第85部分(第1/7 页)

to　Jingzhou　City。

Liu　Biao；　grateful　for　this　service；　rode　out　to　the　boundary　to　wele　the　victors。　They　reentered　the　city　and　grand　banquets　were　instituted；　at　which　they　emptied　great　goblets　in　congratulations　over　the　victory。

＇e＇　Yue；　Wu；　and　Shu　were　three　states　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　and　the　Warring　States　periods。　Yue　and　Wu's　territory　was　approximately　that　of　the　South　Land。　Shu　was　in　the　mountainous　region　west　of　Jingzhou。　。。。。。

At　one　of　these　banquets　the　Imperial　Protector　said；　〃With　such　heroism　as　my　brother　has　shown；　Jingzhou　has　one　upon　whom　to　rely。　But　a　source　of　sorrow　is　the　borders　with　the　lands　of　Yue；　Wu；　and　Shu*；　from　which　a　raid　may　e　at　any　time。　Zhang　Lu　of　Shu　and　Sun　Quan　of　Yue　and　Wu　are　to　be　feared。〃

〃But　I　have　three　bold　generals；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃quite　equal　to　any　task　you　can　set　them。　Send　Zhang　Fei　to　keep　ward　on　the　southern　border　of　Yue；　Guan　Yu　to　guard　the　city　of　Guzi　against　Zhang　Lu　in　the　west；　and　Zhao　Yun　holding　the　Three　Gorges　will　protect　you　from　Sun　Quan。　Why　need　you　grieve？〃

The　scheme　appealed　strongly　to　the　Imperial　Protector；　but　Cai　Mao　did　not　approve。

So　he　spoke　to　his　sister；　Liu　Biao's　wife；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　putting　his　troops　in　such　manding　positions　all　round　the　region。　That　is　the　danger。〃

Lady　Cai；　thus　influenced　by　her　brother；　undertook　to　remonstrate；　and　that　night　began　by　saying　to　Liu　Biao；　〃Some　in　the　Jingzhou　army　seem　to　have　a　great　liking　for　Liu　Bei。　They　are　always　ing　and　going。　You　ought　to　take　precautions。　I　do　not　think　you　should　let　Liu　Bei　stay　in　the　city。　Why　not　send　him　on　some　mission？〃

〃Liu　Bei　is　a　good　man；〃　replied　the　Imperial　Protector。

〃I　think　others　differ　from　you；〃　s