小说园

第86部分（第2页）

Cai　Mao　thought　this　a　good　device　for　getting　Zhao　Yun　out　of　the　way。

Now　oxen　and　horses　had　been　slaughtered　and　a　grand　banquet　prepared。　Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　residence　on　the　horse　of　ill　omen；　and　when　he　arrived；　the　steed　was　led　into　the　back　part　of　the　enclosure　and　tethered　there。　Soon　the　guests　arrived；　and　Liu　Bei　took　his　place　as　master　of　the　feast；　with　the　two　sons　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　one　on　each　side。　The　guests　were　all　arranged　in　order　of　rank。　Zhao　Yun　stood　near　his　lord　sword　in　hand　as　a　faithful　henchman　should　do。

Then　Wen　Ping　and　Wang　Wei　came　to　invite　Zhao　Yun　to　the　banquet　they　had　prepared　for　the　military　officers。　But　he　declined。　However；　Liu　Bei　told　him　to　go；　and；　after　some　demur；　he　went。　Then　Cai　Mao　perfected　his　final　arrangements；　placing　his　people　surrounding　the　place　like　a　ring　of　iron。　The　three　hundred　guards　that　formed　the　escort　of　Liu　Bei　were　sent　away　to　the　guest…house。

All　were　ready　and　awaiting　the　signal。　At　the　third　course；　Yi　Ji　took　a　goblet　of　wine　in　his　hands　and　approached　Liu　Bei；　at　the　same　time　giving　him　a　meaningful　look。　Then　in　a　low　voice　he　said；　〃Make　an　excuse　to　get　sway。〃

Liu　Bei　understood　and　presently　rose　and　went　to　the　inner　chamber；　and　then　he　went　to　the　backyard。　There　he　found　Yi　Ji；　who　had　gone　thither　after　presenting　the　cup　of　wine。

Yi　Ji　then　told　him；　saying；　〃Cai　Mao　plots　to　kill　you；　and　all　the　roads　have　been　guarded　except　that　to　the　west。　My　lord；　you　must　lose　no　time　to　depart。〃

Liu　Bei　was　quite　taken　aback。　However；　he　got　hold　of　the　Dilu　horse；　opened　the　door　of　the　garden；　and　led　it　out。　Then　he　took　a　flying　leap　into　the　saddle　and　galloped　off　without　waiting　for　the　escort。　He　made　for　the　west　gate。　At　the　gate　the　wardens　wanted　to　question　him；　but　he　only　whipped　up　his　steed　and　rode　through。　The　guards　at　the　gate　ran　off　to　report　to　Cai　Mao；　who　quickly　went　in　pursuit　with　five　hundred　soldiers。

As　has　been　said　Liu　Bei　burst　out　at　the　west　gate。　Before　he　had　gone　far；　there　rolled　before　him　a　river　barring　the　way。　It　was　the　Tan　Torrent；　many　score　spans　in　width；　which　pours　its　waters　into　the　River　Xiang。　Its　current　was　very　swift。

Liu　Bei　reached　the　bank　and　saw　the　river　was　unfordable。　So　he　turned　his　horse　and　rode　back。　Then；　not　far　off；　he　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　and　knew　that　his　pursuers　were　therein。　He　thought　that　it　was　all　over。　However；　he　turned　again　toward　the　swift　river；　and　seeing　the　soldiers　now　quite　near；　plunged　into　the　stream。　A　few　paces；　and　he　felt　the　horses　fore　legs　floundering　in　front；　while　the　water　rose　over　the　skirt　of　his　robe。

Then　he　plied　the　whip　furiously；　crying；　〃Dilu；　Dilu；　why　betray　me？〃

Whereupon　the　good　steed　suddenly　reared　up　out　of　the　water　and；　with　one　tremendous　leap；　was　on　the　western　bank。　Liu　Bei　felt　as　if　he　had　e　out　of　the　clouds。

In　after　years　the　famous　court　official；　Su　Dongpo；　wrote　a　poem　on　this　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent：

Im　growing　old；　the　leaves　are　sere；

My　sun　slopes　westward；　soon　will　sink；

And　I　recall　that　yesteryear

I　wandered　by　Tan　River　brink。

Irresolute；　anon　I　paused；

Anon　advanced；　and　gazed　around；

I　marked　the　autumns　reddened　leaves；

And　watched　them　eddying　to　the　ground。

I　thought　of　all　the　mighty　deeds

Of　him　who　set　the　House　of　Han

On　high；　and　all　the　struggles　since；

The　battlefields；　the　blood　that　ran。

I　saw　the　nobles　gathered　round

The　board；　set　in　the　Banquet　Hall；

Amid　them；　one；　above　whose　head

There　hung　a　sword　about　to　fall。

I　saw　him　quit　that　festive　throng

And　westward　ride；　a　lonely　way；

I　saw　a　squadron　follow　swift；

Intent　the　fugitive　to　slay。

I　saw　him　reach　the　River　Tan；

Whose　swirling　current　rushes　by；

Adown　the　bank　he　galloped　fast；

〃Now　leap；　my　steed！〃　I　heard　him　cry。

His　steeds　hoofs　churn　the　swollen　stream；

What　chills　he　that　the　waves　run　high？