第2部分(第2/7 页)

oliage；　a　soothsayer　had　predicted　that　one　day　a　man　of　distinction　would　e　forth　from　the　family。

As　a　child；　Liu　Bei　played　with　the　other　village　children　beneath　this　tree；　and　he　would　climb　up　into　it；　saying；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　Heaven；　and　this　is　my　chariot！〃　His　uncle；　Liu　Yuanqi；　recognized　that　Liu　Bei　was　no　ordinary　boy　and　saw　to　it　that　the　family　did　not　e　to　actual　want。

When　Liu　Bei　was　fifteen；　his　mother　sent　him　traveling　for　his　education。　For　a　time　he　served　Zheng　Xuan　and　Lu　Zhi　as　masters。　And　he　became　great　friends　with　Gongsun　Zan。

Liu　Bei　was　twenty…eight　when　the　outbreak　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　called　for　soldiers。　The　sight　of　the　notice　saddened　him；　and　he　sighed　as　he　read　it。

Suddenly　a　rasping　voice　behind　him　cried；　〃Sir；　why　sigh　if　you　do　nothing　to　help　your　country？〃

Turning　quickly　he　saw　standing　there　a　man　about　his　own　height；　with　a　bullet　head　like　a　leopard's；　large　eyes；　a　swallow　pointed　chin；　and　whiskers　like　a　tiger's。　He　spoke　in　a　loud　bass　voice　and　looked　as　irresistible　as　a　dashing　horse。　At　once　Liu　Bei　saw　he　was　no　ordinary　man　and　asked　who　he　was。

〃Zhang　Fei　is　my　name；〃　replied　the　stranger。　〃I　live　near　here　where　I　have　a　farm；　and　I　am　a　wine　seller　and　a　butcher　as　well；　and　I　like　to　bee　acquainted　with　worthy　people。　Your　sighs　as　you　read　the　notice　drew　me　toward　you。〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　of　the　Imperial　Family；　Liu　Bei　is　my　name。　And　I　wish　I　could　destroy　these　Yellow　Scarves　and　restore　peace　to　the　land；　but　alas！　I　am　helpless。〃

〃I　have　the　means；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃Suppose　you　and　I　raised　some　troops　and　tried　what　we　could　do。〃

This　was　happy　news　for　Liu　Bei；　and　the　two　betook　themselves　to　the　village　inn　to　talk　over　the