按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Who； desperate； held to Liu Zhang's silken robe
Until his broken teeth released their grip。
Sincere indeed； but how can he pare
With stern Wang Lei who went to awful death？
Liu Zhang with thirty thousand troops went out to wele his clansman； and there followed one thousand wagons laden with supplies and rich stuffs。
Liu Bei's advanced guard had arrived at River Dian。 During the march the people had brought presents； and Liu Bei had given an order to pay for everything； under penalty of death for disobedience。 Thus no one suffered； and the people came out in trusting crowds to watch the soldiers marching by and wele them in every way。 Liu Bei soothed them with very gracious words。
Then Fa Zheng secretly showed Pang Tong a letter from Zhang Song advocating the assassination of Liu Zhang near the place of wele。
Pang Tong said； 〃Say nothing about this。 After the two Lius have met； there may be opportunities； but this is too early to talk。 Any plot would leak out。〃
So nothing was said。
Fucheng； where the meeting was to take place； was one hundred twenty miles from Capital Chengdu。 Liu Zhang arrived first and sent messengers to wele Liu Bei。 The two armies camped on the bank of River Fu。 Liu Bei went into the city to see the Imperial Protector； and they met cordially as brothers should。 Both shed a few tears； and by and bye they began a heart…to…heart talk。 Then followed a banquet； and after this each returned to his own camp。
The Imperial Protector said； 〃How ridiculous have been proved the fears of Huang Quan and Wang Lei！ They do not understand the force of family affection。 I see he is really a kindly and noble man； and with him as a support I shall fear neither Cao Cao nor Zhang Lu。 And I owe all this to Zhang Song。〃
To show his gratitude； Liu Zhang took off the green silken robe he wore and sent it as a gift to Zhang Song； together with five hundred ounces of gold。
However； some of his officers were not so content； and a group of them bade him beware。
〃Do not rejoice too soon； O Master；〃 said they； 〃for Liu Bei is hard enough within in spite of his mild exterior。 You have not sounded him yet and should be on your guard。〃
〃You are all too anxious；〃 said Liu Zhang； laughing。 〃My brother is no double…dealer； I am sure。〃
When Liu Bei had returned to his own tent； Pang Tong came in to ask what impression he had of his host of that day。
〃He seems a very honest man；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃He is good enough； but some of his servants are discontented at this turn of affairs； and I would not guarantee there will be no murders。 If you took my advice； you would have Liu Zhang assassinated at the return banquet。 A hundred ruffians behind the arras； a signal from you； and the deed would be acplished。 All that would be needed； then would be a rush on Capital Chengdu。 No sword need be drawn； no arrow fitted to the string。〃
〃He is a brother of my house and has treated me with sincerity。 I am a new…er and so far unknown in this land。 Such a deed would be abhorrent to all the world； and these people would resent it。 I will not establish myself by such means。〃
〃The scheme is not mine。 It originated in a private letter from Zhang Song； who says it will have to be done some time。〃
At this moment Fa Zheng came in and said； 〃This is not for ourselves。 It is the will of heaven。〃
〃Liu Zhang and I are of the same house； and I would shudder at harming him；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Sir； you are wrong。 If you act not as we propose； then Zhang Lu will take Shu in revenge for the death of his mother。 What is there for you at the end of your long march？ Advance； and success is yours； retreat； and you have nothing。 And delays are most dangerous。 At any moment this scheme may leak out； and another will reap the profit。 This is the day when Heaven smiles on you。 Act before Liu Zhang suspects you。 Establish yourself。〃
So urged Fa Zheng； and Pang Tong backed it。
Their lord； by argument； they tried
From rectitude to turn aside。
What Liu Bei hid in his heart will be explained in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 61 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 61
Chapter 61
In The River； Zhao Yun Recovers Liu Shan；
With One Letter； Sun Quan Repulses Cao Cao。
In spite of the persuasion of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng； Liu Bei steadily refused to sanction the assassination of his host at the banquet； Imperial Protector Liu Zhang； even if thereby he was to gain possession of West River Land。
The next day there was another banquet； this time in the city of Fucheng； whereat host and guest unbosomed themselves freely to each other and became exceedingly friendly and affectionate。
All were mellow with wine； and Pang Tong； talking with Fa Zheng； said； 〃Since our master will have nothing to do with our scheme； we had better set Wei Yan's sword…play to work and take advantage of the confusion to kill Liu Zhang。〃
Wei Yan came in shortly afterward； with his sword drawn； and said； 〃There being no other entertainment at this banquet； may I show you a little fencing to amuse you？〃
Thereupon Pang Tong called up some of the armed guards and ranged them along the lower part of the hall till Wei Yan should fall on。
At these preparations the officers of Liu Zhang stared with questioning eyes toward the chief seats at the upper end。
Then one of them； Zhang Ren； drew his sword； saying； 〃An opponent is needed to make fencing a success； so he and I will display our skill at the same time。〃
So they began。 Presently； at a glance from Wei Yan； Liu Feng came up and took position at his side。
At once three of the manders of the west followed suit； saying； 〃And we three will e in too。 It may add to your amusement and help to raise a laugh。〃
＇e＇ Hongmen Banquet At that time Liu Bang； Governor of Pei； and Xiang Yu； King of West Chu； were fighting Qin under the Chu banner。 Liu Bang was the first mander who entered Qin's capital； Xianyang。 The loss of this honor enraged Xiang Yu； and he was set to attack Liu Bang's force。 But his uncle Xiang Ba wanted to mediate the situation； and Xiang Ba invited Liu Bang to visit Xiang Yu's camp in Hongmen。 During a banquet at Hongmen； Xiang Yu's adviser Fan Zeng ordered Xiang Chang to perform a sword…dance and take the chance to kill Liu Bang。 However； as Xiang Chang closed in Liu Bang； Xiang Ba rose to perform another sword…dance and fend off the attack。 Just then Liu Bang's general Fan Kuai bursted in； armed and angry…looking。 Fan Kuai proclaimed his lord's achievements and denounced the murder plot。 In the confusion； Liu Bang slipped away and rushed back to his camp。 。。。。。
But to Liu Bei matters began to take on a serious look。 Drawing a sword of a servant； he stood out in the banquet hall and cried； 〃We brothers have perhaps honored our meeting with a little too much wine。 There is nothing to say against that； but this is no Hongmen Banquet*； where murder was done。 Put up your swords； or I will slay you！〃
〃Why wear swords at all at a meeting of two brothers？〃 cried Liu Zhang； at the same time telling his servants to surround his officers and take away their weapons。
Disarmed； they sulkily withdrew。
Then Liu Bei called all the generals of Liu Zhang to the upper end of the banquet hall； gave them wine； and said； 〃You need have no doubts。 We two brothers； of the same bone and blood； have talked over the great design； and we are one in purpose。〃
The officers bowed and retired。
Liu Zhang took his guest by the hand； saying； 〃Brother； I shall never forget your kindness。〃
They sat drinking till late； both feeling very happy。 When at length Liu Bei reached his camp； he blamed his strategist for having caused the confusion。
〃Why did you endeavor to force me into mitting a great wrong？〃 said Liu Bei。 〃There must be no repetition of this。〃
Pang Tong retired； sighing。
When Liu Zhang reached his own camp； his leaders waited on him and said； 〃Sir； you saw the real meaning of that occurrence at the banquet； we suppose。 We think it prudent for you to retire at once into the city。〃
〃My brother is different from ordinary humans；〃 replied Liu Zhang。
〃He may not incline toward murder himself； but those about him have but one desire………that is to exploit this land of ours to their own advantage。〃
〃Do not try to sow dissension between us and make us quarrel；〃 said their chief。
And Liu Zhang took no heed of their remonstrance。 One day； when he and Liu Bei were enjoying together relaxation from cares of state； the news came that Zhang Lu was about to invade the West River Land at the Jiameng Pass。 Thereupon the Imperial Protector begged Liu Bei to go and defend it。 Liu Bei consented and left immediately with his own especial band。
At once Liu Zhang's officers took advantage of the guest's departure to urge the Imperial Protector to place his own trusty generals in mand at various strategic points； so as to guard against any attempts of the visitors to seize the land。 At first Liu Zhang was unwilling and refused； but as they prayed him most earnestly to do this he yielded and consented to take some steps to safeguard himself。 He sent Yang Huai； mander of Baishui； and Gao Pei to garrison River Fu Pass。
So Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu and his guest； Liu Bei； went away to the point where invasion threatened。 Arrived there； Liu Bei so