第一小说网

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第128部分（第2页）

Riding　or　archery；　all　humans　he　excelled；

One　in　Bohai　who　admired　his　valor；

Cared　for　his　mother　while　he　was　fighting；

How　he　roared　in　the　battle　at　Shenting！

Dying；　he　spoke　as　a　hero；

All　through　the　ages　people　sigh　for　his　fate。

Sun　Quan　was　exceedingly　grieved　when　this　second　of　his　leaders　died。　He　gave　orders　to　bury　his　remains　most　honorably　outside　the　north　wall　of　Nanxu　on　Beigu　Hill　and　took　his　son；　Taishi　Heng；　into　his　own　palace　to　be　brought　up。

In　Jingzhou；　when　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　series　of　misfortunes　that　had　befallen　Sun　Quan　and　of　his　retirement　to　Nanxu；　he　and　Zhuge　Liang　discussed　their　plans。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　was　studying　the　sky　and　saw　a　falling　star　in　the　northwest。　The　imperial　family　is　to　suffer　a　loss。〃

Zhuge　Liang　had　scarcely　said　this　when　they　brought　news　of　the　death　of　Liu　Qi；　son　of　Liu　Biao。

Liu　Bei　at　once　began　to　wail　bitterly。

But　his　adviser　said　to　him；　〃Life　and　death　are　beyond　our　control；　wherefore　weep　not；　my　lord；　for　grief　harms　the　body。　Rather　consider　what　is　necessary　to　be　done。　Send　someone　to　assume　control　and　make　arrangements　for　the　interment。〃

〃Who　can　go？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃No　other　than　Guan　Yu。〃

So　they　sent　Guan　Yu　to　guard　the　city　of　Xiangyang。

Liu　Bei　at　once　began　to　feel　troubled　about　his　promise　to　surrender　Jingzhou　on　the　death　of　Liu　Qi。　Zhuge　Liang　did　not　consider　this　a　matter　of　moment。

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　will　have　somewhat　to　say　to　anyone　who　es　to　ask　fulfillment　of　the　promise。〃

In　half　a　month　it　was　announced　that　Lu　Su　would　e　to　mourn　at　the　funeral。

To　claim　the　promise　one　will　e；

But　they　will　send　him　empty　home。

What　reply　Zhuge　Liang　made　may　be　read　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　54　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　54

Chapter　54

The　Dowager　Marchioness　Sees　Her　Son…In…Law；

The　Imperial　Uncle　Takes　A　Worthy　Consort。

Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　went　out　of　the　city　to　wele　the　envoy　of　the　South　Land　and　led　him　to　the　guest…house。

After　the　usual　greetings；　Lu　Su　said；　〃Hearing　of　the　death　of　your　nephew；　my　lord　Sun　Quan　has　prepared　some　gifts　and　sent　me　to　take　his　place　at　the　funeral　sacrifices。　General　Zhou　Yu　also　sends　regards　to　the　Imperial　Uncle　and　to　you；　Master　Zhuge　Liang。〃

Both　rose　at　once　and　thanked　him　for　the　courtesy。　Then　the　gifts　were　handed　over　and　a　banquet　prepared；　and　while　it　was　in　progress；　the　guest　brought　up　the　real　object　of　his　visit。

〃You　said；　Sir；　that　Jingzhou　should　be　returned　to　us　after　the　death　of　Liu　Qi。　Now　that　that　event　has　happened；　rendition　bees　due；　and　I　should　be　glad　to　know　when　the　transfer　can　take　place。〃

〃We　will　discuss　that　later。　In　the　meantime　let　us　go　on　with　our　wine；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

So　the　feasting　continued。　Some　time　later　Lu　Su　returned　to　the　subject；　but　this　time　his　host　remained　silent。

However；　Zhuge　Liang；　changing　color；　said；　〃Lu　Su；　you　are　unreasonable。　You　could　not　wait　till　some　other　has　to　explain　this　matter　to　you。　From　the　very　foundation　of　the　empire　by　our　illustrious　ancestor；　the　great　heritage　has　descended　in　due　course　till　today　when；　unhappily；　evil　doers　have　risen　among　the　powerful　and　they　have　seized　upon　such　portions　as　they　could。　But　with　Gods　favor　and　help；　unity　is　nearly　restored。　My　lord　is　a　scion　of　the　Imperial　House；　a　great　great　grandson　of　Emperor　Jing。　Now；　as　the　Emperors　Uncle；　should　he　not　have　a　share　of　the　empire？　Moreover；　Liu　Biao　was　my　lords　elder　brother；　and　there　is　certainly　nothing　extraordinary　in　one　brothers　succession　to　anothers　estate。

〃What　is　your　master？　The　son　of　a　petty　official　on　the　banks　of　the　River　Qiantang；　absolutely　without　merit　so　far　as　the　state　is　concerned。　Just　because　he　is　powerful；　he　holds　actual　possession　of　six　territories　and　eighty…one　counties；　which　has　whetted　his　insatiable　appetite　till　he　now　desires　to　swallow　the　whole　empire。　The　land　is　the　estate　of　the　Liu　family　and　my　lord；　who　is　of　that　name；　has　no　share　thereof；　while　your　master；　whose　name　is　Sun；　would　dispute　with；　and　even　fight　him。　Beside；　at　the　battle　at　the　Red　Cliffs　my　lord　did　good　service　and　acquired　great　merit　while　his　manders　risked　their　lives。　Was　it　solely　the　strength　of　your　southern　soldiers　that　won　that　fight？　Had　I　not　brought　that　southeast　wind　that　meant　so　much　for　Zhou　Yu；　could　he　have　done　anything？　Had　the　South　Land　been　conquered；　it　is　needless　to　say　that　the　two　paramount　beauties　would　now　be　gracing　the　Bronze　Bird　Palace。　And　as　for　yourself