第129部分(第1/7 页)

y　that　the　two　paramount　beauties　would　now　be　gracing　the　Bronze　Bird　Palace。　And　as　for　yourself　and　other　officers；　insignificant　though　your　families　be；　could　you　have　been　sure　to　survive？　Just　now　my　lord　did　not　reply　because　he　was　willing　to　believe　rather　that　a　scholar　of　your　abilities　would　understand　without　a　detailed　explanation；　and　I　trust　now　that　you　will。〃

This　speech　absolutely　shut　the　guest's　mouth　for　a　time；　and　he　said　no　word　in　reply。　But　after　an　interval　he　said；　〃What　you　say；　Zhuge　Liang；　I　think　is　devoid　of　reason；　and　means　much　unpleasantness　for　me。〃

〃What　unpleasantness？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。

The　guest　replied；　〃When　Liu　Bei　was　in　serious　straits　at　Dangyang；　I　conducted　you　across　the　river　and　introduced　you　to　my　lord。　I　opposed　Zhou　Yu　when　he　was　going　to　capture　Jingzhou；　and　then　it　came　to　agreement　that　the　place　was　to　be　ours　when　the　young　man　died。　And　I　pledged　myself　to　that。　Now　how　can　I　go　back　and　say　you　break　your　promise？　Both　my　lord　and　Zhou　Yu　will　hold　me　guilty。　I　would　not　mind　death　so　much；　but　I　fear　that　my　master　will　be　very　wrathful　and　make　war　on　the　Imperial　Uncle；　who　will　have　no　place　of　refuge　and　he　will　look　ridiculous　in　the　eyes　of　the　world　for　no　reason。〃

Replied　Zhuge　Liang；　〃I　care　not　for　Cao　Cao　with　his　million　troops　and　the　Emperor　in　name　at　his　back；　and　do　you　think　I　fear　such　a　youngster　as　Zhou　Yu？　However；　as　it　may　cause　you　some　loss　of　consideration；　I　will　try　to　persuade　my　master　to　put　the　matter　in　writing　and　give　you　a　paper　to　the　effect　that　he　is　temporarily　occupying　Jingzhou　as　a　base。　When　he　can　obtain　possession　of　some　other　city；　this　shall　be　returned　to　you。　What　think　you　the　South　Land　would　say　to　this？〃

〃Wa