第5部分(第2/7 页)

asked　what　the　matter　was。

They　told　him；　〃General　Zhang　Fei　had　bound　somebody　to　a　post　and　was　thrashing　him！〃

Hastily　going　outside；　Liu　Bei　saw　who　the　unhappy　victim　was　and　asked　Zhang　Fei　the　reason。

〃If　we　do　not　beat　this　sort　of　wretch　to　death；　what　may　we　expect？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

〃Noble　Sir；　save　me！〃　cried　the　inspector。

Now　Liu　Bei　had　always　been　kindly　and　gracious；　wherefore　he　bade　his　brother　release　the　officer　and　go　his　way。

Then　Guan　Yu　came　up；　saying；　〃Brother；　after　your　magnificent　services　you　only　got　this　petty　post；　and　even　here　you　have　been　insulted　by　this　fellow。　A　thorn　bush　is　no　place　for　a　phoenix。　Let　us　slay　this　fellow；　leave　here；　and　go　home　till　we　can　evolve　a　bigger　scheme。〃

Liu　Bei　contented　himself　with　hanging　the　official　seal　about　the　inspector's　neck；　saying；　〃If　I　hear　that　you　injure　the　people；　I　will　assuredly　kill　you。　I　now　spare　your　life；　and　I　return　to　you　the　seal。　We　are　going。〃

The　inspector　went　to　the　governor　of　Dingzhou　and　plained；　and　orders　were　issued　for　the　arrest　of　the　brothers；　but　they　got　away　to　Daizhou　and　sought　refuge　with　Liu　Hu；　who　sheltered　them　because　of　Liu　Bei's　noble　birth。

＇e＇　Two　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants

By　this　time　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants　had　everything　in　their　hands；　and　they　put　to　death　all　who　did　not　stand　in　with　them。　From　every　officer　who　had　helped　to　put　down　the　rebels　they　demanded　presents；　and　if　these　were　not　forthing；　he　was　removed　from　office。　Imperial　manders　Huangfu　Song　and　Zhu　Jun　both　fell　victims　to　these　intrigues　and　were　deprived　from　offices；　while　on　the　other　hand　the　eunuchs　received　the　highest　honors　and　rewards。　Thirteen　eunuchs　were　ennobled；　including　Zhao