第26部分(第6/7 页)

nd　called　out；　〃You　mad　men　from　somewhere；　where　are　you　going？〃

Zhang　Fei　heard　Yu　Jin　but　deigned　no　reply。　He　only　rode　straight　to　attack　the　speaker。　After　they　had　fought　a　few　bouts；　Liu　Bei　waved　his　double　swords　as　signal　for　his　troops　to　e　on；　and　they　drove　Yu　Jin　before　them。　Zhang　Fei　led　the　pursuit　and　in　this　way　they　reached　the　city　wall。

From　the　city　wall；　the　besieged　saw　a　huge　banner　embroidered　in　white　Liu　Bei　of　Pingyuan　；　and　the　Imperial　Protector　bade　them　open　the　gate　for　the　rescuers　to　enter。　Liu　Bei　was　made　very　wele；　conducted　to　the　residency；　and　a　banquet　prepared　in　his　honor。　The　soldiers　also　were　feasted。

Tao　Qian　was　delighted　with　Liu　Bei；　admiring　his　high…spirited　appearance　and　clear　speech。　Tao　Qian　bade　Mi　Zhu　offer　Liu　Bei　the　seal　and　insignia　of　the　protectorship　office。　But　Liu　Bei　shrank　back　startled。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

Tao　Qian　said；　〃There　is　trouble　on　every　side；　and　the　kingly　rule　is　no　longer　maintained。　You；　Sir；　are　a　member　of　the　family　and　eminently　fitted　to　support　them　and　their　prerogatives。　I　am　verging　on　senility；　and　I　wish　to　retire　in　your　favor。　I　pray　you　not　to　decline；　and　I　will　report　my　action　to　the　court。〃

Liu　Bei　started　up　from　his　seat　and　bowed　before　his　host；　saying；　〃Scion　of　the　family　I　may　be；　but　my　merit　is　small　and　my　virtue　meager。　I　doubt　my　fitness　even　for　my　present　post；　and　only　a　feeling　of　doing　right　sent　me　to　your　assistance。　To　hear　such　speech　makes　me　doubt。　Surely　you　think　I　came　with　greed　in　my　heart。　May　God　help　me　no　more　if　I　cherished　such　a　thought。〃

〃It　is　a　poor　old　man's　real　sentiment；〃　said　Tao　Qian。

Time　after　time　Tao　Qian　renewed　his　offer　to　entrust　the　region　o