第98部分(第1/7 页)

For　skill　in　letters　he　was　famed；

In　speech；　he　dukes　and　princes　shamed；

Historians　his　merits　tell；

Recorders　say　that　he　did　well。

After　wreaking　his　wrath　on　Kong　Rong；　Cao　Cao　issued　the　order　to　march。　Xun　Yu　was　left　in　mand　of　the　capital。

About　this　time　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou　became　seriously　ill；　and　he　summoned　Liu　Bei　to　his　chamber。　Liu　Bei　went　acpanied　by　his　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　and　Directing　Instructor　Zhuge　Liang。

Liu　Biao　said；　〃The　disease　has　attacked　my　very　vitals；　and　my　time　is　short。　I　confide　my　orphans　to　your　guardianship。　My　sons　is　unfit　to　succeed　to　my　place；　and　I　pray　you；　my　brother；　administer　the　region　after　my　death。〃

Liu　Bei　wept；　saying；　〃I　will　do　my　utmost　to　help　my　nephews。　What　else　could　I　do；　indeed？〃

Even　at　this　moment　came　the　news　of　the　march　of　Cao　Cao's　armies；　and　Liu　Bei；　taking　hasty　leave　of　his　kinsman；　was　forced　to　hurry　to　his　station。　The　evil　tidings　aggravated　the　sick　man's　condition；　and　he　began　to　make　his　last　arrangements。　In　his　testament　he　appointed　Liu　Bei　the　guardian　of　his　son　Liu　Qi；　who　was　to　succeed　in　the　lordship。

This　arrangement　greatly　angered　his　wife；　Lady　Cai。　She　closed　the　inner　doors　against　all　and　confided　to　her　own　partisans；　of　whom　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun　were　her　confidants；　the　keeping　of　the　outer　gates。

The　heir　was　at　Jiangxia；　and　he　came　to　make　filial　inquiries　as　soon　as　his　father's　condition　became　serious。

But　Cai　Mao　refused　him　admittance　and　said；　〃Your　father　sent　you　to　guard　Jiangxia。　Such　a　very　responsible　post　should　by　no　means　have　been　quitted　without　orders。　Suppose　it　was　attacked；　what　might　not　happen？　If　your　father　sees　you；　he　will　b