第一小说网

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第145部分（第2页）

Then　said　Fa　Zheng　to　Zhang　Song；　〃You　will　see　our　lord　tomorrow。　What　about　that？〃

〃I　shall　remend　that　you　two　be　sent　to　Jingzhou　on　a　mission。〃

They　thought　that　a　suitable　scheme。

And　when　the　lately　arrived　messenger　saw　his　master　and　was　asked　how　he　had　fared；　Zhang　Song　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel　who　desires　to　get　the　whole　empire　into　his　hands。　I　need　hardly　tell　you　that。　But　he　also　hankers　after　this　region。〃

〃Then　what　will　bee　of　us？〃　said　Liu　Zhang。

〃I　have　a　plan　to　check　both　our　enemies。　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　now　in　Jingzhou；　is　a　relative　of　yours；　and　he　is　generous　and　well　disposed。　This　is　a　matter　of　mon　knowledge。　Cao　Cao　was　simply　overwhelmed　at　the　result　of　the　battle　at　the　Red　Cliffs；　and　Zhang　Lu　more　so。　Now　my　plan　is　that　you　ally　yourself　with　your　distinguished　relative　against　Cao　Cao　and　Zhang　Lu。〃

〃I　have　been　thinking　thus　for　a　long　time。　Can　you　remend　a　suitable　emissary？〃

〃The　only　ones　are　Fa　Zheng　and　Meng　Da。〃

These　two　were　summoned　and；　meanwhile；　a　letter　was　prepared。　Fa　Zheng　was　to　proceed　as　emissary　to　open　up　friendly　relations；　and　Meng　Da　would　follow　in　due　course　with　an　army　to　wele　Liu　Bei　into　the　West　River　Land。

While　still　discussing　the　details　of　the　policy；　a　person　forced　his　way　in；　his　face　all　running　with　sweat；　and　cried　out；　〃My　lord；　your　land　of　forty…one　counties　will　be　lost　to　you　and　pass　to　another　if　you　listen　to　Zhang　Song！〃

Zhang　Song　turned　a　startled　look　on　the　intruder；　who　was　Huang　Quan　of　Xiliang；　First　Secretary　in　the　Imperial　Protectors　palace。

The　Imperial　Protector　said；　〃Why　do　you　use　such　language？　Liu　Bei　is　of　my　family；　and　so　I　am　seeking　his　support。〃

Said　Huang　Quan；　〃I　know　all　about　him。　He　is　liberal　minded　to　gain　people　to　his　side；　and　his　softness　can　overe　the　hardest。　He　is　bolder　than　any　other。　He　gains　humans　hearts　from　afar　off；　and　those　near　him　look　up　to　him。　He　also　has　the　wisest　advisers　in　Zhuge　Liang　and　Pang　Tong；　and　the　boldest　warriors　such　as　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Wei　Yan。　But　if　you　call　him　here　as　a　soldier；　think　you　that　he　will　be　content　to　remain　in　a　lowly　condition？　And　if　you　treat　him　as　an　honored　guest；　can　a　state　stand　two　rulers？　Hear　me；　my　lord；　and　you　stand　secure　as　Taishan　Mountains；　be　deaf　to　my　words；　and　your　position　is　as　precarious　as　a　pile　of　eggs。　This　Zhang　Song　has　lately　e　home　through　Jingzhou；　where　he　has　certainly　been　plotting　with　Liu　Bei。　Slay　this　man；　and　make　an　end　of　Liu　Bei。　That　will　be　for　the　happiness　of　this　land。〃

〃But　how　else　am　I　to　fend　off　my　two　enemies？〃

〃Fortify　your　country；　dig　out　your　moats；　and　raise　your　ramparts。　Then　you　can　wait　on　events。〃

〃If　these　rebels　invade　this　land；　the　position　will　be　critical；　as　when　fire　singes　ones　eyebrows。　It　is　idle　talk　to　tell　me　to　wait　on　events。〃

No　notice　was　taken　of　Huang　Quan；　and　Fa　Zheng　was　about　to　set　out　when　another　interfered；　crying；　〃No；　no！〃

This　was　a　secretary；　Wang　Lei。

With　bowed　head　Wang　Lei　stood　and　said；　〃My　lord　will　bring　misfortune　upon　himself　if　he　listens　to　this　Zhang　Song。〃

〃Not　so；　I　make　an　alliance　with　Liu　Bei　in　order　to　withstand　Zhang　Lu。〃

〃Zhang　Lus　invasion　would　be　but　a　skin　disease。　Liu　Beis　entry　into　this　country　would　be　a　mortal　malady。　Liu　Bei　is　an　unscrupulous　brave。　He　was　once　in　Cao　Caos　service　and　plotted　against　him。　Then　he　hung　on　to　Sun　Quan　and　seized　Jingzhou。　This　shows　his　character　and　his　designs。　Think　you　that　you　two　can　dwell　together？　If　you　invite　him；　then　Shu　is　lost！〃

〃No　more　wild　talk！〃　cried　Liu　Zhang　angrily。　〃Liu　Bei　is　of　my　clan　and　family　and　will　not　ravish　me　of　my　possessions。〃

He　bade　the　guards　escort　both　men　outside　and　ordered　Fa　Zheng　to　set　out。　So　he　did；　and　before　long　came　to　Jingzhou。　When　the　salutations　were　over；　Fa　Zheng　presented　his　letter；　which　Liu　Bei　opened　and　read：

〃I；　Liu　Zhang；　a　younger　brother　of　our　family；　now　write　to　General　Liu　Bei。　From　my　humble　place　long　have　I　gazed　in　your　direction；　but　the　roads　of　the　West　River　Land　are　precipitous；　and　I　have　failed　to　send　my　tribute。　This　is　to　my　shame。　The　victims　of　misfortune　aid　each　other；　and　those　in　trouble　support　each　other。　If　friends　act　thus；　how　much　more　should　members　of　the　same　family？　Now　Zhang　Lu　is　mustering　an　army　of　invasion　on　my　northern　frontier；　much　to　the　injury　of　my　tranquillity。　Wherefore　I　send　this　letter　that　you　may　know　of　my　distress。　And　if　you　remember　the　kindly　bonds　of　family　and　will　play　a　brotherly　part　and　lead　your　armies　to　destroy　these　ruffians；　you　will　be　my　eternal　protector　and　I　shall　be　ever　grateful。　This　letter　leaves　much　unsaid；　but　I　await　your　ing。〃

This　letter　greatly　pleased　Liu　Bei。　He　made　a　banquet　for　the　bearer　thereof；　and　when　they　had　mellowed　themselves　with　wine；　he　dismissed　the　attendants　and　spoke　to　Fa　Zheng　in　confidence。

〃Friend；　I　have　long　admired　you；　and　Zhang　Song　extolled　your　virtues。　I　shall　always　feel　grateful　for　this　opportunity　of　hearing　you。〃

Fa　Zheng　bowed；　saying；　〃That　is　too　great　praise　for　a　humble　emissary　from　Shu。　But　they　say　that　horses　always　neighed　in　recognition　of　Bo　Le；　the　supreme　judge　of　horses；　and　when　a　person　has　found　his　lord；　he　dies　for　him。　Have　you　thought　further　of　Zhang　Songs　proposals；　General？〃

〃I　have　always　been　a　wanderer；　often　in　suffering　and　sorrow。　I　have　often　thought　of　the　wren　for　even　that　tiny　bird　has　a　twig　to　rest　on；　and　of　the　cunning　hare；　that　secures　safety　with　three　openings　to　its　burrow。　Does　not　a　person　need　at　least　a　shelter？　Your　land　of　the　west　is　fertile　and　a　temptation；　but　its　ruler　is　of　my　family；　and　I　cannot　plot　against　him。〃

〃Yes；