第21部分(第3/7 页)

　so　angry；　I　pray！〃

〃I　will　kill　the　wretch；　I　swear　it！　In　no　other　way　can　I　wash　away　my　shame。〃

〃No；　no！　Do　not　say　such　a　thing；〃　said　Wang　Yun；　putting　his　hand　over　the　other's　mouth。　〃You　will　bring　trouble　on　poor　me　and　my　family。〃

〃When　one　is　born　great；　one　cannot　be　patient　for　long　under　another　person's　domination；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

〃It　needs　someone　greater　than　the　Prime　Minister　to　limit　the　scope　of　such　talents　as　yours。〃

Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　would　not　mind　killing　the　old　wretch　were　it　not　for　the　relation　in　which　we　stand。　I　fear　to　provoke　the　hostile　criticism　of　posterity。〃

Wang　Yun　shook　his　head；　saying；　〃Your　name　is　Lu　Bu；　his　is　Dong　Zhuo。　Where　was　the　paternal　feeling　when　he　threw　the　halberd　at　you？〃

〃I　had　been　misled　if　you　had　not　said　that；〃　said　Lu　Bu　hotly。

Wang　Yun　saw　the　effect　of　his　words　and　continued；　〃It　would　be　a　loyal　deed　to　restore　the　House　of　Han；　and　history　would　hand　down　your　name　to　posterity　perpetually　fragrant。　If　you　lend　your　aid　to　Dong　Zhuo；　you　will　be　a　traitor　and　your　name　will　be　tainted　through　all　ages。〃

Lu　Bu　rose　from　his　place　and　bowed　to　Wang　Yun。

〃I　have　decided；〃　said　he。　〃You　need　not　fear；　Sir。〃

〃But　yet　you　may　fail　and　bring　upon　yourself　misfortune；〃　said　Wang　Yun。

Lu　Bu　drew　his　dagger；　pricking　his　arm；　and　swearing　by　the　blood　that　flowed。

Wang　Yun　fell　on　his　knees　and　thanked　him。

〃Then　the　Han　sacrifices　will　not　be　cut　off；　and　you　will　be　their　savior。　But　this　must　remain　a　secret；　and　I　will　tell　you　how　the　plot　shall　be　worked　out。〃

Lu　Bu　took　leave　with　great　emotion。

Wang　Yun　took　into　his　confidence　two　colleagues；　Minister　Shisun　Rui　and　Imperial　mander　Huang　Wan。