第41部分(第3/7 页)

chase　horses。　We　had　got　three　hundred　when；　on　our　way　back；　on　the　borders　of　Xiaopei　some　robbers　stole　half　of　them。　We　hear　that　the　real　robbers　were　Zhang　Fei　and　his　soldiers；　who　took　on　the　guise　of　brigands。〃

Lu　Bu　was　very　angry　at　this　and　began　to　prepare　an　expedition　against　Xiaopei。　When　Liu　Bei　heard　that　an　attack　threatened；　he　led　out　his　army　to　oppose　it；　and　the　two　armies　were　arrayed。

Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　front　and　said；　〃Elder　brother；　why　have　you　brought　an　army　against　me？〃

Lu　Bu　began　abusing　him；　saying；　〃That　shot　of　mine　at　the　Archery　Feast　saved　you　from　grave　danger。　Why　then　did　you　steal　my　horses？〃

〃I　wanted　horses　and　I　sent　out　to　buy　them。　Should　I　dare　to　take　yours？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃You　stole　a　hundred　and　fifty　in　the　person　of　your　brother　Zhang　Fei。　You　only　used　another　man's　hand。〃

Thereupon　Zhang　Fei；　with　his　spear　set；　rode　out；　saying；　〃Yes；　I　stole　your　good　horses；　and　what　more　do　you　expect？〃

Lu　Bu　replied；　〃You　goggled…eyed　thief！　You　are　always　treating　me　with　contempt。〃

〃Yes；　I　took　your　horses　and　you　get　angry。　You　did　not　say　any　thing　when　you　stole　my　brother's　Xuzhou。〃

Lu　Bu　rode　forward　to　give　battle；　and　Zhang　Fei　advanced。　A　reckless　fight　began；　and　the　two　warriors　kept　it　up　for　a　hundred　bouts　without　a　decisive　stroke。　Then　Liu　Bei；　fearing　some　accident　to　his　brother；　hastily　beat　the　gongs　as　a　signal　to　retire　and　led　his　army　into　the　city。　Lu　Bu　then　invested　it。

Liu　Bei　called　his　brother　and　chided　him　as　the　cause　of　all　this　misfortune。

〃Where　are　the　horses？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃In　some　of　the　temples　and　courts；〃　replied　Zhang　Fei。

Liu　Bei　sent　a　messenger　out　to　speak　softly　and　offer　to　restore　the