第132部分(第1/7 页)

d　in　front　and　rear；　they　left　the　precincts　of　the　city；　traveling　as　quickly　as　they　could。

That　day；　at　the　new　year　banquet；　Sun　Quan　drank　freely　so　that　he　had　to　be　helped　to　his　chamber；　and　the　guests　left。　Before　very　long　the　escape　of　the　fugitives　became　known；　but　it　was　then　dark；　and　when　they　tried　to　tell　Sun　Quan；　they　could　not　rouse　him。　He　slept　heavily　until　the　fifth　watch。

The　next　morning；　when　Sun　Quan　heard　the　story；　he　asked　advice　of　his　counselors。

Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃They　have　got　away　today；　but　trouble　will　surely　e　of　it。　Therefore；　pursue　after　them　without　loss　of　time。〃

So　Chen　Wu　and　Pan　Zhang；　with　five　hundred　of　veterans；　were　sent　out　with　orders　to　use　all　speed　both　by　day　and　by　night　and　bring　back　the　fugitives。

They　left。　Sun　Quan's　anger　burned　hot　against　Liu　Bei。　In　his　wrath　he　seized　his　jade　inkstone　and　dashed　it　to　the　ground　where　it　shivered　to　pieces。

Said　Cheng　Pu；　〃My　lord；　your　wrath　is　in　vain；　for　I　do　not　think　your　generals　will　catch　the　runaways。〃

〃Will　they　dare　to　disobey　my　order？〃　said　Sun　Quan。

〃Our　young　lady　had　always　delighted　to　look　upon　war　and　is　very　fierce　and　determined。　All　the　officers　fear　her。　Now　she　has　gone　with　her　husband　of　her　own　free　will；　and　those　sent　in　pursuit；　if　once　they　look　upon　her　countenance；　will　not　dare　to　lay　hands　on　her。〃

Sun　Quan's　wrath　burned　the　more　fiercely　at　these　words。

He　drew　the　sword　girded　at　his　side　and　called　up　Jiang　Qin　and　Zhou　Tai；　saying；　〃You　two　take　this　sword　and　bring　back　the　heads　of　my　sister　and　Liu　Bei。　And　if　you　do　not；　I　will　put　you　to　death。〃

With　this　order　they　set　out　in　pursuit；　leading　a　whole　thousand　troops。　Meanwhile　Liu　Bei　and　his