三国演义英文版-第131章

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There　was　nothing　to　be　said；　and　Huang　Zu　turned　his　horse　to　escape。　But　Gan　Ning　thrust　aside　his　troops　and　himself　rode　in　pursuit。　Then　he　heard　a　shouting　in　his　rear　and　saw　General　Cheng　Pu　ing　up。　Fearing　lest　this　other　pursuer　should　overpass　him　and　score　the　success　he　desired　for　himself；　Gan　Ning　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow　and　shot　at　the　fugitive。　Huang　Zu　was　hit　and　fell　from　his　steed。　Then　Gan　Ning　cut　off　his　head。　After　this；　joining　himself　to　Cheng　Pu；　the　two　returned　bearing　the　ghastly　trophy　to　their　lord。　Sun　Quan　ordered　them　to　place　it　in　a　box　to　be　taken　back　home　and　offered　as　a　sacrifice　to　the　manes　of　his　father。
Having　rewarded　the　soldiers　for　the　victory　and　promoted　Gan　Ning；　Sun　Quan　next　discussed　the　advisability　of　sending　a　force　to　hold　Jiangxia。
But　his　adviser；　Zhang　Zhao；　said；　〃It　is　impossible　to　try　to　hold　one　distant　city　alone。　It　is　better　to　return　home　and　prepare　for　the　expedition　that　Liu　Biao　will　surely　send　in　revenge。　We　will　meet　and　defeat　his　worn　army；　push　home　the　attack；　and　capture　his　whole　region。〃
Sun　Quan　saw　the　advice　was　wise；　so　he　left　Jiangxia　and　led　his　army　home　to　the　South　Land。
Now　Su　Fei　was　still　confined；　but　he　got　someone　to　go　to　Gan　Ning　to　beg　him　to　plead　for　mercy。　Gan　Ning　had　expected　this　although　the　prisoner　had　said　no　word；　and　he　was　averse　from　leaving　his　friend　and　one…time　protector　to　perish。
〃I　should　not　have　forgotten　him　even　if　he　had　said　nothing；〃　said　Gan　Ning。
When　the　army　had　returned；　Sun　Quan　gave　orders　for　Su　Fei's　execution　that　his　head　might　be　offered　with　that　of　Huang　Zu。
Then　Gan　Ning　went　in　to　his　lord　and　said；　weeping；　〃Long　ago；　if　it　had　not　been　for　Su　Fei；　my　bones　would　have　been　rotting　in　some　ditch　and　how　then　could　I　have　rendered　service　under　your　banner？　Now　he　deserves　death；　but　I　cannot　forget　his　kindness　to　me；　and　I　pray　you　take　away　the　honors　you　have　bestowed　on　me　as　a　set…off　to　his　crime。〃
Sun　Quan　replied；　〃Since　he　once　showed　kindness　to　you；　I　will　pardon　him　for　your　sake。　But　what　can　be　done　if　he　run　away？〃
〃If　he　be　pardoned　and　escape　death；　he　will　be　immeasurably　grateful　and　will　not　go　away。　If　he　should；　then　will　I　offer　my　life　in　exchange。〃
So　the　condemned　man　escaped　death；　and　only　one　head　was　offered　in　sacrifice。　After　the　sacrificial　ceremonies；　a　great　banquet　was　spread　in　honor　of　the　victories。　As　it　was　proceeding；　suddenly　one　of　the　guests　burst　into　loud　lamentations；　drew　his　sword；　and　rushed　upon　Gan　Ning。　Gan　Ning　hastily　rose　and　defended　himself　with　the　chair　on　which　he　had　been　sitting。　The　host　looked　at　the　assailant　and　saw　it　was　Ling　Tong；　whose　father　Ling　Cao　had　fallen　under　an　arrow　shot　by　Gan　Ning。　The　son　was　now　burning　to　avenge　his　father's　death。
Hastily　leaving　his　place；　Sun　Quan　checked　the　angry　officer；　saying；　〃If　he　slew　your　noble　father；　then　remember　each　was　fighting　for　his　lord　for　whom　he　was　bound　to　exert　himself　to　the　utmost。　But　now　that　you　both　are　under　one　flag　and　are　of　one　house；　you　may　not　recall　an　ancient　injury。　You　must　regard　my　interests　continually。〃
Ling　Tong　beat　his　head　upon　the　floor　and　cried；　saying；　〃But　how　can　I　not　avenge　this？　It　is　a　blood　feud；　and　we　may　not　both　live　under　the　same　sky。〃
The　guests　interfered；　beseeching　the　man　to　forgo　his　revenge；　and　at　last　he　ceased　from　his　murderous　intention。　But　he　sat　glaring　wrathfully　at　his　enemy。
So　soon　after　Gan　Ning　was　dispatched　with　five　thousand　troops　and　one　hundred　warships　to　guard　Xiakou；　where　he　was　beyond　the　reach　of　Ling　Tong's　wrath。　Then　Sun　Quan　promoted　Ling　Tong；　and　so　he　was　somewhat　appeased。
From　about　this　time　the　South　Land　enlarged　her　fleets；　and　soldiers　were　sent　to　various　points　to　guard　the　river　banks。　The　brother　of　the　chieftain；　Sun　Kuang；　was　placed　in　mand　at　Wujun；　and　Sun　Quan　himself；　with　a　large　army；　camped　at　Chaisang。
Zhou　Yu；　mander…in…Chief　of　the　army　and　Supreme　Admiral　of　the　navy；　was　on　the　Poyang　Lake　training　the　naval　forces；　and　general　preparations　were　made　for　defense　and　attack。
By　his　spies；　Liu　Bei　had　tidings　of　the　doings　in　the　lower　portion　of　the　Great　River；　and　knew　of　the　death　of　Huang　Zu。　So　he　consulted　Zhuge　Liang　as　to　his　action。　While　they　were　discussing　matters；　there　arrived　a　messenger　from　Liu　Biao；　begging　Liu　Bei　to　go　to　see　him。
Zhuge　Liang　advised　him　to　go　and　said；　〃This　call　is　to　consult　you　about　avenging　Huang　Zu。　You　must　take　me　with　you　and　let　me　act　as　the　circumstances　direct。　There　are　advantages　to　be　got。〃
Leaving　Guan　Yu　in　mand　at　Xinye；　Liu　Bei　set　forth；　taking　Zhang　Fei　with　five　hundred　soldiers　as　his　escort。
On　the　way　he　discussed　the　course　of　action　with　his　adviser；　who　said；　〃First　you　must　thank　Liu　Biao　for　having　saved　you　from　the　evil　that　Cai　Mao　planned　against　you　at　Xiangyang。　However；　you　must　not　undertake　any　expedition　against　the　South　Land　but　say　you　must　return　to　Xinye　to　put　your　army　in　good　order。〃
With　this　admonition　Liu　Bei　came　to　Jingzhou　and　was　lodged　in　the　guest…house。　Zhang　Fei　and　the　escort　camped　without　the　walls。　In　due　course　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　were　received；　and　after　the　customary　salutations；　Liu　Bei　apologized　for　his　conduct　at　the　banquet。
The　host　said；　〃Worthy　brother；　I　know　you　were　the　victim　of　a　vile　plot；　and　I　should　have　put　the　prime　mover　to　death　for　it；　had　there　not　been　so　universal　a　prayer　for　mercy。　However；　I　remitted　that　penalty。　I　hope　you　do　not　consider　that　I　was　wrong。〃
〃Cai　Mao　hall　little　to　do　with　it。　I　think　it　was　due　to　his　subordinates；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
Liu　Biao　said；　〃Jiangxia　is　lost；　as　you　know；　and　Huang　Zu　is　dead。　So　I　have　asked　you　to　e　that　we　might　take　measures　of　vengeance。〃
〃Huang　Zu　was　harsh　and　cruel　and　never　used　his　people　in　the　proper　way：　That　was　the　real　cause　of　his　fall。　But　have　you　reflected　what　Cao　Cao　may　do　on　the　north　if　we　attack　the　south？〃
〃I　am　getting　old　and　weak；　and　I　am　unable　to　manage　affairs　properly。　Will　you　aid　me；　brother？　After　I　am　gone　you　will　have　this　region。〃
〃Why　do　you　say　this；　my　brother？　Think　you　that　I　am　equal　to　such　a　task？〃
Here　Zhuge　Liang　glanced　at　Liu　Bei　who　continued；　〃But　give　me　a　little　time　to　think　it　over。〃
And　at　this　point　he　took　his　leave。
When　they　had　reached　their　lodging；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　decline　his　offer　of　the　region。〃
〃He　has　always　been　most　kind　and　courteous。　I　could　not　take　advantage　of　his　weakness。〃
〃A　perfectly　kind　and　gracious　lord；〃　sighed　Zhuge　Liang。
Soon　after　the　son　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　Liu　Qi；　was　announced；　and　Liu　Bei　received　him　and　led　him　in。
The　young　man　began　to　weep；　saying；　〃My　mother　cannot　bear　the　sight　of　me。　My　very　life　is　in　danger。　Can　you　not　save　me；　Uncle？〃
〃My　worthy　nephew；　this　is　a　family　affair。　You　should　not　e　to　me。〃
Zhuge　Liang　who　was　present；　smiled。　Liu　Bei　turned　to　him　to　know　what　he　should　do。
〃This　is　a　family　affair。　I　cannot　touch　it！〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。
The　young　man　soon　left；　and　when　Liu　Bei　was　saying　good…bye；　he　whispered；　〃I　will　get　Zhuge　Liang　to　return　your　call；　and　you　can　do　so　and　so。　He　will　advise　you。〃
Liu　Qi　thanked　him　and　left。　Next　day　when　the　call　was　to　be　returned；　Liu　Bei　pretended　to　be　suffering　from　colic　and　made　that　an　excuse　to　send　Zhuge　Liang　to　return　the　call。
The　adviser　went；　and　when　he　had　reached　the　palace；　dismounted；　and　was　led　in；　Liu　Qi　conducted　him　into　one　of　the　inner　rooms。
When　the　tea　had　been　brought；　Liu　Qi　said；　〃I　am　an　object　of　my　stepmother's　dislike。　Can　you　advise　me　what　to　do？〃
〃As　a　mere　stranger　guest；　I　can　hardly　have　anything　to　do　with　your　own　'bone　and　flesh'　matters。　If　I　did；　and　the　story　got　abroad；　much　harm　might　ensue。〃
With　this　he　rose　to　take　leave。
But　Liu　Qi　was　unwilling　to　say　farewell；　and　he　said；　〃Your　glory　has　turned　in　my　direction。　You　cannot　mean　to　go　away　so　pointlessly。〃
Liu　Qi　led　his　visitor　into　a　private　chamber　and　had　refreshments　brought。　While　they　ate　and　drank；　Liu　Qi　repeated　his　first　request：　What　was　he　to　do　since　his　stepmother　disliked　him。
〃It　is　not　the　sort　of　thing　I　can　advise　in；