第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第149部分（第2页）

At　a　meeting　of　his　advisers　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Cao　Cao　has　marched　north；　Liu　Bei　is　at　Jiameng　Pass。　Why　should　I　not　lead　the　army　that　has　just　repulsed　the　northern　forces　to　take　Jingzhou？〃

Thereupon　Zhang　Zhao　offered　another　plan；　saying；　〃Do　not　move　a　soldier。　I　know　how　to　keep　Liu　Bei　from　returning　to　Jingzhou。〃

Cao　Caos　army　march　away；

Sun　Quans　thoughts　then　southward　stray。

The　scheme　proposed　by　Zhang　Zhao　will　be　unfolded　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　62　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　62

Chapter　62

Taking　Of　River　Fu　Pass；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei　Are　Slain；

Siege　Of　Luocheng；　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　Rival。

Zhang　Zhao　proceeded　to　unfold　his　device：　〃If　you　undertake　any　expedition　farther　west；　Cao　Cao　will　undoubtedly　return　to　the　attack。　Rather　write　two　letters；　one　to　Liu　Zhang　saying　that　Liu　Bei　has　leagued　himself　with　you　against　the　west；　which　will　raise　suspicions　in　the　mind　of　Liu　Zhang　and　cause　him　to　attack　his　guest；　and　another　letter　persuading　Zhang　Lu　to　march　upon　Jingzhou；　which　will　uproot　Liu　Bei。　Between　these　two　conflicting　matters；　Liu　Bei　cannot　give　supports　to　all　fronts；　and　we　can　march　against　Jingzhou。〃

Sun　Quan　approved；　wrote　the　two　letters；　and　sent　them　by　two　messengers。

In　the　meantime；　Liu　Bei　had　been　winning　the　hearts　of　the　people　about　Jiameng　Pass；　where　his　army　lay。　When　he　received　the　news　of　his　wifes　flight　and　of　Cao　Caos　attack　on　Ruxu；　he　called　in　Pang　Tong　and　laid　the　matter　before　him。

〃The　victor　of　Ruxu；　whoever　it　is；　will　assuredly　possess　himself　of　our　region　of　Jingzhou；〃　said　Liu　Bei　at　the　close。

〃You　need　not　trouble　about　that　region；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃I　do　not　think　the　South　Land　or　the　Middle　Land　will　try　to　take　it　so　long　as　Zhuge　Liang　is　there。　But；　my　lord；　write　to　Liu　Zhang　telling　him　you　wish　to　return　on　account　of　this　threatening　danger。　It　will　be　a　plausible　excuse。　You　may　say　that　on　account　of　Cao　Caos　attack；　Sun　Quan　has　sent　to　you　for　help；　and　that　as　his　country　and　yours　are　neighbors　and　dependent　upon　each　other　for　safety　you　cannot　refuse。　Further；　you　will　assure　him　that　there　is　no　danger　of　any　invasion　by　Zhang　Lu。　However；　we　have　too　few　troops　for　our　purpose　and　insufficient　grain；　so　you　must　also　urge　your　relative　to　send　you　thirty　or　forty　thousand　of　veterans　and　a　plentiful　supply　of　food。　He　will　not　refuse；　and　with　more　soldiers　and　provisions　we　can　do　as　we　please。〃

Liu　Bei　agreed　to　this　and　sent　a　messenger　to　Chengdu。　When　his　messenger　reached　the　River　Fu　Pass；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei；　who　manded　the　garrison；　already　knew　of　the　design；　and　the　former　of　the　two　generals　went　with　him　to　the　city。

After　reading　the　letter；　the　Imperial　Protector　asked　Yang　Huai；　〃Why　did　you　e　with　the　messenger？〃

〃Only　because　of　that　letter；〃　Yang　Huai　replied。　〃This　Liu　Bei；　from　the　day　he　first　entered　Yizhou；　has　been　trying　to　win　over　the　hearts　of　your　people　by　a　display　of　kindness　and　virtue。　He　certainly　intends　no　good；　and　I　think　you　should　refuse　both　the　troops　and　the　supplies　he　asks。　To　help　him　is　like　adding　fuel　to　a　fire。〃

〃We　are　affectionate　brothers；　and　I　must　help　him；〃　said　the　Imperial　Protector。

〃Liu　Bei　is　nothing　but　a　vagabond　swashbuckler；〃　someone　cried；　〃and　if　you　keep　him　here　in　the　west；　you　are　loosing　a　tiger　in　your　household。　If　you　give　him　the　troops　and　supplies　he　asks；　you　are　adding　wings　to　your　tiger。〃

Turning　whence　the　voice　proceeded；　they　recognized　the　speaker　as　one　Liu　Ba；　a　native　of　Lingling。　His　words　threw　the　Imperial　Protector　into　a　state　of　doubt　and　hesitation。　Huang　Quan　also　dissuaded　him　most　earnestly；　and　finally　Liu　Zhang　actually　decided　to　send　only　four　thousand　of　worn…out　soldiers　and　a　paltry　supply　of　grain。　At　the　same　time　fresh　orders　enjoining　a　diligent　watchfulness　were　sent　to　the　guardians　of　the　passes。

When　Liu　Bei　read　the　letter　that　acpanied　the　Imperial　Protectors　miserable　contribution　to　his　strength；　he　was　furious　and　cried；　〃I　have　been　spending　myself　in　your　defense；　and　this　is　my　reward！　You　are　mean　and　greedy　enough　to　stint　my　supplies。　How　can　you　expect　generous　service？〃

Liu　Bei　tore　the　letter　to　fragments　and　execrated　the　writer　thereof。　The　bearer　of　the　letter　fled　back　to　the　capital。

Then　said　Pang　Tong；　〃You　have　hitherto　laid　too　much　stress　on　humanity　and　righteousness。　However；　that　is　all　over　now；　and　all　affection　between　you　two　is　at　an　end；　now　that　you　have　torn　up　that　letter。〃

〃Yes。　And　since　that　is　so；　what　next？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃I　have　three　schemes　ready　in　my　mind。　You　may　choose　which　pleases　you。〃

〃What　are　your　three　schemes？〃

〃The　first；　and　best；　is　to　send　an　army　forthwith　and　seize　Chengdu。　The　second　is　to　capture　and　put　to　death　the　two　generals　of　the　River　Fu　Pass。　They　are　the　two　most　famous　fighting　men　in　this　land。　If　you　give　out　that　you　are　returning　to　Jingzhou；　they　will　assuredly　e　to　say　farewell。　Seize　and　put　them　to　death；　and　the　Pass