第8部分(第4/7 页)

eed　and　asked　Li　Ru　who　that　was。

〃That　is　Lu　Bu；　the　adopted　son　of　Ding　Yuan。　You　must　keep　out　of　his　way；　my　lord。〃

Dong　Zhuo　went　inside　the　gate　so　that　he　could　not　be　seen。　But　next　day　they　reported　to　him　that　Ding　Yuan　had　e　out　of　the　city　with　a　small　army　and　was　challenging　to　a　battle。　Dong　Zhuo；　with　his　army；　went　forth　to　accept　the　challenge。　And　the　two　armies　were　drawn　up　in　proper　array。

Lu　Bu　was　a　conspicuous　figure　in　the　forefront。　His　hair　was　arranged　under　a　handsome　headdress　of　gold；　and　he　had　donned　a　embroidered　thousand…flower　fighting　robe；　a　pheasant…tailed　helmet；　and　breast　plate；　and　round　his　waist　was　a　gleaming　jade　belt　with　a　lion's　head　clasp。　With　spear　set　he　rode　close　behind　his　master　Ding　Yuan。

Ding　Yuan；　riding　forth；　pointing　his　finger　at　Dong　Zhuo；　began　to　revile　him。

〃Unhappy　indeed　was　this　state　when　the　eunuchs　became　so　powerful　that　the　people　were　as　if　trodden　into　the　mire　under　their　feet。　Now　you；　devoid　of　the　least　merit；　dare　to　talk　of　deposing　the　rightful　emperor　and　setting　up　another。　This　is　to　desire　rebellion　and　no　less！〃

Dong　Zhuo　could　not　reply　for　Lu　Bu；　eager　for　the　fight；　rode　straight　at　him。　Dong　Zhuo　fled　and　Ding　Yuan's　army　came　on。　The　battle　went　in　Ding　Yuan's　favor；　and　the　beaten　troops　retired　ten　miles　and　made　another　camp。　Here　Dong　Zhuo　called　his　officers　to　a　council。

〃This　Lu　Bu　is　a　marvel；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。　〃If　he　were　only　on　my　side；　I　would　defy　the　whole　world！〃

At　this　a　man　advanced　saying；　〃Be　content；　O　my　lord！　I　am　a　fellow　villager　of　his　and　know　him　well：　He　is　valorous；　but　not　crafty；　he　will　let　go　principles；　when　he　sees　advantages。　With　this　little；　blarneying　tongue　of　mine；　I　can　persuade