三国演义英文版-第159部分

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So　Ma　Chao　placed　a　score　of　armed　ruffians　in　hiding　about　his　tent　and　told　them　to　cut　the　visitor　to　pieces　if　the　signal　was　given。
Then　the　guest　was　led　in　and　came　walking　proudly。　His　host　remained　seated　stiff　and　upright。
Ma　Chao　spoke　roughly；　saying；　〃What　are　you　e　for？〃
〃I　am　here　as　persuader。〃
〃This　sword　here　in　the　scabbard　is　newly　ground。　You　may　try　me　by　words；　but　if　the　words　do　not　penetrate；　I　shall　ask　you　to　try　the　sword。〃
Li　Hui　smiled；　saying；　〃O　General；　evil　is　not　far　off。　However；　I　am　thinking　the　newly　ground　sword　will　not　be　tried　on　my　head。　You　will　want　to　try　it　on　your　own！〃
〃What　evil　were　you　talking　about？〃

＇e＇　Xi　Shi　was　a　moner　and　a　famous　beauty　who　helped　King　Gou　Jian　of　Yue　defeat　the　powerful　kingdom　of　Wu　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Lady　Wuyan　of　Qi　was　also　a　famous　moner　who　did　not　possess　physical　attractiveness。　Yet　her　insights　were　so　loving　that　King　Xuan　of　Qi　fell　in　love　with　her　and　made　her　queen。　。。。。。
〃The　worst　vilification　could　not　hide　the　beauty　of　Lady　Xi　Shi*　of　Yue；　nor　could　the　most　fulsome　praise　gloze　over　the　ugliness　of　Lady　Wuyan*　of　Qi。　The　sun　rises　to　the　meridian　and　then　declines；　the　moon　waxes　to　the　full　and　then　wanes。　All　things　obey　the　one　law。　Now；　General；　you　are　at　enmity　with　Cao　Cao　for　your　father's　death；　and　in　West　Valley　Land　you　carry　a　stubborn；　grinding　hate　for　your　family's　death。　You　can　neither　rescue　Liu　Zhang　by　repulsing　the　army　from　Jingzhou；　nor　can　you　settle　Yang　Song　by　getting　an　interview　with　Zhang　Lu。　The　whole　world　now　holds　no　place　for　a　person　without　a　lord；　and　if　you　experience　further　defeats；　like　that　one　on　River　Wei；　or　the　loss　of　Jicheng；　will　you　not　be　too　shamed　to　look　any　human　in　the　face？〃
Ma　Chao　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃You　speak　well；　Sir。　But　I　am　helpless。〃
〃Now　that　you　listen　to　me；　I　would　ask　why　those　fearsome　ruffians　are　in　hiding　by　your　tent？〃　continued　Li　Hui。
Ma　Chao；　suddenly　stricken　with　shame；　ordered　them　to　retire。　Li　Hui　continued　his　speech。
〃Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　is　considerate　to　his　subordinates；　and　I　am　certain　he　will　succeed；　and　so　I　have　forsaken　Liu　Zhang　to　cleave　to　him。　Your　honored　father　joined　him　in　destroying　rebels。　Why　do　you　not　flee　from　darkness　into　the　light？　Thereby　you　would　avenge　your　father　and　bee　famous。〃
Ma　Chao；　convinced　of　the　wisdom　of　the　course　thus　remended；　proved　his　conversion　by　sending　for　Yang　Bo　and　slaying　him　forthwith。　Taking　with　him　the　head　of　his　victim；　Ma　Chao　acpanied　Li　Hui　to　the　Pass　and　tendered　his　submission。　Liu　Bei　weled　him　warmly　and　treated　him　as　a　highly　honored　guest。
Ma　Chao　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃Meeting　you；　O　Illustrious　Lord；　is　like　seeing　the　clear　sky　when　the　clouds　have　been　swept　aside。〃
When　Sun　Qian　returned　from　Yang　Song's　place；　Liu　Bei　detached　a　force　to　go　to　the　capture　of　Chengdu；　left　two　generals；　Meng　Da　and　Huo　Jun　to　guard　Jiameng　Pass；　and　made　a　triumphant　entry　into　Mianzhu　with　the　wele　of　Zhao　Yun　and　Huang　Zhong。
Two　generals　of　West　River　Land；　Ma　Han　and　Liu　Jun；　came　to　oppose　Liu　Bei；　but　Zhao　Yun　went　out　against　them　while　Liu　Bei　was　entertaining　Ma　Chao　at　a　banquet　on　the　city　wall。　Ere　it　had　concluded；　Zhao　Yun　slew　both　the　generals　and　brought　their　heads　to　the　banquet　chamber。　This　exploit　put　Ma　Chao　on　his　mettle　and　doubled　his　respect　for　the　conquerors。
〃Let　not　my　lord　attack；〃　said　Ma　Chao。　〃I　will　make　Liu　Zhang　surrender　of　his　own　accord。　Should　he　resist；　my　brother　Ma　Dai　and　I　will　take　the　city　and　offer　it　to　you　with　both　hands。〃
Liu　Bei　was　very　pleased　with　the　course　of　events。　The　day　was　indeed　one　of　rejoicing。
But　Liu　Zhang　was　greatly　distressed　at　the　news　of　his　fresh　misfortunes；　which　reached　him　with　the　return　of　his　defeated　soldiers。　He　barred　the　gates　and　stopped　all　exits。　Before　long　came　news　of　the　approach　of　Ma　Chao　with　an　army　of　rescue。　The　Imperial　Protector　then　ventured　to　mount　the　walls；　and　soon　Ma　Chao　and　Ma　Dai　rode　up　and　stood　below　the　ramparts。
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　u