第126部分(第2/7 页)

wn　people；　and　Zhao　Fan　went　out　to　them。　He　was　immediately　seized　and　made　prisoner。　Then　Zhao　Yun　entered　the　city；　restored　order；　and　sent　off　swift　messengers　to　Liu　Bei　who　at　once；　with　his　adviser；　came　to　Guiyang。

When　they　had　taken　their　seats；　the　late　Governor　was　brought　in　and　placed　at　the　foot　of　the　steps。　In　response　to　Zhuge　Liang's　questions；　Zhao　Fan　related　the　story　of　the　proposed　marriage。

Said　Zhuge　Liang　to　Zhao　Yun；　〃But　this　seems　a　fine　project。　Why　did　you　receive　the　proposal　so　roughly？〃

Zhao　Yun　said；　〃Zhao　Fan　and　I　had　just　sworn　brotherhood；　and　so　marriage　with　his　sister…in…law　would　have　called　down　on　my　head　universal　blame。　That　is　one　reason。　Another　is　that　I　should　have　made　his　sister　fail　to　keep　her　dutiful　chastity。　And　thirdly；　I　did　not　know　whether　I　might　trust　such　a　proposal　from　one　who　had　just　yielded　to　force。　My　lord；　your　position　as　a　recent　victor　was　one　of　danger；　and　could　I　risk　the　failure　of　your　plans　for　my　sake？〃

Liu　Bei　said；　〃But　now　that　the　plan　has　been　carried　out；　and　we　are　victors；　would　you　care　to　marry　her？〃

〃All　my　fear　is　for　the　building　of　a　reputation。　Family　can　e　later。〃

〃You　are　indeed　right　honorable；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

Zhao　Fan　was　released　and　restored　to　the　governorship。　Zhao　Yun　was　conspicuously　rewarded。

But　Zhang　Fei　was　angry　and　disappointed。

〃So　Zhao　Yun　gets　all　the　praise；　and　I　am　worth　nothing；〃　cried　he。　〃Just　give　me　three　thousand　soldiers；　and　I　will　take　Wuling　and　bring　you　the　Governor。〃

This　pleased　Zhuge　Liang；　who　said；　〃There　is　no　reason　why　you　should　not　go；　but　I　will　only　require　one　condition　of　you。〃

Wondrous；　the　plans　of　the　general；　so　doth　he　conquer　in　battle；