第111部分(第1/7 页)

〃You　have　been　well　I　hope　since　last　we　met；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。

〃You　have　wandered　far　and　suffered　much　in　this　task　of　emissary　in　Cao　Cao's　cause；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

〃I　have　not　seen　you　for　a　very　long　time；〃　said　the　envoy　much　taken　aback；　〃and　I　came　to　visit　you　for　the　sake　of　old　times。　Why　do　you　call　me　an　emissary　for　the　Cao　Cao's　cause？〃

＇e＇　Shi　Kuang；　aka　Master　Kuang；　was　perhaps　the　most　famous　musician　in　ancient　China；　said　to　have　been　music　master　to　Duke　Ping　of　Jin　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　Period。　Huainanzi　says　that　when　Shi　Kuang　played　〃Bai　Xue〃　（White　Snow）　strange　birds　descended；　acpanied　by　wind　and　rain。　Bai　Xue　gives　expression　to　the　meanings　of　〃awe…inspiring　righteousness　and　cleanness〃　and　〃as　superb　as　the　bamboo　in　snow〃。　。。。。。

〃Though　I　am　not　so　profound　a　musician　as　Shi　Kuang*　of　old；　yet　I　can　prehend　the　thought　behind　the　music；〃　replied　Zhou　Yu。

〃As　you　choose　to　treat　your　old　friend　like　this；　I　think　I　will　take　my　leave；〃　said　Jiang　Gan。

Zhou　Yu　laughed　again；　and　taking　Jiang　Gan　by　the　arm；　said；　〃Well；　I　feared　you　might　be　ing　on　his　behalf　to　try　to　persuade　me。　But　if　this　is　not　your　intention；　you　need　not　go　away　so　hastily。〃

So　they　two　entered　the　tent。　When　they　had　exchanged　salutes　and　were　seated　as　friends；　Zhou　Yu　bade　them　call　his　officers　that　he　might　introduce　them。　They　soon　appeared　civil　and　military　officials；　all　dressed　in　their　best。　The　military　officers　were　clad　in　glittering　silver　armor　and　the　staff　looked　very　imposing　as　they　stood　ranged　in　two　lines。

The　visitor　was　introduced　to　them　all。　Presently　a　banquet　was　spread；　and　while　they　feasted；　the　musicians　played　songs　of　victory　and　the　wine　circulated　merrily。

Under