第90部分(第5/7 页)

ts；　Xun　Yu　and　Cheng　Yu　to　receive　the　newer　at　the　city　gate；　and　so　Xu　Shu　was　led　first　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。

〃Why　did　such　an　illustrious　scholar　as　you　bow　the　knee　to　Liu　Bei？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃I　am　young；　and　I　fled　to　avoid　the　results　of　certain　escapades。　I　spent　some　time　as　a　wanderer　and　so　came　to　Xinye　where　I　became　good　friends　with　him。　But　my　mother　is　here；　and　when　I　thought　of　all　her　affection；　I　could　no　longer　remain　absent。〃

〃Now　you　will　be　able　to　take　care　of　your　mother　at　all　times。　And　I　may　have　the　privilege　of　receiving　your　instructions。〃

Xu　Shu　then　took　his　leave　and　hastened　to　his　mother's　dwelling。　Weeping　with　emotion；　he　made　his　obeisance　to　her　at　the　door　of　her　room。

But　she　was　greatly　surprised　to　see　him　and　said；　〃What　have　you　e　here　for？〃

〃I　was　at　Xinye；　in　the　service　of　Liu　Bei　of　Yuzhou；　when　I　received　your　letter。　I　came　immediately。〃

His　mother　suddenly　grew　very　angry。

Striking　the　table　she　cried；　〃You　shameful　and　degenerate　son！　For　years　you　have　been　a　vagabond　in　spite　of　all　my　teaching。　You　are　a　student　and　know　the　books。　You　must　then　know　that　loyalty　and　filial　piety　are　often　opposed。　Did　you　not　recognize　in　Cao　Cao　a　traitor；　a　man　who　flouts　his　king　and　insults　the　mighty　ones？　Did　you　not　see　that　Liu　Bei　was　virtuous　and　upright　as　all　the　world　knows？　Moreover；　he　is　of　the　House　of　Han；　and　when　you　were　with　him　you　were　serving　a　fitting　master。　Now　on　the　strength　of　a　scrap　of　forged　writing；　with　no　attempt　at　any　inquiry；　you　have　left　the　light　and　plunged　into　darkness　and　earned　a　disgraceful　reputation。　Truly　you　are　stupid。　How　can　I　bear　to　look　upon　you？　You　have　besmirched　the　fair　fame　of　your　forefathers　and　a