第一小说网

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第195部分（第2页）

When　Zhang　Fei　heard　the　tidings　of　Guan　Yus　death　at　the　hands　of　Sun　Quan；　he　wept　very　bitterly　day　and　night；　so　that　his　raiment　was　soaked　with　his　tears。　His　subordinates　tried　to　cheer　him　with　wine；　but　he　over…drank；　and　this　increased　his　ill…humor；　which　he　vented　on　any　offender　in　his　camp。　Some　of　his　people　even　died　under　the　lash。　Every　day　he　gazed　southward；　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage　and　glaring。　He　wept　and　groaned　without　ceasing。

Then　a　messenger　was　announced。　He　was　summoned　immediately；　and　Zhang　Fei　at　once　tore　open　and　read　his　dispatches。　When　Zhang　Fei　read　the　edict；　he　accepted　his　new　rank　in　all　humility；　bowing　northward　toward　the　imperial　mandate。　Then　he　gave　a　banquet　to　the　messenger。

He　said；　〃My　enmity　for　the　death　of　my　brother　is　deep　as　the　sea。　Why　do　not　the　officers　at　the　court　propose　an　avenging　expedition？〃

The　messenger　replied；　〃Most　of　them　favor　first　the　destruction　of　Wei。　Wu　is　to　follow。〃

〃What　sort　of　talk　is　this？〃　cried　Zhang　Fei　angrily。　〃When　we　three　swore　brotherhood　in　the　Peach　Garden；　we　pledged　ourselves　to　die　together。　Now；　alas！　my　brother　has　perished　by　the　way；　and　can　we　enjoy　wealth　or　honors　without　him？　I　must　see　the　Son　of　Heaven　and　pray　to　be　allowed　to　lead　the　van。　I　will　wear　mourning；　and　in　that　garb　I　will　smite　Wu　and　capture　the　bandit　that　rules　there。　Sun　Quan　shall　be　sacrificed　to　my　brothers　manes　in　virtue　of　our　oath。〃

Zhang　Fei　acpanied　the　messenger　to　Capital　Chengdu。　In　the　meantime　the　First　Ruler　had　been　training　his　armies。　Day　after　day　he　went　to　the　drill　ground；　and　he　decided　upon　a　day　to　start；　and　he　would　acpany　the　expedition。　Thereupon　a　number　of　courtiers　went　to　the　palace　of　the　Prime　Minister　to　talk　with　Zhuge　Liang；　trying　to　get　this　intention　modified。

They　said；　〃It　is　not　in　accordance　with　the　importance　due　to　the　Emperors　position　that　he　should　go　in　personal　mand　of　this　army；　particularly　as　he　has　but　lately　assumed　his　throne。　You；　Sir；　hold　the　weighty　post　of　adviser　in　such　a　matter；　and　why　do　you　not　dissuade　him？〃

〃I　have　done　so；　most　sincerely　and　repeatedly；　but　he　will　not　listen。　But　now　you　all　e　with　me　to　the　drill　ground；　and　we　will　try　once　more。〃

So　they　proceeded　thither；　with　Zhuge　Liang　at　their　head；　and　he　said；　〃Your　Majesty　has　but　lately　taken　the　imperial　seat。　If　the　expedition　was　one　to　march　northward　to　destroy　the　rebels　against　Han　and　in　the　interest　of　rectitude；　it　would　be　perfectly　correct　for　the　Emperor　to　lead　the　army。　But　an　officer　of　high　rank　should　more　properly　be　sent　against　Wu。　Why　should　Your　Majesty　expose　yourself　to　such　fatigues？〃

The　First　Ruler　was　touched　by　the　depth　of　his　ministers　concern　and　the　sincerity　of　his　counsel；　and　was　on　the　point　of　yielding　when　the　arrival　of　Zhang　Fei　was　announced。　Zhang　Fei　was　immediately　summoned　and　came　to　the　pavilion　on　the　drill　ground；　where　he　threw　himself　on　the　ground　and　clasped　the　First　Rulers　feet；　weeping　bitterly。　The　First　Ruler　joined　in　the　lamentation。

〃Your　Majesty　is　now　ruler　and　too　quickly　forgets　the　oath　in　the　Peach　Garden。　Why　is　our　brothers　death　not　avenged？〃

The　First　Ruler　replied；　〃Many　officers　dissuade　me　from　such　a　course。　I　cannot　act　rashly。〃

〃What　do　others　know　of　our　oath？　If　Your　Majesty　will　not　go；　then　let　me　sacrifice　myself　to　avenge　our　brother。　If　I　cannot；　then　would　I　rather　die　and　see　your　face　no　more。〃

〃Then　will　I　go　with　you；〃　said　the　First　Ruler。　〃Bring　your　own　troops　from　Langzhong；　and　I　will　bring　my　veterans　to　meet　you　at　Jiangzhou。　We　will　both　attack　Wu　and　wipe　out　the　reproach。〃

As　Zhang　Fei　rose　to　take　leave；　the　First　Ruler　said　to　him；　〃I　know　that　your　weakness　for　wine　leads　you　astray；　and　you　bee　very　cruel　in　your　cups；　and　hog　your　people；　and　keep　the　beaten　ones　near　you。　They　may　be　dangerous；　and　it　is　certainly　the　road　to　misfortune。　Now　you　must　be　more　kindly　and　not　give　way　to　passion　as　before。〃

Thus　admonished；　Zhang　Fei　said　farewell　and　left。

Soon　after；　when　the　First　Ruler　was　preparing　to　march　out；　High　Minister　Qin　Mi　memorialized；　saying；　〃That　Your　Majesty；　the　Lord　of　a　Myriad　Chariots；　should　risk　his　person　in　what　is　not　the　way　of　perfect　rectitude　is　not　what　the　ancients　would　have　done。　I　pray　that　this　may　be　reflected　upon。〃

But　the　First　Ruler　replied；　〃Guan　Yu　and　I　were　as　one　body；　and　the　way　of　perfect　rectitude　is　here。　Have　you　forgotten？〃

But　the　officer　remained　at　his　feet　and　said；　〃I　fear　disaster　if　Your　Majesty　disregards　your　servants　words。〃

The　First　Ruler　replied　angrily；　〃Why　do　you　use　such　bad　words　when　I　desire　to　march？〃

He　bade　the　executioners　thrust　forth　and　put　to　death　the　bold　speaker。　Still　Qin　Mis　face　showed　no　sign　of　fear。

He　only　smiled；　saying；　〃I　die　without　regret。　It　is　a　pity　that　this　newly　established　state　should　be　overturned　ere　it　be　well　begun。〃

Other　officials　interceding；　the　death　punishment　was　remitted；　but　the　faithful　officer　was　mitted　to　prison。

〃Your　fate　will　be　decided　when　the　Army　of　Vengeance　return；〃　said　the　First　Ruler。

Zhuge　Liang　sent　up　a　memorial　in　favor　of　Qin　Mi；　saying：

〃I；　Zhuge　Liang；　address　Your　Majesty　in　my　own　name　and　those　of　my　colleagues。　We　regard　as　most　grievous　the　recent　events………Wus　perfidy；　by　which　Jingzhou　was　lost；　the　star　of　a　great　general　was　brought　down；　and　the　pillar　holding　the　sky　was　broken………；　and　we　shall　never　forget。　But　it　is　to　be　remembered　that　the　crime　of　overturning　the　Throne　of　Han　rests　on　Cao　Cao；　and　the　fault　of　driving　away　the　Liu　Family　lies　not　on　Sun　Quan。　We　venture　to　think　that　the　destruction　of　Wei　would　cause　the　submission　of　Wu；　wherefore　we　beg　consideration　of　the　valuable　words　of　Qin　Mi。　Thus　the　army　will　be　spared　needless　exertion　and　occasion　given　to　make　other　plans　for　the　prosperity　of　the　Throne　and　the　happiness　of　the　people。〃

But　having　listened　to　the　memorial；　the　First　Ruler　threw　it　to　the　floor；　saying；　〃I　have　decided；　and　no　remonstrance