第一小说网

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第87部分（第3页）

〃But　who　are　these　two？〃

His　host　clapped　his　hands；　smiled　and　said；　〃Good；　very　good！〃

When　Liu　Bei　persisted　and　pressed　home　his　questions；　Water　Mirror　said；　〃It　is　getting　late。　You　might　stay　the　night　here；　General；　and　we　will　talk　over　these　things　tomorrow。〃

He　called　to　a　lad　to　bring　wine　and　food　for　his　guest　and　his　horse　was　taken　to　the　stable　and　fed。　After　Liu　Bei　had　eaten；　he　was　shown　to　a　chamber　opening　off　the　main　room　and　went　to　bed。　But　the　words　of　his　host　would　not　be　banished；　and　he　lay　there　only　dozing　till　far　into　the　night。

Suddenly　he　became　fully　awake　at　the　sound　of　a　knock　at　the　door　and　a　person　entering。　And　he　heard　his　host　say；　〃Where　are　you　from？〃

Liu　Bei　rose　from　his　couch　and　listened　secretly。

He　heard　the　visitor　reply；　〃It　has　long　been　said　that　Liu　Biao　treated　good　people　and　bad　people　as　they　each　should　be　treated。　So　I　went　to　see　for　myself。　But　that　reputation　is　undeserved。　He　does　treat　good　people　correctly　but　he　cannot　use　them；　and　he　treats　wicked　people　in　the　right　way；　all　but　dismissing　them。　So　I　left　a　letter　for　him　and　went　away。　And　here　I　am。〃

Water　Mirror　replied；　〃You；　capable　enough　to　be　the　adviser　of　a　king；　ought　to　be　able　to　find　someone　fit　to　serve。　Why　did　you　cheapen　yourself　so　far　as　to　go　to　Liu　Biao？　Beside；　there　is　a　real　hero　right　under　your　eyes　and　you　do　not　know　him。〃

〃It　is　just　as　you　say；〃　replied　the　stranger。

Liu　Bei　listened　with　great　joy　for　he　thought　this　visitor　was　certainly　one　of　the　two　he　was　advised　to　look　for。　Liu　Bei　would　have　shown　himself　then　and　there；　but　he　thought　that　would　look　strange。　So　he　waited　till　daylight；　when　he　sought　out　his　host。

〃Who　was　it　came　last　night？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃A　friend　of　mine；〃　was　the　reply。

Liu　Bei　begged　for　an　introduction。　Water　Mirror　said；　〃He　wants　to　find　an　enlightened　master；　and　so　he　has　gone　elsewhere。〃

When　Liu　Bei　asked　his　name；　his　host　only　replied；　〃Good；　good！〃

And　when　Liu　Bei　asked　who　they　were　who　went　by　the　names　of　Sleeping　Dragon　and　Young　Phoenix；　he　only　elicited　the　same　reply。

Liu　Bei　then；　bowing　low　before　his　host；　begged　him　to　leave　the　hills　and　help　him　to　bring　about　the　restoration　of　the　ruling　house　to　its　prerogatives。

But　Water　Mirror　replied；　〃People　of　the　hills　and　woods　are　unequal　to　such　a　task。　However；　there　must　be　many　far　abler　than　I　who　will　help　you　if　you　seek　them。〃

While　they　were　talking；　they　heard　outside　the　farm　the　shouts　of　troops　and　neighing　of　horses；　and　a　servant　came　in　to　say　that　a　general　with　a　large　pany　of　soldiers　had　arrived。　Liu　Bei　went　out　hastily　to　see　who　these　were　and　found　Zhao　Yun。　He　was　much　relieved；　and　Zhao　Yun　dismounted　and　entered　the　house。

〃Last　night；　on　my　return　to　Xinye；〃　said　Zhao　Yun；　〃I　could　not　find　you；　my　lord；　so　I　followed　at　once　and　traced　you　here。　I　pray　you　return　quickly；　as　I　fear　an　attack　on　the　city。〃

So　Liu　Bei　took　leave　of　his　host；　and　the　whole　pany　returned　to　Xinye。　Before　they　had　gone　far　another　army　appeared；　and；　when　they　had　e　nearer；　they　saw　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。　They　met　with　great　joy；　and　Liu　Bei　told　them　of　the　wonderful　leap　his　horse　had　made　over　the　torrent。　All　expressed　surprise　and　pleasure。

As　soon　as　they　reached　the　city；　a　council　was　called　and　Zhao　Yun　said；　〃You　ought　first　of　all　to　indite　a　letter　to　Liu　Biao　telling　him　all　these　things。〃

The　letter　was　prepared　and　Sun　Qian　bore　it　to　the　seat　of　government　in　Jingzhou　City。　He　was　received；　and　Liu　Biao　at　once　asked　the　reason　of　Liu　Bei　hasty　flight　from　the　festival。　Whereupon　the　letter　was　presented；　and　the　bearer　related　the　machinations　of　Cai　Mao　and　told　of　the　escape　and　the　amazing　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent。

Liu　Biao　was　very　angry；　sent　for　Cai　Mao；　and　berated　him　soundly；　saying；　〃How　dare　you　try　to　hurt　my　brother？〃

And　he　ordered　Cai　Mao　out　to　execution。

Liu　Biaos　wife；　Cai　Maos　sister；　prayed　for　a　remission　of　the　death　penalty；　but　Liu　Biao　refused　to　be　appeased。

Then　spoke　Sun　Qian；　saying；　〃If　you　put　Cai　Mao　to　death；　I　fear　Uncle　Liu　Bei　will　be　unable　to　remain　here。〃

Then　Cai　Mao　was　reprieved；　but　dismissed　with　a　severe　reprimand。

Liu　Biao　sent　his　elder　son　Liu　Qi　back　with　Sun　Qian　to　apologize。　When　Liu　Qi　reached　Xinye；