三国演义英文版-第202章

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a　sword…dance　and　take　the　chance　to　kill　Liu　Bang。　However；　as　Xiang　Chang　closed　in　Liu　Bang；　Xiang　Ba　rose　to　perform　another　sword…dance　and　fend　off　the　attack。　Just　then　Liu　Bang's　general　Fan　Kuai　bursted　in；　armed　and　angry…looking。　Fan　Kuai　proclaimed　his　lord's　achievements　and　denounced　the　murder　plot。　In　the　confusion；　Liu　Bang　slipped　away　and　rushed　back　to　his　camp。　。。。。。
But　to　Liu　Bei　matters　began　to　take　on　a　serious　look。　Drawing　a　sword　of　a　servant；　he　stood　out　in　the　banquet　hall　and　cried；　〃We　brothers　have　perhaps　honored　our　meeting　with　a　little　too　much　wine。　There　is　nothing　to　say　against　that；　but　this　is　no　Hongmen　Banquet*；　where　murder　was　done。　Put　up　your　swords；　or　I　will　slay　you！〃
〃Why　wear　swords　at　all　at　a　meeting　of　two　brothers？〃　cried　Liu　Zhang；　at　the　same　time　telling　his　servants　to　surround　his　officers　and　take　away　their　weapons。
Disarmed；　they　sulkily　withdrew。
Then　Liu　Bei　called　all　the　generals　of　Liu　Zhang　to　the　upper　end　of　the　banquet　hall；　gave　them　wine；　and　said；　〃You　need　have　no　doubts。　We　two　brothers；　of　the　same　bone　and　blood；　have　talked　over　the　great　design；　and　we　are　one　in　purpose。〃
The　officers　bowed　and　retired。
Liu　Zhang　took　his　guest　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃Brother；　I　shall　never　forget　your　kindness。〃
They　sat　drinking　till　late；　both　feeling　very　happy。　When　at　length　Liu　Bei　reached　his　camp；　he　blamed　his　strategist　for　having　caused　the　confusion。
〃Why　did　you　endeavor　to　force　me　into　mitting　a　great　wrong？〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃There　must　be　no　repetition　of　this。〃
Pang　Tong　retired；　sighing。
When　Liu　Zhang　reached　his　own　camp；　his　leaders　waited　on　him　and　said；　〃Sir；　you　saw　the　real　meaning　of　that　occurrence　at　the　banquet；　we　suppose。　We　think　it　prudent　for　you　to　retire　at　once　into　the　city。〃
〃My　brother　is　different　from　ordinary　humans；〃　replied　Liu　Zhang。
〃He　may　not　incline　toward　murder　himself；　but　those　about　him　have　but　one　desire………that　is　to　exploit　this　land　of　ours　to　their　own　advantage。〃
〃Do　not　try　to　sow　dissension　between　us　and　make　us　quarrel；〃　said　their　chief。
And　Liu　Zhang　took　no　heed　of　their　remonstrance。　One　day；　when　he　and　Liu　Bei　were　enjoying　together　relaxation　from　cares　of　state；　the　news　came　that　Zhang　Lu　was　about　to　invade　the　West　River　Land　at　the　Jiameng　Pass。　Thereupon　the　Imperial　Protector　begged　Liu　Bei　to　go　and　defend　it。　Liu　Bei　consented　and　left　immediately　with　his　own　especial　band。
At　once　Liu　Zhang's　officers　took　advantage　of　the　guest's　departure　to　urge　the　Imperial　Protector　to　place　his　own　trusty　generals　in　mand　at　various　strategic　points；　so　as　to　guard　against　any　attempts　of　the　visitors　to　seize　the　land。　At　first　Liu　Zhang　was　unwilling　and　refused；　but　as　they　prayed　him　most　earnestly　to　do　this　he　yielded　and　consented　to　take　some　steps　to　safeguard　himself。　He　sent　Yang　Huai；　mander　of　Baishui；　and　Gao　Pei　to　garrison　River　Fu　Pass。
So　Liu　Zhang　returned　to　Chengdu　and　his　guest；　Liu　Bei；　went　away　to　the　point　where　invasion　threatened。　Arrived　there；　Liu　Bei　soon　won　the　hearts　of　the　people　by　the　strict　discipline　he　maintained　over　his　army　and　by　his　gracious　manner。
News　of　these　doings　in　the　west　duly　reached　the　south；　and　Sun　Quan　summoned　his　counselors　as　to　his　countermove。
Then　Gu　Yong　spoke；　saying；　〃I　have　an　infallible　plan　to　propose。　Liu　Bei　and　his　army　are　now　far　away　and　separated　from　us　by　difficult　country。　Therefore　he　cannot　return　quickly；　and　my　advice　is　to　occupy　the　passes　so　that　he　cannot　get　through。　Then　send　all　your　force　against　Jingzhou　and　Xiangyang；　and　they　will　surely　fall　to　you。〃
〃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　mother's　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　mother's　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　Yun's。　He　had　just　returned　from　an　inspection　trip；　and　they　had　at　once　told　him　of　Lady　Sun's　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　t