第159部分(第3/7 页)

o。　〃I　will　make　Liu　Zhang　surrender　of　his　own　accord。　Should　he　resist；　my　brother　Ma　Dai　and　I　will　take　the　city　and　offer　it　to　you　with　both　hands。〃

Liu　Bei　was　very　pleased　with　the　course　of　events。　The　day　was　indeed　one　of　rejoicing。

But　Liu　Zhang　was　greatly　distressed　at　the　news　of　his　fresh　misfortunes；　which　reached　him　with　the　return　of　his　defeated　soldiers。　He　barred　the　gates　and　stopped　all　exits。　Before　long　came　news　of　the　approach　of　Ma　Chao　with　an　army　of　rescue。　The　Imperial　Protector　then　ventured　to　mount　the　walls；　and　soon　Ma　Chao　and　Ma　Dai　rode　up　and　stood　below　the　ramparts。

And　Ma　Chao　called　out；　〃I　wish　to　speak　with　Liu　Zhang。〃

Then　Liu　Zhang　showed　himself；　and　Ma　Chao　plunged　into　the　matter　without　more　ado。

〃I　took　the　leadership　of　Zhang　Lu's　army　to　rescue　Yizhou；　little　thinking　that；　under　the　calumnious　advice　of　Yang　Song；　Zhang　Lu　would　try　to　slay　me。　However；　now　I　have　gone　over　to　the　side　of　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　advise　you；　Sir；　to　do　the　same；　you　and　all　your　officers。　Thereby　you　will　all　escape　harm。　If　anyone　holds　on　a　misguided　course；　I　shall　take　the　city。〃

Such　words　came　as　a　shock；　and　Liu　Zhang　paled。　His　feelings　overcame　him　and　he　swooned。

When　he　came　to　his　senses；　he　muttered；　〃I　am　stupid　and　I　am　sorry。　Better　open　the　gates　and　end　it。　The　city　will　be　saved。〃

〃No；　no；〃　cried　Dong　He。　〃There　are　thirty　thousand　of　good　soldiers　in　the　city　and　ample　money　and　stores　for　a　year　to　e。　Hold　out！〃

But　Liu　Zhang　was　broken；　saying；　〃My　father　and　I　have　ruled　Shu　for　twenty　years　and　have　done　no　particular　good　for　the　people。　We　have　fought　for　three　years：　The　grass　has　been　be　stained　with　the　blood　of　my　people。　The　faul