story。
But　a　certain　man　here　interposed；　saying；　〃I　have　a　way　out　of　the　difficulty。〃
He　was　Counselor　Zhao　Zi。
〃What　good　scheme　do　you　propose；　friend　Zhao　Zi？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃Let　my　lord　draw　up　a　document；　which　I　will　take　to　Cao　Pi　in　Wei；　making　a　full　statement　of　the　case；　and　get　him　to　attack　Hanzhong　and　so　draw　off　the　danger　from　our　land。〃
〃Though　the　suggestion　is　good；　yet　shall　we　not　lose　something　of　our　dignity　by　that？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃If　there　is　any　such　thing；　I　will　simply　jump　into　the　river………I　could　not　look　the　South　Land's　people　in　the　face　again。〃
Sun　Quan　was　satisfied　and　posed　the　memorial；　styling　himself　〃Minister〃。　Therein　Zhao　Zi　was　duly　appointed　messenger。　He　took　the　document　and　soon　reached　Capital　Xuchang；　where　he　first　sought　out　the　High　Minister　Jia　Xu；　and　then　saw　the　others。
Next　day；　Jia　Xu　stood　forth　one　day　at　court　and　said；　〃East　Wu　has　sent　a　high　officer；　Zhao　Zi；　with　a　memorial。〃
〃Because　he　wants　the　armies　of　Shu　driven　off；〃　said　Cao　Pi；　smiling。
But　he　summoned　Zhao　Zi；　who；　having　prostrated　himself　in　the　outer　court；　handed　in　his　memorial。
After　reading　it；　Cao　Pi　said；　〃What　sort　of　an　over…lord　is　the　Marquis？〃
〃Intelligent；　clear…sighted；　wise；　brave；　and　perspicacious；〃　was　the　reply。
Cao　Pi　laughed；　〃Your　praise　is　none　too　enthusiastic。〃
〃I　do　not　wish　to　overstate；〃　replied　Zhao　Zi；　〃but　my　master　has　shown　various　qualities　at　different　times。　He　made　use　of　Lu　Su　among　the　officials　of　high　ranks；　which　shows　his　intelligence。　He　chose　Lu　Meng　as　leader　of　all　armies；　which　showed　his　clear…sightedness。　He　captured　Yu　Jin　but　did　not　hurt　him；　which　shows　his　kindliness。　He　took　Jingzhou　without　slaughter；　which　shows　his　wisdom。　He　maintains　the　Three　Rivers　so　as　to　mand　the　respect　of　the　empire；　which　shows　his　boldness。　Lastly；　he　bows　before　Your　Majesty；　which　shows　his　perspicacity。　You　see　now　that　my　epithets　are　justifiable。〃
〃Is　he　at　all　learned？〃
〃Sire；　remember　he　mands　a　large　fleet　of　ten　thousand　battleships　and　a　huge　army　of　million　armored　soldiers。　He　endeavors　to　find　wise　and　capable　people　to　help　him；　and　his　mind　is　full　of　plans　and　projects。　When　he　has　a　little　leisure；　he　reads　the　histories　and　the　annals；　for　the　sake　of　the　general　lessons　to　be　learned　therefrom。　He　is　no　dryasdust　pedant　seeking　remarkable　passages　and　culling　model　sentences。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　could　overe　Wu？〃
〃If　a　large　state　has　military　force　to　attack；　a　small　one　has　also　preparations　for　defense。〃
〃Does　Wu　fear　Wei？〃　asked　Cao　Pi。
〃How　can　you　think　so；　considering　our　army　of　million　armored　soldiers　and　the　defensive　moats　we　have　in　the　River　Han　and　the　Great　River？〃
〃How　many　such　persons　as　high　minister　does　Wu　possess？〃
〃Nearly　a　hundred　intelligent　and　specially　qualified　ministers　like　your　servants；　of　my　sort　of　ordinary　knowledge　there　are　too　many　to　reckon　up。〃
Cao　Pi　sighed；　saying；　〃The　book　says　'Going　on　mission　without　losing　the　dignity　of　the　master。'　That　is　the　sort　of　man　you　are！〃
Thereupon　he　issued　the　mandate　ordering　Xing　Zhen；　Minister　of　Ceremonies　and　Sacrifices；　to　be　his　ambassador　to　Wu；　bearing　for　Sun　Quan　the　title　of　〃Prince　of　Wu〃　and　allowing　him　to　use　the　〃Nine　Signs　of　Honors〃。
But　when　the　messenger　had　gone　out　of　the　city；　Liu　Ye　went　to　remonstrate；　saying；