第36部分(第1/7 页)

In　Xuzhou；　after　Liu　Bei　had　started　on　his　expedition；　Zhang　Fei　placed　his　colleague　and　helper；　Chen　Deng；　in　charge　of　the　administration　of　the　region；　keeping　military　affairs　under　his　own　supervision。　After　thinking　over　the　matter　or　some　time；　he　gave　a　banquet　to　all　the　military　officers。

When　they　were　all　seated；　he　made　a　speech：　〃Before　my　brother　left；　he　bade　me　keep　clear　of　the　wine　cup　for　fear　of　accidents。　Now；　gentlemen；　you　may　drink　deep　today。　But　from　tomorrow　wine　is　forbidden；　for　we　must　keep　the　city　safe。　So　take　your　fill。〃

And　with　this　he　and　all　his　guests　rose　to　drink　together。　The　wine　bearer　came　to　Cao　Bao　who　declined　it；　saying；　〃I　never　drink　as　I　am　forbidden　of　heaven。〃

〃What！　A　fighting　man　does　not　drink　wine！〃　said　the　host。　〃I　want　you　to　take　just　one　cup。〃

Cao　Bao　was　afraid　to　offend；　so　he　drank。

Now　Zhang　Fei　drank　huge　goblets　with　all　his　guests　on　every　hand　and　so　swallowed　a　huge　quantity　of　liquor。　He　became　quite　intoxicated。　Yet　he　would　drink　more　and　insisted　on　a　cup　with　every　guest。　It　came　to　the　turn　of　Cao　Bao　who　declined。

〃Really；　I　cannot　drink；〃　said　Cao　Bao。

〃You　drank　just　now：　Why　refuse　this　time？〃

Zhang　Fei　pressed　him；　but　still　Cao　Bao　resisted。

Then　Zhang　Fei　in　his　drunken　madness　lost　control　of　his　temper　and　said；　〃If　you　disobey　the　orders　of　your　general；　you　shall　be　beaten　one　hundred　strokes。〃

And　he　called　in　his　guards。　Here　Chen　Deng　interfered　reminding　him　of　the　strict　injunctions　of　his　brother。

〃You　civilians　attend　to　your　civil　business　and　leave　us　alone；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

The　only　way　of　escape　for　the　guest　was　to　beg　remission；　and　Cao　Bao　did　so；　saying；　〃Sir；　if　you　saw　my　son…