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第96部分（第2页）

〃Where　is　the　writing？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Instead　of　answering　Liu　Qi　wept；　saying；　〃My　stepmother　cannot　bear　me。　My　life　is　in　danger。　O　Master；　will　you　not　say　a　word　to　save　me？〃

Zhuge　Liang　flushed　and　rose　to　go　away。　But　he　found　the　ladder　by　which　they　had　mounted　had　been　removed。

Again　Liu　Qi　besought　some　advice；　saying；　〃Master；　you　fear　lest　it　may　get　abroad！　Is　that　why　you　are　silent？　Here　we　are　between　earth　and　sky；　and　what　you　say　will　e　out　of　your　mouth　directly　into　my　ear。　No　other　soul　can　hear。　Now　can　you　tell　me　what　to　do？〃

〃Sow　not　dissension　among　relatives；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃Is　it　possible　for　me　to　make　any　plan　for　you？〃

〃Then　is　my　life　indeed　in　danger；〃　said　the　young　man。　〃I　will　die　at　your　feet。〃

So　saying；　Liu　Qi　pulled　out　a　dagger　and　threatened　to　make　an　end　of　himself。

Zhuge　Liang　checked　him；　saying；　〃There　is　a　way。〃

〃I　pray　you　tell　me。〃

＇e＇　Shen　Sheng　was　the　eldest　son　of　Duke　Xiao　of　Jin　in　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　But　Duke　Xiao　wanted　the　son　of　his　favorite　concubine；　Li　Ji；　to　succeed　him　as　the　ruler　of　Jin。　So　Duke　Xiao　falsely　accused　Shen　Sheng　of　trying　to　murder　him。　Shen　Sheng　mitted　suidcide　rather　than　flee。　The　second　eldest　son　Chong　Er　would　have　suffered　the　same；　but　he　knew　of　this　and　fled。　。。。。。

〃You　have　heard　of　the　old　tale　of　the　brothers　Shen　Sheng　and　Chong　Er*；　have　you　not？　Shen　Sheng　stayed　at　home　and　died；　his　brother　Chong　Er　went　away　and　lived　in　peace。　Now　that　Huang　Zu　is　gone　and　Jiangxia　is　weakly　defended；　why　do　you　not　ask　to　be　sent　there　to　guard　it？　Then　you　would　be　out　of　the　way　of　harm。〃

Liu　Qi　thanked　him。　Then　he　called　to　his　people　to　restore　the　ladder；　and　he　escorted　Zhuge　Liang　down　to　the　level　ground。

Zhuge　Liang　returned　to　Liu　Bei　and　related　the　whole　interview。　The　young　man　soon　acted　on　the　advice　given　him；　but　his　father　would　not　at　first　consent　to　let　him　go。

To　settle　his　doubts　Liu　Biao　sent　for　Liu　Bei；　who　said；　〃Jiangxia　is　important；　and　your　son　is　the　most　suitable　man　to　defend　it。　You　must　let　him　go。　The　southeast　will　be　defended　by　your　son。　The　northwest　I　will　look　after。〃

〃I　hear　that　Cao　Cao　has　been　training　a　naval　force；　and　I　am　afraid　he　has　intentions　against　us。　We　must　be　on　our　guard。〃

〃I　know　all　about　it。　You　need　feel　no　anxiety；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

He　took　leave　of　his　relative　and　went　home　while　Liu　Qi　received　mand　of　three　thousand　soldiers　and　went　to　guard　Jiangxia。

At　this　time　Cao　Cao　suppressed　the　three　highest　officers　of　state　and　exercised　their　functions　himself　as　the　Prime　Minister。　He　appointed　as　his　general　secretaries　Mao　Jie　and　Cui　Yan；　and　as　literary　secretary　Sima　Yi。　Sima　Yi　of　Henei　was　grandson　of　Sima　Juan；　Governor　of　Yingchuan；　son　of　Sima　Fang；　Governor　of　Jingzhao；　and　younger　brother　of　Sima　Lang；　Secretary　General。

Cao　Cao　then　called　his　officers　to　a　council　to　discuss　an　expedition　against　the　south。

Xiahou　Dun　opened　the　debate；　saying；　〃Liu　Bei　is　drilling　his　army　at　Xinye；　and　is　a　source　of　danger。　He　should　be　destroyed。〃

Accordingly　Xiahou　Dun　was　appointed　manding　General；　and　four　assistants………Yu　Jin；　Li　Dian；　Xiahou　Lan；　and　Han　Hao………were　given　him。　With　these　he　led　one　hundred　thousand　troops　to　Bowang；　whence　he　could　observe　Xinye。

Xun　Yu　was　opposed　to　this　and　said；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　famous　warrior；　and　he　has　lately　taken　to　himself　as　his　Directing　Instructor　Zhuge　Liang。　Caution　is　needed。〃

Xiahou　Dun　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　mean　rat。　I　will　certainly　take　him　prisoner。〃

〃Do　not　despise　him；〃　said　Xu　Shu。　〃Remember　he　has　Zhuge　Liang　to　help　him；　and　so　he　is　like　a　tiger　who　has　grown　wings。〃

Cao　Cao　said；　〃Who　is　this　Zhuge　Liang？〃

〃He　has　taken　a　Taoist　cognomen　of　Sleeping　Dragon。　He　is　a　perfect　genius；　god　and　devil　bined；　the　greatest　marvel　of　the　age。　Do　not　despise　him。〃

〃How　does　he　stand　as　pared　with　you？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃There　is　no　parison。　I　am　a　mere　glow…worm　spark；　he　is　the　glory　of　the　full　moon；〃　replied　Xu　Shu。

〃You　are　mistaken；〃　replied　Xiahou　Dun。　〃This　Zhuge　Liang　of　yours　is　of　no　account。　Who　would　fear　him？　If　I　do　not　take　him　and　his　master　prisoners　in　the　first　battle；　then　here　is　my　head；　a　free　gift　to　our　lord；　the　Prime　Minister。〃