小说园

第8部分（第2页）

So　they　gave　Li　Su　what　he　demanded………a　thousand　ounces　of　gold；　ten　strings　of　beautiful　pearls；　a　jeweled　belt；　and　Red　Hare………and　these　acpanied　Li　Su　on　his　visit　to　his　fellow　villager。

Li　Su　reached　the　camp　and　said　to　the　guard；　〃Please　tell　General　Lu　Bu　that　a　very　old　friend　has　e　to　visit　him。〃

He　was　admitted　forthwith。

〃Worthy　brother；　have　you　been　well　since　we　last　met？〃　greeted　Li　Su　while　bowing。

〃How　long　it　is　since　we　last　saw　each　other！〃　replied　Lu　Bu；　bowing　in　return。　〃And　where　are　you　now？〃

〃I　am　a　general　in　the　Imperial　Tiger　Army。　When　I　learned　you　were　a　strong　supporter　of　the　Throne；　I　could　not　say　how　I　rejoiced。　I　have　e　now　to　present　to　you　a　really　fine　horse；　a　five…hundred…mile…a…day　horse；　one　that　crosses　rivers　and　goes　up　mountains　as　if　they　were　the　level　plain。　Its　name　is　Red　Hare。　It　will　be　a　fitting　aid　to　your　valor。〃

Lu　Bu　bade　his　guards　lead　out　the　horse。　It　was　of　a　uniform　color　like　glowing…sun　red………not　a　hair　of　another　color。　It　measured　ten　spans　from　head　to　tail　and　from　hoof　to　neck　eight　spans。　When　it　neighed；　the　sound　filled　the　empyrean　and　shook　the　ocean。

Mark　ye　the　steed　swift　and　tireless；　see　the　dust；　spurned　by　his　hoofs；　rising　in　clouds；

Now　it　swims　the　river；　anon　climbs　the　hill；　rending　the　purple　mist　asunder；

Scornful　it　breaks　the　rein；　shakes　from　its　head　the　jeweled　bridle；

It　is　as　a　fiery　dragon　descending　from　the　highest　heaven。

Lu　Bu　was　delighted　with　the　horse　and　said；　〃What　return　can　I　hope　to　make　for　such　a　creature？〃

〃What　return　can　I　hope　for？　I　came　to　you　out　of　a　sense　of　what　is　right；〃　replied　Li　Su。

Wine　was　brought　in　and　they　drank。

〃We　have　seen　very　little　of　each　other；　but　I　am　constantly　meeting　your　honorable　father；〃　said　Li　Su。

〃You　are　drunk；〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃My　father　has　been　dead　for　years。〃

〃Not　so；　I　spoke　of　Ding　Yuan；　the　man　of　the　day。〃

Lu　Bu　started。　〃Yes；　I　am　with　him；　but　only　because　I　can　do　no　better。〃

〃Sir；　your　talent　is　higher　than　the　heavens；　deeper　than　the　seas。　Who　in　all　the　world　does　not　bow　before　your　name？　Fame　and　riches　and　honors　are　yours　for　the　taking。　And　you　say　you　can　do　no　better　than　remain　a　subordinate！〃

〃If　I　could　only　find　a　master　to　serve；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃The　clever　bird　chooses　the　branch　whereon　to　perch；　the　wise　servant　selects　the　master　to　serve。　Seize　the　chance　when　it　es；　for　repentance　ever　es　too　late。〃

〃Now　you　are　in　the　government。　Who　think　you　is　really　the　bravest　of　all？〃；　asked　Lu　Bu。

〃I　despise　the　whole　lot　except　Dong　Zhuo。　He　is　one　who　respects　wisdom　and　reveres　scholarship；　he　is　discriminating　in　his　rewards　and　punishments。　Surely　he　is　destined　to　be　a　really　great　man。〃

Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　wish　that　I　could　serve　him；　but　there　is　no　way；　I　fear。〃

Then　Li　Su　produced　his　pearls　and　gold　and　the　jeweled　belt　and　laid　them　out　before　his　host。

〃What　is　this？　What　does　it　mean？〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃Send　away　the　attendants；〃　requested　Li　Su。　And　he　went　on；　〃Dong　Zhuo　has　long　respected　your　bravery　and　sent　these　by　my　hand。　Red　Hare　was　also　from　him。〃

〃But；　if　he　loves　me　like　this；　what　can　I　do　in　return？〃

Li　Su　said；　〃If　a　stupid　fellow　like　me　can　be　a　general　in　the　Imperial　Tiger　Army；　it　is　impossible　to　say　what　honors　await　you。〃

〃I　am　sorry　I　can　offer　him　no　service　worth　mentioning。〃

Li　Su　said；　〃There　is　one　service　you　can　do；　and　an　extremely　easy　one　to　perform；　but　you　would　not　render　that。〃

Lu　Bu　pondered　long　in　silence；　then　he　said；　〃I　might　slay　Ding　Yuan　and　bring　over　his　soldiers　to　Dong　Zhuos　side。　What　think　you　of　that？〃

〃If　you　would　do　that；　there　could　be　no　greater　service。　But　such　a　thing　must　be　done　quickly。〃

And　Lu　Bu　promised　his　friend　that　he　would　do