第21部分(第6/7 页)

riage　broke。　He　left　it　and　mounted　a　horse。　Another　ten　miles　the　horse　snorted　and　neighed；　threw　up　his　head　and　snapped　the　reins。

Dong　Zhuo　turned　to　Li　Su　and　asked　what　these　things　portended。

〃It　means　that　you　are　going　to　receive　the　abdication　of　the　Hans；　which　is　to　renew　all　things：　To　mount　the　jeweled　chariot　and　sit　in　the　golden　saddle。〃

And　Dong　Zhuo　was　pleased　and　convinced　with　this　answer。　During　the　second　day's　journey　a　violent　gale　sprang　up；　and　the　sky　became　covered　with　a　thick　mist。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

The　wily　Li　Su　had　an　interpretation　for　this　also；　saying；　〃You　are　ascending　to　the　place　of　the　dragon：　There　must　be　bright　light　and　lurid　vapor　to　dignify　your　majestic　approach。〃

Dong　Zhuo　had　no　more　doubts。　He　presently　arrived　and　found　many　officials　waiting　without　the　city　gate　to　receive　him；　all　but　Li　Ru　who　was　ill　and　unable　to　leave　his　chamber。　He　entered　and　proceeded　to　his　own　palace；　where　Lu　Bu　came　to　congratulate　him。

〃When　I　sit　on　the　throne；　you　shall　mand　the　whole　armies　of　the　empire；　horse　and　foot；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

That　night　Dong　Zhuo　slept　in　the　midst　of　his　escort。　In　the　suburbs　that　evening　some　children　at　play　were　singing　a　little　ditty；　and　the　words　drifted　into　the　bedchamber　on　the　wind。

〃The　grass　in　the　meadow　looks　fresh　now　and　green；

Yet　wait　but　ten　days；　not　a　blade　will　be　seen。〃

The　song　sounded　ominous　but　Li　Su　was　again　prepared　with　a　happy　interpretation：　〃It　only　means　that　the　Lius　are　about　to　disappear；　and　the　Dongs　to　be　exalted。〃

＇e＇　The　staff；　the　cloth；　and　the　mouths　formed　the　Chinese　characters；　implied　the　name　of　Lu　Bu。

Next　morning　at　the　first　streak　of　da