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第131部分（第2页）

Of　well…laid　ambuscades。

What　happened　will　be　related　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　55　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　55

Chapter　55

Liu　Bei　Rouses　The　Spirit　Of　Lady　Sun；

Zhuge　Liang　A　Second　Time　Angers　Zhou　Yu。

The　bridegroom　turned　pale。　Bridal　apartments　lined　with　weapons　of　war　and　waiting　maids　armed！

But　the　housekeeper　of　the　lady　said；　〃Do　not　be　frightened；　O　Honorable　One！　My　lady　has　always　had　a　taste　for　warlike　things；　and　her　maids　have　all　been　taught　fencing　as　a　pastime。　That　is　all　it　is。〃

〃Not　the　sort　of　thing　a　wife　should　ever　look　at；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃It　makes　me　feel　cold；　and　you　may　have　them　removed　for　a　time。〃

The　housekeeper　went　to　her　mistress　and　said；　〃The　weapons　in　your　chamber　displease　the　handsome　one。　May　we　remove　them？〃

Lady　Sun　laughed；　saying；　〃Afraid　of　a　few　weapons　after　half　a　life　time　spent　in　slaughter！〃

But　she　ordered　their　removal　and　bade　the　maids　take　off　their　swords　while　they　were　at　work。

That　night　Liu　Bei　and　Lady　Sun　conversed　under　the　moonlight；　and　the　night　passed　happily　enough。

Next　day　Liu　Bei　distributed　gifts　among　the　maids　to　secure　their　good　will。　He　also　sent　Sun　Qian　to　Jingzhou　with　news　of　the　wedding；　while　he　gave　himself　up　to　feasting　and　enjoyment。　The　Dowager　loved　him　more　every　day。

The　results　of　the　plot　to　destroy　Liu　Bei　were　thus　very　different　from　the　originators　intention。　Sun　Quan　sent　to　his　general：

〃My　mother　had　insisted　upon　marrying　her　daughter　to　Liu　Bei；　and　so　by　juggling　with　the　fictitious；　we　had　made　it　real。　What　is　to　be　done？〃

The　news　troubled　Zhou　Yu　day　and　night；　but　eventually　he　thought　but　another　scheme　which　he　embodied　in　a　letter　sent　to　his　master。　Here　is　the　outline　of　the　missive：

〃Contrary　to　expectation；　the　plot　that　I；　Zhou　Yu；　contrived　has　turned　the　wrong　way。　However；　since　by　juggling　with　deceit；　we　have　ended　in　a　solid　truth。　Our　future　plans　must　start　from　the　actual　present　facts。　To　the　boldness　of　the　adventurer　Liu　Bei　is　added　the　aid　of　such　great　leaders　as　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Zhao　Yun；　not　to　mention　that　he　has　a　strategist　like　Zhuge　Liang。　He　is　not　the　man　to　remain　long　in　a　lowly　position。　Wherefore　I　can　think　of　no　better　plan　than　to　enervate　him　by　surrounding　him　with　softness　and　keeping　him　in　the　South　Land；　a　prisoner　of　luxury。　Therefore　build　for　him　a　fine　palace　to　blunt　the　edge　of　his　determination　and　surround　him　with　sensuous　luxury。　In　this　way　the　affection　of　his　brothers　will　be　alienated；　and　Zhuge　Liang　will　be　driven　away。　When　this　result　has　been　attained；　we　can　smite　him　and　so　end　a　great　matter。　If　we　be　at　all　careless；　I　fear　the　recumbent　dragon　may　fly　to　the　skies；　it　is　no　beast　to　be　kept　in　a　pond。　My　lord；　I　pray　you　consider　this　thoroughly。〃

The　letter　was　shown　to　Zhang　Zhao　who　said；　〃My　idea　is　identical　with　his。　Liu　Bei　began　life　in　a　humble　position　and　for　years　has　been　a　wanderer。　He　has　never　tasted　the　delights　of　wealth。　Give　him　the　means　of　luxury；　a　beautiful　dwelling；　fair　women；　gold　and　silken　attire。　As　he　enjoys　them；　the　thoughts　of　Zhuge　Liang　and　his　brothers　will　fade　away　and　they；　on　their　side；　will　be　filled　with　rancor。　Thus　can　we　lay　our　plans　for　recovering　Jingzhou。　I　remend　action　as　Zhou　Yu　says　and　quickly。〃

Sun　Quan　then　set　about　redecorating　the　Eastern　Palace　and　laying　out　the　grounds。　He　filled　the　rooms　with　beautiful　furniture　for　his　sister　and　her　husband。　He　also　sent　fair　damsels　and　musicians　by　the　score；　and　many　and　beautiful　vessels　in　gold　and　silver；　and　silken　stuffs。　And　his　mother　was　delighted　at　his　kindness　to　her　son…in…law。

Indeed　Liu　Bei　was　soon　so　immersed　in　sensuous　pleasure　that　he　gave　no　thought　to　return。　Zhao　Yun　and　the　pany　under　him　led　an　idle　life　in　the　front　portion　of　the　Eastern　Palace；　save　that　at　times　they　went　outside　the　city　for　archery　and　horse…racing。　And　thus　passed　the　year。

Suddenly　Zhao　Yun　remembered　the　orders　he　had　received　and　the　three　bags　with　the　plans　in　them。　It　was　time　to　open　the　second　one　for　the　end　of　the　year　was　nigh。　His　orders　were　only　to　open　the　third　when　danger　was　very　near　and　there　appeared　no　way　out。

As　already　remarked；　the　year　was　drawing　to　a　close；　and　Zhao　Yun　saw　his　lord　daily　being　more　and　more　the　slave　of　pleasure。　Liu　Bei　never　appeared　among　his　guards　now。　So　the　bag　was　opened　and　in　pursuance　of　the　wonderful　scheme　thereby　discovered；　Zhao　Yun　went　to　the　hall　of　the　palace　and　asked　to　see　his　master。

The　maid　in　attendance　went　within　and　said；　〃Zhao　Yun　has　some　important　matter　on　which　to　see　the　master。〃

Liu　Bei　called　him　in　and　asked　what　the　business　was。

Zhao　Yun　assumed　an　attitude　of　great　concern　and　said；　〃My　lord；　you　are　living　happily　secluded　in　these　beautiful　apartments。　Do　you　never　think　of　Jingzhou？〃

〃But　what　is　the　matter　that　you　seem　so　disturbed？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。