第209部分(第1/7 页)

Xu　Sheng　ordered　the　lictors　to　take　Sun　Shao　out　and　put　him　to　death。

They　led　him　away；　and　forthwith　the　black　flag　was　hoisted。　But　one　of　Sun　Shao's　generals　went　off　in　hot　haste　to　tell　Sun　Quan；　who　came　immediately　to　try　to　save　his　favorite。　Happily　the　execution　had　not　been　acplished　when　the　Prince　appeared　on　the　scene；　and　he　bade　the　executioners　disperse。　The　youth　was　saved。

Sun　Shao　began　to　press　his　claim　to　the　Prince；　saying；　〃I　have　been　at　Guangling；　and　if　we　do　not　attack　the　enemy　there；　but　let　him　get　down　to　the　river；　there　will　be　an　end　of　Wu。〃

Sun　Quan　went　into　the　camp；　and　Xu　Sheng　came　to　receive　him。

When　the　Prince　was　seated　in　his　tent；　Xu　Sheng　said；　〃O　Prince；　you　placed　me　in　mand　of　the　force　to　repulse　Wei。　Now　this　general　of　mine；　Sun　Shao；　is　disobedient　and　should　suffer　death。　I　would　ask　why　he　should　be　pardoned。〃

〃He　is　naturally　hot　and　impetuous。　He　has　been　guilty　of　disobedience；　but　I　hope　you　will　overlook　his　fault。〃

〃The　law　is　none　of　my　making；　nor　is　it　yours；　O　Prince。　It　is　a　state　penalty；　and　if　relationship　is　enough　to　evade　it；　where　is　discipline？〃

〃He　has　offended；　and　you　have　the　right　to　judge　and　punish。　But　although　his　real　name　is　Yu　Shao；　yet　my　brother　Sun　Ce　loved　him　and　gave　him　our　family　name。　Further；　Sun　Shao　has　rendered　me　good　service。　If　he　should　be　put　to　death；　I　should　fail　in　my　fraternal　duty。〃

〃Since　you　have　intervened；　O　Prince；　I　remit　the　death　penalty。〃

Sun　Quan　bade　his　nephew　thank　his　chief；　but　the　youth　would　not　make　an　obeisance。　On　the　contrary；　he　loudly　maintained　the　correctness　of　his　view。

〃Leading　troops　against　Cao　Pi　is　the　only　way；〃　cried　Sun　Shao。　〃I　cannot　consent　to　yo