小说园

第129部分（第2页）

Suddenly　he　cried；　〃I　have　it。　Lu　Fan　is　the　man　to　send。〃

Sun　Quan　called　Lu　Fan　and　said　to　him；　〃I　have　just　heard　that　Liu　Bei　has　lost　his　wife。　I　have　a　sister　whom　I　should　like　to　marry　to　him　and　so　make　a　bond　of　union　between　our　two　houses。　Thus　we　should　be　united　against　Cao　Cao　and　in　support　of　the　House　of　Han。　You　are　the　one　man　to　be　intermediary；　and　I　hope　you　will　go　to　Jingzhou　and　see　to　this。〃

Under　these　orders；　Lu　Fan　at　once　began　to　prepare　his　ships　for　the　voyage　and　soon　started。

Liu　Bei　was　greatly　distressed　at　the　death　of　Lady　Gan；　fretting　for　her　day　and　night。　One　day　when　he　was　talking　with　his　adviser；　they　announced　the　arrival　of　Lu　Fan　who　had　e　on　a　mission　from　the　South　Land。

〃One　of　Zhou　Yus　devices；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang　smiling；　〃and　it　is　all　on　account　of　this　region。　I　will　just　retire　behind　the　screen　and　listen。　But　you；　my　lord；　agree　to　whatever　the　messenger　proposes。　Then　let　the　messenger　be　taken　to　the　guest…house　while　we　arrange　what　is　to　be　done。〃

So　the　envoy　was　introduced。　Bows　having　been　exchanged；　host　and　guest　being　seated　in　due　order　and　the　tea　drunk；　Liu　Bei　opened　the　interview。

〃You　must　have　some　mands　for　me；　Sir；　since　you　e　thus。〃

〃News　has　just　been　received　that　you；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　have　just　been　bereaved　of　your　consort。　I　venture　to　hope　you　would　not　object　to　an　advantageous　match；　and　I　have　e　to　propose　one。　Are　you　disposed　to　listen？〃

〃To　lose　ones　wife　in　middle　age　is　truly　a　great　misfortune；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃While　her　body　is　still　warm；　I　cannot　listen　to　proposals　for　another　marriage。〃

＇e＇　Jin　was　a　state　that　occupied　the　western　part　of　the　empire；　in　the　mountainous　area　north　of　the　Yellow　River。　During　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　under　the　leadership　of　Duke　Wen　and　his　successors；　Jin　grew　into　a　very　large　state；　which　broke　into　three　states　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Qin　was　a　western…most　state　existed　in　both　Spring　and　Autumn　and　Warring　States　periods。　Because　Jin　blocked　its　way　to　the　east；　Qin　was　shielded　from　the　wars　in　the　central　plain。　Wars　between　Qin　and　Jin　were　not　few；　but　intermarriages　between　the　two　houses　were　frequent；　and　this　alliance　strengthened　both　states。　。。。。。

Lu　Fan　said；　〃A　man　without　a　wife　is　like　a　house　without　a　ridge　pole。　At　your　age；　one　should　not　live　an　inplete　life。　I　am　e　on　the　part　of　Marquis　Sun　Quan；　who　has　a　sister；　beautiful　as　she　is；　acplished　and　well　fitted　to　be　a　mate　for　you。　Should　the　two　families　bee　allied　as　formerly　were　Qin　and　Jin*；　then　that　ruffian　Cao　Cao　would　never　dare　so　much　as　look　this　way。　Such　an　alliance　would　be　to　the　benefit　of　both　our　houses　and　of　the　state。　I　hope；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　that　you　will　fairly　consider　the　proposal。　However；　since　the　young　girls　mother　is　dotingly　fond　of　her；　the　mother　does　not　wish　her　to　go　far　away；　and　so　I　must　ask　you　to　e　into　our　country　for　the　wedding。〃

〃Does　the　Marquis　know　of　your　ing？〃

〃How　dare　I　e　without　his　knowledge？〃

〃I　am　no　longer　young；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃I　am　fifty　and　grizzled。　This　fair　damsel；　the　sister　of　the　Marquis；　is　now　in　the　flower　of　her　youth　and　no　mate　for　me。〃

〃Although　the　damsel　is　a　woman；　yet　in　mind　she　surpasses　many　a　man；　and　she　has　said　she　will　never　wed　anyone　who　is　unknown　to　fame。　Now；　Sir；　you　are　renowned　throughout　the　four　seas。　Marriage　with　you　would　be　the　chaste　maiden　mating　with　the　born　gentleman。　Of　what　consequence　is　the　difference　in　age？〃

〃Sir；　stay　here　awhile；　and　I　will　give　you　a　reply　tomorrow；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　that　day　the　envoy　was　entertained　at　a　banquet　and　then　conducted　to　the　guest…house　to　repose；　while；　late　as　it　was；　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　discussed　their　plans。

〃I　knew　what　he　had　e　about；〃　said　the　adviser。　〃While　he　was　talking；　I　consulted　the　oracle　and　obtained　an　excellent　sign。　Wherefore　you　may　accept　the　proposal　and　send　Sun　Qian　back　with　this　envoy　to　arrange　the　details。　When　the　promise　has　been　ratified；　we　will　choose　a　day　and　you　shall　go　to　plete　the　ceremony。〃

〃How　can　I　thus　go　into　enemy　territory？　Zhou　Yu　has　wanted　to　slay　me　for　a　long　time。〃

〃Let　Zhou　Yu　employ　all　his　ruses。　Think　you　he　can　get　beyond　me？　Let　me　act　for　you；　and　his　calculations　will　always　fail　halfway。　Once　Sun　Quans　sister　is　in　your　power；　there　will　be　no　fear　for　Jingzhou。〃

Still　Liu　Bei　doubted　in　his　mind。　However；　Sun　Qian　was　sent　to　the　South　Land；　with　definite　instructions；　and　traveled　thither　with　Lu　Fan。

At　the　interview　Sun　Quan　said；　〃I　wish　my　sister　could　induce　Liu　Bei　to　live　here　with　us。　He　would　e　to　no　harm。〃

Sun　Qian　took　his　leave。　And　returning　to　Jingzhou；　he　told　the　bridegroom　elect；　saying；　〃Sun　Quans　sole　desire　is　for　our　lord　to　go　over　and　plete　the　marriage。〃

However；　Liu　Bei　feared　and　would　not　go。

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　have　prepared　three　plans；　but　I　need　Zhao　Yun　to　carry　them　out。　He　will　be　sent　as　your　guard。〃

So　Zhuge　Liang　called　in　Zhao　Yun；　gave　him　three　silken　bags；　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　saying；　〃Here　are　three　schemes　enclosed　in　three　bags。　When　you　escort　our　lord　to　the　South　Land；　you　will　take　these　with　you　and　act　as　they　direct。〃

Zhao　Yun　hi