第208部分(第1/7 页)

t　we　can　deal　with　Wei。　If　Wei　is　reduced；　Wu　will　not　last　long；　and　the　whole　empire　will　again　be　under　one　ruler。〃

Presently　the　report　reached　the　capital　that　Deng　Zhi　and　Zhang　Wen；　as　envoy　of　Wu；　would　soon　arrive。　The　Latter　Ruler　assembled　the　courtiers　to　receive　them　honorably。　The　envoy　of　Wu　carried　himself　as　one　who　had　attained　his　desires；　and　advanced　boldly。　Having　made　his　salute；　the　Latter　Ruler　gave　him　to　sit　on　a　brocaded　stool　on　his　left　hand。　A　banquet　followed　at　which　Zhang　Wen　was　treated　with　much　honor。　At　the　end　of　the　banquet；　the　whole　court　escorted　the　envoy　to　the　guest…house　where　he　was　to　lodge。

On　the　second　day　there　was　a　banquet　at　the　Prime　Minister's　palace；　and　Zhuge　Liang　broached　the　real　business。

He　said；　〃Our　First　Ruler　was　not　on　friendly　terms　with　Wu。　But　that　is　all　changed；　as　is　demonstrated　by　these　banquets；　and　our　present　Emperor　is　disposed　to　be　very　friendly。　It　is　hoped　that　the　former　enmity　may　be　entirely　forgotten　and　the　two　countries　swear　eternal　friendship　and　alliance　in　their　mon　end………the　destruction　of　Wei。　I　look　to　you；　Sir；　to　speak　in　favor　of　this　league。〃

Zhang　Wen　said　that　he　would　support　the　plan。　The　wine　went　merrily　round；　and　as　the　envoy　became　mellow；　he　laughed　freely　and　swaggered　and　put　on　a　proud　demeanor。

Next　day　the　Latter　Ruler　gave　Zhang　Wen　rich　presents　of　gold　and　studs　and　prepared　a　parting　banquet　for　him　in　the　south　guest…chamber；　and　all　the　court　assembled　to　take　leave　of　him。　The　Prime　Minister　paid　him　assiduous　attention　and　pressed　him　to　drink。　While　this　banquet　was　in　progress；　a　man　suddenly　came　in　as　if　he　were　already　drunk；　made　a　proud　sort　of　salutation　to　the　pany　and　at　once　took　a　seat。

Hi