第147部分(第3/7 页)

oth　feeling　very　happy。　When　at　length　Liu　Bei　reached　his　camp；　he　blamed　his　strategist　for　having　caused　the　confusion。

〃Why　did　you　endeavor　to　force　me　into　mitting　a　great　wrong？〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃There　must　be　no　repetition　of　this。〃

Pang　Tong　retired；　sighing。

When　Liu　Zhang　reached　his　own　camp；　his　leaders　waited　on　him　and　said；　〃Sir；　you　saw　the　real　meaning　of　that　occurrence　at　the　banquet；　we　suppose。　We　think　it　prudent　for　you　to　retire　at　once　into　the　city。〃

〃My　brother　is　different　from　ordinary　humans；〃　replied　Liu　Zhang。

〃He　may　not　incline　toward　murder　himself；　but　those　about　him　have　but　one　desire………that　is　to　exploit　this　land　of　ours　to　their　own　advantage。〃

〃Do　not　try　to　sow　dissension　between　us　and　make　us　quarrel；〃　said　their　chief。

And　Liu　Zhang　took　no　heed　of　their　remonstrance。　One　day；　when　he　and　Liu　Bei　were　enjoying　together　relaxation　from　cares　of　state；　the　news　came　that　Zhang　Lu　was　about　to　invade　the　West　River　Land　at　the　Jiameng　Pass。　Thereupon　the　Imperial　Protector　begged　Liu　Bei　to　go　and　defend　it。　Liu　Bei　consented　and　left　immediately　with　his　own　especial　band。

At　once　Liu　Zhang's　officers　took　advantage　of　the　guest's　departure　to　urge　the　Imperial　Protector　to　place　his　own　trusty　generals　in　mand　at　various　strategic　points；　so　as　to　guard　against　any　attempts　of　the　visitors　to　seize　the　land。　At　first　Liu　Zhang　was　unwilling　and　refused；　but　as　they　prayed　him　most　earnestly　to　do　this　he　yielded　and　consented　to　take　some　steps　to　safeguard　himself。　He　sent　Yang　Huai；　mander　of　Baishui；　and　Gao　Pei　to　garrison　River　Fu　Pass。

So　Liu　Zhang　returned　to　Chengdu　and　his　guest；　Liu　Bei；　went　away　to　the　point　where　invasion　threatened。　Arrived　there；　Li