第96部分(第1/7 页)

With　this　admonition　Liu　Bei　came　to　Jingzhou　and　was　lodged　in　the　guest…house。　Zhang　Fei　and　the　escort　camped　without　the　walls。　In　due　course　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　were　received；　and　after　the　customary　salutations；　Liu　Bei　apologized　for　his　conduct　at　the　banquet。

The　host　said；　〃Worthy　brother；　I　know　you　were　the　victim　of　a　vile　plot；　and　I　should　have　put　the　prime　mover　to　death　for　it；　had　there　not　been　so　universal　a　prayer　for　mercy。　However；　I　remitted　that　penalty。　I　hope　you　do　not　consider　that　I　was　wrong。〃

〃Cai　Mao　hall　little　to　do　with　it。　I　think　it　was　due　to　his　subordinates；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

Liu　Biao　said；　〃Jiangxia　is　lost；　as　you　know；　and　Huang　Zu　is　dead。　So　I　have　asked　you　to　e　that　we　might　take　measures　of　vengeance。〃

〃Huang　Zu　was　harsh　and　cruel　and　never　used　his　people　in　the　proper　way：　That　was　the　real　cause　of　his　fall。　But　have　you　reflected　what　Cao　Cao　may　do　on　the　north　if　we　attack　the　south？〃

〃I　am　getting　old　and　weak；　and　I　am　unable　to　manage　affairs　properly。　Will　you　aid　me；　brother？　After　I　am　gone　you　will　have　this　region。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　this；　my　brother？　Think　you　that　I　am　equal　to　such　a　task？〃

Here　Zhuge　Liang　glanced　at　Liu　Bei　who　continued；　〃But　give　me　a　little　time　to　think　it　over。〃

And　at　this　point　he　took　his　leave。

When　they　had　reached　their　lodging；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Why　did　you　decline　his　offer　of　the　region。〃

〃He　has　always　been　most　kind　and　courteous。　I　could　not　take　advantage　of　his　weakness。〃

〃A　perfectly　kind　and　gracious　lord；〃　sighed　Zhuge　Liang。

Soon　after　the　son　of　the　Imperial　Protector；　Liu　Qi；　was　announced；　and　Liu　Bei　received　him　and　led　him　in。

The　young　man　began　to　weep；　sayi