第26部分(第4/7 页)

　that　he　should　suffer　this　wrong　for　no　fault　of　his　own。〃

〃You　are　a　scion　of　the　imperial　family；〃　said　Governor　Kong　Rong；　〃and　this　Cao　Cao　is　injuring　the　people；　a　strong　man　abusing　his　strength。　Why　not　go　with　me　to　rescue　the　sufferers？〃

〃I　dare　not　refuse；　but　my　force　is　weak　and　I　must　act　cautiously；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Though　my　desire　to　help　arises　from　an　old　friendship；　yet　it　is　a　righteous　act　as　well。　I　do　not　think　your　heart　is　not　inclined　toward　the　right；〃　said　Kong　Rong。

Liu　Bei　said；　〃This　being　so；　you　go　first　and　give　me　time　to　see　Gongsun　Zan　from　whom　I　may　borrow　more　troops　and　horses。　I　will　e　anon。〃

〃You　surely　will　not　break　your　promise？〃　said　the　Governor。

〃What　manner　of　man　think　you　that　I　am？〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃The　wise　one　said；　'Death　is　mon　to　all；　the　person　without　truth　cannot　maintain　the　self。'　Whether　I　get　the　troops　or　not；　certainly　I　shall　myself　e。〃

So　the　plan　was　agreed　to。　Mi　Zhu　set　out　to　return　forthwith　while　Kong　Rong　prepared　for　his　expedition。

Taishi　Ci　took　his　leave；　saying；　〃My　mother　bade　me　e　to　your　aid；　and　now　happily　you　are　safe。　Letters　have　e　from　my　fellow　townsman；　Liu　Yao；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　calling　me　thither　and　I　must　go。　I　will　see　you　again。〃

Kong　Rong　pressed　rewards　upon　Taishi　Ci；　but　he　would　accept　nothing　and　departed。　When　his　mother　saw　him；　she　was　pleased　at　his　success　saying　she　rejoiced　that　he　had　been　able　to　prove　his　gratitude；　and　after　this　he　departed　for　Yangzhou。

Liu　Bei　went　away　to　his　friend　Gongsun　Zan　and　laid　before　Gongsun　Zan　his　design　to　help　Xuzhou。

〃Cao　Cao　and　you　are　not　enemies。　Why　do　you　spend　yourself　for　the　sake　of　another？〃　said　Gongsun　Zan。

〃I　have