第一小说网

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第147部分（第2页）

〃The　plan　seems　excellent；〃　said　Sun　Quan。

But　just　then　a　voice　was　heard　from　behind　the　screen；　crying；　〃You　may　just　put　to　death　the　man　who　proposed　that　scheme　for　trying　to　pass　the　death　of　my　daughter。〃

Everyone　started　with　surprise。　It　was　the　Dowager　Marchioness　voice。

Further；　Lady　Wu　looked　very　angry　as　she　entered；　saying；　〃What　is　to　bee　of　my　only　daughter；　who　is　the　wife　of　Liu　Bei？〃

She　turned　her　wrathful　eyes　to　Sun　Quan　and　said；　〃You　were　heir　to　your　father　and　brother　and　obtained　possession　of　all　these　lands　without　the　least　effort。　Yet　you　are　dissatisfied　and　would　forget　the　claims　of　your　own　flesh　and　blood　and　sacrifice　your　sister　for　the　sake　of　adding　a　little　to　your　lands。〃

〃No；　no！〃　murmured　Sun　Quan；　ashamed。　〃I　would　never　think　of　going　contrary　to　my　mothers　wishes　and　orders。〃

He　abruptly　dismissed　the　assembly；　and　when　they　had　gone　the　old　lady；　still　nursing　her　wrath；　retired　to　her　own　apartments。

Left　alone　beneath　the　portico；　Sun　Quan　sighed　sadly。

〃This　chance　missed！　When　will　Jingzhou　be　mine？〃　thought　he。

While　still　deep　in　reverie；　Zhang　Zhao　came　up；　saying；　〃What　grieves　my　lord？〃

〃No　great　matter；　only　this　last　failure　to　gain　my　ends。〃

〃The　difficulty　may　be　easily　removed；〃　said　Zhang　Zhao。　〃Choose　some　trusty　man　and　charge　him　with　a　secret　letter　to　Lady　Sun　Ren　saying　that　her　mother　is　dangerously　ill。　Give　him　five　hundred　men　as　escort　and　tell　him　to　make　his　way　privily　into　Jingzhou　City　and　deliver　the　letter。　Hearing　her　mother　wants　her；　she　will　rush　home　at　once；　and　she　might　bring　with　her　the　only　son　of　Liu　Bei。　Liu　Bei　will　be　glad　enough　to　exchange　Jingzhou　for　his　son。　If　he　will　not；　you　can　still　send　the　army。〃

〃That　sounds　like　a　good　plan；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃Further；　I　have　the　man　to　carry　it　out　successfully。　He　is　that　Zhou　Shan；　who　was　a　bold　one。　He　used　to　acpany　my　brother　in　his　youth。　He　is　the　man　to　go。〃

〃Keep　it　a　secret；　then；〃　said　Zhang　Zhao；　〃and　let　Zhou　Shan　start　quickly。〃

It　was　decided　that　Zhou　Shan　should　take　with　him　about　five　hundred　soldiers　disguised　as　ordinary　traders。　He　had　five　vessels　and　distributed　his　men　among　them；　while　weapons　were　hidden　in　the　holds。　Travel　documents　were　forged　to　look　like　veritable　authority　in　case　they　were　asked。

Zhou　Shan　set　out　along　the　river　route　for　the　city　of　Jingzhou　and　was　not　long　on　the　way。　He　anchored　his　ships　under　the　bank；　landed；　and　went　into　the　city　to　the　residence；　where　he　bade　the　doorkeepers　announce　him。　He　was　admitted　and　led　into　the　presence　of　Lady　Sun　and　presently　gave　her　the　secret　letter。　When　she　read　that　her　mother　was　in　danger　of　death；　she　began　to　weep　bitterly　and　questioned　the　messenger　closely。

Zhou　Shan　invented　a　story；　saying；　〃The　Dowager　Marchioness　is　really　fretting　for　a　sight　of　yours。　If　you　do　not　go　quickly；　it　will　be　too　late。　The　Dowager　Marchioness　also　wants　to　see　little　Liu　Shan　once　before　she　dies。〃

Lady　Sun　replied；　〃You　know　that　the　Imperial　Uncle　is　far　away　on　military　service；　and　I　ought　to　inform　the　chief　of　the　army　before　returning　home。〃

〃But　what　will　you　do　if　the　chief　says　he　must　inform　your　husband　and　await　his　consent？〃　said　Zhou　Shan。

〃If　I　went　without　asking　permission………but　I　fear　that　is　impossible。〃

〃My　ships　are　all　ready　in　the　river；　and　you　have　only　to　drive　through　the　city；〃　said　Zhou　Shan。

Naturally　the　news　of　her　mothers　illness　greatly　disturbed　the　young　wife。　In　a　short　time　her　carriage　was　ready；　and　she　mounted；　taking　Liu　Shan　with　her。　She　took　an　escort　of　thirty　guards；　all　armed；　and　was　soon　at　the　river　side　and　had　embarked　before　the　palace　people　could　report　what　she　was　doing。

But　just　as　the　ships　were　starting；　a　voice　was　heard；　shouting；　〃Do　not　start　yet！　Let　me　bid　my　lady　farewell。〃

The　voice　was　Zhao　Yuns。　He　had　just　returned　from　an　inspection　trip；　and　they　had　at　once　told　him　of　Lady　Suns　sudden　departure。　As　soon　as　he　had　recovered　from　his　surprise；　he　dashed　down　to　the　river　bank　like　a　whirlwind；　with　only　half　a　dozen　followers。　He　arrived　only　just　in　time。　The　boat　was　starting；　and　Zhou　Shan　stood　in　the　prow；　a　long　spear　in　his　hand。

〃Who　are　you　that　you　dare　hinder　the　movements　of　your　mistress？〃　cried　Zhou　Shan。

Zhou　Shan　bade　his　soldiers　cast　off　and　get　under　way；　and　also　to　prepare　their　weapons　to　fight。　The　ship　moved　off　with　a　fair　wind　and　a　strong　current　beneath　her　keel。

But　Zhao　Yun　followed　along　the　bank。

〃My　lady　may　go　or　not　as　she　pleases；〃　cried　he；　〃but　I　have　one　word　to　say　to　her。〃

Zhou　Shan　turned　a　deaf　ear　and　only　urged　his　soldiers　to　get　greater　speed　on　the　ship。　Zhao　Yun　followed　down　the　bank　for　some　three　or　more　miles。　Then　he　saw　a　fishing　boat　made　fast　to　the　bank。　He　at　once　dismounted；　cast　off　the　rope；　took　his　spear；　and　leaped　into　the　boat。　Then　he　made　the　two　men　row　him　toward　the　vessel　in　which　sat　Lady　Sun。

As　he　approached；　the　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　threatened　him　with　their　spears。　Thereupon　he　threw　his　spear　into　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　drew　the　glittering　steel　blade　he　wore；　dashed　aside　the　opposing　spears；　and　leaped　upon　the　larger　vessel。　The　guards　of　the　South　Land　fell　back　in　surprise　and　fear；　and　Zhao　Yun　went　down　into　the　body　of　the　ship。　There　sat　Lady　Sun　with　little　Liu　Shan　in　her　arms。

〃Why　this　rude　intrusion？〃　said　she　angrily。

The　warrior　sheathed　his　sword　and　said　humbly；　〃Whither　may　my　mistress　be　going；　and