小说园

第40部分（第1页）

veres　Liu　Bei　and　es　to　an　understanding　with　the　leaders　around　the　Huashang　Mountains；　then　the　power　of　the　north　is　so　much　nearer；　and　I　should　be　unable　to　resist　the　attacks　of　so　many　leaders　and　should　never　sleep　secure。　I　will　aid　Liu　Bei：　That　is　the　better　course　for　me。〃

Now　Yuan　Shus　force　sent　against　Xiaopei　went　thither　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　soon　the　country　to　the　southeast　fluttered　with　pennons　by　day　and　blazed　with　watch　fires　by　night；　while　the　rolling　of　the　drums　reverberated　from　heaven　to　earth。

The　five　thousand　troops　at　Liu　Beis　disposal　were　led　out　of　the　city　and　arranged　to　make　a　brave　show；　but　it　was　good　news　to　him　to　hear　that　Lu　Bu　had　arrived　and　was　quite　near。　Lu　Bu　camped　only　half　a　mile　away　to　the　southwest。　When　Yuan　Shus　general；　Ji　Ling；　heard　of　his　arrival；　he　wrote　letters　reproaching　Lu　Bu　for　his　treachery。　Lu　Bu　smiled　as　he　read　them。

〃I　know　how　to　make　both　of　them　love　me；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

So　he　sent　invitations　to　both　Liu　Bei　and　Ji　Ling　to　e　to　a　banquet。

Liu　Bei　was　for　accepting　the　invitation　and　going；　but　his　brothers　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃There　is　some　treachery　in　his　heart。〃

〃I　have　treated　him　too　well　for　him　to　do　me　any　harm；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　he　mounted　and　rode　away；　the　two　brothers　following。　They　came　to　the　camp。

The　host　said；　〃Now　by　a　special　effort　I　have　got　you　out　of　danger。　I　hope　you　will　not　forget　that　when　you　e　into　your　own。〃

Liu　Bei　thanked　him　heartily　and　was　invited　to　take　a　seat。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　took　up　their　usual　place　as　guards。

But　when　Ji　Ling　was　announced；　Liu　Bei　felt　a　spasm　of　fear　and　got　up　to　go　away。

〃You　two　are　invited　for　the　particular　purpose　of　a　discussion；〃　said　the　host。　〃Do　not　take　it　amiss。〃

Liu　Bei；　being　quite　ignorant　of　his　intentions；　was　very　uneasy。　Presently　his　fellow　guest　entered。　Seeing　Liu　Bei　in　the　tent；　and　in　the　seat　of　honor；　Ji　Ling　was　puzzled；　hesitated　and　tried　to　withdraw。　But　the　attendants　prevented　this　and　Lu　Bu；　advancing；　laid　hold　of　him　and　drew　him　into　the　tent　as　if　he　had　been　a　child。

〃Do　you　wish　to　slay　me？〃　asked　Ji　Ling。

〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Lu　Bu。

〃Then　you　are　going　to　slay　Long…Ears？〃

〃No；　not　that。〃

〃Then　what　does　it　mean？〃

〃Liu　Bei　and　I　are　brothers。　Now；　General；　you　are　besieging　him；　and　so　I　have　e　to　the　rescue。〃

〃Then　slay　me；〃　said　Ji　Ling。

〃There　would　be　no　sense　in　that。　All　my　life　I　have　disliked　fighting　and　quarrels；　but　have　loved　making　peace。　And　now　I　want　to　settle　the　quarrel　between　you　two。〃

〃May　I　ask　how　you　think　of　doing　so？〃

〃I　have　a　means　and　one　approved　of　Heaven　itself。〃

Then　Lu　Bu　drew　Ji　Ling　within　the　tent　and　led　him　up　to　Liu　Bei。　The　two　men　faced　each　other；　full　of　mutual　suspicion；　but　their　host　placed　himself　between　them　and　they　took　their　seats；　Liu　Bei　on　the　right　hand　of　the　host。

The　banquet　began。　After　a　number　of　courses　almost　in　silence；　Lu　Bu　spoke；　saying；　〃I　wish　you　two　gentlemen　to　listen　to　me　and　put　an　end　to　your　strife。〃

Liu　Bei　made　no　reply；　but　Ji　Ling　said；　〃I　have　e　with　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　at　the　express　bidding　of　my　master　to　take　Liu　Bei。　How　can　I　cease　the　strife？　I　must　fight。〃

〃What！〃　exclaimed　Zhang　Fei　drawing　his　sword。　〃Few　as　we　are；　we　regard　you　no　more　than　a　lot　of　children。　What　are　you　pared　with　a　million　Yellow　Scarves？　You　dare　hurt　our　brother！〃

Guan　Yu　urged　him　to　be　silent；　saying；　〃Let　us　see　what　General　Lu　Bu　has　to　say　first。　After　that　there　will　be　time　to　go　to　our　tents　and　fight。〃

〃I　beg　you　both　to　e　to　an　understanding。　I　cannot　let　you　fight；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

Now　on　one　side　Ji　Ling　was　discontented　and　angry；　on　the　other　Zhang　Fei　was　dying　for　a　fight；　and　neither　of　the　two　chiefly　concerned　would　signify　assent。