第86部分(第1/7 页)

Naturally　the　failure　of　the　plot　chagrined　the　treacherous　Cai　Mao；　but　he　took　the　occasion　to　scribble　some　calumnious　verses　on　one　of　the　partitions。

Then　he　went　to　see　Liu　Biao　to　whom　he　said；　〃Liu　Bei　has　treacherous　intentions；　as　can　be　seen　from　some　lines　written　on　the　wall。　And　his　hurried　departure　is　suspicious。〃

Liu　Biao　felt　doubtful；　but　he　went　to　the　guest…house　and　there　on　the　wall　he　read　this　poem：

Too　long；　far　too　long　I　have　dreamed　life　away；

Gazing　at　scenery　day　after　day。

A　dragon　can　never　be　kept　in　a　pond；

He　should　ride　on　the　thunder　to　heaven　and　beyond。

Greatly　angered　by　what　he　read；　Liu　Biao　drew　his　sword　and　swore　to　slay　the　writer。　But　before　he　had　gone　many　paces；　his　anger　had　already　died　down；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　seen　much　of　the　man；　but　have　never　known　him　write　verses。　This　is　the　handiwork　of　someone　who　wishes　to　sow　discord　between　us。〃

So　saying；　he　turned　back　and　with　the　point　of　his　sword　scraped　away　the　poem。　Then；　putting　up　his　sword；　he　mounted　and　rode　home。

By　and　bye　Cai　Mao　reminded　him；　saying；　〃The　soldiers　are　awaiting　your　orders　to　go　to　Xinye　and　arrest　Liu　Bei。〃

'There　is　no　hurry；〃　he　replied。

Cai　Mao　saw　his　brother…in…law's　hesitation　and　again　sought　his　sister。

She　said；　〃Soon　there　is　to　be　the　great　gathering　at　Xiangyang；　and　we　can　arrange　something　for　that　day。〃

Next　day　Cai　Mao　petitioned　the　Imperial　Protector；　saying；　〃We　have　had　several　fruitful　harvests　recently。　I　pray　you；　Sir；　attend　the　Full　Harvest　Festival　at　Xiangyang。　It　would　be　an　encouragement　to　the　people。〃

〃I　have　been　feeling　my　old　trouble　lately。　I　certainly　cannot　go；〃　replied　he；　〃but　my　two　so