第124部分(第5/7 页)

Cheng　Pu　with　the　marine　and　land　forces　to　Hefei　ready　for　Sun　Quan's　call。

Liu　Bei　was　exceedingly　well　satisfied　with　the　possession　of　his　new　region；　and　his　thoughts　turned　to　more　ambitious　schemes。　Then　a　certain　man　came　to　him　to　suggest　a　plan。　This　man　was　Yi　Ji　and；　remembering　the　kindly　feeling　of　other　days；　Liu　Bei　received　him　most　graciously。

When　Yi　Ji　was　seated；　and　his　host　had　asked　what　he　proposed；　he　said；　〃You　wish　for　a　plan　to　acplish　yet　greater　deeds。　Why　not　seek　wise　people　and　ask　them？〃

〃Where　are　these　wise　people　to　be　found？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

Yi　Ji　replied；　〃In　this　region　there　is　a　certain　family　named　Ma；　five　brothers；　all　of　whom　are　known　as　men　of　ability。　The　youngest　is　called　Ma　Su。　The　ablest　is　Ma　Liang；　who　has　white　hairs　in　his　eyebrows；　and　the　villagers　have　a　little　rhyming　couplet　that　means　'There　are　five　sons　in　the　family　Ma；　but　white　eyebrows　is　the　best　of　them。'　You　should　get　this　man　to　draw　up　a　plan　for　you。〃

So　Liu　Bei　told　them　to　request　his　presence。　Ma　Liang　came　and　was　received　with　great　respect。

He　was　asked　to　suggest　a　plan　for　the　security　of　the　newly　acquired　region；　and　he　said；　〃Attacked　as　it　is　on　all　sides；　this　region　is　not　one　in　which　one　is　permanently　secure。　You　should　let　Liu　Qi　remain　here　till　he　is　recovered　from　his　present　illness；　but　the　actual　protection　of　the　place　is　to　be　placed　in　the　hands　of　trusty　friends。　Obtain　an　edict　appointing　him　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou；　and　the　people　will　be　content。　Then　conquer　Wuling；　Changsha；　Guiyang；　and　Lingling。　And　with　the　resources　you　will　thus　acquire；　you　will　have　the　means　for　further　plans。　That　should　be　your　policy。〃

〃Which　of　the　four　territories　should　be　firs