121小说

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第54部分（第1页）

At　parting　with　Liu　Bei；　the　Emperor　shed　tears。

As　soon　as　Liu　Bei　reached　his　lodging；　he　set　about　preparations　for　immediate　departure；　taking　his　seal　as　General　and　preparing　his　weapons。　Dong　Cheng　went　three　miles　away　from　the　city　to　bid　him　farewell。

〃You　must　not　mind　my　going。　This　journey　will　assuredly　help　on　the　scheme；〃　said　Liu　Bei。

〃Keep　your　mind　fixed　on　that；〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　〃and　never　forget　what　His　Majesty　requires　of　us。〃

They　parted。　Presently　his　brothers　asked　him　why　he　was　in　such　a　hurry　to　get　away。

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　have　been　a　bird　in　a　cage；　a　fish　in　a　net。　This　is　like　the　fish　regaining　the　open　sea　and　the　bird　soaring　into　the　blue　sky。　I　suffered　much　from　the　confinement。〃

Then　he　ordered　Zhu　Ling　and　Lu　Zhao　to　march　the　troops　faster。

Now　Guo　Jia　and　Cheng　Yu　had　been　absent　inspecting　stores　and　supplies　when　Liu　Bei　left。　As　soon　as　they　heard　of　his　expedition；　they　went　in　to　see　their　master；　asking　him　why　he　had　let　Liu　Bei　go　in　mand　of　an　army。

〃He　is　going　to　cut　off　Yuan　Shu；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

〃Formerly；　when　he　was　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou；　we　remended　that　he　should　be　put　to　death；　but　you　would　not　hear　of　it。　Now　you　have　given　him　an　army。　You　have　allowed　the　dragon　to　reach　the　sea；　the　tiger　to　return　to　the　mountains。　What　control　will　you　have　in　future？〃

So　spoke　Cheng　Yu；　and　Guo　Jia　followed　in　the　same　strain；　saying；　〃Even　if　you　would　not　put　him　to　death；　you　need　not　have　let　him　go。　As　the　proverb　says；　Relax　opposition　for　one　day　and　age…long　harm　ensues。　You　must　admit　the　truth　of　this。〃

Cao　Cao　recognized　that　these　were　prudent　counsels；　so　he　sent　Xu　Chu　with　five　hundred　horsemen　and　imperative　orders　to　bring　Liu　Bei　back　again。

Liu　Bei　was　marching　as　rapidly　as　possible　when　he　noticed　a　cloud　of　dust　in　the　rear　and　remarked　to　his　brothers；　〃Surely　they　are　pursuing　us。〃

He　halted　and　made　a　stockade；　and　ordered　his　brothers　to　be　in　readiness；　one　on　each　flank。　Presently　the　messenger　arrived　and　found　himself　in　the　midst　of　an　army　ready　for　battle。　Xu　Chu　dismounted　and　entered　the　camp　to　speak　with　Liu　Bei。

〃Sir；　on　what　business　have　you　e？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。

〃The　Prime　Minister　has　sent　me　to　request　you　to　return　as　he　has　further　matters　to　discuss　with　you。〃

〃When　a　general　has　once　taken　the　field；　even　the　royal　mand　is　of　no　effect。　I　bade　farewell　to　the　Emperor；　I　received　the　Prime　Ministers　mands；　and　there　can　be　nothing　further　to　talk　about。　You　may　return　forthwith　and　take　that　as　my　reply。〃

Xu　Chu　was　undecided　what　action　to　take。　He　thought；　〃The　Prime　Minister　cherishes　a　friendship　with　Liu　Bei；　and　I　have　no　orders　to　kill。　I　can　only　return　with　this　reply　and　ask　further　instructions。〃

So　Xu　Chu　left。　When　he　related　what　had　occurred；　Cao　Cao　still　hesitated　to　take　any　action。

〃This　refusal　to　return　means　enmity；〃　said　Cheng　Yu　and　Guo　Jia。

〃Still；　two　of　my　people　are　with　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃He　will　not　dare　do　anything　unfriendly；　I　think。　Beside；　I　sent　him　and　I　cannot　go　back　on　my　own　orders。〃

So　Liu　Bei　was　not　pursued。

He　took　his　arms；　he　fed　his　steed；

And　fared　forth　willingly；

Intent　to　acplish　his　Kings　behest

Deep　graven　on　his　memory。

At　least　he　had　broken　out　of　his　cage；

He　heard　not　the　tigers　roar；

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