第136部分(第6/7 页)

ill　Pang　Tong　was　silent。

〃With　your　wonderful　gifts；　of　course　you　will　be　successful　whithersoever　you　may　go。　You　may　take　my　word　for　that。　But　to　whom　will　you　go？〃

〃I　think　I　will　join　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Pang　Tong　suddenly。

〃That　would　be　hinging　a　gleaming　pearl　into　darkness。　Rather　go　to　Liu　Bei；　who　would　appreciate　you　and　employ　you　fittingly。〃

〃The　truth　is　that　I　have　been　thinking　of　this　for　a　long　time；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃I　was　only　joking　just　now。〃

〃I　will　give　you　a　letter　to　Liu　Bei。　And　if　you　go　to　him；　you　must　try　to　maintain　peace　between　him　and　my　lord　and　get　them　to　act　together　against　Cao　Cao。〃

〃That　has　been　the　one　desire　of　my　life。〃

Pang　Tong　took　the　letter　offered　by　Lu　Su　and　soon　made　his　way　to　Jingzhou　City。　He　arrived　at　a　moment　that　Zhuge　Liang　was　absent　on　an　inspection　journey；　but　the　doorkeeper　announced　him　and　said　he　had　e　to　throw　in　his　lot　with　Liu　Bei。　He　was　received；　for　he　was　no　stranger　in　name。

When　Pang　Tong　was　admitted；　he　made　the　ordinary　salutation　but　did　not　make　an　obeisance　and　this；　coupled　with　his　ugly　face；　did　not　please　his　host。

〃You　have　e　a　long　and　arduous　journey；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

At　this　point　the　suitor　should　have　produced　his　letters　from　Zhuge　Liang　and　Lu　Su；　but　did　not。

Instead　he　replied；　〃I　hear；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　that　you　are　weling　the　wise　and　receiving　scholars；　wherefore　I　have　e　to　join　your　service。〃

〃The　country　is　decently　peaceful　now；　and　unfortunately　there　is　no　office　vacant。　But　away　to　the　northeast　there　is　a　small　magistracy；　Leiyang；　which　needs　a　chief。　I　can　offer　you　that　post　until　there　should　be　something　more　fitting。〃

Pang　Tong　thought　this　rather　poor　wele　for　a　perso