小说园

第96部分（第1页）

With　this　admonition　Liu　Bei　came　to　Jingzhou　and　was　lodged　in　the　guest…house。　Zhang　Fei　and　the　escort　camped　without　the　walls。　In　due　course　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　were　received；　and　after　the　customary　salutations；　Liu　Bei　apologized　for　his　conduct　at　the　banquet。

The　host　said；　〃Worthy　brother；　I　know　you　were　the　victim　of　a　vile　plot；　and　I　should　have　put　the　prime　mover　to　death　for　it；　had　there　not　been　so　universal　a　prayer　for　mercy。　However；　I　remitted　that　penalty。　I　hope　you　do　not　consider　that　I　was　wrong。〃

〃Cai　Mao　hall　little　to　do　with　it。　I　think　it　was　due　to　his　subordinates；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

Liu　Biao　said；　〃Jiangxia　is　lost；　as　you　know；　and　Huang　Zu　is　dead。　So　I　have　asked　you　to　e　that　we　might　take　measures　of　vengeance。〃

〃Huang　Zu　was　harsh　and　cruel　and　never　used　his　people　in　the　proper　way：　That　was　the　real　cause　of　his　fall。　But　have　you　reflected　what　Cao　Cao　may　do　on　the　north　if　we　attack　the　south？〃

〃I　am　getting　old　and　weak；　and　I　am　unable　to　manage　affairs　properly。　Will　you　aid　me；　brother？　After　I　am　gone　you　will　have　this　region。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　this；　my　brother？　Think　you　that　I　am　equal　to　such　a　task？〃

Here　Zhuge　Liang　glanced　at　Liu　Bei　who　continued；　〃But　give　me　a　little　time　to　think　it　over。〃

And　at　this　point　he　took　his　leave。

When　they　had　reached　their　lodging；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　decline　his　offer　of　the　region。〃

〃He　has　always　been　most　kind　and　courteous。　I　could　not　take　advantage　of　his　weakness。〃

〃A　perfectly　kind　and　gracious　lord；〃　sighed　Zhuge　Liang。

Soon　after　the　son　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　Liu　Qi；　was　announced；　and　Liu　Bei　received　him　and　led　him　in。

The　young　man　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃My　mother　cannot　bear　the　sight　of　me。　My　very　life　is　in　danger。　Can　you　not　save　me；　Uncle？〃

〃My　worthy　nephew；　this　is　a　family　affair。　You　should　not　e　to　me。〃

Zhuge　Liang　who　was　present；　smiled。　Liu　Bei　turned　to　him　to　know　what　he　should　do。

〃This　is　a　family　affair。　I　cannot　touch　it！〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。

The　young　man　soon　left；　and　when　Liu　Bei　was　saying　good…bye；　he　whispered；　〃I　will　get　Zhuge　Liang　to　return　your　call；　and　you　can　do　so　and　so。　He　will　advise　you。〃

Liu　Qi　thanked　him　and　left。　Next　day　when　the　call　was　to　be　returned；　Liu　Bei　pretended　to　be　suffering　from　colic　and　made　that　an　excuse　to　send　Zhuge　Liang　to　return　the　call。

The　adviser　went；　and　when　he　had　reached　the　palace；　dismounted；　and　was　led　in；　Liu　Qi　conducted　him　into　one　of　the　inner　rooms。

When　the　tea　had　been　brought；　Liu　Qi　said；　〃I　am　an　object　of　my　stepmothers　dislike。　Can　you　advise　me　what　to　do？〃

〃As　a　mere　stranger　guest；　I　can　hardly　have　anything　to　do　with　your　own　bone　and　flesh　matters。　If　I　did；　and　the　story　got　abroad；　much　harm　might　ensue。〃

With　this　he　rose　to　take　leave。

But　Liu　Qi　was　unwilling　to　say　farewell；　and　he　said；　〃Your　glory　has　turned　in　my　direction。　You　cannot　mean　to　go　away　so　pointlessly。〃

Liu　Qi　led　his　visitor　into　a　private　chamber　and　had　refreshments　brought。　While　they　ate　and　drank；　Liu　Qi　repeated　his　first　request：　What　was　he　to　do　since　his　stepmother　disliked　him。

〃It　is　not　the　sort　of　thing　I　can　advise　in；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang；　as　he　rose　for　the　second　time　to　take　leave。

〃Master；　if　you　will　not　reply；　that　is　well。　But　why　incontinently　leave　me？〃

So　the　adviser　once　more　seated　himself；　and　Liu　Qi　said；　〃There　is　an　ancient　writing　I　should　like　to　show　you。〃

And　he　led　his　visitor　to　a　small　upper　room。