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！
southern border near Yizhou； Yongchang； Zangge； and Yuesui。 The border stations have sent flying requests for help。 We have informed the Prime Minister。 But his conduct puzzles us。 We do not know why he does not take some action instead of remaining shut up in his palace all the time。〃
The Latter Ruler became really alarmed； and he sent one of his personal attendants to call the Prime Minister to court。
The servant was gone a long time； and then returned to say： 〃The servants in the residence said the Prime Minister was ill and not to be seen。〃
The young Emperor's distress increased； and he sent two High Ministers………Dong Yun and Du Qiong………to Zhuge Liang； saying they were to see him even if he was on his couch and tell him the dreadful news of invasion。 They went； but they got no farther than the gate。 The keepers of the gate refused them admission。
But Du Qiong said； 〃The First Ruler had confided his son to the Prime Minister。 It has not been long since His Majesty's accession to the Throne that Cao Pi threatens to invade our territories with five armies。 This is urgent military matter。 How can the Prime Minister make illness as an excuse not to appear？〃
The wardens of the gate went inside with what was said。
After keeping them waiting a long time； the wardens returned； saying； 〃The Prime Minister is rather better and will be at court in the morning。〃
The two ministers sighed deeply as they wended their way to the Emperor's palace。
Next morning a great crowd of officers assembled at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence to wait for him to appear。 But he did not e out。 It began to grow late； and many of them were tired of waiting； and the crowd dispersed。
Du Qiong went again to the Emperor and suggested； saying； 〃Your Majesty should go in person and try to get Zhuge Liang to say what should be done。〃
The Latter Ruler then returned to his palace with the officials and told the Empress Dowager his trouble。 She was also alarmed。
〃What can he mean？〃 said she。 〃This does not look like acting in the spirit of the charge laid upon him by the late Emperor。 Let me go myself。〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Dong Yun。 〃Your Majesty must not go。 We think all is well； and the Prime Minister certainly understands and will do something。 Beside； you must let His Majesty go first； and if the Prime Minister still shows remissness； then Your Majesty can summon him to the Temple of the Dynasty and ask him。〃
So it was left at that。 And the next day the Emperor rode in his chariot to the gate of his minister。 When the doorkeepers saw the imperial chariot appear； they fell upon their knees to wele the Emperor。
〃Where is the Prime Minister？〃 asked he。
〃We do not know。 But we have orders not to let in the crowd of officers。〃
The Emperor then descended and went on foot right in to the third gate。 Then he saw Zhuge Liang leaning on a staff beside a fishpond looking at the fish。 The Latter Ruler approached； and stood behind him for a long time。
Presently the Latter Ruler said slowly and with dignity； 〃Is the Prime Minister really enjoying himself？〃
Zhuge Liang started and looked round。 When he saw who the speaker was； he suddenly dropped his staff and prostrated himself。
〃I ought to be put to death ten thousand times！〃 said Zhuge Liang。
But the Emperor put forth his hand and helped him to rise； saying； 〃Cao Pi threatens immediate invasion from five points。 Why will you not e forth and attend to business？〃
Zhuge Liang laughed。 He conducted the Emperor into an inner room； and； when he was seated； Zhuge Liang addressed the Emperor； saying； 〃Could it be possible that I was ignorant of these five armies？ I was not looking at the fishes； I was thinking。〃
〃But； this being so； what shall we do？〃
〃I have already turned back that Kebi Neng of the Qiangs； and Meng Huo of the Mangs； and the rebel leader Meng Da； and the army from Wei。 I have also thought out a plan to circumvent the army from Wu； but I need a special sort of person to carry it out。 I want an envoy； an able talker； one capable of persuading other people。 It was because I have not found such a person yet that I was so deeply in thought。 But Your Majesty may set your mind at rest and not be anxious。〃
The Latter Ruler heard this half terrified and half glad。
〃Surely your superhuman devices are too deep for the mortal。 But may I ask how these armies have been made to turn back？〃
〃Since His Late Majesty bade me take the best care of your welfare； I dare not be remiss for a single moment。 Some officers in Chengdu are ignorant of that refinement of war which consists in not allowing the enemy to guess your plans。 How could I let them know anything？ When I heard that Kebi Neng； the king of Qiangs； might invade； I remembered that Ma Chao's forefathers were friendly with those tribespeople and they had a high opinion of Ma Chao； calling him General Who Possesses Heavenly Prestige。 So I sent orders by dispatch to Ma Chao to hold the Xiping Pass； and to prepare ambushes in certain places and change them daily so as to keep the Qiangs off。 That settled them。
〃I sent hastily to the south to order Wei Yan to move certain bodies of troops about through the southwest territories； to be seen and then to disappear； to go in and e out； and to march to and fro； so that the Mangs should be perplexed。 The Mangs are brave； but prone to doubts and hesitations； and they would not advance in the face of the unknown。 Hence there is nothing to fear in that quarter。
〃I also knew that Meng Da and our Li Yan were sworn friends。 I had left Li Yan in charge of the Palace of Eternal Peace。 I sent Li Yan a letter and urged him to write to Meng Da； so that Meng Da would feign illness and not move his army。
〃I sent Zhao Yun to occupy Yangping Pass and all the strategic positions on the way by which Cao Zhen would march； and bade him defend only and not go to the battle。 If our troops refuse to e out； Cao Zhen will certainly have to retire。 So all those four are settled。 But for greater security I have sent Zhang Bao and Guan Xing each with thirty thousand troops to camp at points whence they can quickly help any of the others who may need it。 And none of these arrangements are known here。
〃Now there is only Wu left to deal with。 Had the other four armies succeeded and Shu been in danger； Sun Quan would have e to the attack。 If the others fail； I know he will not budge； for he will remember that Cao Pi has just sent three armies to attack his country。 And this being so； I want someone with a ready tongue and ingenious mind to go and talk plainly to Sun Quan。 So far I have not found such a person； and I am perplexed。 I regret that I have given Your Majesty occasion to make this journey。〃
〃The Empress Dowager also wanted to e；〃 said the Emperor。 〃But now you have spoken； O Minister Father； I am as one awakened from a dream。 I shall grieve no more。〃
They two drank a few cups of wine together； and the Prime Minister escorted his master to his chariot。 A ring of courtiers were waiting； and they could not help remarking the happiness that shone in their master's face。 The Latter Ruler took his leave and returned to his palace； but the courtiers did not know what to think。
＇e＇ Deng Yu was mander…in…chief of Liu Xiu； the founder of Latter Han。 。。。。。
Now Zhuge Liang had noted a certain man among the crowd who smiled and looked quite happy。 Zhuge Liang looked at him intently and then recollected his name； which was Deng Zhi of Xinye； a descendant of mander Deng Yu of Han*。 Deng Zhi was currently the Chair of the Census Board。 Zhuge Liang sent a man privately to detain Deng Zhi； and when all the others had gone； Zhuge Liang led him into the library for a chat。 Presently he came to the matter near his heart。
〃The three states have bee a fact；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃Now if our state wanted to absorb the other two and restore the condition of one rule； which country should it attack first？〃
〃Though Wei is the real rebel； yet Wei is strong and would be very difficult to overthrow。 Any move against it would have to develop slowly。 As our Emperor has but lately succeeded his father and the people are none too decided in his favor； I should propose a treaty of mutual defense with Wu。 This would obliterate the enmity of His Late Majesty and would have important results。 However； you； Sir； may have another opinion。 What is it？〃
〃That is what I have been thinking of this long time； but I had not the person for the task。 Now I have found him。〃
〃What do you want the person to do？〃 said Deng Zhi。
〃I want him to go as envoy to Wu to negotiate such a treaty。 As you understand the position so well； you will surely do honor to your prince's mission as envoy。 There is no other who would succeed。〃
〃I fear I am not equal to such a task： I am not clever enough and too ignorant。〃
〃I will inform the Emperor tomorrow and beg him to appoint you。 Of course you will accept。〃
Deng Zhi consented and then took his leave。 As promised； Zhuge Liang memorialized； and the Latter Ruler consented that the mission should be entrusted to Deng Zhi。 And he started。
The din of war will cease in Wu；
When Shu's desires are known。
For the success or failure of this mission read the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 86 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guan