三国演义英文版-第144部分

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〃What　office　may　you　hold　then？〃
Zhang　Song　replied；　〃Mine　can　hardly　be　called　an　office。　I　am　a　Supernumerary　Charioteer。　But；　Sir；　what　state　affairs　may　you　control？〃
〃I　am　the　First　Secretary　in　the　Palace　of　the　Prime　Minister；〃　replied　Yang　Xiu。
〃They　say　that　members　of　your　family　held　office　for　many　generations；　and　I　do　not　understand　why　you　are　not　in　court　service　actually　assisting　the　Emperor；　instead　of　filling　the　post　of　a　mere　clerk　in　the　private　palace　of　the　Prime　Minister。〃
Yang　Xiu's　face　suffused　with　shame　at　this　rebuke；　but　he　mastered　himself　and　replied；　〃Though　I　am　among　the　minor　officials；　yet　my　duties　are　of　great　importance；　and　I　am　gaining　experience　under　the　Prime　Minister's　guidance。　I　hold　the　office　for　the　sake　of　the　training。〃
Zhang　Song　smiled；　saying；　〃If　what　I　have　heard　is　true；　Cao　Cao's　learning　throws　no　gleaming　light　on　the　way　of　Confucius　or　Mencius；　nor　does　his　military　skill　illumine　the　art　of　Sun　Zi　or　Wu　Qi。　He　seems　to　understand　the　doctrine　of　brute　force　and　holding　on　to　what　advantages　he　can　seize；　but　I　see　not　how　he　can　give　you　any　valuable　training　or　enlighten　your　understanding。〃
〃Ah；　Sir；　that　es　of　dwelling　in　out…of…the…way　parts。　How　could　you　know　of　the　magnificent　talents　of　the　great　Prime　Minister？　But　I　will　show　you　something。〃
Yang　Xiu　called　up　an　attendant　and　bade　him　bring　a　book　from　a　certain　case。　He　showed　this　to　his　guest；　who　read　the　title　〃The　New　Book　of　Cao　Cao〃。　Then　Zhang　Song　opened　it　and　read　it　through　from　the　beginning；　the　whole　thirteen　chapters。　They　all　dealt　with　the　art　of　war。
〃What　do　you　take　this　to　be？〃　asked　Zhang　Song；　when　he　had　finished。
〃This　is　the　great　Prime　Minister's　discussion　of　the　art　of　ancient　and　modern　war　posed　on　the　model　of　Sun　Zi's　Treatise　on　the　Art　of　War。　You　may　be　disdainful　of　the　Prime　Minister's　talents；　but　will　this　not　go　down　to　posterity？〃
〃This　book！　Every　child　in　Yizhou　knows　this　by　heart。　What　do　you　mean　by　calling　it　a　new　book？　It　was　written　by　some　obscure　person　of　the　time　of　the　Warring　States；　and　Cao　Cao　has　plagiarized　it。　But　he　has　deceived　no　one　but　you；　Sir。〃
〃But　what　is　the　use　of　your　sarcastic　insult　in　saying　that　your　school　children　know　the　book　by　rote？　It　has　never　been　given　to　the　world；　although　copies　have　been　made。　It　belongs　to　his　private　library。〃
〃Do　you　disbelieve　me？　Why；　I　know　it　and　could　repeat　it。〃
Then　Zhang　Song　repeated　the　whole　book；　word　for　word；　from　beginning　to　end。
Yang　Xiu　said；　〃You　remember　it　like　this　after　only　one　reading！　Really　you　are　marvelous。〃

He　boasted　not　a　handsome　face；
Nor　was　his　body　blessed　with　grace。
His　words　streamed　like　a　waterfall；
He　read　a　book　and　knew　it　all。
Shu's　glories　could　he　well　rehearse；
His　lore　embraced　the　universe。
Or　text　or　note　of　scholiast
Once　read；　his　memory　held　fast。

At　leave…taking　Yang　Xiu　said；　〃Remain　a　while　in　your　lodgings　till　I　can　petition　our　Prime　Minister　to　give　you　another　interview。〃
Zhang　Song　thanked　him　and　left。
By　and　bye　Yang　Xiu　went　to　see　Cao　Cao　on　the　matter　of　receiving　the　emissary　from　the　west　and　said；　〃Sir；　why　did　you　formerly　treat　Zhang　Song　so　off…hand？〃
〃He　spoke　very　rudely。　That　is　why。〃

＇e＇　Cao　Cao　hated　Mi　Heng；　who　was　critial　of　him。　Yet　he　did　not　kill　Mi　Heng。　Instead　he　sent　Mi　Heng　on　mission　to　Jingzhou；　where　Huang　Zhu；　a　general　of　Liu　Biao；　killed　Mi　Heng　over　a　wine　cup。　Mi　Heng　was　one　of　the　most　treasured　writers　in　ancient　China。
〃But　you　bore　with　Mi　Heng*。　Why　not　with　this　man？〃
〃Mi　Heng's　reputation　for　scholarship　stood　highest　of　all；　and　I　could　not　bear　to　put　him　to　death。　But　what　ability　has　this　Zhang　Song？〃
〃To　say　nothing　about　his　speech　being　like　the　River　of　Heaven；　nothing　daunts　his　talent　for　dialectic。　I　happened　to　show　him　your　new　treatise；　he　read　it　over　once　and　could　repeat　it。　From　this；　it　is　evident　he　is　cultured　and　has　a　prodigious　memory。　There　are　few　like　him　in　the　world。　But　he　said　the　book　was　the　work　of　an　obscure　person　of　a　few　hundred　years　back；　and　every　school　child　in　his　country　knew　it。〃
〃It　only　shows　that　the　ancients　and　I　are　in　secret　sympathy；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
However；　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　book　to　be　torn　up　and　burned。
〃Then　may　I　bring　him　to　see　you；　Sir；　that　he　may　see　the　glory　of　our　court。〃
Cao　Cao　grudgingly　consented；　saying　〃I　am　reviewing　troops　tomorrow　on　the　western　parade　ground。　You　may　bring　him　there　and　let　him　see　what　my　army　looks　like。　He　will　be　able　to　talk　about　it　when　he　goes　home。　When　I　have　dealt　with　the　south；　I　shall　take　the　west　in　hand。〃
Hence　the　very　next　day　Yang　Xiu　took　Zhang　Song　over　to　the　west　parade　ground；　where　a　review　of　the　Tiger　Guard　was　to　be　held。　There　were　fifty　thousand　of　them；　and　when　drawn　up　in　order；　they　made　a　very　brave　show　with　their　gleaming　helmets　and　bright　new　uniforms。　Their　drums　rolled　to　shake　the　heavens；　and　their　weapons　glittered　in　the　sun。　Their　discipline　and　order　were　perfect。　Their　gay　banners　fluttered　in　the　breeze。　They　looked　ready　to　fly　even；　so　alert　and　smart　were　they。
Zhang　Song　glanced　at　them　contemptuously。
After　a　long　time　Cao　Cao　called　up　Zhang　Song　and；　pointing　to　his　army；　said；　〃Have　you　ever　seen　such　fine　bold　fellows　in　Yizhou？〃
〃We　never　see　this　military　parade　in　Yizhou。　We　govern　the　people　by　righteousness。〃
Cao　Cao　changed　color　and　looked　hard　at　the　bold　speaker；　who　gazed　back　at　him　without　the　least　sign　of　fear。
Yang　Xiu　shot　a　quick　glance　at　Zhang　Song；　but　Cao　Cao　went　on；　saying；　〃I　regard　the　rat…class　of　the　world　as　of　no　more　importance　than　so　many　weeds；　and　for　my　army　to　reach　a　place　is　to　overe　it；　to　give　battle　is　to　conquer；　to　besiege　is　to　take。　Those　who　are　with　me；　live；　but　those　who　oppose　me；　die。　Do　you　understand？〃
〃O　Prime　Minister；　I　know　well　that　when　you　march　out　your　army；　you　always　conquer。　I　knew　it　when　you　attacked　Lu　Bu　at　Puyang；　and　when　you　fought　Zhang　Xiu　at　Wancheng；　and　when　you　met　Zhou　Yu　at　the　Red　Cliffs；　and　when　in　Huarong　Valley　you　encountered　Guan　Yu；　and　on　that　day　when　you　cut　off　your　beard　and　threw　away　your　robe　at　Tong　Pass；　and　when　you　hid　in　a　boat　to　escape　the　arrows　on　the　Yellow　River。　On　all　these　occasions；　no　one　could　stand　against　you。〃
It　made　Cao　Cao　very　angry　to　be　thus　twitted　with　his　misfortunes　and　he　said；　〃You　stuck…up　pedant！　How　dare　you　thus　bring　up　all　my　failures？〃
Cao　Cao　called　to　his　attendants　to　eject　the　bold　disputant　and　put　him　to　death。
Yang　Xiu　ventured　to　argue　with　him；　saying；　〃You　may　behead　him；　but　he　came　from　the　west　bearing　tribute；　and　his　death　would　have　a　very　evil　effect　on　all　distant　peoples。〃
But　Cao　Cao　was　too　angry　to　be　reasonable　and　persisted。　However；　Xun　Yu　also　remonstrated；　and　Zhang　Song　was　not　put　to　death。　But　he　was　beaten　and　ejected。　He　returned　to　his　lodging　and　left　the　city　that　night；　reflecting　upon　what　he　had　intended　and　what　he　had　acplished。
Thought　he；　〃I　did　not　expect　such　arrogance　when　I　came　with　the　intention　of　giving　him　a　region。　When　I　get　back；　Liu　Zhang　will　expect　great　things。　Now　I　am　returning　empty　handed　and　a　failure　to　endure　the　laughter　of　my　fellow　country　people。　I　will　not　go　back。　I　have　heard　of　the　virtues　of　Liu　Bei；　and　I　will　go　to　him　and　see　what　manner　of　man　he　is。　Then　I　can　decide　what　to　do。〃
So　with　his　little　escort　and　following　he　made　for　Jingzhou。　He　had　reached　the　boundaries　of　Wuchang　when　he　met　a　body　of　horsemen；　at　the　head　of　whom　rode　a　general　in　simple　dress。
The　general　pulled　up；　saying；　〃Surely　you　are　the　Charioteer　Zhang　Song。〃
〃I　am　he；〃　said　Zhang　Song。
The　general　quickly　dismounted　and　humbly　said；　〃I　have　expected　you　these　many　days。　I　am　Zhao　Yun。〃
Zhang　Song　dismounted　and　returned　the　salutation；　saying；　〃Then　you　are　no　other　than　the　Fine　Man　of　Changshan。〃
〃No　other；〃　was　the　reply。　〃And　my　lord　Liu　Bei　bade　me　await　you　here　and　offer　you　refreshment　after　your　long　and　toilsome　journey。〃
At　this　some　soldiers　brought　forward　wine　and　food　which　they　offered　kneeling。
Zhang　Song　said；　〃I　am　e　because　the　world　says　Liu　Bei　is　liberal　and　kindly　disposed。〃
After　a　few　cups　of　wine；　the　two　retook　the　road　toward　Jingzhou　City；　which　they　neared　next　day　at　evening。　They　went　to　the　guest…house。　Here　they　found　a　large　number　of　people　who　received　the　visitor　with　the　beating　of　drums　and　every　sign　of　respect。
And　the　officer　in　mand；　bowing　low；　said；　〃My　brother　sent　me　to　meet　you　after　your　long　and　dusty　journey　and　prepare　the　guest…house　for　your　reception。　My　name　is　Guan　Yu。〃
So　Zhang　Song　and　Zhao　Yun　dismounted　and　entered　the　guest…house；　where　hosts　and　guest　exchanged　formal　salutations　and　took　their　seats。　In　a　short　time　refreshments　were　served；　and　both　men　were　most　diligent　in　their　attention　to　the　traveler。　This　roadside　banquet　was　prolonged　to　the　time　of　setting　the　watch；　when　they　prepared　for　rest。
Next　morning；　after　the　early　meal；　they　mounted　and　continued　their　journey。　Very　soon　they　met　Liu　Bei　himself；　with　an　escort；　and　his　two　chief　advisers；　deferentially　standing　by　the　roadside。
As　soon　as　he　recognized　them；　Zhang　Song　dismounted　and　walked　toward　them。　Liu　Bei　received　him　with　extreme　respect。
〃Your　exalted　name　has　been　long　known　to　me；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃And　it　has　reverberated　through　my　ears。　My　one　regret　is　that　cloudy　hills　and　long　distances　have　hitherto　prevented　me　from　enjoying　the　advantage　of　your　instruction。　Hearing　that　you　were　passing　through；　I　have　e　to　meet　you。　And　if　you　would　be　willing　to　notice　me　and　condescend　to　rest　for　a　time　in　my　city；　thus　allowing　me　to　satisfy　my　long　disappointed　desire　to　see　you；　I　should　indeed　hold　myself　fortunate。〃
Naturally　the　traveler's　vanity　was　tickled；　and　he　joyfully　remounted。　They　rode　bridle　to　bridle　into　the　city。　When　they　reached　the　residence；　again　they　exchanged　profound　salutations　and　pliments　before　they　took　their　various　places　as　host　and　guest。　And　then　a　banquet　was　served。　But　all　throughout　Liu　Bei　refrained　from　saying　a　word　about　the　west。　He　only　chatted　on　general　and　mon　things。
The　visitor　noted　this　steady　avoidance　and　resolved　to　probe　his　host's　thoughts。
〃How　many　counties　are　there　in　Jingzhou；　where　you　are　now；　O　Imperial　Uncle？〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Jingzhou　is　only　ours　temporarily。　We　have　borrowed　it　from　the　South　Land。　They　are　always　sending　messengers　to　demand　its　return。　However；　now　that　our　lord　has　married　their　daughter；　his　position　is　more　secure。　But　it　is　still　temporary。〃
〃The　South　Land　is　large；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃yet　their　six　territories　and　their　eighty…one　counties　do　not　satisfy　them。　The　people　are　strong　and　the　land　is　fruitful。〃
Said　Pang　Tong；　〃Our　lord；　being　of　the　dynastic　family；　has　never　occupied　a　territory　of　the　empire。　Those　others；　rebellious　as　they　are；　may　indeed　seize　upon　as　much　territory　as　they　are　strong　enough　to　hold。　People　of　reasons　do　not　approve　such　wrongs。〃
〃Noble　Sirs；　pray　say　no　more。　What　virtue　have　I　that　I　should　expect　anything　from　the　future？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Not　so；　indeed；〃　said　Zhang　Song。　〃Illustrious　Sir；　you　are　of　the　linea