第150部分(第2/7 页)

Above　all；　no　delay！〃

〃This　plot　of　my　brother's　will　end　in　the　destruction　of　the　whole　family；〃　said　Zhang　Su。　〃I　must　get　in　the　first　word。〃

So　at　once　he　went　in　and　laid　the　whole　matter　before　the　Imperial　Protector。

〃I　have　always　treated　your　brother　so　well！〃　said　Liu　Zhang；　very　angry。

Liu　Zhang　issued　orders　to　arrest　Zhang　Song　and　behead　him　and　all　his　household　in　the　market　place。

Zhang　Song；　such　as　he　have　been　but　few；

Little　thought　he　that　a　letter　would　betray

When　he　plotted　for　another。　But　success　he　never　knew；

For　himself　there　opened　out　a　gory　way。

Having　thus　learned　of　a　real　conspiracy　to　deprive　him　of　his　heritage；　Liu　Zhang　assembled　his　officers　and　asked　their　advice。

Huang　Quan　spoke　out；　saying；　〃Prompt　action　is　needed。　Send　to　every　strategic　point　telling　them　to　increase　the　garrisons　and　keep　careful　guard　and；　above　all；　prevent　the　entrance　of　any　person　from　Jingzhou。〃

Such　orders　were　sent　to　all　points　of　vantage　where　were　garrisons。

In　the　meantime；　carrying　out　Pang　Tong's　scheme；　Liu　Bei　had　marched　down　to　Fucheng；　where　he　halted　and　sent　in　a　messenger　to　invite　the　two　generals　to　e　forth　and　say　farewell。　But　they　did　not　respond　immediately　to　this　invitation。

〃What　is　the　real　meaning　of　this　retirement？〃　said　one　to　the　other。

〃This　Liu　Bei　ought　to　die；〃　said　Gao　Pei。　〃Let　us　hide　daggers　under　our　dress　and　stab　him　at　the　place　of　farewell。　That　will　end　all　our　lord's　troubles。〃

〃A　most　excellent　plan；〃　said　Yang　Huai。

So　they　two；　taking　only　a　small　escort　of　two　hundred；　went　down　out　of　the　Pass　to　say　goodbye。　Most　of　their　forces　were　left　in　the　camp。

On　the　way　down　to　River　Fu；