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第122部分（第1页）

Main　Next　to　Chapter　51　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　51

Chapter　51

Cao　Ren　Fights　The　South　Lands　Troops；

Zhuge　Liang　Angers　Zhou　Yu。

Guan　Yu　would　have　died　there　but　for　his　elder　brother；　who　said　to　Zhuge　Liang；　〃We　three　pledged　ourselves　to　live　and　die　together。　Although　my　brother　Guan　Yu　has　offended；　I　cannot　bear　to　break　our　oath。　I　hope　you　will　only　record　this　against　him　and　let　him　atone　later　for　the　fault　by　some　specially　meritorious　service。〃

So　the　sentence　was　remitted。

In　the　meantime；　Zhou　Yu　mustered　his　officers　and　called　over　his　soldiers；　noted　the　special　services　of　each；　and　sent　full　reports　to　his　master。　The　soldiers　who　had　surrendered　were　all　transported　across　the　river。　All　this　done　they　spread　the　feast　of　victory。

The　next　step　was　to　attack　and　capture　Nanjun。　The　van　of　the　army　camped　on　the　river　bank。　There　were　five　camps　and　the　mander…in…Chiefs　tent　was　in　the　center。　He　summoned　his　officers　to　a　council。　At　this　moment　Sun　Qian　arrived　with　congratulations　from　Liu　Bei。

Zhou　Yu　received　him　and；　having　saluted　in　proper　form；　Sun　Qian　said；　〃My　lord　sent　me　on　this　special　mission　to　felicitate　the　General　on　his　great　virtue　and　offer　some　unworthy　gifts。〃

〃Where　is　Liu　Bei？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。

〃He　is　now　encamped　at　Youkou；　the　mouth　of　River　You。〃

〃Is　Zhuge　Liang　there？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu；　taken　aback。

〃Both　are　there；〃　said　Sun　Qian。

〃Then　return　quickly；　and　I　will　e　in　person　to　thank　them。〃

The　presents　handed　over；　Sun　Qian　was　sent　back　forthwith　to　his　own　camp。　Then　Lu　Su　asked　Zhou　Yu　why　he　had　started　when　he　heard　where　Liu　Bei　was　camped。

〃Because；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu；　〃camping　at　the　mouth　of　River　You　means　that　he　has　the　intention　of　taking　Nanjun。　Having　spent　much　military　energy　and　spared　no　expenditure；　we　thought　the　territory　should　fall　to　us　easily。　Those　others　are　opposed　to　us；　and　they　wish　to　get　the　advantage　of　what　we　have　already　acplished。　However；　they　must　remember　that　I　am　not　dead　yet。〃

〃How　can　you　prevent　them？〃　asked　Lu　Su。

〃I　will　go　myself　and　speak　with　them。　If　all　goes　well；　then；　let　it　be　so。　In　case　it　does　not；　then　I　shall　immediately　settle　up　with　Liu　Bei　without　waiting　for　Nanjun　to　be　taken。〃

〃I　should　like　to　acpany　you；〃　said　Lu　Su。

The　General　and　his　friend　started；　taking　with　them　a　guard　of　three　thousand　light　horse。　Having　arrived　at　Youkou；　they　sought　out　Sun　Qian；　who；　in　turn；　went　in　to　see　Liu　Bei　and　told　him　Zhou　Yu　had　e　to　render　thanks。

〃Why　has　he　e？〃　asked　Liu　Bei　of　his　Directing　Instructor。

〃He　is　not　likely　to　e　out　of　simple　politeness。　Surely　he　has　e　in　connection　with　Nanjun。〃

〃But　if　he　brings　an　army；　can　we　stand　against　it？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃When　he　es；　you　may　reply　thus　and　thus。〃

Then　they　drew　up　the　warships　in　the　river　and　ranged　the　soldiers　upon　the　bank。　When　the　arrival　of　Zhou　Yu　was　formally　announced；　Zhao　Yun；　with　some　horsemen；　went　to　wele　him。　When　Zhou　Yu　saw　what　bold　soldiers　they　looked；　he　began　to　feel　unfortable；　but　he　went　on　his　way。　Being　met　at　the　camp　gates　by　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang；　he　was　taken　in　to　the　chief　tent；　where　the　ceremonies　were　performed　and　preparations　for　a　banquet　had　been　made。

Presently　Liu　Bei　raised　his　cup　in　felicitation　on　the　recent　victory　gained　by　his　guest。　The　banquet　proceeded。

After　a　few　more　courses　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃Of　course　you　are　camped　here　with　no　other　idea　than　to　take　Nanjun？〃

Liu　Bei　said；　〃We　heard　you　were　going　to　take　the　place　and　came　to　assist。　Should　you　not　take　it；　then　we　will　occupy　it。〃

Zhou　Yu　laughed；　saying；　〃We　of　the　South　Land　have　long　wished　for　this　territory。　Now　that　it　is　within　our　grasp；　we　naturally　shall　take　it。〃

Liu　Bei　said；　〃There　is　always　some　uncertainty。　Cao　Cao　left　Cao　Ren　to　guard　the　region；　and　you　may　be　certain　that　there　is　good　strategy　behind　Cao　Ren；　to　say　nothing　of　his　boldness　as　a　warrior。　I　fear　you　may　not　get　it。〃

〃Well；　if　we　do　not　take　it　then；　Sir；　you　may　have　it；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

〃Here　are　witnesses　to　your　words；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　naming　Lu　Su；　Zhuge　Liang；　and　those　at　table。　〃I　hope　you　will　never　repent　what　you　have　just　said。〃

Lu　Su　stammered　and　seemed　unwilling　to　be　cited　as　one　of　the　witnesses；　but　Zhou　Yu　said；　〃When　the　word　of　a　noble　person　has　gone　forth；　it　is　ended。　He　never　regrets。〃

〃This　speech　of　yours；　Sir；　is　very　generous；〃　interjected　Zhuge　Liang。　〃The　South　Land　shall　try　first。　But　if　the　place　does　not　fall；　there　is　no　reason　why　my　lord　should　not　capture　it。〃