第40部分(第3/7 页)

u　urged　him　to　be　silent；　saying；　〃Let　us　see　what　General　Lu　Bu　has　to　say　first。　After　that　there　will　be　time　to　go　to　our　tents　and　fight。〃

〃I　beg　you　both　to　e　to　an　understanding。　I　cannot　let　you　fight；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

Now　on　one　side　Ji　Ling　was　discontented　and　angry；　on　the　other　Zhang　Fei　was　dying　for　a　fight；　and　neither　of　the　two　chiefly　concerned　would　signify　assent。

Then　suddenly　the　host　turned　to　his　attendants；　saying；　〃Bring　my　trident　halberd！〃

They　did　so；　and　he　sat　there　gripping　that　graceful　but　effective　weapon　in　his　right　hand。　Both　guests　felt　very　ill　at　ease　and　turned　pale。

Lu　Bu　went　on；　saying；　〃I　have　tried　to　persuade　you　to　make　peace；　for　that　is　the　mand　of　the　Most　High。　It　shall　be　put　to　the　test。〃

He　then　bade　his　servants　take　the　halberd　outside　beyond　the　gate　and　set　it　up。

Then　speaking　to　his　two　guests；　he　said；　〃That　gate　is　one　hundred　and　fifty　paces　distant。　If　I　can　hit　that　left　branch　of　the　halberd…head　with　an　arrow；　you　will　both　withdraw　your　armies。　If　I　miss；　you　can　go　away　and　prepare　for　immediate　battle。　I　shall　stand　against　either　of　you　who　does　not　abide　by　what　I　say。〃

Ji　Ling　thought　to　himself；　〃That　small　mark　at　that　distance！　How　could　anyone　hit　it？〃

So　he　assented；　thinking　he　would　have　plenty　of　fighting　after　his　host　had　missed　the　mark。　Of　course　Liu　Bei　was　willing。

They　all　sat　down　again　and　wine　was　served。　When　this　had　been　drunk；　the　host　called　for　his　bow　and　arrows。　Liu　Bei　silently　prayed　that　Lu　Bu　would　hit　the　mark。

Lu　Bu　turned　back　his　sleeves；　carefully　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　string　and　pulled　the　bow　to　its　utmost　stretch。　A　slight　exclamation　escaped　him　as　the　bow　curved　like　the　harvest　moon