第一小说网

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第144部分（第2页）

Hence　the　very　next　day　Yang　Xiu　took　Zhang　Song　over　to　the　west　parade　ground；　where　a　review　of　the　Tiger　Guard　was　to　be　held。　There　were　fifty　thousand　of　them；　and　when　drawn　up　in　order；　they　made　a　very　brave　show　with　their　gleaming　helmets　and　bright　new　uniforms。　Their　drums　rolled　to　shake　the　heavens；　and　their　weapons　glittered　in　the　sun。　Their　discipline　and　order　were　perfect。　Their　gay　banners　fluttered　in　the　breeze。　They　looked　ready　to　fly　even；　so　alert　and　smart　were　they。

Zhang　Song　glanced　at　them　contemptuously。

After　a　long　time　Cao　Cao　called　up　Zhang　Song　and；　pointing　to　his　army；　said；　〃Have　you　ever　seen　such　fine　bold　fellows　in　Yizhou？〃

〃We　never　see　this　military　parade　in　Yizhou。　We　govern　the　people　by　righteousness。〃

Cao　Cao　changed　color　and　looked　hard　at　the　bold　speaker；　who　gazed　back　at　him　without　the　least　sign　of　fear。

Yang　Xiu　shot　a　quick　glance　at　Zhang　Song；　but　Cao　Cao　went　on；　saying；　〃I　regard　the　rat…class　of　the　world　as　of　no　more　importance　than　so　many　weeds；　and　for　my　army　to　reach　a　place　is　to　overe　it；　to　give　battle　is　to　conquer；　to　besiege　is　to　take。　Those　who　are　with　me；　live；　but　those　who　oppose　me；　die。　Do　you　understand？〃

〃O　Prime　Minister；　I　know　well　that　when　you　march　out　your　army；　you　always　conquer。　I　knew　it　when　you　attacked　Lu　Bu　at　Puyang；　and　when　you　fought　Zhang　Xiu　at　Wancheng；　and　when　you　met　Zhou　Yu　at　the　Red　Cliffs；　and　when　in　Huarong　Valley　you　encountered　Guan　Yu；　and　on　that　day　when　you　cut　off　your　beard　and　threw　away　your　robe　at　Tong　Pass；　and　when　you　hid　in　a　boat　to　escape　the　arrows　on　the　Yellow　River。　On　all　these　occasions；　no　one　could　stand　against　you。〃

It　made　Cao　Cao　very　angry　to　be　thus　twitted　with　his　misfortunes　and　he　said；　〃You　stuck…up　pedant！　How　dare　you　thus　bring　up　all　my　failures？〃

Cao　Cao　called　to　his　attendants　to　eject　the　bold　disputant　and　put　him　to　death。

Yang　Xiu　ventured　to　argue　with　him；　saying；　〃You　may　behead　him；　but　he　came　from　the　west　bearing　tribute；　and　his　death　would　have　a　very　evil　effect　on　all　distant　peoples。〃

But　Cao　Cao　was　too　angry　to　be　reasonable　and　persisted。　However；　Xun　Yu　also　remonstrated；　and　Zhang　Song　was　not　put　to　death。　But　he　was　beaten　and　ejected。　He　returned　to　his　lodging　and　left　the　city　that　night；　reflecting　upon　what　he　had　intended　and　what　he　had　acplished。

Thought　he；　〃I　did　not　expect　such　arrogance　when　I　came　with　the　intention　of　giving　him　a　region。　When　I　get　back；　Liu　Zhang　will　expect　great　things。　Now　I　am　returning　empty　handed　and　a　failure　to　endure　the　laughter　of　my　fellow　country　people。　I　will　not　go　back。　I　have　heard　of　the　virtues　of　Liu　Bei；　and　I　will　go　to　him　and　see　what　manner　of　man　he　is。　Then　I　can　decide　what　to　do。〃

So　with　his　little　escort　and　following　he　made　for　Jingzhou。　He　had　reached　the　boundaries　of　Wuchang　when　he　met　a　body　of　horsemen；　at　the　head　of　whom　rode　a　general　in　simple　dress。

The　general　pulled　up；　saying；　〃Surely　you　are　the　Charioteer　Zhang　Song。〃

〃I　am　he；〃　said　Zhang　Song。

The　general　quickly　dismounted　and　humbly　said；　〃I　have　expected　you　these　many　days。　I　am　Zhao　Yun。〃

Zhang　Song　dismounted　and　returned　the　salutation；　saying；　〃Then　you　are　no　other　than　the　Fine　Man　of　Changshan。〃

〃No　other；〃　was　the　reply。　〃And　my　lord　Liu　Bei　bade　me　await　you　here　and　offer　you　refreshment　after　your　long　and　toilsome　journey。〃

At　this　some　soldiers　brought　forward　wine　and　food　which　they　offered　kneeling。

Zhang　Song　said；　〃I　am　e　because　the　world　says　Liu　Bei　is　liberal　and　kindly　disposed。〃

After　a　few　cups　of　wine；　the　two　retook　the　road　toward　Jingzhou　City；　which　they　neared　next　day　at　evening。　They　went　to　the　guest…house。　Here　they　found　a　large　number　of　people　who　received　the　visitor　with　the　beating　of　drums　and　every　sign　of　respect。

And　the　officer　in　mand；　bowing　low；　said；　〃My　brother　sent　me　to　meet　you　after　your　long　and　dusty　journey　and　prepare　the　guest…house　for　your　reception。　My　name　is　Guan　Yu。〃

So　Zhang　Song　and　Zhao　Yun　dismounted　and　entered　the　guest…house；　where　hosts　and　guest　exchanged　formal　salutations　and　took　their　seats。　In　a　short　time　refreshments　were　served；　and　both　men　were　most　diligent　in　their　attention　to　the　traveler。　This　roadside　banquet　was　prolonged　to　the　time　of　setting　the　watch；　when　they　prepared　for　rest。

Next　morning；　after　the　early　meal；　they　mounted　and　continued　their　journey。　Very　soon　they　met　Liu　Bei　himself；　with　an　escort；　and　his　two　chief　advisers；　deferentially　standing　by　the　roadside。

As　soon　as　he　recognized　them；　Zhang　Song　dismounted　and　walked　toward　them。　Liu　Bei　received　him　with　extreme　respect。

〃Your　exalted　name　has　been　long　known　to　me；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃And　it　has　reverberated　through　my　ears。　My　one　regret　is　that　cloudy　hills　and　long　distances　have　hitherto　prevented　me　from　enjoying　the　advantage　of　your　instruction。　Hearing　that　you　were　passing　through；　I　have　e　to　meet　you。　And　if　you　would　be　willing　to　notice　me　and　condescend　to　rest　for　a　time　in　my　city；　thus　allowing　me　to　satisfy　my　long　disappointed　desire　to　see　you；　I　should　indeed　hold　myself　fortunate。〃

Naturally　the　travelers　vanity　was　tickled；　and　he　joyfully　remounted。　They　rode　bridle　to　bridle　into　the　city。　When　they　reached　the　residence；　again　they　exchanged　profound　salutations　and　pliments　before　they　took　their　various　places　as　host　and　guest。　And　then　a　banquet　was　served。　But　all　throughout　Liu　Bei　refrained　from　saying　a　word　about　the　west。　He　only　chatted　on　general　and　mon　things。

The　visitor　noted　this　steady　avoidance　and　resolved　to　probe　his　hosts　thoughts。

〃How　many　counties　are　there　in　Jingzhou；　where　you　are　now；　O　Imperial　Uncle？〃

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Jingzhou　is　only　ours　temporarily。　We　have　borrowed　it　from　the　South　Land。　They　are　always　sending　messengers　to　demand　its　return。　However；　now　that　our　lord　has　married　their　daughter；　his　position　is　more　secure。　But　it　is　still　temporary。〃

〃The　South　Land　is　large；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃yet　their　six　territories　and　their　eighty…one　counties　do　not　satisfy　them。　The　people　are　strong　and　the　land　is　fruitful。〃

Said　Pang　Tong；　〃Our　lord；　being　of　the　dynastic　family；　has　never　occupied　a　territory　of　the　empire。　Those　others；　rebellious　as　they　are；　may　indeed　seize　upon　as　much　territory　as　they　are　strong　enough　to　hold。　People　of　reasons　do　not　approve　such　wrongs。〃

〃Noble　Sirs；　pray　say　no　more。　What　virtue　have　I　that　I　should　expect　anything　from　the　future？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Not　so；　indeed；〃　said　Zhang　Song。　〃Illustrious　Sir；　you　are　of　the　linea