第一小说网

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第88部分（第1页）

Liu　Biao　sent　his　elder　son　Liu　Qi　back　with　Sun　Qian　to　apologize。　When　Liu　Qi　reached　Xinye；　Liu　Bei　weled　him　and　gave　a　banquet　in　his　honor。

After　some　little　drinking；　the　chief　guest　suddenly　began　to　weep　and　presently　said；　〃My　step　mother；　Lady　Cai；　always　cherishes　a　wish　to　put　me　out　of　the　way；　and　I　do　not　know　how　to　avoid　her　anger。　Could　you　advise　me；　Uncle？〃

Liu　Bei　exhorted　him　to　be　careful　and　perfectly　filial　and　nothing　could　happen。　Soon　after；　the　young　man　took　his　leave　and　wept　at　parting。

Liu　Bei　escorted　Liu　Qi　well　on　his　way　and；　pointing　to　his　steed；　said；　〃I　owe　my　life　to　this　horse。　Had　it　not　been　for　him；　I　had　been　already　below　the　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃

〃It　was　not　the　strength　of　the　horse；　but　your　noble　fortune；　Uncle。〃

They　parted；　the　young　man　weeping　bitterly。　On　reentering　the　city；　Liu　Bei　met　a　person　in　the　street　wearing　a　hempen　turban；　a　cotton　robe　confined　by　a　black　girdle；　and　black　shoes。　He　came　along　singing　a　song：

〃The　universe　is　rived；　O！　Now　nears　the　end　of　all。

The　noble　mansion　quakes；　O！　What　beam　can　stay　the　fall？

A　wise　one　waits　his　lord；　O！　But　hidden　in　the　glen；

The　seeker　knows　not　him；　O！　Nor　me；　of　mon　humans。〃

Liu　Bei　listened。

〃Surely　this　is　one　of　the　people　Water　Mirror　spoke　of；〃　thought　he。

He　dismounted；　spoke　to　the　singer；　and　invited　him　into　his　residence。　Then　when　they　were　seated；　he　asked　the　strangers　name。

〃I　am　from　Yingchuan；　and　my　name　is　San　Fu。　I　have　known　you　by　repute　for　a　long　time；　and　they　said　you　appreciated　humans　of　ability。　I　wanted　to　e　to　you　but　every　way　of　getting　an　introduction　seemed　closed。　So　I　bethought　me　of　attracting　your　notice　by　singing　that　song　in　the　market　place。〃

Liu　Bei　thought　he　had　found　a　treasure　and　treated　the　newer　with　the　greatest　kindness。　Then　San　Fu　spoke　of　the　horse　that　he　had　seen　Liu　Bei　riding　and　asked　to　look　at　it。　So　the　animal　was　brought　round。

〃Is　not　this　a　Dilu　horse？〃　said　San　Fu。　〃But　though　it　is　a　good　steed；　it　risks　his　master。　You　must　not　ride　it。〃

〃It　has　already　fulfilled　the　omens；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　and　he　related　the　story　of　the　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent。

〃But　that　was　saving　his　master；　not　risking　him。　It　will　surely　harm　someone　in　the　end。　But　I　can　tell　you　how　to　avert　the　omen。〃

〃I　should　be　glad　to　hear　it；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃If　you　have　an　enemy　against　whom　you　bear　a　grudge；　give　him　this　horse　and　wait　till　it　has　fulfilled　the　evil　omens　on　this　person；　then　you　can　ride　it　in　safety。〃

Liu　Bei　changed　color。

〃What；　Sir！　You　are　but　a　new　acquaintance；　and　you　would　advise　me　to　take　an　evil　course　and　to　harm　another　for　my　own　advantage？　No；　Sir！　I　cannot　listen。〃

His　guest　smiled；　saying；　〃People　said　you　were　virtuous。　I　could　not　ask　you　directly；　so　I　put　it　that　way　to　test　you。〃

Liu　Beis　expression　changed。　He　rose　and　returned　the　pliment；　saying；　〃But　how　can　I　be　virtuous　while　I　lack　your　teaching？〃

〃When　I　arrived　here；　I　heard　the　people　saying：

〃Since　Liu　Bei　came　here；　O　blessed　day！

Weve　had　good　luck；　long　may　he　stay！

〃So　you　see；　the　effects　of　your　virtue　extend　to　the　ordinary　people。〃