第53部分(第1/7 页)

the　Prime　Minister　is　that　you　e　at　once。〃

〃What　important　affair　is　afoot？〃　asked　Liu　Bei　nervously。

〃We　know　nothing。　We　were　ordered　to　e　and　request　your　presence。〃

All　he　could　do　was　to　follow。

When　Liu　Bei　arrived；　Cao　Cao　met　him　and　laughingly　said；　〃That　is　a　big　business　you　have　in　hand　at　home。〃

This　remark　made　Liu　Bei　turn　the　color　of　clay。　Cao　Cao　took　him　by　the　hand　and　led　him　straight　to　the　private　garden；　saying；　〃The　growth　of　vegetables　that　you　are　trying　to　learn　is　very　difficult。〃

Liu　Bei　breathed　again。　He　said；　〃That　is　hardly　a　business。　It　is　only　a　solace。〃

Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　happened　to　notice　the　green　plums　on　the　trees　today；　and　suddenly　my　thoughts　went　back　to　a　year　ago　when　we　were　thrashing　Zhang　Xiu。　We　were　marching　through　a　parched　county；　and　everyone　was　suffering　from　thirst。　Suddenly　I　lifted　my　whip；　and　pointing　at　something　in　the　distance　I　said；　'Look　at　those　fruitful　plum　trees　in　the　forest　ahead。'　The　soldiers　heard　it；　and　it　made　their　mouths　water。　Seeing　the　plums　kindles　my　appreciation。　I　owe　something　to　the　plums；　and　we　will　repay　it　today。　I　ordered　the　servants　to　heat　some　wine　very　hot　and　sent　to　invite　you　to　share　it。〃

Liu　Bei　was　quite　posed　by　this　time　and　no　longer　suspected　any　sinister　design。　He　went　with　his　host　to　a　small　spring　pavilion　in　a　plum　garden；　where　the　wine　cups　were　already　laid　out　and　green　plums　filled　the　dishes。　They　sat　down　to　a　confidential　talk　and　free　enjoyment　of　their　wine。

As　they　drank；　the　weather　gradually　changed；　clouds　gathering　and　threatening　rain。　The　servants　pointed　out　a　mass　of　cloud　that　looked　like　a　dragon　hung　in　the　sky。　Both　host　and　guest　leaned　over　the　balcony　looking　at