第3部分(第4/7 页)

。　I　told　him　how　hard　pressed　we　were　and　asked　him　where；　in　the　circumstances；　I　could　find　a　gift　for　him。　He　went　away　in　wrath　and　reported　that　I　was　hiding　behind　my　ramparts　and　would　not　give　battle　and　that　I　disheartened　my　army。　So　I　was　superseded　by　Dong　Zhuo；　and　I　have　to　go　to　the　capital　to　answer　the　charge。〃

This　story　put　Zhang　Fei　into　a　rage。　He　was　for　slaying　the　escort　and　setting　free　Lu　Zhi。　But　Liu　Bei　checked　him。

〃The　government　will　take　the　due　course；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃You　must　not　act　hastily！〃

And　the　escort　and　the　three　brothers　went　two　ways。

It　was　useless　to　continue　on　that　road　to　Guangzong；　so　Guan　Yu　proposed　to　go　back　to　Zhuo；　and　they　retook　the　road。　Two　days　later　they　heard　the　thunder　of　battle　behind　some　hills。　Hastening　to　the　top；　they　beheld　the　government　soldiers　suffering　great　loss；　and　they　saw　the　countryside　was　full　of　Yellow　Scarves。　On　the　rebels'　banners　were　the　words　Zhang　Jue　the　Lord　of　Heaven　written　large。

〃We　will　attack　this　Zhang　Jue！〃　said　Liu　Bei　to　his　brothers；　and　they　galloped　out　to　join　in　the　battle。

Zhang　Jue　had　worsted　Dong　Zhuo　and　was　following　up　his　advantage。　He　was　in　hot　pursuit　when　the　three　brothers　dashed　into　his　army；　threw　his　ranks　into　confusion；　and　drove　him　back　fifteen　miles。　Then　the　brothers　returned　with　the　rescued　general　to　his　camp。

〃What　offices　have　you？〃　asked　Dong　Zhuo；　when　he　had　leisure　to　speak　to　the　brothers。

〃None；〃　replied　they。

And　Dong　Zhuo　treated　them　with　disrespect。　Liu　Bei　retired　calmly；　but　Zhang　Fei　was　furious。

〃We　have　just　rescued　this　menial　in　a　bloody　fight；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　〃and　now　he　is　rude　to　us！　Nothing　but　his　death　can　slake　my　anger。〃

Zhang　Fei