小说园

第110部分（第1页）

〃How　many　ships　has　he？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。

They　replied；　〃Only　one；　and　the　escort　is　only　about　a　score。〃

〃His　fate　is　sealed；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

Zhou　Yu　sent　for　the　executioners　and　placed　them　in　hiding　between　the　outer　and　inner　tents；　and　when　all　was　arranged　for　the　assassination　he　contemplated；　he　went　out　to　receive　his　visitor。　Liu　Bei　came　with　his　brother　and　escort　into　the　midst　of　the　army　to　the　manders　tent。

After　the　salutations；　Zhou　Yu　wished　Liu　Bei　to　take　the　upper　seat；　but　he　declined　saying；　〃General；　you　are　famous　throughout　all　the　empire；　while　I　am　a　nobody。　Do　not　overwhelm　me　with　too　great　deference。〃

So　they　took　the　positions　of　simple　friends；　and　refreshments　were　brought　in。

Now　by　chance　Zhuge　Liang　came　on　shore　and　heard　that　his　master　had　arrived　and　was　with　the　mander…in…Chief。　The　news　gave　Zhuge　Liang　a　great　shock；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃What　is　to　be　done　now？〃

He　made　his　way　to　the　reception　tent　and　stole　a　look　therein。　He　saw　murder　written　on　Zhou　Yus　countenance　and　noted　the　assassins　hidden　within　the　walls　of　the　tent。　Then　he　got　a　look　at　Liu　Bei；　who　was　laughing　and　talking　quite　unconcernedly。　But　when　he　noticed　the　redoubtable　figure　of　Guan　Yu　near　his　masters　side；　he　became　quite　calm　and　contented。

〃My　lord　faces　no　danger；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　went　away　to　the　river　bank　to　await　the　end　of　the　interview。

Meanwhile　the　banquet　of　wele　proceeded。　After　the　wine　had　gone　around　several　times；　Zhou　Yu　picked　up　a　cup　to　give　the　signal　agreed　upon。　But　at　that　moment　Zhou　Yu　saw　so　fierce　a　look　upon　the　face　of　the　trusty　henchman　who　stood；　sword　in　hand；　behind　his　guest；　that　Zhou　Yu　hesitated　and　hastily　asked　who　he　was。

〃That　is　my　brother；　Guan　Yu；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

Zhou　Yu；　quite　startled；　said；　〃Is　he　the　slayer　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou？〃

〃Exactly；　he　it　is；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

The　sweat　of　fear　broke　out　all　over　Zhou　Yus　body　and　trickled　down　his　back。　Then　he　poured　out　a　cup　of　wine　and　presented　it　to　Guan　Yu。

Just　then　Lu　Su　came　in；　and　Liu　Bei　said　to　him；　〃Where　is　Zhuge　Liang？　I　would　trouble　you　to　ask　him　to　e。〃

〃Wait　till　we　have　defeated　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃then　you　shall　see　him。〃

Liu　Bei　dared　not　repeat　his　request；　but　Guan　Yu　gave　him　a　meaningful　look　which　Liu　Bei　understood　and　rose；　saying；　〃I　would　take　leave　now。　I　will　e　again　to　congratulate　you　when　the　enemy　has　been　defeated　and　your　success　shall　be　plete。〃

Zhou　Yu　did　not　press　him　to　remain；　but　escorted　him　to　the　great　gates　of　the　camp；　and　Liu　Bei　left。　When　he　reached　the　river　bank；　they　found　Zhuge　Liang　awaiting　them　in　their　boat。

Liu　Bei　was　exceedingly　pleased；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Sir；　do　you　know　in　how　great　danger　you　were　today？〃

Suddenly　sobered；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃No；　I　did　not　think　of　danger。〃

〃If　Guan　Yu　had　not　been　there；　you　would　have　been　killed；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Liu　Bei；　after　a　moments　reflection；　saw　that　it　was　true。　He　begged　Zhuge　Liang　to　return　with　him　to　Fankou；　but　Zhuge　Liang　refused。

〃I　am　quite　safe；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Although　I　am　living　in　the　tigers　mouth；　I　am　as　steady　as　the　Taishan　Mountains。　Now；　my　lord；　return　and　prepare　your　ships　and　soldiers。　On　the　twentieth　day　of　the　eleventh　month；　send　Zhao　Yun　with　a　small　ship　to　the　south　bank　to　wait　for　me。　Be　sure　there　is　no　miscarriage。〃

〃What　are　your　intentions？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃When　the　southeast　wind　begins；　I　shall　return。〃

Liu　Bei　would　have　questioned　him　further；　but　Zhuge　Liang　pressed　him　to　go。　So　the　boat　started　up　river　again；　while　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　temporary　lodging。

The　boat　had　not　proceeded　far　when　appeared　a　small　fleet　of　fifty　ships　sweeping　down　with　the　current；　and　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　vessel　stood　a　tall　figure　armed　with　a　spear。　Guan　Yu　was　ready　to　fight。　But　when　they　were　near；　they　recognized　that　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　e　down　fearing　lest　his　brother　might　be　in　some　difficulty　from　which　the　strong　arm　of　Guan　Yu　might　even　be　insufficient　to　rescue　him。

The　three　brothers　thus　returned　together。

After　Zhou　Yu；　having　escorted　Liu　Bei　to　the　gate　of　his　camp；　had　returned　to　his　quarters；　Lu　Su　soon　came　to　see　him。

〃Then　you　had　cajoled　Liu　Bei　into　ing；　why　did　you　not　carry　out　your　plan？〃　asked　Lu　Su。

〃Because　of　that　Guan　Yu。　He　is　a　very　tiger；　and　he　never　left　his　brother　for　a　moment。　If　anything　had　been　attempted；　he　would　certainly　have　had　my　life。〃

Lu　Su　knew　that　Zhou　Yu　spoke　the　truth。　Then　suddenly　they　announced　a　messenger　with　a　letter　from　Cao　Cao。　Zhou　Yu　ordered　them　to　bring　him　in　and　took　the　letter。　But　when　he　saw　the　superscription　The　First　Minister　of　Han　to　mander…in…Chief　Zhou　Yu　；　he　fell　into　a　frenzy　of　rage；　tore　the　letter　to　fragments；　and　threw　them　on　the　ground。

〃To　death　with　this　fellow！〃　cried　he。