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第147部分（第1页）

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　61

Chapter　61

In　The　River；　Zhao　Yun　Recovers　Liu　Shan；

With　One　Letter；　Sun　Quan　Repulses　Cao　Cao。

In　spite　of　the　persuasion　of　Pang　Tong　and　Fa　Zheng；　Liu　Bei　steadily　refused　to　sanction　the　assassination　of　his　host　at　the　banquet；　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Zhang；　even　if　thereby　he　was　to　gain　possession　of　West　River　Land。

The　next　day　there　was　another　banquet；　this　time　in　the　city　of　Fucheng；　whereat　host　and　guest　unbosomed　themselves　freely　to　each　other　and　became　exceedingly　friendly　and　affectionate。

All　were　mellow　with　wine；　and　Pang　Tong；　talking　with　Fa　Zheng；　said；　〃Since　our　master　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　our　scheme；　we　had　better　set　Wei　Yans　sword…play　to　work　and　take　advantage　of　the　confusion　to　kill　Liu　Zhang。〃

Wei　Yan　came　in　shortly　afterward；　with　his　sword　drawn；　and　said；　〃There　being　no　other　entertainment　at　this　banquet；　may　I　show　you　a　little　fencing　to　amuse　you？〃

Thereupon　Pang　Tong　called　up　some　of　the　armed　guards　and　ranged　them　along　the　lower　part　of　the　hall　till　Wei　Yan　should　fall　on。

At　these　preparations　the　officers　of　Liu　Zhang　stared　with　questioning　eyes　toward　the　chief　seats　at　the　upper　end。

Then　one　of　them；　Zhang　Ren；　drew　his　sword；　saying；　〃An　opponent　is　needed　to　make　fencing　a　success；　so　he　and　I　will　display　our　skill　at　the　same　time。〃

So　they　began。　Presently；　at　a　glance　from　Wei　Yan；　Liu　Feng　came　up　and　took　position　at　his　side。

At　once　three　of　the　manders　of　the　west　followed　suit；　saying；　〃And　we　three　will　e　in　too。　It　may　add　to　your　amusement　and　help　to　raise　a　laugh。〃

＇e＇　Hongmen　Banquet　At　that　time　Liu　Bang；　Governor　of　Pei；　and　Xiang　Yu；　King　of　West　Chu；　were　fighting　Qin　under　the　Chu　banner。　Liu　Bang　was　the　first　mander　who　entered　Qins　capital；　Xianyang。　The　loss　of　this　honor　enraged　Xiang　Yu；　and　he　was　set　to　attack　Liu　Bangs　force。　But　his　uncle　Xiang　Ba　wanted　to　mediate　the　situation；　and　Xiang　Ba　invited　Liu　Bang　to　visit　Xiang　Yus　camp　in　Hongmen。　During　a　banquet　at　Hongmen；　Xiang　Yus　adviser　Fan　Zeng　ordered　Xiang　Chang　to　perform　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　Bangs　general　Fan　Kuai　bursted　in；　armed　and　angry…looking。　Fan　Kuai　proclaimed　his　lords　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　Zhangs　officers　took　advantage　of　the　guests　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。〃