按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And Ma Chao called out； 〃I wish to speak with Liu Zhang。〃
Then Liu Zhang showed himself； and Ma Chao plunged into the matter without more ado。
〃I took the leadership of Zhang Lu's army to rescue Yizhou； little thinking that； under the calumnious advice of Yang Song； Zhang Lu would try to slay me。 However； now I have gone over to the side of Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； and advise you； Sir； to do the same； you and all your officers。 Thereby you will all escape harm。 If anyone holds on a misguided course； I shall take the city。〃
Such words came as a shock； and Liu Zhang paled。 His feelings overcame him and he swooned。
When he came to his senses； he muttered； 〃I am stupid and I am sorry。 Better open the gates and end it。 The city will be saved。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried Dong He。 〃There are thirty thousand of good soldiers in the city and ample money and stores for a year to e。 Hold out！〃
But Liu Zhang was broken； saying； 〃My father and I have ruled Shu for twenty years and have done no particular good for the people。 We have fought for three years： The grass has been be stained with the blood of my people。 The fault is mine。 I could not bear it； and so I see no better way than to surrender； whereby I may bring peace to the people。〃
Those about him wept。 One man spoke； saying； 〃You speak as Heaven guides you。〃
Turning toward him they recognized a man of Baxi named Qiao Zhou； who had the reputation of being an astrologer。
〃I have studied the aspect of the heavens and a multitude of stars gathered over the west； one of which shone as the full moon： A right royal star。 And I recall a popular couplet of last year：
〃When es the ruler from the east；
Then may you on new rice feast。
〃None can withstand the decree of the Most High。〃
Liu Ba and Huang Quan； who heard these words； were very angry at such a speech and rose up； swords in hand； to smite the speaker。 But Liu Zhang stayed them。
Next came news that Xu Jing； the Governor of the Shu District； had climbed the wall and gone over to the invaders。 This was the last blow。 Liu Zhang went home weeping。
Next day they reported that Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； had sent Jian Yong as legate to visit Liu Zhang and he was even then at the city gate。 Jian Yong was admitted； and he entered； riding in a carriage and looking about him most haughtily。
Suddenly he was hailed from the street by a man with a sword in his hand； who cried； 〃You have got your wish； wretched creature； and you seem to think there is no one to pare with you。 But do not look so contemptuously at us of Shu！〃
Jian Yong quickly got out of his carriage to speak to the speaker； who was a man of Mianzhu named Qin Mi。
〃Worthy brother；〃 said Jian Yong； 〃I did not recognize you。 I pray you not to be angry。〃
Both then went to visit Liu Zhang； and they spoke of the liberality and broad…mindedness of Liu Bei； said he had no intention to harm anyone； and praised him to such effect that Liu Zhang then and there made up his mind finally that he would give up the struggle。 So he treated Jian Yong very honorably that day。
And the next day； taking his seal and insignia of office and his archives； he acpanied Jian Yong out of the city and went to Liu Bei's camp。 Liu Bei came out in person to receive him。
Taking Liu Zhang by the hand； Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃It is not that I wish to act cruelly or wrongly。 I am the victim of circumstances and cannot help it。〃
They entered the camp together； where the seal of office and the documents changed hands。 Afterwards they rode into the city side by side。 The people gave Liu Bei a cordial wele； burning incense and illuminating the city。 The victor went to the residence of the chief of the region； where he took his seat and was saluted by all the subordinate officials。
However； Huang Quan and Liu Ba stayed away from the ceremony。 This annoyed the more violent of Liu Bei's supporters； and they wished to kill the delinquents。 But Liu Bei would not allow violence and threatened condign punishment to anyone who might interfere with these two。 When the reception was over； Liu Bei went to visit the two recalcitrants； whereupon both came out and made their obeisance。
Said Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei； 〃We have vanquished； and all opposition in Yizhou is at an end。 But there cannot be two rulers； so you must remove Liu Zhang to Jingzhou。〃
〃But I do not wish to exile him；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃He lost his prestige through weakness。 If you are weak and undecided； you also will not last long。〃
Liu Bei saw his advice was good； and so he gave a great banquet whereat he begged Liu Zhang to pack up his treasures and prepare to move。 He gave the dispossessed Imperial Protector the title General Who Spreads Prestige。 Liu Zhang went away to Gongan in Jingzhou； taking with him his family and all his possessions。
Liu Bei thus became Imperial Protector of Yizhou。 He conferred gifts on the civil and military officers who joined him； confirming their ranks and titles。 Yan Yan was made General of the Front Army； Fa Zheng； Governor of the Shu District； Dong He and Xu Jing； Imperial manders； Liu Ba； General of the Left Army； Huang Quan； General of the Right Army； Wu Yi； Fei Guan； Peng Yang； Zhuo Ying； Li Yan； Wu Lan； Lei Tong； Li Hui； Zhang Yi； Qin Mi； Qiao Zhou； Lu Yin； Huo Jun； Deng Zhi； Yang Hong； Zhou Qun； Fei Yi； Fei Shi； Meng Da； and others of Shu officers whose aid had been conspicuous were given high ranks and finer titles under the new rule； and the total of more than sixty of them were well rewarded。
Naturally； honors were distributed freely to Liu Bei's immediate helpers； to whose efforts he owed his position。 Zhuge Liang was held Directing Instructor； Guan Yu； General Who Destroys Rebels and Lord of Hanshou； Zhang Fei； General Who Subdues Rebels and Lord of Xin； Zhao Yun； General Who Guards the West； Huang Zhong； General Who Conquers the West； Wei Yan； General Who Wages Successful War； Ma Chao； General Who Pacifies the West。 Sun Qian； Jian Yong； Mi Zhu； Mi Fang； Ma Liang； Ma Su； Jiang Wan； Yi Ji； Liu Feng； Guan Ping； Liao Hua； Zhou Cang； and others； many of whom had e to Liu Bei from Jingzhou； received promotions and rewards。
In addition； a special gift of five hundred ounces of gold； a thousand ounces of silver； much copper money； and a thousand rolls of Xichuan silk； was sent to Guan Yu。 And all the military and civil officers were given appointments and rewards。 Huge numbers of oxen and horses were slaughtered for banquets to the army； and the contents of the granaries were given to the mon people。 So that there were great rejoicings。
Yizhou being settled； Liu Bei next desired to confiscate the lands of the more famous of the inhabitants about Capital Chengdu and divide them among his officers。
But here Zhao Yun and others dissuaded him； saying； 〃The sufferings of the people have been severe and losses great。 It would be wise policy to let them settle down to their occupations as soon as possible。 It would be wrong to reward our own people at the expense of these people。〃
Liu Bei listened and gave in with good grace。
To Zhuge Liang； Liu Bei assigned the revision of the laws； in which the punishments to be made； on the whole； heavy。
Then Fa Zheng spoke up； 〃The founder of Han； Liu Bang； drew up three chapters of law； and the people were all profoundly affected by his virtue。 I would rather that the laws be few and liberal that people may be forted。〃
Zhuge Liang replied； 〃You only look at one side。 The laws of Qin were fiercely cruel and provoked resentment among the people。 It was fitting that the Supreme Ancestor should temper them with kindness。 Under the weak administration of Liu Zhang； there has never been an efficient government； and there is a lack of respect for the law。 The proper relationship between ruler and minister has been gradually obscured。 Favor has been the means of rising； and the highest in rank have been the basest。 Kindness has been extended into license； and the most benefited have been the most contemptuous。 And thereby have crept in many evils。 Now I mean to inculcate respect for the dignity of the law； and kindness shall follow its attainment： There shall be moderation in conferring rank； but honor shall really follow on such promotion。 In the mutual cooperation of kindness and honor and in proper distinction between superiors and inferiors lies the efficiency of a government。〃
Fa Zheng had no argument to oppose。 In due time all became perfectly tranquil； and all the forty…one counties； with their respective garrisons； were peaceful and contented。
As Governor of the Shu District； Fa Zheng earned much hatred； busying himself in returning favors and avenging past deeds however small they were。 One person told of the plaints to Zhuge Liang； urging his reproof。
But Zhuge Liang referred to his meritorious services； saying； 〃When our lord was in Jingzhou； fearful of Cao Cao on the north and trembling lest he be attacked from the east by Sun Quan； it was Fa Zheng who supported him； gave him directions； and added wings to him so that he could soar this high。 In these prosperous days one can hardly begin to discipline Fa Zheng。 Could we reasonably forbid him following somewhat his own way？〃
So no investigation was made； but Fa Zheng heard of the plaints and corrected his faults。
One day； when Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were resting and at leisure； Guan Ping arrived with a letter from his father； thanking his elder brother for the handsome gifts。
Making obeisance and handing in his letter； Guan Ping said； 〃My father was anxious to e into Yizhou to try conclusions with Ma Chao。〃
Said Liu Bei； 〃If he were to e and fight； I fear they would not both survive。〃
〃There is nothing to be anxious about；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃I will write to Guan Yu。〃
Liu Bei feared that his brother's impulsive temperament might lead to trouble； so he told Zhuge Liang to pose a letter and send back by Guan Ping。
When Guan Ping came again to his father； the first question was： 〃Did you mention the contest with Ma Chao？〃
Then the letter was produced； and this is what it said：
＇e＇ Ying Bu （BC ？…195） a general of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been close friends in their native Pei； where Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Enobled as King of Huainan。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Peng Yue （BC ？…196） a general of Liu Bang。 He and Liu Bang had been close friends in their native Pei； where Liu Bang later held a minor office。 Ennobled as King of Liang。 。。。。。
〃I hear you are anxious to decide whether of the twain； Ma Chao or yourself； is the better man。 Now I can measure Ma Chao。 He may be unusually brave and bold； but he is only of the class of Ying Bu* and Peng Yue* of old。 He might be a worthy rival of your younger brother； but he is far from the standard set by you； O Lord of the Beautiful Beard。 You have a most important charge。 If you e into the West River Land； and Jingzhou should be lost； would you not be guilty of a terrible failure？ I think you will see this。〃
Guan Yu stroked his long beard and smiled as he read the letter。
〃The Instructor knows me thoroughly；〃 said he to himself。
He showed the letter to his clients and friends and thought no more of going westward。
The successes of Liu Bei in the west had been duly noted by Sun Quan； who thought he was surely now going to obtain the much…coveted Jingzhou。 So he called in Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong to ask advice。
Sun Quan said； 〃When Liu Bei occupied Jingzhou temporarily； he pledged he would return the region to the South Land when he would possess Yizhou。 Now he has taken the forty…one counties of West River Land。 If Jingzhou is not returned； I will take it by force。〃
Zhang Zhao said； 〃I have already a scheme that will need no fighting。 Liu Bei will offer the place to you with both hands。〃
In Shu there shine new sun and moon；
Wu dreams Jingzhou will be his soon。
We shall see in the next chapter the scheme to recover the much…desired region。
Main Next to Chapter 66 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Armed With Sword； Guan Yu Goes To A Feast Alone；
For The State； Empress Fu Offers Her Life。
The scheme； which Zhang Zhao had in mind； he laid before his master thus： 〃The one man upon whom Liu Bei relies most is Zhuge Liang。 Now his brother is in your service and in your power。 All you have to do is to seize Zhuge Jin's family and send him west to see Zhuge Liang and make Zhuge Liang persuade Liu Bei to return Jingzhou。 If Liu Bei refuses； the family of Zhuge Jin will suffer； and Zhuge Liang will not be able to resist the claims of brotherhood。〃
〃But Zhuge Jin is a loyal and true gentleman。 I could not lay hands upon his family！〃 said Sun Quan。
〃Explain the ruse to him。 That will set his mind at rest；〃 said Zhang Zhao。
Sun Quan consented and issued the mand to confine the family of his retainer in the palace but not really imprison them。 Then he wrote a letter for Zhuge Jin to take with him on his mission。 Before many days Zhuge Jin reached Chengdu and sent to inform Liu Bei of his arrival。
Liu Bei at once sought the advice of Zhuge Liang。
〃Why think you your brother has e？〃
〃He has e to force the return of Jingzhou。〃
〃How shall I answer him？〃
〃You must do so and so；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The plan of action being prepared； Zhuge Liang went out of the city to wele his brother。 But instead of taking him to his own residence； Zhuge Liang took