第146部分(第3/7 页)

ei　informed　Liu　Zhang　that　he　had　started；　and　the　latter　sent　orders　to　the　counties　along　the　road　to　entertain　them　well　on　the　march。

The　Imperial　Protector　proposed　to　go　out　in　person　to　wele　Liu　Bei　and　ordered　carriages　to　be　prepared　and　tents　and　banners。　All　the　escort　were　dressed　in　glittering　armor。　At　this　Secretary　Huang　Quan；　the　sturdy　opponent　of　the　invitation　to　Liu　Bei；　again　remonstrated。

〃My　lord；　if　you　go　out；　you　will　be　exposed　to　danger。　I　have　been　in　your　service　for　many　years；　and　I　would　prevent　you　from　being　the　victim　of　another's　wiles。　I　pray　you　reflect。〃

Zhang　Song　said；　〃His　words　are　those　of　one　who　would　sow　discord　in　a　family　and　encourage　the　power　of　the　robbers　who　threaten　you。　Assuredly　such　action　is　to　your　detriment。〃

Liu　Zhang　then　spoke　angrily　to　Huang　Quan；　saying；　〃I　have　decided；　and　why　do　you　oppose　me？〃

The　objector　bowed　his　head　and　wept。　Then　approaching　nearer；　he　seized　hold　of　the　Imperial　Protector's　robe　with　his　teeth　to　hinder　him。　Liu　Zhang　angrily　shook　his　robe　and　rose　from　his　seat；　but　Huang　Quan　still　held　on　till　two　of　his　teeth　fell　out。　Then　the　guards　forced　him　away；　and　he　retired；　still　crying。

As　Liu　Zhang　was　starting；　another　man　cried；　〃My　lord；　do　you　neglect　the　loyal　words　of　your　faithful　Huang　Quan　to　go　to　your　death？〃

And　he　threw　himself　prostrate　at　the　steps　in　remonstrance。　He　was　Li　Hui　of　Jianning。

〃The　prince　may　have　ministers　who　remonstrate　with　him；　and　the　father　may　have　children　who　oppose；〃　said　Li　Hui。　〃Huang　Quan　has　spoken　faithfully；　and　you　ought　to　listen。　To　let　Liu　Bei　into　this　land　is　to　wele　the　tiger　into　your　gates。〃

〃Liu　Bei　is　my　brother　and　will　not　harm　me；〃　said　the　Imperial　Pr