三国演义英文版-第53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！


　the　Prime　Minister　is　that　you　e　at　once。〃
〃What　important　affair　is　afoot？〃　asked　Liu　Bei　nervously。
〃We　know　nothing。　We　were　ordered　to　e　and　request　your　presence。〃
All　he　could　do　was　to　follow。
When　Liu　Bei　arrived；　Cao　Cao　met　him　and　laughingly　said；　〃That　is　a　big　business　you　have　in　hand　at　home。〃
This　remark　made　Liu　Bei　turn　the　color　of　clay。　Cao　Cao　took　him　by　the　hand　and　led　him　straight　to　the　private　garden；　saying；　〃The　growth　of　vegetables　that　you　are　trying　to　learn　is　very　difficult。〃
Liu　Bei　breathed　again。　He　said；　〃That　is　hardly　a　business。　It　is　only　a　solace。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　happened　to　notice　the　green　plums　on　the　trees　today；　and　suddenly　my　thoughts　went　back　to　a　year　ago　when　we　were　thrashing　Zhang　Xiu。　We　were　marching　through　a　parched　county；　and　everyone　was　suffering　from　thirst。　Suddenly　I　lifted　my　whip；　and　pointing　at　something　in　the　distance　I　said；　'Look　at　those　fruitful　plum　trees　in　the　forest　ahead。'　The　soldiers　heard　it；　and　it　made　their　mouths　water。　Seeing　the　plums　kindles　my　appreciation。　I　owe　something　to　the　plums；　and　we　will　repay　it　today。　I　ordered　the　servants　to　heat　some　wine　very　hot　and　sent　to　invite　you　to　share　it。〃
Liu　Bei　was　quite　posed　by　this　time　and　no　longer　suspected　any　sinister　design。　He　went　with　his　host　to　a　small　spring　pavilion　in　a　plum　garden；　where　the　wine　cups　were　already　laid　out　and　green　plums　filled　the　dishes。　They　sat　down　to　a　confidential　talk　and　free　enjoyment　of　their　wine。
As　they　drank；　the　weather　gradually　changed；　clouds　gathering　and　threatening　rain。　The　servants　pointed　out　a　mass　of　cloud　that　looked　like　a　dragon　hung　in　the　sky。　Both　host　and　guest　leaned　over　the　balcony　looking　at　it。
〃Do　you　understand　the　evolution　of　dragons？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　the　guest。
〃Not　in　detail。〃
〃A　dragon　can　assume　any　size；　can　rise　in　glory　or　hide　from　sight。　Bulky；　it　generates　clouds　and　evolves　mist；　attenuated；　it　can　scarcely　hide　a　mustard　stalk　or　conceal　a　shadow。　Mounting；　it　can　soar　to　the　empyrean；　subsiding；　it　lurks　in　the　uttermost　depths　of　the　ocean。　This　is　the　midspring　season；　and　the　dragon　chooses　this　moment　for　its　transformations　like　a　person　realizing　his　own　desires　and　overrunning　the　world。　The　dragon　among　animals　pares　with　the　hero　among　people。　You；　General；　have　traveled　all　lakes　and　rivers。　You　must　know　who　are　the　heroes　of　the　present　day；　and　I　wish　you　would　say　who　they　are。〃
〃I　am　just　a　mon　dullard。　How　can　I　know　such　things？〃
〃Do　not　be　so　modest；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Thanks　to　your　kindly　protection　I　have　a　post　at　court。　But　as　to　heroes　I　really　do　not　know　who　they　are。〃
〃You　may　not　have　looked　upon　their　faces；　but　you　must　have　heard　their　names。〃
〃Yuan　Shu　of　the　South　of　River　Huai；　with　his　strong　army　and　abundant　resources：　Is　he　one？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
His　host　laughed；　〃A　rotting　skeleton　in　a　graveyard。　I　shall　put　him　out　of　the　way　shortly。〃
〃Well；　Yuan　Shao　then。　The　highest　offices　of　state　have　been　held　in　his　family　for　four　generations；　and　his　clients　are　many　in　the　empire。　He　is　firmly　posted　in　Jizhou；　and　he　mands　the　services　of　many　able　people。　Surely　he　is　one。〃
〃A　bully；　but　a　coward。　He　is　fond　of　grandiose　schemes；　but　is　devoid　of　decision。　He　makes　for　great　things　but　grudges　the　necessary　sacrifice。　He　loses　sight　of　everything　else　in　view　of　a　little　present　advantage。　He　is　not　one。〃
〃There　is　Liu　Biao　of　Jingzhou。　He　is　renowned　as　a　man　of　perfection；　whose　fame　has　spread　on　all　sides。　Surely　he　is　a　hero。〃
〃He　is　a　mere　semblance；　a　man　of　vain　reputation。　No；　not　he。〃
〃Sun　Ce　is　a　sturdy　sort；　the　chief　of　all　in　the　South　Land。　Is　he　a　hero？〃
〃He　has　profited　by　the　reputation　of　his　father　Sun　Jian。　Sun　Ce　is　not　a　real　hero。〃
〃What　of　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou？〃
〃Though　he　is　of　the　reigning　family；　he　is　nothing　more　than　a　watch　dog。　How　could　you　make　a　hero　of　him？〃
〃What　about　Zhang　Xiu；　Zhang　Lu；　Han　Sui；　and　all　those　leaders？〃
Cao　Cao　clapped　his　hands　and　laughed　very　loudly；　saying；　〃Paltry　people　like　them　are　not　worth　mentioning。〃
〃With　these　exceptions　I　really　know　none。〃
〃Now　heroes　are　the　ones　who　cherish　lofty　designs　in　their　bosoms　and　have　plans　to　achieve　them。　They　have　all…embracing　schemes；　and　the　whole　world　is　at　their　mercy。〃
〃Who　is　such　a　person？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

＇e＇　Sai；　a　reader：　〃Cao　Cao　is　the　better　winner。　Liu　Bei　is　the　better　man。。。　as　far　as　the　heart　is　concerned。　Liu　Bei　is　modeled　as　what　Confucious　would　have　considered　a　perfect　ruler。　But　in　the　contest　of　war　and　politics。。。　Cao　Cao　has　him　beat。　So　I　say　that　Cao　Cao　should　have　used　his　talents　to　unite　China　and　then　handed　it　over　to　Liu　Bei。。。　never　will　happen。〃　。。。。。
Cao　Cao　pointed　his　finger　first　at　his　guest　and　then　at　himself；　saying；　〃The　only　heroes　in　the　world　are　you　and　I。〃*
Liu　Bei　gasped；　and　the　spoon　and　chopsticks　rattled　to　the　floor。　Now　just　at　that　moment　the　storm　burst　with　a　tremendous　peal　of　thunder　and　rush　of　rain。
Liu　Bei　stooped　down　to　recover　the　fallen　articles；　saying；　〃What　a　shock！　And　it　was　quite　close。〃
〃What！　Are　you　afraid　of　thunder？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　Sage　One　paled　at　a　sudden　peal　of　thunder　or　fierce　gust　of　wind。　Why　should　one　not　fear？〃
Thus　he　glossed　over　the　real　fact；　that　it　was　the　words　he　had　heard　that　had　so　startled　him。

Constrained　to　lodge　in　a　tiger's　lair；
He　played　a　waiting　part；
But　when　Cao　Cao　talked　of　breaking　humans；
Then　terror　gripped　his　heart。
But　he　cleverly　used　the　thunder　peal
As　excuse　for　turning　pale；
O　quick　to　seize　occasions　thus！
He　surely　must　prevail。

The　shower　had　passed；　and　there　appeared　two　men　rushing　through　the　garden；　both　armed。　In　spite　of　the　attendants；　they　forced　their　way　to　the　pavilion　where　sat　the　two　friends。　They　were　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。
The　two　brothers　had　been　outside　the　city　at　archery　practice　when　Cao　Cao's　invitation　had　e　so　peremptorily。　On　their　return　they　heard　that　two　officers　had　arrived　and　led　away　Liu　Bei　to　the　Prime　Minister。　They　hastened　to　his　palace　and　were　told　their　brother　was　with　his　host　in　the　grounds；　and　they　feared　something　had　happened。　So　they　rushed　in。
Now　when　they　saw　their　brother　quietly　talking　with　Cao　Cao　and　enjoying　a　cup　of　wine；　they　took　up　their　usual　places　and　meekly　stood　waiting。
〃Why　did　you　e？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃We　heard　that　you；　Sir；　had　invited　our　brother　to　a　wine　party；　and　we　came　to　amuse　you　with　a　little　sword　play；〃　said　they。

＇e＇　At　that　time　Liu　Bang；　Governor　of　Pei；　and　Xiang　Yu；　King　of　West　Chu；　were　fighting　Qin　under　the　Chu　banner。　Liu　Bang　was　the　first　mander　who　entered　Qin's　capital；　Xianyang。　The　loss　of　this　honor　enraged　Xiang　Yu；　and　he　was　set　to　attack　Liu　Bang's　force。　But　his　uncle　Xiang　Ba　wanted　to　mediate　the　situation；　and　Xiang　Ba　invited　Liu　Bang　to　visit　Xiang　Yu's　camp　in　Hongmen。　During　a　banquet　at　Hongmen；　Xiang　Yu's　adviser　Fan　Zeng　ordered　Xiang　Chang　to　perform　a　sword…dance　and　take　the　chance　to　kill　Liu　Bang。　However；　as　Xiang　Chang　closed　in　Liu　Bang；　Xiang　Ba　rose　to　perform　another　sword…dance　and　fend　off　the　attack。　Just　then　Liu　Bang's　general　Fan　Kuai　bursted　in；　armed　and　angry…looking。　Fan　Kuai　proclaimed　his　lord's　achievements　and　denounced　the　murder　plot。　In　the　confusion；　Liu　Bang　slipped　away　and　rushed　back　to　his　camp。　。。。。。
〃This　is　not　a　Hongmen　Banquet；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃What　use　have　we　for　Xiang　Chang　and　Xiang　Ba　of　old？*〃
Liu　Bei　smiled。　The　host　ordered　wine　to　be　served　to　the　two　〃Fan　Kuais〃　to　allay　their　anxiety　and；　soon　after；　the　three　took　their　leave　and　returned　homeward。
〃We　were　nearly　frightened　to　death；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
The　story　of　the　dropped　chopsticks　was　told。　The　two　asked　what　their　brother　intended　by　his　actions。
〃My　learning　gardening　was　to　convince　Cao　Cao　of　my　perfect　simplicity　and　the　absence　of　any　ambition。　But　when　he　suddenly　pointed　to　me　as　one　of　the　heroes；　I　was　startled；　for　I　thought　he　had　some　suspicions。　Happily　the　thunder　at　that　moment　supplied　the　excuse　I　wanted。〃
〃Really　you　are　very　clever；〃　said　they。
Next　day　Cao　Cao　again　invited　Liu　Bei　and　while　the　two　were　drinking；　Man　Chong；　who　had　been　dispatched　to　find　out　what　Yuan　Shao　was　doing；　came　to　present　his　report。
Man　Chong　said；　〃Gongsun　Zan　has　been　pletely　defeated　by　Yuan　Shao。〃
〃Do　you　know　the　details？　I　should　like　to　know　how；〃　interrupted　Liu　Bei。
〃They　were　at　war；　and　Gongsun　Zan　got　the　worst　of　it；　so　he　acted　on　the　defensive；　building　a　high　wall　about　his　army　and　on　that　erecting　a　high　tower；　which　he　called　the　Yijing　Tower。　Therein　he　placed　all　his　grain；　one　hundred　thousand　carts　total；　and　took　up　his　own　quarters。　His　fighting　troops　passed　in　and　out　without　ceasing；　some　going　out　to　give　battle；　others　returning　to　rest。　One　of　them　was　surrounded　and　sent　to　ask　Gongsun　Zan　to　rescue　him。　Gongsun　Zan　said；　'If　I　rescue　him；　hereafter　everyone　will　want　to　be　helped　and　will　not　exert　himself。'　So　Gongsun　Zan　did　not　go。　This　disgusted　his　soldiers；　and　many　deserted　to　the　enemy　so　that　his　army　diminished。　He　sent　letters　to　the　capital　to　crave　help；　but　the　messenger　was　captured。　He　sent　to　Zhang　Yan　to　arrange　with　him　for　a　two…pronged　joint　attack；　and　those　letters　with　the　plans　also　fell　into　Yuan　Shao's　hands。　The　plans　were　adopted　by　Yuan　Shao；　who　gave　the　signals　agreed　upon。　Thus　Gongsun　Zan　fell　into　an　ambush；　lost　heavily；　and　retreated　into　the　city。　There　he　was　besieged；　and　a　subterranean　passage　was　pierced　into　the　tower　where　he　lodged。　The　tower　was　set　on　fire；　and　Gongsun　Zan　could　not　escape。　So　he　slew　his　wife　and　little　ones　and　hanged　himself。　The　flames　destroyed　the　bodies　of　the　whole　family。
〃Yuan　Shao　has　added　the　remnants　of　the　vanquished　army　to　his　own　and　so　bee　yet　stronger。　His　brother　Yuan　Shu　in　the　South　of　River　Huai；　however；　has　bee　so　arrogant　and　cruel　that　the　people　have　turned　against　him。　Then　Yuan　Shu　had　sent　to　say　he　would　yield　the　title　of　Emperor；　which　he　had　assumed；　in　favor　of　Yuan　Shao。　Yuan　Shao　demanded　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　also；　and　Yuan　Shu　promised　to　bring　it　in　person。　Now　Yuan　Shu　has　abandoned　River　Huai　and　is　about　to　move　to　the　North　of　Yellow　River。　If　he　succeeded；　the　two　brothers　will　control　adjoining　regions　and　be　dangerous。〃
It　was　a　sad　story；　and　Liu　Bei　remembered　with　sorrow　that；　in　the　days　of　success　and　prosperity；　the　dead　chieftain；　Gongsun　Zan；　had　pushed　his　interest　and　shown　him　much　kindness。　Moreover　he　was　anxious　to　know　the　fate　of　Zhao　Yun。
In　his　heart　he　thought；　〃What　better　chance　am　I　likely　to　get　of　setting　myself　free？〃
So　Liu　Bei　rose　and　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃If　Yuan　Shu　goes　over　to　join　his　brother；　he　will　surely　pass　through　Xuzhou。　I　beg　you　to　give　me　an　army　with　which　to　smite　him　on　the　way。　That　will　finish　Yuan　Shu。〃
〃Memorialize　the　Emperor　tomorrow；　and　I　will　give　you　an　army；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
So　next　day　Liu　Bei　went　to　an　audience；　and　Cao　Cao　gave　him　mand　of　fifty　thousand　horse　and　foot；　and　sent　Generals　Zhu　Ling　and　Lu　Zhao　with　him。
At　parting　with　Liu　Bei；　the　Emperor　shed　tears。
As　soon　as　Liu　Bei　reached　his　lodging；　he　set　about　preparat