第29部分(第1/7 页)

o　Shanyang。　Perforce　therefore　the　fighting　ceased。

In　Xuzhou。　Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian；　over　sixty　years　of　age；　suddenly　fell　seriously　ill；　and　he　summoned　his　confident；　Mi　Zhu；　to　his　chamber　to　make　arrangements　for　the　future。

As　to　the　situation　the　adviser　said；　〃Cao　Cao　abandoned　his　attack　on　this　place　because　of　his　enemy's　seizure　of　Yanzhou；　and　now　they　are　both　keeping　the　peace　solely　because　of　the　famine。　But　Cao　Cao　will　surely　renew　the　attack　in　the　spring。　When　Liu　Bei　refused　to　allow　you　to　vacate　office　in　his　favor；　you　were　in　full　vigor。　Now　you　are　ill　and　weak；　and　you　can　make　this　a　reason　for　retirement。　He　will　not　refuse　again。〃

So　a　message　was　sent　to　the　little　garrison　town　Xiaopei　calling　Liu　Bei　to　a　counsel　on　military　affairs。　This　brought　him　with　his　brothers　and　a　slender　escort。　He　was　at　once　called　in　to　the　sick　man's　chamber。　Quickly　disposing　of　the　inquiries　about　his　health；　Tao　Qian　soon　came　to　the　real　object　of　his　call　for　Liu　Bei。

〃Sir；　I　asked　you　to　e　for　the　sole　reason　that　I　am　dangerously　ill　and　likely　to　die　at　any　time。　I　look　to　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　to　consider　the　Hans　and　their　empire　as　more　important　than　anything　else；　and　so　to　take　over　the　symbols　of　office　of　this　region；　the　mission　and　the　seal；　that　I　may　close　my　eyes　in　peace。〃

〃You　have　two　sons；　why　not　depute　them　to　relieve　you？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Both　lack　the　requisite　talents。　I　trust　you　will　instruct　them　after　I　have　gone；　but　do　not　let　them　have　the　guidance　of　affairs。〃

〃But　I　am　unequal　to　so　great　a　charge。〃

〃I　will　remend　to　you　one　who　could　assist　you。　He　is　Sun　Qian　from　Beihai　who　could　be　appointed　to　some　post。〃

Turning　to　Mi　Zhu；　Tao　Qian　said；　〃