三国演义英文版-第87部分

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〃He　left　the　banquet…hall　quite　suddenly；　and　I　know　not　whither　he　has　gone；〃　was　the　reply。
Now　Zhao　Yun　was　cautious　and　careful　and　had　no　desire　to　act　hastily；　so　he　urged　his　horse　forward　till　he　came　to　the　river。　There　he　was　checked　by　a　torrent　without　ford　or　bridge。
At　once　he　turned　back　and　shouted　after　Cai　Mao；　〃You　invited　my　lord　to　a　feast。　What　means　this　going　after　him　with　a　squadron　of　horse？〃
Cai　Mao　replied；　〃It　is　my　duty　to　guard　the　officials　of　forty…two　counties　who　have　assembled　here；　as　I　am　the　Chief　mander。〃
〃Whither　have　you　driven　my　lord？〃　asked　Zhao　Yun。
〃They　tell　me　he　rode　quite　alone　out　through　the　west　gate；　but　I　have　not　seen　him。〃
Zhao　Yun　was　anxious　and　doubtful。　Again　he　rode　to　the　river　and　looked　around。　This　time　he　noticed　a　wet　track　on　the　farther　side。　He　thought　to　himself　that　it　was　almost　an　impossible　crossing　for　a　person　and　a　horse；　so　he　ordered　his　followers　to　scatter　and　search。　But　they　also　could　find　no　trace　of　Liu　Bei。
Zhao　Yun　turned　again　to　the　city。　By　the　time　he　had　reached　the　wall；　Cai　Mao　had　gone　within。　He　then　questioned　the　gate　wardens；　and　they　all　agreed　in　saying　that　Liu　Bei　had　ridden　out　at　full　gallop。　That　was　all　they　knew。　Fearing　to　reenter　the　city　lest　he　should　fall　into　an　ambush；　Zhao　Yun　started　for　Xinye。
After　that　marvelous　life…saving　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent；　Liu　Bei　felt　elated　but　rather　dazed。
He　could　not　help　telling　himself；　〃My　safety　is　due　to　an　especial　interposition　of　Providence。〃
Following　a　tortuous　path；　he　urged　his　steed　toward　Nanzhang。　But　the　sun　sank　to　the　west　and　his　destination　seemed　yet　a　long　way　off。　Then　he　saw　a　young　cowherd　seated　on　the　back　of　a　buffalo　and　playing　on　a　short　flute。
〃If　I　were　only　as　happy！〃　sighed　Liu　Bei。
He　checked　his　horse　and　looked　at　the　lad；　who　stopped　his　beast；　ceased　playing　on　the　pipe；　and　stared　fixedly　at　the　stranger。
〃You　must　be　Liu　Bei；　the　general　who　fought　the　Yellow　Scarves；〃　said　the　boy　presently。
Liu　Bei　was　taken　aback。
〃How　can　you　know　my　name；　a　young　rustic　like　you　living　in　such　a　secluded　place？〃　said　he。
〃Of　course　I　do　not　know　you；　but　my　master　often　has　visitors；　and　they　all　talk　about　Liu　Bei；　the　tall　man　whose　hands　hang　down　below　his　knees　and　whose　eyes　are　very　prominent。　They　say　he　is　the　most　famous　man　of　the　day。　Now　you；　General；　are　just　such　a　man　as　they　talk　about；　and　surely　you　are　he。〃
〃Well；　who　is　your　master？〃
〃My　master's　name　is　Sima　Hui。　He　belongs　to　Yingchuan　and　his　Taoist　appellation　is　Water　Mirror。〃
〃Who　are　your　master's　friends　that　you　mentioned？〃
〃They　are　Pang　Degong　and　Pang　Tong　of　Xiangyang。〃
〃And　who　are　they？〃
〃Uncle　and　nephew。　Pang　Degong　is　ten　years　older　than　my　master；　the　other　is　five　years　younger。　One　day　my　master　was　up　in　a　tree　picking　mulberries　when　Pang　Tong　arrived。　They　began　to　talk　and　kept　it　up　all　day；　my　master　did　not　e　down　till　the　evening。　My　master　is　very　fond　of　Pang　Tong　and　calls　him　brother。〃
〃And　where　does　your　master　live？〃
〃In　that　wood　there；　in　front；〃　said　the　cowherd　pointing　to　it。　〃There　he　has　a　farmstead。〃
〃I　really　am　Liu　Bei；　and　you　might　lead　me　to　your　master　that　I　may　salute　him。〃
The　cowherd　led　the　way　for　about　one　mile；　when　Liu　Bei　found　himself　in　front　of　a　farm　house。　He　dismounted　and　went　to　the　center　door。　Suddenly　came　to　his　ear　the　sound　of　a　lute　most　skillfully　played　and　the　air　was　extremely　beautiful。　He　stopped　his　guide　and　would　not　allow　him　to　announce　a　visitor；　but　stood　there　rapt　by　the　melody。
Suddenly　the　music　ceased。
He　heard　a　deep　laugh　and　a　man　appeared；　saying；　〃Amidst　the　clear　and　subtle　sounds　of　the　lute；　there　suddenly　rang　out　a　high　note　as　though　some　noble　man　was　near。〃
〃That　is　my　master；〃　said　the　lad　pointing。
Liu　Bei　saw　before　him　a　figure　slender　and　straight　as　a　pine　tree；　a　very　〃chosen　vessel〃。　Hastening　forward　he　saluted。　The　skirt　of　his　robe　was　still　wet　from　the　river。
〃You　have　escaped　from　a　grave　danger　today；　Sir；〃　said　Water　Mirror。
Liu　Bei　was　startled　into　silence；　and　the　cowherd　said　to　his　master；　〃This　is　Liu　Bei。〃
Water　Mirror　asked　him　to　enter；　and　when　they　were　seated　in　their　relative　positions　as　host　and　guest；　Liu　Bei　glanced　round　the　room。　Upon　the　bookshelves　were　piled　books　and　manuscripts。　The　window　opened　upon　an　exquisite　picture　of　pines　and　bamboos　and　a　lute　lay　upon　a　stone　couch。　The　room　showed　refinement　in　its　last　degree。
〃Whence　e　you；　Illustrious　Sir？〃　asked　the　host。
〃By　chance　I　was　passing　this　way　and　the　lad　pointed　you　out　to　me。　So　I　came　to　bow　in　your　honored　presence。　I　cannot　tell　what　pleasure　it　gives　me。〃
Water　Mirror　laughed；　saying；　〃Why　this　mystery？　Why　must　you　conceal　the　truth？　You　have　certainly　just　escaped　from　a　grave　danger。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　told　the　story　of　the　banquet　and　the　flight。
〃I　knew　it　all　from　your　appearance；〃　said　his　host。　〃Your　name　has　long　been　familiar；　but　whence　es　it　that；　up　to　the　present；　you　are　only　a　homeless　devil？〃
〃I　have　suffered　many　a　check　during　my　life；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃and　through　one　of　them　am　I　here　now。〃
〃It　should　not　be　so。　But　the　reason　is　that　you　still　lack　the　one　person　to　aid　you。〃
〃I　am　simple　enough　in　myself；　I　know。　But　I　have　Sun　Qian；　Mi　Zhu；　and　Jian　Yong　on　the　civil　side；　and　for　warriors　I　have　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Zhao　Yun。　These　are　all　most　loyal　helpers；　and　I　depend　upon　them　not　a　little。〃
〃Your　fighting　generals　are　good：　Fit　to　oppose　a　legion。　The　pity　is　you　have　no　really　able　adviser。　Your　civilians　are　but　pallid　students　of　books；　not　people　fitted　to　weave　and　control　destiny。〃
〃I　have　always　yearned　to　find　one　of　those　marvelous　recluses　who　live　among　the　hills　till　their　day　arrive。　So　far　I　have　sought　in　vain。〃
〃You　know　what　the　Teacher　Confucius　said；　'In　a　hamlet　of　ten　households　there　must　be　one　true　person。'　Can　you　say　there　is　no　one？〃
〃I　am　simple　and　uninstructed。　I　pray　you　enlighten　me。〃
〃You　have　heard　what　the　street　children　sing：

〃In　eight　and　nine　years　begins　decay；
Four　years；　then　es　the　fateful　day；
When　destiny　will　show　the　way；
And　the　dragon　flies　out　of　the　mire！

〃This　song　was　first　heard　when　the　new　reign　style　was　adopted。　The　first　line　was　fulfilled　when　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Biao　lost　his　first　wife；　and　when　his　family　troubles　began。　The　next　line　relates　to　the　approaching　death　of　Liu　Biao；　and　there　is　not　a　single　person　among　all　his　crowd　of　officers　who　has　the　least　ability。　The　last　two　lines　will　be　fulfilled　in　you；　General。〃
Liu　Bei　started　up　in　surprise；　crying；　〃How　could　such　a　thing　be？〃
Water　Mirror　continued；　〃At　this　moment　the　marvelously　clever　people　of　the　earth　are　all　here　and　you；　Sir；　ought　to　seek　them。〃
〃Where　are　they？　Who　are　they？〃　said　Liu　Bei　quickly。
〃If　you　could　find　either　Sleeping　Dragon　or　Young　Phoenix；　you　could　restore　order　in　the　empire。〃
〃But　who　are　these　two？〃
His　host　clapped　his　hands；　smiled　and　said；　〃Good；　very　good！〃
When　Liu　Bei　persisted　and　pressed　home　his　questions；　Water　Mirror　said；　〃It　is　getting　late。　You　might　stay　the　night　here；　General；　and　we　will　talk　over　these　things　tomorrow。〃
He　called　to　a　lad　to　bring　wine　and　food　for　his　guest　and　his　horse　was　taken　to　the　stable　and　fed。　After　Liu　Bei　had　eaten；　he　was　shown　to　a　chamber　opening　off　the　main　room　and　went　to　bed。　But　the　words　of　his　host　would　not　be　banished；　and　he　lay　there　only　dozing　till　far　into　the　night。
Suddenly　he　became　fully　awake　at　the　sound　of　a　knock　at　the　door　and　a　person　entering。　And　he　heard　his　host　say；　〃Where　are　you　from？〃
Liu　Bei　rose　from　his　couch　and　listened　secretly。
He　heard　the　visitor　reply；　〃It　has　long　been　said　that　Liu　Biao　treated　good　people　and　bad　people　as　they　each　should　be　treated。　So　I　went　to　see　for　myself。　But　that　reputation　is　undeserved。　He　does　treat　good　people　correctly　but　he　cannot　use　them；　and　he　treats　wicked　people　in　the　right　way；　all　but　dismissing　them。　So　I　left　a　letter　for　him　and　went　away。　And　here　I　am。〃
Water　Mirror　replied；　〃You；　capable　enough　to　be　the　adviser　of　a　king；　ought　to　be　able　to　find　someone　fit　to　serve。　Why　did　you　cheapen　yourself　so　far　as　to　go　to　Liu　Biao？　Beside；　there　is　a　real　hero　right　under　your　eyes　and　you　do　not　know　him。〃
〃It　is　just　as　you　say；〃　replied　the　stranger。
Liu　Bei　listened　with　great　joy　for　he　thought　this　visitor　was　certainly　one　of　the　two　he　was　advised　to　look　for。　Liu　Bei　would　have　shown　himself　then　and　there；　but　he　thought　that　would　look　strange。　So　he　waited　till　daylight；　when　he　sought　out　his　host。
〃Who　was　it　came　last　night？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃A　friend　of　mine；〃　was　the　reply。
Liu　Bei　begged　for　an　introduction。　Water　Mirror　said；　〃He　wants　to　find　an　enlightened　master；　and　so　he　has　gone　elsewhere。〃
When　Liu　Bei　asked　his　name；　his　host　only　replied；　〃Good；　good！〃
And　when　Liu　Bei　asked　who　they　were　who　went　by　the　names　of　Sleeping　Dragon　and　Young　Phoenix；　he　only　elicited　the　same　reply。
Liu　Bei　then；　bowing　low　before　his　host；　begged　him　to　leave　the　hills　and　help　him　to　bring　about　the　restoration　of　the　ruling　house　to　its　prerogatives。
But　Water　Mirror　replied；　〃People　of　the　hills　and　woods　are　unequal　to　such　a　task。　However；　there　must　be　many　far　abler　than　I　who　will　help　you　if　you　seek　them。〃
While　they　were　talking；　they　heard　outside　the　farm　the　shouts　of　troops　and　neighing　of　horses；　and　a　servant　came　in　to　say　that　a　general　with　a　large　pany　of　soldiers　had　arrived。　Liu　Bei　went　out　hastily　to　see　who　these　were　and　found　Zhao　Yun。　He　was　much　relieved；　and　Zhao　Yun　dismounted　and　entered　the　house。
〃Last　night；　on　my　return　to　Xinye；〃　said　Zhao　Yun；　〃I　could　not　find　you；　my　lord；　so　I　followed　at　once　and　traced　you　here。　I　pray　you　return　quickly；　as　I　fear　an　attack　on　the　city。〃
So　Liu　Bei　took　leave　of　his　host；　and　the　whole　pany　returned　to　Xinye。　Before　they　had　gone　far　another　army　appeared；　and；　when　they　had　e　nearer；　they　saw　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。　They　met　with　great　joy；　and　Liu　Bei　told　them　of　the　wonderful　leap　his　horse　had　made　over　the　torrent。　All　expressed　surprise　and　pleasure。
As　soon　as　they　reached　the　city；　a　council　was　called　and　Zhao　Yun　said；　〃You　ought　first　of　all　to　indite　a　letter　to　Liu　Biao　telling　him　all　these　things。〃
The　letter　was　prepared　and　Sun　Qian　bore　it　to　the　seat　of　government　in　Jingzhou　City。　He　was　received；　and　Liu　Biao　at　once　asked　the　reason　of　Liu　Bei　hasty　flight　from　the　festival。　Whereupon　the　letter　was　presented；　and　the　bearer　related　the　machinations　of　Cai　Mao　and　told　of　the　escape　and　the　amazing　leap　over　the　Tan　Torrent。
Liu　Biao　was　very　angry；　sent　for　Cai　Mao；　and　berated　him　soundly；　saying；　〃How　dare　you　try　to　hurt　my　brother？〃
And　he　ordered　Cai　Mao　out　to　execution。
Liu　Biao's　wife；　Cai　Mao's　sister；　prayed　for　a　remission　of　the　death　penalty；　but　Liu　Biao　refused　to　be　appeased。
Then　spoke　Sun　Qian；　saying；　〃If　you　put　Cai　Mao　to　death；　I　fear　Uncle　Liu　Bei　will　be　unable　to　remain　here。〃
Then　Cai　Mao　was　reprieved；　but　dismissed　with　a　severe　reprimand。
Liu　Biao　sent　his　elder　son　Liu　Qi　back　with　Sun　Qian　to　apologize。　When　Liu　Qi　reached　Xinye；