第110部分(第1/7 页)

〃How　many　ships　has　he？〃　asked　Zhou　Yu。

They　replied；　〃Only　one；　and　the　escort　is　only　about　a　score。〃

〃His　fate　is　sealed；〃　said　Zhou　Yu。

Zhou　Yu　sent　for　the　executioners　and　placed　them　in　hiding　between　the　outer　and　inner　tents；　and　when　all　was　arranged　for　the　assassination　he　contemplated；　he　went　out　to　receive　his　visitor。　Liu　Bei　came　with　his　brother　and　escort　into　the　midst　of　the　army　to　the　mander's　tent。

After　the　salutations；　Zhou　Yu　wished　Liu　Bei　to　take　the　upper　seat；　but　he　declined　saying；　〃General；　you　are　famous　throughout　all　the　empire；　while　I　am　a　nobody。　Do　not　overwhelm　me　with　too　great　deference。〃

So　they　took　the　positions　of　simple　friends；　and　refreshments　were　brought　in。

Now　by　chance　Zhuge　Liang　came　on　shore　and　heard　that　his　master　had　arrived　and　was　with　the　mander…in…Chief。　The　news　gave　Zhuge　Liang　a　great　shock；　and　he　said　to　himself；　〃What　is　to　be　done　now？〃

He　made　his　way　to　the　reception　tent　and　stole　a　look　therein。　He　saw　murder　written　on　Zhou　Yu's　countenance　and　noted　the　assassins　hidden　within　the　walls　of　the　tent。　Then　he　got　a　look　at　Liu　Bei；　who　was　laughing　and　talking　quite　unconcernedly。　But　when　he　noticed　the　redoubtable　figure　of　Guan　Yu　near　his　master's　side；　he　became　quite　calm　and　contented。

〃My　lord　faces　no　danger；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　and　he　went　away　to　the　river　bank　to　await　the　end　of　the　interview。

Meanwhile　the　banquet　of　wele　proceeded。　After　the　wine　had　gone　around　several　times；　Zhou　Yu　picked　up　a　cup　to　give　the　signal　agreed　upon。　But　at　that　moment　Zhou　Yu　saw　so　fierce　a　look　upon　the　face　of　the　trusty　henchman　who　stood；　sword　in　hand；　behind　his　guest；　that　Zhou　Yu　hesitated　and　hastily　asked　who　he　was。