第一小说网

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第159部分（第1页）

So　Ma　Chao　placed　a　score　of　armed　ruffians　in　hiding　about　his　tent　and　told　them　to　cut　the　visitor　to　pieces　if　the　signal　was　given。

Then　the　guest　was　led　in　and　came　walking　proudly。　His　host　remained　seated　stiff　and　upright。

Ma　Chao　spoke　roughly；　saying；　〃What　are　you　e　for？〃

〃I　am　here　as　persuader。〃

〃This　sword　here　in　the　scabbard　is　newly　ground。　You　may　try　me　by　words；　but　if　the　words　do　not　penetrate；　I　shall　ask　you　to　try　the　sword。〃

Li　Hui　smiled；　saying；　〃O　General；　evil　is　not　far　off。　However；　I　am　thinking　the　newly　ground　sword　will　not　be　tried　on　my　head。　You　will　want　to　try　it　on　your　own！〃

〃What　evil　were　you　talking　about？〃

＇e＇　Xi　Shi　was　a　moner　and　a　famous　beauty　who　helped　King　Gou　Jian　of　Yue　defeat　the　powerful　kingdom　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Lady　Wuyan　of　Qi　was　also　a　famous　moner　who　did　not　possess　physical　attractiveness。　Yet　her　insights　were　so　loving　that　King　Xuan　of　Qi　fell　in　love　with　her　and　made　her　queen。　。。。。。

〃The　worst　vilification　could　not　hide　the　beauty　of　Lady　Xi　Shi*　of　Yue；　nor　could　the　most　fulsome　praise　gloze　over　the　ugliness　of　Lady　Wuyan*　of　Qi。　The　sun　rises　to　the　meridian　and　then　declines；　the　moon　waxes　to　the　full　and　then　wanes。　All　things　obey　the　one　law。　Now；　General；　you　are　at　enmity　with　Cao　Cao　for　your　fathers　death；　and　in　West　Valley　Land　you　carry　a　stubborn；　grinding　hate　for　your　familys　death。　You　can　neither　rescue　Liu　Zhang　by　repulsing　the　army　from　Jingzhou；　nor　can　you　settle　Yang　Song　by　getting　an　interview　with　Zhang　Lu。　The　whole　world　now　holds　no　place　for　a　person　without　a　lord；　and　if　you　experience　further　defeats；　like　that　one　on　River　Wei；　or　the　loss　of　Jicheng；　will　you　not　be　too　shamed　to　look　any　human　in　the　face？〃

Ma　Chao　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃You　speak　well；　Sir。　But　I　am　helpless。〃

〃Now　that　you　listen　to　me；　I　would　ask　why　those　fearsome　ruffians　are　in　hiding　by　your　tent？〃　continued　Li　Hui。

Ma　Chao；　suddenly　stricken　with　shame；　ordered　them　to　retire。　Li　Hui　continued　his　speech。

〃Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　is　considerate　to　his　subordinates；　and　I　am　certain　he　will　succeed；　and　so　I　have　forsaken　Liu　Zhang　to　cleave　to　him。　Your　honored　father　joined　him　in　destroying　rebels。　Why　do　you　not　flee　from　darkness　into　the　light？　Thereby　you　would　avenge　your　father　and　bee　famous。〃

Ma　Chao；　convinced　of　the　wisdom　of　the　course　thus　remended；　proved　his　conversion　by　sending　for　Yang　Bo　and　slaying　him　forthwith。　Taking　with　him　the　head　of　his　victim；　Ma　Chao　acpanied　Li　Hui　to　the　Pass　and　tendered　his　submission。　Liu　Bei　weled　him　warmly　and　treated　him　as　a　highly　honored　guest。

Ma　Chao　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃Meeting　you；　O　Illustrious　Lord；　is　like　seeing　the　clear　sky　when　the　clouds　have　been　swept　aside。〃

When　Sun　Qian　returned　from　Yang　Songs　place；　Liu　Bei　detached　a　force　to　go　to　the　capture　of　Chengdu；　left　two　generals；　Meng　Da　and　Huo　Jun　to　guard　Jiameng　Pass；　and　made　a　triumphant　entry　into　Mianzhu　with　the　wele　of　Zhao　Yun　and　Huang　Zhong。

Two　generals　of　West　River　Land；　Ma　Han　and　Liu　Jun；　came　to　oppose　Liu　Bei；　but　Zhao　Yun　went　out　against　them　while　Liu　Bei　was　entertaining　Ma　Chao　at　a　banquet　on　the　city　wall。　Ere　it　had　concluded；　Zhao　Yun　slew　both　the　generals　and　brought　their　heads　to　the　banquet　chamber。　This　exploit　put　Ma　Chao　on　his　mettle　and　doubled　his　respect　for　the　conquerors。

〃Let　not　my　lord　attack；〃　said　Ma　Chao。　〃I　will　make　Liu　Zhang　surrender　of　his　own　accord。　Should　he　resist；　my　brother　Ma　Dai　and　I　will　take　the　city　and　offer　it　to　you　with　both　hands。〃

Liu　Bei　was　very　pleased　with　the　course　of　events。　The　day　was　indeed　one　of　rejoicing。

But　Liu　Zhang　was　greatly　distressed　at　the　news　of　his　fresh　misfortunes；　which　reached　him　with　the　return　of　his　defeated　soldiers。　He　barred　the　gates　and　stopped　all　exits。　Before　long　came　news　of　the　approach　of　Ma　Chao　with　an　army　of　rescue。　The　Imperial　Protector　then　ventured　to　mount　the　walls；　and　soon　Ma　Chao　and　Ma　Dai　rode　up　and　stood　below　the　ramparts。

And　Ma　Chao　called　out；　〃I　wish　to　speak　with　Liu　Zhang。〃

Then　Liu　Zhang　showed　himself；　and　Ma　Chao　plunged　into　the　matter　without　more　ado。

〃I　took　the　leadership　of　Zhang　Lus　army　to　rescue　Yizhou；　little　thinking　that；　under　the　calumnious　advice　of　Yang　Song；　Zhang　Lu　would　try　to　slay　me。　However；　now　I　have　gone　over　to　the　side　of　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　advise　you；　Sir；　to　do　the　same；　you　and　all　your　officers。　Thereby　you　will　all　escape　harm。　If　anyone　holds　on　a　misguided　course；　I　shall　take　the　city。〃

Such　words　came　as　a　shock；　and　Liu　Zhang　paled。　His　feelings　overcame　him　and　he　swooned。

When　he　came　to　his　senses；　he　muttered；　〃I　am　stupid　and　I　am　sorry。　Better　open　the　gates　and　end　it。　The　city　will　be　saved。〃

〃No；　no；〃　cried　Dong　He。　〃There　are　thirty　thousand　of　good　soldiers　in　the　city　and　ample　money　and　stores　for　a　year　to　e。　Hold　out！〃

But　Liu　Zhang　was　broken；　saying；　〃My　father　and　I　have　ruled　Shu　for　twenty　years　and　have　done　no　particular　good　for　the　people。　We　have　fought　for　three　years：　The　grass　has　been　be　stained　with　the　blood　of　my　people。　The　fault　is　mine。　I　could　not　bear　it；　and　so　I　see　no　better　way　than　to　surrender；　whereby　I　may　bring　peace　to　the　people。〃

Those　about　him　wept。　One　man　spoke；　saying；　〃You　speak　as　Heaven　guides　you。〃