小说园

第86部分（第1页）

Naturally　the　failure　of　the　plot　chagrined　the　treacherous　Cai　Mao；　but　he　took　the　occasion　to　scribble　some　calumnious　verses　on　one　of　the　partitions。

Then　he　went　to　see　Liu　Biao　to　whom　he　said；　〃Liu　Bei　has　treacherous　intentions；　as　can　be　seen　from　some　lines　written　on　the　wall。　And　his　hurried　departure　is　suspicious。〃

Liu　Biao　felt　doubtful；　but　he　went　to　the　guest…house　and　there　on　the　wall　he　read　this　poem：

Too　long；　far　too　long　I　have　dreamed　life　away；

Gazing　at　scenery　day　after　day。

A　dragon　can　never　be　kept　in　a　pond；

He　should　ride　on　the　thunder　to　heaven　and　beyond。

Greatly　angered　by　what　he　read；　Liu　Biao　drew　his　sword　and　swore　to　slay　the　writer。　But　before　he　had　gone　many　paces；　his　anger　had　already　died　down；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　seen　much　of　the　man；　but　have　never　known　him　write　verses。　This　is　the　handiwork　of　someone　who　wishes　to　sow　discord　between　us。〃

So　saying；　he　turned　back　and　with　the　point　of　his　sword　scraped　away　the　poem。　Then；　putting　up　his　sword；　he　mounted　and　rode　home。

By　and　bye　Cai　Mao　reminded　him；　saying；　〃The　soldiers　are　awaiting　your　orders　to　go　to　Xinye　and　arrest　Liu　Bei。〃

There　is　no　hurry；〃　he　replied。

Cai　Mao　saw　his　brother…in…laws　hesitation　and　again　sought　his　sister。

She　said；　〃Soon　there　is　to　be　the　great　gathering　at　Xiangyang；　and　we　can　arrange　something　for　that　day。〃

Next　day　Cai　Mao　petitioned　the　Imperial　Protector；　saying；　〃We　have　had　several　fruitful　harvests　recently。　I　pray　you；　Sir；　attend　the　Full　Harvest　Festival　at　Xiangyang。　It　would　be　an　encouragement　to　the　people。〃

〃I　have　been　feeling　my　old　trouble　lately。　I　certainly　cannot　go；〃　replied　he；　〃but　my　two　sons　can　go　to　represent　me　and　to　receive　the　guests。〃

〃They　are　full　young；〃　replied　Cai　Mao。　〃They　may　make　some　mistakes。〃

〃Then　go　to　Xinye　and　request　Liu　Bei　to　receive　the　guests；〃　said　Liu　Biao。

Nothing　could　have　pleased　Cai　Mao　more；　for　this　would　bring　Liu　Bei　within　reach　of　his　plot。　Without　loss　of　time　he　sent　to　Liu　Bei　requesting　him　to　go　to　preside　at　the　Festival。

It　has　been　said　that　Liu　Bei　made　the　best　of　his　way　home　to　Xinye。　He　felt　that　he　had　offended　by　that　slip　in　speech；　but　determined　to　keep　silence　about　it　and　attempt　no　explanation。　So　he　discussed　it　with　nobody。　Then　came　the　message　asking　him　to　preside　at　the　Festival；　and　he　needed　counsel。

Sun　Qian　said；　〃You　have　seemed　worried　and　preoccupied　lately；　and　I　think　something　untoward　happened　at　Jingzhou。　You　should　consider　well　before　you　accept　this　invitation。〃

Thereupon　Liu　Bei　told　his　confidants　the　whole　story。

Guan　Yu　said；　〃You　yourself　think　your　speech　offended　the　Imperial　Protector；　but　he　said　nothing　to　show　displeasure。　You　need　pay　no　attention　to　the　babble　of　outsiders　like　Yi　Ji。　Xiangyang　is　quite　near　and；　if　you　do　not　go；　Liu　Biao　will　begin　to　suspect　something　really　is　wrong。〃

〃You　speak　well；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃Banquets　are　no　good；　gatherings　are　no　better。　It　is　best　not　to　go。〃

〃Let　me　take　three　hundred　horse　and　foot　as　escort：　There　will　be　no　trouble　then；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。

〃That　is　the　best　course；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

They　soon　set　out　for　the　gathering　place；　and　Cai　Mao　met　them　at　the　boundary　and　was　most　affable　and　courteous。　Soon　arrived　the　Imperial　Protectors　sons　at　the　head　of　a　great　pany　of　officers；　civil　and　military。　Their　appearance　put　Liu　Bei　more　at　ease。　He　was　conducted　to　the　guest…house；　and　Zhao　Yun　posted　his　men　so　as　to　guard　it　pletely；　while　he　himself；　armed；　remained　close　to　his　chief。

Liu　Qi　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃My　father　is　feeling　unwell　and　could　not　e；　wherefore　he　begs　you；　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　to　preside　at　the　various　ceremonies　and　give　encouragement　to　the　officers　who　administer　the　region。〃

〃Really　I　am　unfit　for　such　responsibilities；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃But　my　brothers　mand　must　be　obeyed。〃

Next　day　it　was　reported　that　the　officials　from　forty…two　counties　of　nine　territories　of　Jingzhou　had　all　arrived。

Then　Cai　Mao　said　to　Kuai　Yue；　〃This　Liu　Bei　is　the　villain　of　the　age　and　if　left　alive　will　certainly　work　harm　to　us。　He　must　be　got　rid　of　now。〃

〃I　fear　you　would　forfeit　everybodys　favor　if　you　harmed　him；〃　replied　Kuai　Yue。

〃I　have　already　secretly　spoken　in　these　terms　to　the　Imperial　Protector；〃　said　Cai　Mao；　〃and　I　have　his　word　here。〃

〃So　it　may　be　regarded　as　settled。　Then　we　can　prepare。〃

Cai　Mao　added；　〃My　brothers　are　ready。　Cai　He　is　posted　on　the　road　to　the　Xian　Hills　from　the　east　gate；　Cai　Zhong　and　Cai　Xun　are　on　the　north　and　south　roads。　No　guard　is　needed　on　the　west　as　the　Tan　Torrent　is　quite　safeguard　enough。　Even　with　legions；　Liu　Bei　could　not　get　over　that。〃

Kuai　Yue　replied；　〃I　notice　that　Zhao　Yun　never　leaves　him。　I　feel　sure　he　expects　some　attack。〃

〃I　have　placed　five　hundred　men　in　ambush　in　the　city。〃

〃We　will　tell　Wen　Ping　and　Wang　Wei　to　invite　all　the　military　officers　to　a　banquet　at　one　of　the　pavilions　outside　the　city；　and　Zhao　Yun　will　be　among　them。　Then　will　be　our　opportunity。〃