第152部分(第1/7 页)

ong；　the　army's　instructor。　Intelligence　had　been　received　that　Sun　Quan　had　sent　a　messenger　to　seek　to　make　a　league　with　Zhang　Lu　to　make　a　joint　attack　upon　the　Jiameng　Pass；　and　Liu　Bei　was　alarmed　lest　it　should　e　to　pass。

〃If　they　do　that；　I　am　taken　in　the　rear　and　helpless　in　both　advance　and　retreat；〃　said　he。　〃What　do　you　counsel；　O　Instructor？〃

Pang　Tong　turned　to　Meng　Da；　saying；　〃You　are　a　native　of　Shu　and　well　skilled　in　its　topography。　What　can　be　done　to　make　the　Pass　secure？〃

〃Let　me　take　a　certain　man　with　me；　and　I　will　defend　it　myself　and　answer　for　its　safety。〃

〃Who　is　he？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃He　was　formerly　an　officer　under　Liu　Biao。　His　name　is　Huo　Jun；　and　he　is　a　native　of　Nanjun　in　the　south。〃

This　offer　was　accepted；　and　the　two　generals　departed。

After　the　council；　when　Pang　Tong　returned　to　his　lodging；　the　doorkeeper　told　him　that　a　visitor　had　arrived。　When　Pang　Tong　went　out　to　receive　him；　he　saw　a　huge　tall　fellow　eight　cubits　in　stature　and　of　noble　countenance。　His　hair　had　been　cut　short　and　hung　upon　his　neck。　He　was　poorly　dressed。

〃Who　may　you　be；　Master？〃　asked　Pang　Tong。

The　visitor　made　no　reply；　but　went　at　once　straight　up　the　room　and　lay　upon　the　couch。　Pang　Tong　felt　very　suspicious　of　the　man　and　repeated　his　question。

Pressed　again；　the　visitor　said；　〃Do　let　me　rest　a　little。　Then　I　will　talk　with　you　about　everything　in　the　world。〃

This　answer　only　added　to　the　mystery　and　increased　the　host's　suspicion；　but　he　had　wine　and　food　brought　in；　of　which　the　guest　partook　ravenously。　Having　eaten；　he　lay　down　and　fell　asleep。

Pang　Tong　wag　greatly　puzzled　and　thought　the　man　must　be　a　spy。　He　sent　for　Fa　Zheng；　met　him　in　the　courtyard；　a