第103部分(第3/7 页)

zed　at　them。　Presently　he　made　out　a　figure　in　a　turban　and　Taoist　robe　sitting　in　the　bows　of　one　of　the　boats　and　knew　it　to　be　Zhuge　Liang。　Behind　him　stood　Sun　Qian。

When　they　were　quite　near；　Liu　Bei　asked　Zhuge　Liang　how　he　came　to　be　there。

And　Zhuge　Liang　reported　what　he　had　done；　saying；　〃When　I　reached　Jiangxia；　I　sent　Guan　Yu　to　land　at　Hanjin　with　reinforcements；　for　I　feared　pursuit　from　Cao　Cao　and　knew　that　road　you　would　take　instead　of　Jiangling。　So　I　prayed　your　nephew　to　go　to　meet　you；　while　I　went　to　Xiakou　to　muster　as　many　soldiers　as　possible。〃

The　new…ers　added　to　their　strength；　and　they　began　once　more　to　consider　how　their　powerful　enemy　might　be　overe。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Xiakou　is　strong　and　a　good　strategic　point。　It　is　also　rich　and　suited　for　a　lengthy　stay。　I　would　ask　you；　my　lord；　to　make　it　a　permanent　camp。　Your　nephew　can　go　to　Jiangxia　to　get　the　fleet　in　order　and　prepare　weapons。　Thus　we　can　create　two　threatening　angles　for　our　position。　If　we　all　return　to　Jiangxia；　the　position　will　be　weakened。〃

Liu　Qi　replied；　〃The　Directing　Instructor's　words　are　excellent；　but　I　wish　rather　my　uncle　stayed　awhile　in　Jiangxia　till　the　army　was　in　thorough　order。　Then　he　could　go　to　Xiakou。〃

〃You　speak　to　the　point；　nephew；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。

Then　leaving　Guan　Yu　with　five　thousand　troops　at　Xiakou　he；　with　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　nephew；　went　to　Jiangxia。

When　Cao　Cao　saw　Guan　Yu　with　a　force　ready　to　attack；　he　feared　lest　a　greater　number　were　hidden　away　behind；　so　he　stopped　the　pursuit。　He　also　feared　lest　Liu　Bei　should　take　Jiangling；　so　he　marched　thither　with　all　haste。

The　two　officers　in　mand　at　Jingzhou　City；　Deng　Yi　and　Liu　Xin；　had　heard　of　the　death　of　their　lord　Liu