第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第30部分（第2页）

Chapter　13

Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　Duel　In　Changan；

The　Emperor　Establishes　Anyi　The　New　Capital。

The　last　chapter　told　of　the　defeat　of　Lu　Bu；　and　his　gathering　the　remnant　of　his　army　at　Dingtao。　When　all　his　generals　had　joined　him；　he　began　to　feel　strong　enough　to　try　conclusions　with　Cao　Cao　once　again。

Said　Chen　Gong；　who　was　opposed　to　this　course；　〃Cao　Cao　is　too　strong　right　now。　Seek　some　place　where　we　can　rest　a　time　before　trying。〃

〃Suppose　I　went　to　Yuan　Shao；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃Send　first　to　make　inquiries。〃

Lu　Bu　agreed。

The　news　of　the　fighting　between　Cao　Cao　and　Lu　Bu　had　reached　Jizhou；　and　one　of　Yuan　Shaos　advisers；　Shen　Pei；　warned　him；　saying；　〃Lu　Bu　is　a　savage　beast。　If　he　gets　possession　of　Yanzhou；　he　will　certainly　attempt　to　add　this　region　to　it。　For　your　own　safety　you　should　help　to　crush　him。〃

Wherefore　Yuan　Shao　sent　Yan　Liang　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　destroy　Lu　Bu。　The　spies　heard　this　and　at　once　told　Lu　Bu；　who　was　greatly　disturbed　and　called　in　Chen　Gong。

〃Go　over　to　Liu　Bei；　who　has　lately　succeeded　to　Xuzhou。〃

Hence　Lu　Bu　went　thither。

Hearing　this；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃Lu　Bu　is　a　hero；　and　we　will　receive　him　with　honor。〃

But　Mi　Zhu　was　strongly　against　receiving　him；　saying；　〃He　was　a　cruel；　bloodthirsty　beast。〃

But　Liu　Bei　replied；　〃How　would　misfortune　have　been　averted　from　Xuzhou　if　he　had　not　attacked　Yanzhou？　He　cannot　be　our　enemy　now　that　he　es　seeking　an　asylum。〃

〃Brother；　your　heart　is　really　too　good。　Although　it　may　be　as　you　say；　yet　it　would　be　well　to　prepare；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

The　new　Imperial　Protector　with　a　great　following　met　Lu　Bu　ten　miles　outside　the　city　gates；　and　the　two　chiefs　rode　in　side　by　side。　They　proceeded　to　the　residence　and　there；　after　the　elaborate　ceremonies　of　reception　were　over；　they　sat　down　to　converse。

Said　Lu　Bu；　〃After　Wang　Yun　and　I　plotted　to　slay　Dong　Zhuo　and　my　misfortune　in　the　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Sis　sedition；　I　drifted　about　from　one　place　to　another；　and　none　of　the　nobles　east　of　the　Huashang　Mountains　seemed　willing　to　receive　me。　When　Cao　Cao　with　wicked　ambition　invaded　this　region　and　you；　Sir；　came　to　its　rescue；　I　aided　you　by　attacking　Yanzhou　and　thus　diverting　a　portion　of　his　force。　I　did　not　think　then　that　I　should　be　the　victim　of　a　vile　plot　and　lose　my　leaders　and　my　soldiers。　But　now　if　you　will；　I　offer　myself　to　you　that　we　may　together　acplish　great　designs。〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃When　the　late　Tao　Qian　died；　there　was　no　one　to　administer　Xuzhou；　and　so　I　assumed　that　task　for　a　time。　Now　since　you　are　here；　General；　it　is　most　suitable　that　I　step　down　in　your　favor。〃

Whereupon　Liu　Bei　handed　the　insignia　and　the　seal　of　authority　to　Lu　Bu。　Lu　Bu　was　on　the　point　of　accepting　them；　when　he　saw　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　who　stood　behind　the　Imperial　Protector；　glaring　at　him　with　angry　eyes。

So　Lu　Bu　put　on　a　smile　and　said；　〃I　may　be　something　of　a　fighting　man；　but　I　could　not　rule　a　great　region　like　this。〃

Liu　Bei　repeated　his　offer。　But　Chen　Gong　said；　〃The　strong　guest　does　not　oppress　his　host。　You　need　not　fear；　Lord　Liu　Bei。〃

Then　Liu　Bei　desisted。　Banquets　were　held　and　dwelling　places　prepared　for　the　guest　and　his　retinue。

As　soon　as　convenient；　Lu　Bu　returned　the　feast。　Liu　Bei　went　with　his　two　brothers。　Half　through　the　banquet　Lu　Bu　requested　Liu　Bei　to　retire　to　one　of　the　inner　private　rooms；　whither　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　followed　him。　There　Lu　Bu　bade　his　wife　and　daughter　bow　as　to　their　benefactor。　Here　also　Liu　Bei　showed　excessive　modesty。

Lu　Bu　said；　〃Good　younger　brother；　you　need　not　be　so　very　modest。〃

Zhang　Fei　heard　what　Lu　Bu　said；　and　his　eyes　glared；　crying；　〃What　sort　of　a　man　are　you　that　dares　call　our　brother　younger　brother？　He　is　one　of　the　ruling　family………a　jade　leaf　on　a　golden　branch。　e　out；　and　I　will　fight　you　three　hundred　bouts　for　the　insult。〃

Liu　Bei　hastily　checked　the　impulsive　one；　and　Guan　Yu　persuaded　him　to　go　away。　Then　Liu　Bei　apologized；　saying；　〃My　poor　brother　talks　wildly　after　he　has　been　drinking。　I　hope　you　will　not　blame　him。〃

Lu　Bu　nodded；　but　said　nothing。　Soon　after　the　guests　departed。　But　as　the　host　escorted　Liu　Bei　to　his　carriage；　he　saw　Zhang　Fei　galloping　up　armed　as　for　a　fray。

〃Lu　Bu；　you　and　I　will　fight　that　duel　of　three　hundred　bouts！〃　shouted　Zhang　Fei。

Liu　Bei　bade　Guan　Yu　check　him。　Next　day　Lu　Bu　came　to　take　leave　of　his　host。

〃You；　O　Lord；　kindly　received　me；　but　I　fear　your　brothers　and　I　cannot　agree。　So　I　will　seek　some　other　asylum。〃

〃General；　if　you　go；　the　blame　is　mine。　My　rude　brother　has　offended　and　must　eventually　apologize。　In　the　meantime　what　think　you　of　a　temporary　sojourn　at　the　town　where　I　was　encamped　for　some　time；　Xiaopei？　The　place　is　small　and　mean；　but　it　is　near；　and　I　will　see　to　it　that　you　are　supplied　with　all　you　need。〃

Lu　Bu　thanked　him　and　accepted　this　offer。　He　led　his　troops　there　and　took　up　residence。　After　he　had　gone；　Liu　Bei　buried　his　annoyance；　and　Zhang　Fei　did　not　again　refer　to　the　matter。

That　Cao　Cao　had　subdued　the　east　of　the　Huashang　Mountains　has　been　stated　before。　He　memorialized　the　Throne　and　was　rewarded　with　the　title　of　General　Who　Exhibits　Firm　Virtue　and　Lord　of　Feiting。　At　this　time　the　rebellious　Li　Jue　was　manding　the　court；　and　he　had　made　himself　Regent　Marshal；　and　his　colleague　Guo　Si　styled　himself　Grand　mander。　Their　conduct　was　abominable　but　no　one　dared　to　criticize　them。

Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　and　Minister　Zhu　Jun　privately　talked　with　Emperor　Xian　and　said；　〃Cao　Cao　has　two　hundred　thousand　troops　and　many　capable　advisers　and　leaders。　It　would　be　well　for　the　empire　if　he　would　lend　his　support　to　the　imperial　family　and　hel