第一小说网

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第255部分（第3页）

Among　kings　ministers　he　surely　takes

Exalted　rank；　for　when　the　empire　cleft

In　three；　a　kingdom　for　his　lord　he　won

By　subtle　craft。　Throughout　all　time　he　stands

A　shining　figure；　clear　against　the　sky。

Akin　was　he　to　famous　Yi　Yin；　Lu　Wang；

Yet　stands　with　chiefs；　like　Xiao　He；　Cao　Shen；

The　fates　forbade　that　Han　should　be　restored；

War…worn　and　weary；　yet　he　steadfast　stood。

Evil　tidings　came　to　the　Latter　Ruler　on　his　return　to　his　capital。　He　heard　that　Quan　Zong　had　marched　out　with　a　large　army　from　Wu　and　camped　at　the　entrance　to　Baqiu。　No　one　knew　the　object　of　this　expedition。

〃Here　is　Wu　breaking　their　oath　just　as　the　Prime　Minister　has　died；〃　cried　the　Latter　Ruler。　〃What　can　we　do？〃

Then　said　Jiang　Wan；　〃My　advice　is　to　send　Wang　Ping　and　Zhang　Ni　to　camp　at　Baidicheng　as　a　measure　of　precaution；　while　you　send　an　envoy　to　Wu　to　announce　the　death　and　period　of　mourning。　He　can　there　observe　the　signs　of　the　times。〃

〃The　envoy　must　have　a　ready　tongue；〃　said　the　Latter　Ruler。

One　stepped　from　the　ranks　of　courtiers　and　offered　himself。　He　was　Zong　Yu；　a　man　of　Nanyang；　a　Military　Adviser。　So　he　was　appointed　as　envoy　with　the　missions　of　announcing　the　death　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　observing　the　conditions。

Zong　Yu　set　out　for　Capital　Jianye；　arrived　and　was　taken　in　to　the　Emperors　presence。　When　the　ceremony　of　introduction　was　over　and　the　envoy　looked　about　him；　he　saw　that　all　were　dressed　in　mourning。

But　Sun　Quans　countenance　wore　a　look　of　anger；　and　he　said；　〃Wu　and　Shu　are　one　house。　Why　has　your　master　increased　the　guard　at　Baidicheng？〃

Zong　Yu　replied；　〃It　seemed　as　necessary　for　the　west　to　increase　the　garrison　there　as　for　the　east　to　have　a　force　at　Baqiu。　Neither　is　worth　asking　about。〃

〃As　an　envoy　you　seem　no　way　inferior　to　Deng　Zhi；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　smiling。

Sun　Quan　continued；　〃When　I　heard　that　your　Prime　Minister　Zhuge　Liang　had　gone　to　heaven；　I　wept　daily　and　ordered　my　officers　to　wear　mourning。　I　feared　that　Wei　might　take　the　occasion　to　attack　Shu；　and　so　I　increased　the　garrison　at　Baqiu　by　ten　thousand　troops　that　I　might　be　able　to　help　you　in　case　of　need。　That　was　my　sole　reason。〃

Zong　Yu　bowed　and　thanked　the　Ruler　of　Wu。

〃I　would　not　go　back　upon　the　pledge　between　us；〃　said　Sun　Quan。

Zong　Yu　said；　〃I　have　been　sent　to　inform　you　of　the　mourning　for　the　late　Prime　Minister。〃

Sun　Quan　took　up　a　gold…tipped　arrow　and　snapped　it　in　twain；　saying；　〃If　I　betray　my　oath；　may　my　posterity　be　cut　off！〃

Then　the　Ruler　of　Wu　dispatched　an　envoy　with　incense　and　silk　and　other　gifts　to　be　offered　in　sacrifice　to　the　dead　in　the　land　of　Shu。

Zong　Yu　and　the　envoy　took　leave　of　the　Ruler　of　Wu　and　journeyed　to　Chengdu；　where　they　went　to　the　Latter　Ruler。

Zong　Yu　made　a　memorial；　saying；　〃The　Ruler　of　Wu　has　wept　for　our　Prime　Minister　and　put　his　court　into　mourning。　The　increased　garrison　at　Baqiu　is　intended　to　safeguard　us　from　Wei；　lest　they　take　the　occasion　of　a　public　sorrow　to　attack。　And　in　token　of　his　pledge；　the　Ruler　of　Wu　broke　an　arrow　in　twain。〃

The　Latter　Ruler　was　pleased　and　rewarded　Zong　Yu。　Moreover；　the　envoy　of　Wu　was　generously