第一小说网

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第134部分（第2页）

〃Friend　Cheng　Yu；　you　are　a　man　after　my　own　heart。〃

Wherefore　Cao　Cao　summoned　the　emissary　from　the　South　Land　and　overwhelmed　him　with　gifts。　That　day　was　the　last　of　the　feastings　and　merry…makings；　and　Cao　Cao；　with　all　the　pany；　returned　to　the　capital　where　he　forthwith　presented　a　memorial　assigning　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　to　the　governorships　of　Nanjun　and　Jiangxia；　and　Hua　Xin　was　retained　at　the　capital　with　a　post　of　ministry。

The　messenger　bearing　the　missions　for　their　new　offices　went　down　to　the　South　Land；　and　both　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　accepted　the　appointments。　Having　taken　over　his　mand；　the　former　thought　all　the　more　of　the　revenge　he　contemplated　and；　to　bring　matters　to　a　head；　he　wrote　to　Sun　Quan　asking　him　to　send　Lu　Su　and　renew　the　demand　for　the　rendition　of　Jingzhou。

Wherefore　Lu　Su　was　summoned；　and　his　master　said　to　him；　〃You　are　the　guarantor　in　the　loan　of　Jingzhou　to　Liu　Bei。　He　still　delays　to　return　it；　and　how　long　am　I　to　wait？〃

〃The　writing　said　plainly　that　the　rendition　would　follow　the　occupation　of　Yizhou。〃

Sun　Quan　shouted　back；　〃Yes；　it　said　so！　But　so　far　they　have　not　moved　a　soldier　to　the　attack。　I　will　not　wait　till　old　age　has　e　to　us　all。〃

〃I　will　go　and　inquire？〃　said　Lu　Su。

So　he　went　down　into　a　ship　and　sailed　to　Jingzhou。

Meanwhile　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　were　at　Jingzhou　gathering　in　supplies　from　all　sides；　drilling　their　troops；　and　training　their　armies。　From　all　quarters　people　of　learning　flocked　to　their　side。　In　the　midst　of　this　they　heard　of　Lu　Sus　ing；　and　Liu　Bei　asked　Zhuge　Liang　what　he　thought。

Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Just　lately　Sun　Quan　concerned　himself　with　getting　you　appointed　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou：　That　was　calculated　to　inspire　Cao　Cao　with　fear。　Cao　Cao　obtained　for　Zhou　Yu　the　governorship　of　Nanjun：　That　was　designed　to　stir　up　strife　between　our　two　houses　and　set　us　fighting　so　that　he　might　acplish　his　own　ends。　This　visit　of　Lu　Su　means　that　Zhou　Yu；　having　taken　over　his　new　governorship；　wishes　to　force　us　out　of　this　place。〃

〃Then　how　shall　we　reply？〃

〃If　Lu　Su　introduces　the　subject；　you　will　at　once　set　up　loud　lamentations。　When　the　sound　of　lamentation　is　at　its　height；　I　will　appear　and　talk　over　your　visitor。〃

Thus　they　planned；　and　Lu　Su　was　duly　received　with　all　honor。

When　the　salutations　were　over　and　host　and　guest　were　about　to　be　seated；　Lu　Su　said；　〃Sir；　now　that　you　are　the　husband　of　a　daughter　of　Wu；　you　have　bee　my　lord；　and　I　dare　not　sit　in　your　presence。〃

Liu　Bei　laughed。　〃You　are　an　old　friend；〃　said　he。　〃Why　this　excessive　humility？〃

So　Lu　Su　took　his　seat。　And　when　tea　had　been　served；　the　guest　said；　〃I　have　e　at　the　order　of　my　master　to　discuss　the　subject　of　Jingzhou。　You；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　have　had　the　use　of　the　place　for　a　long　time。　Now　that　your　two　houses　are　allied　by　marriage；　there　should　be　the　most　friendly　relations　between　you　two；　and　you　should　hand　it　back　to　my　master。〃

At　this　Liu　Bei　covered　his　face　and　began　to　cry。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　guest。

Liu　Bei　only　wept　the　more　bitterly。

Then　Zhuge　Liang　came　in　from　behind　a　screen；　saying；　〃I　have　been　listening。　Do　you　know　why　my　lord　weeps　so　bitterly？〃

〃Really　I　know　not。〃

〃But　it　is　easy　to　see。　When　my　lord　got　the　temporary　occupation　of　Jingzhou；　he　gave　the　promise　to　return　it　when　he　had　got　the　West　River　Land。　But　reflect。　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou　is　my　lords　younger　brother；　and　both　of　them　are　blood　relations　of　the　ruling　family。　If　my　lord　were　to　move　an　army　to　capture　another　region；　he　fears　the　blame　of　the　ignorant。　And　if　he　yields　this　place　before　he　has　another；　where　could　he　rest？　Yet　while　he　retains　this　place；　it　seems　to　shame　you。　The　thing　is　hard　on　both　sides；　and　that　is　why　he　weeps　so　bitterly。〃

The　close　of　Zhuge　Liangs　speech　seemed　to　move　Liu　Bei　to　greater　grief；　for　he　beat　his　breast　and　stamped　his　feet　and　wept　yet　more　bitterly。

Lu　Su　attempted　to　console　him；　saying；　〃Be　not　so　distressed；　O　Uncle。　Let　us　hear　what　Zhuge　Liang　can　propose。〃

Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　would　beg　you　to　return　to　your　master　and　tell　him　all。　Tell　him　of　this　great　trouble；　and　entreat　him　to　let　us　stay　here　a　little　longer。〃

〃But　suppose　he　refuses：　What　then？〃　said　Lu　Su。

〃How　can　he　refuse　since　he　is　related　by　marriage　to　my　master？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃I　shall　expect　to　hear　glad　tidings　through　you。〃

Lu　Su　was　really　the　first　of　generous　people。　Seeing　Liu　Bei　in　such