小说园

第2部分（第1页）

Zhou　Jing　said；　〃They　are　many　and　we　few。　We　must　enlist　more　troops　to　oppose　them。〃

Liu　Yan　agreed；　and　he　put　out　notices　calling　for　volunteers　to　serve　against　the　rebels。　One　of　these　notices　was　posted　up　in　the　county　of　Zhuo；　where　lived　one　man　of　high　spirit。

This　man　was　no　mere　bookish　scholar；　nor　found　he　any　pleasure　in　study。　But　he　was　liberal　and　amiable；　albeit　a　man　of　few　words；　hiding　all　feeling　under　a　calm　exterior。　He　had　always　cherished　a　yearning　for　high　enterprise　and　had　cultivated　the　friendship　of　humans　of　mark。　He　was　tall　of　stature。　His　ears　were　long；　the　lobes　touching　his　shoulders；　and　his　hands　hung　down　below　his　knees。　His　eyes　were　very　big　and　prominent　so　that　he　could　see　backward　past　his　ears。　His　plexion　was　as　clear　as　jade；　and　he　had　rich　red　lips。

＇e＇　Reigned　BC　157…141。

He　was　a　descendant　of　Prince　Sheng　of　Zhongshan　whose　father　was　the　Emperor　Jing*；　the　fourth　emperor　of　the　Han　Dynasty。　His　name　was　Liu　Bei。　Many　years　before；　one　of　his　forbears　had　been　the　governor　of　that　very　county；　but　had　lost　his　rank　for　remissness　in　ceremonial　offerings。　However；　that　branch　of　the　family　had　remained　on　in　the　place；　gradually　being　poorer　and　poorer　as　the　years　rolled　on。　His　father　Liu　Hong　had　been　a　scholar　and　a　virtuous　official　but　died　young。　The　widow　and　orphan　were　left　alone；　and　Liu　Bei　as　a　lad　won　a　reputation　for　filial　piety。

At　this　time　the　family　had　sunk　deep　in　poverty；　and　Liu　Bei　gained　his　living　by　selling　straw　sandals　and　weaving　grass　mats。　The　family　home　was　in　a　village　near　the　chief　city　of　Zhuo。　Near　the　house　stood　a　huge　mulberry　tree；　and　seen　from　afar　its　curved　profile　resembled　the　canopy　of　a　wagon。　Noting　the　luxuriance　of　its　foliage；　a　soothsayer　had　predicted　that　one　day　a　man　of　distinction　would　e　forth　from　the　family。

As　a　child；　Liu　Bei　played　with　the　other　village　children　beneath　this　tree；　and　he　would　climb　up　into　it；　saying；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　Heaven；　and　this　is　my　chariot！〃　His　uncle；　Liu　Yuanqi；　recognized　that　Liu　Bei　was　no　ordinary　boy　and　saw　to　it　that　the　family　did　not　e　to　actual　want。

When　Liu　Bei　was　fifteen；　his　mother　sent　him　traveling　for　his　education。　For　a　time　he　served　Zheng　Xuan　and　Lu　Zhi　as　masters。　And　he　became　great　friends　with　Gongsun　Zan。

Liu　Bei　was　twenty…eight　when　the　outbreak　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　called　for　soldiers。　The　sight　of　the　notice　saddened　him；　and　he　sighed　as　he　read　it。

Suddenly　a　rasping　voice　behind　him　cried；　〃Sir；　why　sigh　if　you　do　nothing　to　help　your　country？〃

Turning　quickly　he　saw　standing　there　a　man　about　his　own　height；　with　a　bullet　head　like　a　leopards；　large　eyes；　a　swallow　pointed　chin；　and　whiskers　like　a　tigers。　He　spoke　in　a　loud　bass　voice　and　looked　as　irresistible　as　a　dashing　horse。　At　once　Liu　Bei　saw　he　was　no　ordinary　man　and　asked　who　he　was。

〃Zhang　Fei　is　my　name；〃　replied　the　stranger。　〃I　live　near　here　where　I　have　a　farm；　and　I　am　a　wine　seller　and　a　butcher　as　well；　and　I　like　to　bee　acquainted　with　worthy　people。　Your　sighs　as　you　read　the　notice　drew　me　toward　you。〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　of　the　Imperial　Family；　Liu　Bei　is　my　name。　And　I　wish　I　could　destroy　these　Yellow　Scarves　and　restore　peace　to　the　land；　but　alas！　I　am　helpless。〃

〃I　have　the　means；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃Suppose　you　and　I　raised　some　troops　and　tried　what　we　could　do。〃

This　was　happy　news　for　Liu　Bei；　and　the　two　betook　themselves　to　the　village　inn　to　talk　over　the　project。　As　they　were　drinking；　a　huge；　tall　fellow　appeared　pushing　a　hand…cart　along　the　road。　At　the　threshold　he　halted　and　entered　the　inn　to　rest　awhile　and　he　called　for　wine。

〃And　be　quick！〃　added　he。　〃For　I　am　in　haste　to　get　into　the　town　and　offer　myself　for　the　army。〃

Liu　Bei　looked　over　the　newer；　item　by　item；　and　he　noted　the　man　had　a　huge　frame；　a　long　beard；　a　vivid　face　like　an　apple；　and　deep　red　lips。　He　had　eyes　like　a　phoenixs　and　fine　bushy　eyebrows　like　silkworms。　His　whole　appearance　was　dignified　and　awe…inspiring。　Presently；　Liu　Bei　crossed　over；　sat　down　beside　him　and　asked　his　name。

〃I　am　Guan　Yu；〃　replied　he。　〃I　am　a　native　of　the　east　side　of　the　river；　but　I　have　been　a　fugitive　on　the　waters　for　some　five　years；　because　I　slew　a　ruffian　who；　since　he　was　wealthy　and　powerful；　was　a　bully。　I　have　e　to　join　the　army　here。〃

Then　Liu　Bei　told　Guan　Yu　his　own　intentions；　and　all　three　went　away　to　Zhang　Feis　farm　where　they　could　talk　over　the　grand　project。

Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃The　peach　trees　in　the　orchard　behind　the　house　are　just　in　full　flower。　Tomorrow　we　will　institute　a　sacrifice　there　and　solemnly　declare　our　intention　before　Heaven　and　Earth；　and　we　three　will　swear　brotherhood　and　unity　of　aims　and　sentiments：　Thus　will　we　enter　upon　our　great　task。〃

Both　Liu　Bei　and　Guan　Yu　gladly　agreed。

All　three　being　of　one　mind；　next　day　they　prepared　the　sacrifices；　a　black　ox；　a　white　horse；　and　wine　for　libation。　Beneath　the　smoke　of　the　incense　burning　on　the　altar；　they　bowed　their　heads　and　recited　this　oath：

〃We　three………Liu　Bei；　Guan　Yu；　and　Zhang　Fei………though　of　different　families；　swear　brotherhood；　and　promise　mutual　help　to　one　end。　We　will　rescue　each　other　in　difficulty；　we　will　aid　each　other　in　danger。　We　swear　to　serve　the　state　and　save　the　people。　We　ask　not　the　same　day　of　birth；　but　we　seek　to　die　together。　May　Heaven；　the　all…ruling；　and　Earth；　the　all…producing；　read　our　hearts。　If　we　turn　aside　from　righteousness　or　forget　kindliness；　may　Heaven　and　Human　smite　us！〃

They　rose　from　their　knees。　The　two　others　bowed　before　Liu　Bei　as　their　elder　brother；　and　Zhang　Fei　was　to　be　the　youngest　of　the　trio。　This　solemn　ceremony　performed；　they　slew　other　oxen　and　made　a　feast　to　which　they　invited　the　villagers。　Three　hundred　joined　them；　and　all　feasted　and　drank　deep　in　the　Peach　Garden。

The　next　day　weapons　were　mustered。　But　there　were　no　horses　to　ride。　This　was　a　real　grief。　But　soon　they　were　cheered　by　the　arrival　of　two　horse　dealers　with　a　drove　of　horses。

〃Thus　does　Heaven　help　us！〃　said　Liu　Bei。