三国演义英文版-第134章

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　is　at　the　head　of　a　great　army；　one　cannot　get　away　even　for　a　moment。　If　your　master　would　only　e　here；　it　would　be　very　gracious　on　his　part。〃
Mi　Zhu　agreed　that　Liu　Bei　might　e　and　presently　took　his　leave。
Then　Lu　Su　asked　Zhou　Yu；　〃What　is　your　reason　for　desiring　Liu　Bei　to　e？〃
〃Liu　Bei　is　the　one　bold　and　dangerous　man　and　must　be　removed。　I　am　taking　this　opportunity　to　persuade　him　to　e。　When　he　shall　be　slain；　a　great　danger　will　cease　to　threaten　our　interests。〃
Lu　Su　tried　to　dissuade　him　from　this　scheme；　but　Zhou　Yu　was　deaf　to　all　Lu　Su　said。
Zhou　Yu　even　issued　orders：　〃Arrange　half　a　hundred　executioners　to　be　ready　to　hide　within　the　lining　of　the　tent　if　Liu　Bei　decides　to　e；　and　when　I　drop　a　cup；　that　will　be　a　signal　for　them　to　fall　on　and　slay　him。〃
Mi　Zhu　returned　and　told　Liu　Bei　that　his　presence　was　desired　by　Zhou　Yu。　Suspecting　nothing；　Liu　Bei　at　once　ordered　them　to　prepare　a　fast　vessel　to　take　him　without　loss　of　time。
Guan　Yu　was　opposed　to　his　going；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yu　is　artful　and　treacherous；　and　there　is　no　news　from　Zhuge　Liang。　Pray　think　more　carefully。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　have　joined　my　forces　to　theirs　in　this　attack　on　our　mon　enemy。　If　Zhou　Yu　wishes　to　see　me　and　I　refuse　to　go；　it　is　a　betrayal。　Nothing　will　succeed　if　both　sides　nourish　suspicions。〃
〃If　you　have　finally　decided　to　go；　then　will　I　go　with　you；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃And　I　also；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。
But　Liu　Bei　said；　〃Let　Guan　Yu　e　with　me　while　you　and　Zhao　Yun　keep　guard。　Jian　Yong　will　hold　Exian。　I　shall　not　be　away　long。〃
So　leaving　these　orders；　Liu　Bei　embarked　with　Guan　Yu　on　a　small　boat。　The　escort　did　not　exceed　twenty。　The　light　craft　traveled　very　quickly　down　the　river。　Liu　Bei　rejoiced　greatly　at　the　sight　of　the　war　vessels　in　tiers　by　the　bank；　the　soldiers　in　their　breastplates；　and　all　the　pomp　and　panoply　of　war。　All　was　in　excellent　order。
As　soon　as　he　arrived；　the　guards　ran　to　tell　Zhou　Yu。
〃How　many　ships　has　he？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。
They　replied；　〃Only　one；　and　the　escort　is　only　about　a　score。〃
〃His　fate　is　sealed；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。
Zhou　Yu　sent　for　the　executioners　and　placed　them　in　hiding　between　the　outer　and　inner　tents；　and　when　all　was　arranged　for　the　assassination　he　contemplated；　he　went　out　to　receive　his　visitor。　Liu　Bei　came　with　his　brother　and　escort　into　the　midst　of　the　army　to　the　mander's　tent。
After　the　salutations；　Zhou　Yu　wished　Liu　Bei　to　take　the　upper　seat；　but　he　declined　saying；　〃General；　you　are　famous　throughout　all　the　empire；　while　I　am　a　nobody。　Do　not　overwhelm　me　with　too　great　deference。〃
So　they　took　the　positions　of　simple　friends；　and　refreshments　were　brought　in。
Now　by　chance　Zhuge　Liang　came　on　shore　and　heard　that　his　master　had　arrived　and　was　with　the　mander…in…Chief。　The　news　gave　Zhuge　Liang　a　great　shock；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃What　is　to　be　done　now？〃
He　made　his　way　to　the　reception　tent　and　stole　a　look　therein。　He　saw　murder　written　on　Zhou　Yu's　countenance　and　noted　the　assassins　hidden　within　the　walls　of　the　tent。　Then　he　got　a　look　at　Liu　Bei；　who　was　laughing　and　talking　quite　unconcernedly。　But　when　he　noticed　the　redoubtable　figure　of　Guan　Yu　near　his　master's　side；　he　became　quite　calm　and　contented。
〃My　lord　faces　no　danger；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　went　away　to　the　river　bank　to　await　the　end　of　the　interview。
Meanwhile　the　banquet　of　wele　proceeded。　After　the　wine　had　gone　around　several　times；　Zhou　Yu　picked　up　a　cup　to　give　the　signal　agreed　upon。　But　at　that　moment　Zhou　Yu　saw　so　fierce　a　look　upon　the　face　of　the　trusty　henchman　who　stood；　sword　in　hand；　behind　his　guest；　that　Zhou　Yu　hesitated　and　hastily　asked　who　he　was。
〃That　is　my　brother；　Guan　Yu；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
Zhou　Yu；　quite　startled；　said；　〃Is　he　the　slayer　of　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou？〃
〃Exactly；　he　it　is；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
The　sweat　of　fear　broke　out　all　over　Zhou　Yu's　body　and　trickled　down　his　back。　Then　he　poured　out　a　cup　of　wine　and　presented　it　to　Guan　Yu。
Just　then　Lu　Su　came　in；　and　Liu　Bei　said　to　him；　〃Where　is　Zhuge　Liang？　I　would　trouble　you　to　ask　him　to　e。〃
〃Wait　till　we　have　defeated　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Zhou　Yu；　〃then　you　shall　see　him。〃
Liu　Bei　dared　not　repeat　his　request；　but　Guan　Yu　gave　him　a　meaningful　look　which　Liu　Bei　understood　and　rose；　saying；　〃I　would　take　leave　now。　I　will　e　again　to　congratulate　you　when　the　enemy　has　been　defeated　and　your　success　shall　be　plete。〃
Zhou　Yu　did　not　press　him　to　remain；　but　escorted　him　to　the　great　gates　of　the　camp；　and　Liu　Bei　left。　When　he　reached　the　river　bank；　they　found　Zhuge　Liang　awaiting　them　in　their　boat。
Liu　Bei　was　exceedingly　pleased；　but　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Sir；　do　you　know　in　how　great　danger　you　were　today？〃
Suddenly　sobered；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃No；　I　did　not　think　of　danger。〃
〃If　Guan　Yu　had　not　been　there；　you　would　have　been　killed；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
Liu　Bei；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　saw　that　it　was　true。　He　begged　Zhuge　Liang　to　return　with　him　to　Fankou；　but　Zhuge　Liang　refused。
〃I　am　quite　safe；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Although　I　am　living　in　the　tiger's　mouth；　I　am　as　steady　as　the　Taishan　Mountains。　Now；　my　lord；　return　and　prepare　your　ships　and　soldiers。　On　the　twentieth　day　of　the　eleventh　month；　send　Zhao　Yun　with　a　small　ship　to　the　south　bank　to　wait　for　me。　Be　sure　there　is　no　miscarriage。〃
〃What　are　your　intentions？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃When　the　southeast　wind　begins；　I　shall　return。〃
Liu　Bei　would　have　questioned　him　further；　but　Zhuge　Liang　pressed　him　to　go。　So　the　boat　started　up　river　again；　while　Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　his　temporary　lodging。
The　boat　had　not　proceeded　far　when　appeared　a　small　fleet　of　fifty　ships　sweeping　down　with　the　current；　and　in　the　prow　of　the　leading　vessel　stood　a　tall　figure　armed　with　a　spear。　Guan　Yu　was　ready　to　fight。　But　when　they　were　near；　they　recognized　that　was　Zhang　Fei；　who　had　e　down　fearing　lest　his　brother　might　be　in　some　difficulty　from　which　the　strong　arm　of　Guan　Yu　might　even　be　insufficient　to　rescue　him。
The　three　brothers　thus　returned　together。
After　Zhou　Yu；　having　escorted　Liu　Bei　to　the　gate　of　his　camp；　had　returned　to　his　quarters；　Lu　Su　soon　came　to　see　him。
〃Then　you　had　cajoled　Liu　Bei　into　ing；　why　did　you　not　carry　out　your　plan？〃　asked　Lu　Su。
〃Because　of　that　Guan　Yu。　He　is　a　very　tiger；　and　he　never　left　his　brother　for　a　moment。　If　anything　had　been　attempted；　he　would　certainly　have　had　my　life。〃
Lu　Su　knew　that　Zhou　Yu　spoke　the　truth。　Then　suddenly　they　announced　a　messenger　with　a　letter　from　Cao　Cao。　Zhou　Yu　ordered　them　to　bring　him　in　and　took　the　letter。　But　when　he　saw　the　superscription　The　First　Minister　of　Han　to　mander…in…Chief　Zhou　Yu　；　he　fell　into　a　frenzy　of　rage；　tore　the　letter　to　fragments；　and　threw　them　on　the　ground。
〃To　death　with　this　fellow！〃　cried　he。
〃When　two　countries　are　at　war；　their　emissaries　are　not　slain；〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃Messengers　are　slain　to　show　one's　dignity　and　independence；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu。
The　unhappy　bearer　of　the　letter　was　decapitated；　and　his　head　sent　back　to　Cao　Cao　by　the　hands　of　his　escort。
Zhou　Yu　then　decided　to　move。　The　van　under　Gan　Ning　was　to　advance；　supported　by　two　wings　led　by　Han　Dang　and　Jiang　Qin。　Zhou　Yu　would　lead　the　center　body　in　support。　The　next　morning　the　early　meal　was　eaten　in　the　fourth　watch；　and　the　ships　got　under　weigh　in　the　fifth　with　a　great　beating　of　drums。
Cao　Cao　was　greatly　angered　when　he　heard　that　his　letter　had　been　torn　to　fragments；　and　he　resolved　to　attack　forthwith。　His　advance　was　led　by　the　Supreme　Admiral　Cai　Mao；　the　Vice…Admiral　Zhang　Yun；　and　others　of　the　Jingzhou　officers　who　had　joined　his　side。　Cao　Cao　went　as　hastily　as　possible　to　the　meeting　of　the　three　rivers　and　saw　the　ships　of　the　South　Land　sailing　up。
In　the　bow　of　the　foremost　ship　from　the　south　stood　a　fine　figure　of　a　warrior；　who　cried；　〃I　am　Gan　Ning。　I　challenge　anyone　to　bat！〃
Cai　Mao　sent　his　young　brother；　Cai　Xun；　to　accept　the　challenge。　But　as　Cai　Xun's　ship　approached；　Gan　Ning　shot　an　arrow　and　Cai　Xun　fell。　Gan　Ning　pressed　forward；　his　crossbowmen　keeping　up　a　heavy　discharge　which　Cao　Cao's　troops　could　not　stand。　The　wings　of　Han　Dang　from　the　left　and　Jiang　Qin　from　the　right　also　joined　in。
Cao　Cao's　soldiers；　being　mostly　from　the　dry　plains　of　the　north；　did　not　know　how　to　fight　effectually　on　water；　and　the　southern　ships　had　the　battle　all　their　own　way。　The　slaughter　was　very　great。　However；　after　a　contest　lasting　till　afternoon；　Zhou　Yu　thought　it　more　prudent；　in　view　of　the　superior　numbers　of　his　enemy；　not　to　risk　further　the　advantage　he　had　gained。　So　he　beat　the　gongs　as　the　signal　to　cease　battle　and　recall　the　ships。
Cao　Cao　was　worsted；　but　his　ships　returned　to　the　bank；　where　a　camp　was　made　and　order　was　restored。
Cao　Cao　sent　for　his　defeated　leaders　and　reproached　them；　saying；　〃You　did　not　do　your　best。　You　let　an　inferior　force　overe　you。〃
Cai　Mao　defended　himself；　saying；　〃The　Jingzhou　marines　have　not　been　exercised　for　a　long　time；　and　the　others　have　never　been　trained　for　naval　warfare　at　all。　A　naval　camp　must　be　instituted；　the　northern　soldiers　trained；　and　the　Jingzhou　force　drilled。　When　they　have　been　made　efficient；　they　will　win　victories。〃
〃You　are　the　S