第2部分(第4/7 页)

　will　aid　each　other　in　danger。　We　swear　to　serve　the　state　and　save　the　people。　We　ask　not　the　same　day　of　birth；　but　we　seek　to　die　together。　May　Heaven；　the　all…ruling；　and　Earth；　the　all…producing；　read　our　hearts。　If　we　turn　aside　from　righteousness　or　forget　kindliness；　may　Heaven　and　Human　smite　us！〃

They　rose　from　their　knees。　The　two　others　bowed　before　Liu　Bei　as　their　elder　brother；　and　Zhang　Fei　was　to　be　the　youngest　of　the　trio。　This　solemn　ceremony　performed；　they　slew　other　oxen　and　made　a　feast　to　which　they　invited　the　villagers。　Three　hundred　joined　them；　and　all　feasted　and　drank　deep　in　the　Peach　Garden。

The　next　day　weapons　were　mustered。　But　there　were　no　horses　to　ride。　This　was　a　real　grief。　But　soon　they　were　cheered　by　the　arrival　of　two　horse　dealers　with　a　drove　of　horses。

〃Thus　does　Heaven　help　us！〃　said　Liu　Bei。

And　the　three　brothers　went　forth　to　wele　the　merchants。　They　were　Zhang　Shiping　and　Su　Shuang　from　Zhongshan。　They　went　northwards　every　year　to　buy　horses。　They　were　now　on　their　way　home　because　of　the　Yellow　Scarves。　The　brothers　invited　them　to　the　farm；　where　wine　was　served　before　them。　Then　Liu　Bei　told　them　of　the　plan　to　strive　for　tranquillity。　Zhang　Shiping　and　Su　Shuang　were　glad　and　at　once　gave　the　brothers　fifty　good　steeds；　and　beside；　five　hundred　ounces　of　gold　and　silver　and　one　thousand　five　hundred　pounds　of　steel　fit　for　the　forging　of　weapons。

The　brothers　expressed　their　gratitude；　and　the　merchants　took　their　leave。　Then　blacksmiths　were　summoned　to　forge　weapons。　For　Liu　Bei　they　made　a　pair　of　ancient　swords；　for　Guan　Yu　they　fashioned　a　long…handled；　curve　blade　called　Green…Dragon　Saber；　which　weighed　a　full　one　hundred　twenty　pounds；　and　for　Zhang　Fei　they　created　a