第288部分(第4/7 页)

came　to　his　tent　and　said；　〃The　spies　reported　great　laxity　in　the　enemy's　camp。　It　is　time　to　make　an　attack！〃

But　Yang　Hu　replied；　〃You　must　not　despise　Lu　Kang；　for　he　is　able　and　crafty。　Formerly　his　master　sent　him　to　attack　Xiling；　and　he　slew　Bu　Chan　and　many　of　his　generals；　before　I　could　save　that　city。　So　long　as　Lu　Kang　remains　in　mand；　I　shall　remain　on　the　defensive。　I　shall　not　attack　till　there　be　trouble　and　confusion　among　our　enemies。　To　be　rash　and　not　await　the　proper　moment　to　attack　is　to　invite　defeat。〃

They　found　him　wise　and　said　no　more。　They　only　kept　the　boundaries。

One　day　Yang　Hu　and　his　officers　went　out　to　hunt；　and　it　happened　that　Lu　Kang　had　chosen　the　same　day　to　hunt。　Yang　Hu　gave　strict　orders　not　to　cross　the　boundary；　and　so　each　hunted　only　on　his　own　side。

Lu　Kang　was　astonished　at　the　enemy's　scrupulous　propriety。

He　sighed；　〃The　soldiers　of　Yang　Hu　have　so　high　a　discipline　that　I　may　not　make　any　invasion　now。〃

In　the　evening；　after　both　parties　had　returned；　Yang　Hu　ordered　an　inspection　of　the　slaughtered　game　and　sent　over　to　the　other　side　any　that　seemed　to　have　been　first　struck　by　the　soldiers　of　Wu。

Lu　Kang　was　greatly　pleased　and　sent　for　the　bearers　of　the　game。

〃Does　your　leader　drink　wine？〃　asked　he。

They　replied；　〃Only　fine　wines　does　he　drink。〃

〃I　have　some　very　old　wine；〃　replied　Lu　Kang；　smiling；　〃and　I　will　give　of　it　to　you　to　bear　to　your　general　as　a　gift。　It　is　the　wine　I　myself　brew　and　drink　on　ceremonial　occasions；　and　he　shall　have　half　in　return　for　today's　courtesy。〃

They　took　the　wine　and　left。

〃Why　do　you　give　him　wine？〃　asked　Lu　Kang's　officers。

〃Because　he　has　shown　kindness；　and　I　must　return　courtesy　fo