第53部分(第4/7 页)

raid　of　thunder？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　Sage　One　paled　at　a　sudden　peal　of　thunder　or　fierce　gust　of　wind。　Why　should　one　not　fear？〃

Thus　he　glossed　over　the　real　fact；　that　it　was　the　words　he　had　heard　that　had　so　startled　him。

Constrained　to　lodge　in　a　tiger's　lair；

He　played　a　waiting　part；

But　when　Cao　Cao　talked　of　breaking　humans；

Then　terror　gripped　his　heart。

But　he　cleverly　used　the　thunder　peal

As　excuse　for　turning　pale；

O　quick　to　seize　occasions　thus！

He　surely　must　prevail。

The　shower　had　passed；　and　there　appeared　two　men　rushing　through　the　garden；　both　armed。　In　spite　of　the　attendants；　they　forced　their　way　to　the　pavilion　where　sat　the　two　friends。　They　were　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。

The　two　brothers　had　been　outside　the　city　at　archery　practice　when　Cao　Cao's　invitation　had　e　so　peremptorily。　On　their　return　they　heard　that　two　officers　had　arrived　and　led　away　Liu　Bei　to　the　Prime　Minister。　They　hastened　to　his　palace　and　were　told　their　brother　was　with　his　host　in　the　grounds；　and　they　feared　something　had　happened。　So　they　rushed　in。

Now　when　they　saw　their　brother　quietly　talking　with　Cao　Cao　and　enjoying　a　cup　of　wine；　they　took　up　their　usual　places　and　meekly　stood　waiting。

〃Why　did　you　e？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃We　heard　that　you；　Sir；　had　invited　our　brother　to　a　wine　party；　and　we　came　to　amuse　you　with　a　little　sword　play；〃　said　they。

＇e＇　At　that　time　Liu　Bang；　Governor　of　Pei；　and　Xiang　Yu；　King　of　West　Chu；　were　fighting　Qin　under　the　Chu　banner。　Liu　Bang　was　the　first　mander　who　entered　Qin's　capital；　Xianyang。　The　loss　of　this　honor　enraged　Xiang　Yu；　and　he　was　set　to　attack　Liu　Bang's　force。　But　his　uncle　Xiang　Ba　wante