第30部分(第5/7 页)

〃

But　Liu　Bei　replied；　〃How　would　misfortune　have　been　averted　from　Xuzhou　if　he　had　not　attacked　Yanzhou？　He　cannot　be　our　enemy　now　that　he　es　seeking　an　asylum。〃

〃Brother；　your　heart　is　really　too　good。　Although　it　may　be　as　you　say；　yet　it　would　be　well　to　prepare；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

The　new　Imperial　Protector　with　a　great　following　met　Lu　Bu　ten　miles　outside　the　city　gates；　and　the　two　chiefs　rode　in　side　by　side。　They　proceeded　to　the　residence　and　there；　after　the　elaborate　ceremonies　of　reception　were　over；　they　sat　down　to　converse。

Said　Lu　Bu；　〃After　Wang　Yun　and　I　plotted　to　slay　Dong　Zhuo　and　my　misfortune　in　the　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si's　sedition；　I　drifted　about　from　one　place　to　another；　and　none　of　the　nobles　east　of　the　Huashang　Mountains　seemed　willing　to　receive　me。　When　Cao　Cao　with　wicked　ambition　invaded　this　region　and　you；　Sir；　came　to　its　rescue；　I　aided　you　by　attacking　Yanzhou　and　thus　diverting　a　portion　of　his　force。　I　did　not　think　then　that　I　should　be　the　victim　of　a　vile　plot　and　lose　my　leaders　and　my　soldiers。　But　now　if　you　will；　I　offer　myself　to　you　that　we　may　together　acplish　great　designs。〃

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃When　the　late　Tao　Qian　died；　there　was　no　one　to　administer　Xuzhou；　and　so　I　assumed　that　task　for　a　time。　Now　since　you　are　here；　General；　it　is　most　suitable　that　I　step　down　in　your　favor。〃

Whereupon　Liu　Bei　handed　the　insignia　and　the　seal　of　authority　to　Lu　Bu。　Lu　Bu　was　on　the　point　of　accepting　them；　when　he　saw　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　who　stood　behind　the　Imperial　Protector；　glaring　at　him　with　angry　eyes。

So　Lu　Bu　put　on　a　smile　and　said；　〃I　may　be　something　of　a　fighting　man；　but　I　could　not　rule　a　great　region　like　this。〃

Liu　Bei　repeated　his　offer。　But　Chen　Gong　said