小说园

第73部分（第1页）

ole　empire；　you　are　not　so　suited　as　I。　But　in　encouraging　the　wise　and　confiding　in　the　able　and　getting　the　best　out　of　everyone　for　the　preservation　of　this　land；　I　should　not　succeed　as　you　will。　Remember　with　what　toil　and　labor　your　father　and　I　have　won　what　we　possess；　and　take　good　care　thereof。〃

Sun　Quan　wept　as　he　knelt　to　receive　the　seal；　and　the　dying　Sun　Ce　turned　to　his　mother；　saying；　〃Mother；　the　days　allotted　of　Heaven　have　run　out；　and　I　can　no　longer　serve　my　tender　mother。　I　have　given　over　the　seal　to　my　brother　and　trust　that　you　will　advise　him　early　and　late；　and　see　that　he　lives　worthy　of　his　predecessors。〃

〃Alas！　Your　brother　is　full　young　for　such　a　task；〃　said　his　mother；　weeping。　〃I　know　not　what　may　happen。〃

〃He　is　far　abler　than　I　and　fully　equal　to　the　task　of　ruling。　Should　he　have　doubts　upon　internal　affairs；　he　must　turn　to　Zhang　Zhao；　for　outer　matters　he　must　consult　Zhou　Yu。　It　is　a　pity　Zhou　Yu　is　absent　so　that　I　cannot　give　him　my　charge　face　to　face。〃

To　his　brothers　Sun　Ce　said；　〃When　I　am　gone；　you　must　help　your　brother。　Should　any　discord　arise　in　the　family；　let　the　others　punish　the　wrongdoer　and　let　not　his　ashes　mingle　with　those　of　his　ancestors　in　the　family　vaults。〃

The　young　men　wept　at　these　words。

＇e＇　Sun　Ce　and　Zhou　Yu　wedded　two　sisters；　who　were　daughters　of　Duke　Qiao　in　the　South　Land。

Then　he　called　for　his　wife；　Lady　Qiao；　and　said；　〃Unhappily　we　have　to　part　while　still　in　the　full　vigor　of　life。　You　must　care　for　my　mother。　Your　sister　will　e　to　see　you　presently；　and　you　can　ask　her　to　tell　her　husband；　Zhou　Yu*；　to　help　my　brother　in　all　things　and　make　my　brother　keep　to　the　way　I　have　taught　him　to　walk　in。〃

Then　Sun　Ce　closed　his　eyes　and　soon　after　passed　away。　He　was　only　twenty…six。

People　called　him　first　of　the　chieftains；

The　east　had　felt　his　might；

He　watched　like　a　tiger　crouching。

Struck　as　a　hawk　in　flight。

There　was　peace　in　the　lands　he　ruled。

His　fame　ran　with　the　wind。

But　he　died　and　left　to　another。

The　great　scheme　in　his　mind。

As　his　brother　breathed　his　last；　Sun　Quan　sank　by　the　bed　and　wept。

〃This　is　not　the　time　to　mourn；〃　said　Zhang　Zhao。　〃First　see　to　the　funeral　ceremonies　and　that　the　government　is　safe。〃

So　the　new　ruler　dried　his　tears。　The　superintendence　of　the　funeral　was　confided　to　Sun　Jing；　and　then　Zhang　Zhao　led　his　young　master　to　the　hall　to　receive　the　felicitations　of　his　officers。

Sun　Quan　was　endowed　with　a　square　jaw　and　a　large　mouth；　he　had　green　eyes　and　a　purple　beard。

Formerly；　when　Minister　Liu　Wan　had　gone　to　Wu　to　visit　the　Sun　family；　he　said　of　the　family　of　brothers；　〃I　have　looked　well　at　them　all；　and　they　are　all　clever　and　perspicacious；　but　none　of　them　have　the　very　ultimate　degree　of　good　fortune。　Only　the　second；　Sun　Quan；　has　the　look　of　a　deep　thinker。　His　face　is　remarkable；　and　his　build　unusual；　and　he　has　the　look　of　one　who　will　e　to　great　honor。〃

When　Sun　Quan　succeeded　to　his　brother　and　his　brothers　might；　there　was　still　some　reorganization　to　be　done。　Soon　Zhou　Yu　had　arrived　at　Wujun。

The　young　ruler　received　him　very　graciously　and　said；　〃I　need　have　no　anxiety　now　that　you　have　e。〃

Zhou　Yu　had　been　sent　to　hold　Baqiu。　When　he　heard　that　his　chief　had　been　wounded；　he　thought　it　well　to　return　to　see　how　he　was。　But　Sun　Ce　had　died　before　Zhou　Yu　could　arrive。　He　hurried　to　be　present　at　the　funeral。

When　Zhou　Yu　went　to　wail　at　the　coffin　of　his　late　chief；　Lady　Wu；　the　dead　mans　mother；　came　out　to　deliver　her　sons　last　injunctions。

When　she　had　told　him　the　last　charge；　Zhou　Yu　bowed　to　the　earth；　saying；　〃I　shall　exert　the　puny　powers　I　have　in　your　service　as　long　as　I　live。〃

Shortly　after　Sun　Quan　came　in；　and；　after　receiving　Zhou　Yus　obeisance；　said；　〃I　trust　you　will　not　forget　my　brothers　charge　to　you。〃

Zhou　Yu　bowed；　saying；　〃I　would　willingly　suffer　any　form　of　death　for　you。〃

〃How　best　can　I　maintain　this　great　charge　which　I　have　inherited　from　my　father　and　brother？〃

〃He　who　wins　people；　prospers；　he　who　loses　them；　fails。　Your　present　plan　should　be　to　seek　people　of　high　aims　and　farseeing　views；　and　you　can　establish　yourself　firmly。〃

〃My　brother　bade　me　consult　Zhang　Zhao　for　internal　administration；　and　yourself　on　external　matters；〃　said　Sun　Quan。