三国演义英文版-第183部分

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　covered　their　eyes　and　turned　pale。　But　Guan　Yu　went　on　with　his　game；　only　drinking　a　cup　of　wine　now　and　again；　and　his　face　betrayed　no　sign　of　pain。
When　the　wound　had　been　cleansed；　sewn　up　and　dressed；　the　patient　stood　up　smiling　and　said；　〃This　arm　is　now　as　good　as　it　ever　was。　There　is　no　pain。　Indeed；　Master；　you　are　a　marvel。〃
〃I　have　spent　my　life　in　the　art；〃　said　Hua　Tuo；　〃but　I　have　never　seen　such　a　patient　as　you；　Sir。　You　are　as　if　not　from　the　earth　but　heaven。〃

Here　as　surgeons；　there　physicians；　all　boast　their　skill；
Bitter　few　are　those　that　cure　one　when　one's　really　ill。
As　for　superhuman　valor　rivals　Guan　Yu　had　none；
So　for　holy　touch　in　healing　Hua　Tuo　stood　alone。

When　the　cure　was　well　advanced；　Guan　Yu　gave　a　fine　banquet　in　honor　of　Hua　Tuo　and　offered　him　a　fee　of　a　hundred　ounces　of　gold。
But　Hua　Tuo　declined　it；　saying；　〃I　had　e　to　treat　you；　O　General；　from　admiration　of　your　great　virtue　and　not　for　money。　Although　your　wound　is　cured；　you　must　be　careful　of　your　health；　and　especially　avoid　all　excitement　for　a　hundred　days；　when　you　will　be　as　well　as　ever　you　were。〃
Then　Hua　Tuo；　having　prepared　dressings　for　the　wound；　took　his　leave；　refusing　fees　to　the　very　last。
Having　captured　Yu　Jin　and　acplished　the　death　of　Pang　De；　Guan　Yu　became　more　famous　and　more　fear…inspiring　through　the　empire　than　even　before。　Cao　Cao　called　together　his　advisers　to　help　him　decide　upon　what　he　should　do。
Said　Cao　Cao；　〃I　must　acknowledge　this　Guan　Yu　as　the　one　man　who；　in　skill　and　valor；　overtops　the　whole　world。　Lately　he　has　obtained　possession　of　Jingzhou　and　the　territory　near　it；　and　has　so　bee　very　terrible。　He　is　a　tiger　with　wings　added。　Pang　De　is　no　more；　Yu　Jin　is　his　prisoner；　the　armies　of　Wei　have　lost　their　morale；　and　if　he　led　his　armies　to　Xuchang；　we　should　be　helpless。　I　can　only　think　of　avoiding　the　peril　by　removal　of　the　capital。　What　think　you？〃
〃No；　do　not　take　that　step；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　rising　to　reply。　〃Yu　Jin　and　all　the　others　you　lost　were　victims　of　the　flood　and　slain　in　battle。　These　losses　do　no　harm　at　all　to　your　great　plan。　The　Suns　and　Lius　are　no　longer　friends　since　Guan　Yu　has　acplished　his　desire。　You　may　send　a　messenger　into　Wu　to　foment　the　quarrel　and　cause　Sun　Quan　to　send　his　armies　to　attack　the　army　of　Guan　Yu　from　the　rear；　promising　that；　when　things　are　tranquil；　you　will　reward　the　south　to　Sun　Quan。　In　this　way　you　will　relieve　Fancheng。〃
Here　Minister　Jiang　Ji　said；　〃Sima　Yi　speaks　well；　and　the　messenger　should　lose　no　time。　Do　not　move　the　capital　and　disturb　the　people。〃
Cao　Cao　therefore　did　not　carry　out　his　first　proposal。
But　he　was　sad　at　the　loss　of　Yu　Jin；　and　spoke　of　him　affectionately；　〃Yu　Jin　had　followed　me　faithfully　for　thirty　years；　yet　in　that　moment　of　truth　he　was　less　than　Pang　De。〃
It　was　necessary　to　send　someone　with　the　letters　to　Wu　and　also　to　find　another　leader　willing　to　face　Guan　Yu。　Cao　Cao　had　not　long　to　wait　for　the　latter；　as　an　officer　stepped　out　from　the　ranks　of　those　in　waiting　and　offered　himself。　It　was　Xu　Huang。
Xu　Huang's　offer　was　accepted；　and　he　was　given　fifty　thousand　of　veterans。　Lu　Qian　was　sent　as　his　second；　and　the　army　marched　to　Yangling　Slope；　where　they　halted　to　see　if　any　support　was　ing　from　the　southeast。
Sun　Quan　fell　in　with　the　scheme　of　Cao　Cao　as　soon　as　he　had　read　Cao　Cao's　letter。　He　at　once　prepared　a　reply　for　the　messenger　to　take　back；　and　then　gathered　his　officers；　civil　and　military；　to　consult。　Zhang　Zhao　was　the　first　speaker。
〃We　know　Guan　Yu　has　captured　one　leader　and　slain　another。　This　has　added　greatly　to　his　fame　and　reputation。　Cao　Cao　was　going　to　move　the　capital　rather　than　risk　an　attack。　We　also　know　that　Fancheng　is　in　imminent　danger。　Cao　Cao　has　asked　for　our　help；　but　when　he　has　gained　his　end；　I　doubt　whether　he　will　hold　to　his　promise。〃
Before　Sun　Quan　had　replied　they　announced　the　arrival　of　Lu　Meng；　who　had　e　in　a　small　ship　from　Lukou　with　a　special　message。　He　was　at　once　called　in　and　asked　what　it　was。
Said　Lu　Meng；　〃The　armies　of　Guan　Yu　being　absent　at　Fancheng；　the　opportunity　should　be　taken　to　attack　Jingzhou。〃
〃But　I　wish　to　attack　Xuzhou　in　the　north。　What　of　this　plan？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃It　would　be　better　to　attack　Jingzhou；　and　so　get　control　of　the　Great　River。　Cao　Cao　is　far　away　to　the　north　and　too　occupied　to　regard　the　east。　Xuzhou　is　weakly　held　and　could　be　taken　easily；　but　the　lie　of　the　land　favors　the　use　of　an　army　rather　than　a　navy　force。　If　you　capture　it；　it　will　not　be　easy　to　hold。　But　once　you　hold　Jingzhou；　you　can　evolve　other　schemes。〃
〃Really；　my　desire　was　to　attack　Jingzhou；　but　I　wished　to　hear　what　you　would　say　to　the　other　plan。　Now；　Sir；　make　me　a　plan　speedily；　and　I　will　act　upon　it。〃
So　Lu　Meng　took　his　leave　and　went　back　to　Lukou。　But　soon　they　heard　that　Guan　Yu　had　had　beacon　towers　erected　at　short　distances　all　along　the　Great　River；　and　that　the　army　of　Jingzhou　was　being　put　into　most　efficient　condition。
〃If　this　is　so；　it　is　hard　to　make　a　plan　that　will　ensure　success；〃　said　Lu　Meng。　〃I　have　already　advised　my　master　to　attack　Jingzhou；　but　I　am　unable　to　meet　this　plication。〃
Therefore　he　made　illness　an　excuse　to　stay　at　home；　and　sent　to　inform　Sun　Quan；　who　was　very　distressed　at　the　news。
Then　said　Lu　Xun；　〃The　illness　is　feigned。　He　is　quite　well。〃
〃If　you　know　that　so　well；　go　and　see；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Away　went　Lu　Xun　and　speedily　arrived　at　Lukou；　where　he　saw　Lu　Meng；　who　indeed　appeared　to　be　in　perfect　health。　Nor　did　his　face　bear　any　signs　of　recent　illness。
〃The　Marquis　of　Wu　has　sent　me　to　inquire　after　your　honorable　plaint；〃　said　Lu　Xun。
〃How　distressed　I　am　that　the　state　of　my　wretched　carcass　has　caused　the　Marquis　the　inconvenience　of　inquiring〃　replied　Lu　Meng。
〃The　Marquis　placed　a　very　heavy　responsibility　on　your　shoulders；　but　you　are　not　making　the　best　use　of　the　opportunity。　However；　what　is　the　real　origin　of　your　distress？〃
Lu　Meng　sat　gazing　at　his　visitor　a　long　time　without　replying。
〃I　have　a　little　remedy；〃　said　Lu　Xun。　〃Do　you　think　you　might　use　it？〃
Lu　Meng　dismissed　the　servants；　and　when　the　two　were　alone；　he　said；　〃This　remedy；　my　friend；　please　tell　me　what　it　is。〃
〃Your　ailment　is　due　simply　to　the　efficiency　of　the　Jingzhou　soldiers。　I　know　how　to　keep　the　beacons　from　flaring；　and　I　can　make　the　defenders　of　Jingzhou　e　to　you　with　their　hands　tied。　Would　that　cure　you？〃
〃My　friend；　you　speak　as　if　you　saw　into　my　inmost　heart。　Pray　unfold　your　good　scheme。〃
〃Guan　Yu　thinks　himself　too　much　of　a　hero　for　anyone　to　dare　to　face　him；　and　his　only　anxiety　is　yourself。　Now　you　must　take　advantage　of　this　excuse　you　have　made　of　illness　actually　to　resign　this　post；　so　that　the　pretense　may　be　kept　up　and　another　person　be　appointed　to　your　place。　Let　this　person；　your　successor；　humbly　praise　Guan　Yu　till　that　general　bees　so　conceited　that　he　will　withdraw　all　the　troops　from　Jingzhou　to　send　them　against　Fancheng。　When　Jingzhou　is　left　undefended　then　is　our　chance；　and　the　city　will　fall　into　our　hands。〃
〃The　plan　seems　most　excellent；〃　said　Lu　Meng。
Wherefore　Lu　Meng's　malady　waxed　worse；　so　that　he　was　confined　to　bed。　He　gave　Lu　Xun　his　letter　of　resignation　to　carry　back　to　Sun　Quan。　The　messenger　hastened　back　and　explained　the　ruse　to　his　master；　who　soon　after　issued　a　mand　for　Lu　Meng　to　retire　and　attend　to　the　recovery　of　his　health。
But　Lu　Meng　came　to　Sun　Quan　to　discuss　the　matter　of　a　successor。
Sun　Quan　said　to　him；　〃As　to　the　appointment　at　Lukou；　you　know　Zhou　Yu　remended　Lu　Su；　who　at　his　last　moment　proposed　you。　Now　you　ought　to　be　able　to　mention　some　other　talented　and　well…known　officer　to　succeed　you。〃
〃If　you　choose　a　well…known　man；　Guan　Yu　will　certainly　be　on　his　guard　against　him。　Now　Lu　Xun　is　deep　and　farseeing；　but　he　has　no　widespread　fame。　Hence　no　particular　notice　would　be　taken　of　his　appointment　and　no　countermeasures　taken。　So　he　is　the　most　suitable　person　to　send。〃
Sun　Quan　agreed　and　thereupon　promoted　Lu　Xun　to　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Right　Army　and　Admiral　of　the　Right　Fleet；　and　sent　him　to　defend　the　port。
〃I　am　very　young；〃　said　Lu　Xun；　〃and　feel　unequal　to　such　a　post。〃
〃Lu　Meng　has　proposed　you；　and　you　will　not　make　any　mistakes。　Pray　do　not　decline；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
So　the　appointment　was　made；　and　Lu　Xun　set　out　at　once。　When　he　had　assumed　charge　of　the　cavalry；　the　infantry；　and　the　marines；　he　set　about　drawing　up　a　letter　to　Guan　Yu；　and　he　selected　fine　horses　and　beautiful　silks　and　good　wines　and　delicacies　suitable　for　gifts　to　go　with　the　letter。　He　sent　all　by　the　hand　of　a　trusty　messenger　to　Fancheng。
The　news　of　the　change　of　mand　reached　Guan　Yu　when　he　lay　ill　from　the　effects　of　his　wound　and　unable　to　conduct　any　military　operations。　Close　upon　the　news　came　the　letter　and　the　gifts　from　Lu　Xun；　and　the　bearer　was　called　in　to　see　the　warrior。
〃Friend　Sun　Quan　was　not　very　prudent　when　he　made　a　manding　General　out　of　a　mere　youth；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　pointing　to　the　messenger。
The　messenger　said；　〃General　Lu　Xun　sends　this　letter　and　some　presents；　which　he　hopes　you　will　accept。　He　also　sends　his　felicitations；　and　would　rejoice　if　the　two　houses　could　bee　friends。〃
Guan　Yu　read　the　letter；　which　was　couched　in　most　modest　language；　and　then　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　aloud。　He　bade　the　attendants　receive　the　various　gifts；　and　sent　the　bearer　away。
The　messenger　forthwith　returned　to　Lukou　and　reported　to　Lu　Xun；　〃Guan　Yu　seemed　very　gratified；　and　he　felt　no　anxiety　and　danger　toward　the　South　Land。〃
Spies　were　sent　out　to　report　on　proceedings；　and　they　returned　to　say　that　half　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　had　been　sent　to　assist　in　the　siege　of　Fancheng。　That　city　was　to　be　seriously　assaulted　as　soon　as　Guan　Yu　had　recovered。
This　news　was　promptly　sent　on　to　Sun　Quan；　who　at　once　called　in　Lu　Meng　to　decide　upon　the　next　move。
〃Now　is　the　favorable　moment　to　get　possession　of　Jingzhou；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃I　propose　to　send　you　and　my　brother；　Sun　Jiao；　to　lead　the　army。〃
This　Sun　Jiao　was　really　only　a　cousin；　as　he　was　the　second　son　of　Sun　Quan's　uncle；　Sun　Jing。
But　Lu　Meng　objected。　〃My　lord；　if　you　think　to　employ　me；　then　employ　me　only；　if　Sun　Jiao；　then　Sun　Jiao　only。　You　cannot　have　forgotten　that　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu　were　associate　manders；　and　although　the　final　decision　lay　with　Zhou　Yu；　yet　the　other　presumed　upon　his　seniority　and　there　was　some　unfriendliness　between　the　two。　All　ended　well　because　Cheng　Pu　recognized　the　ability　of　his　colleague　and　so　supported　him。　I　know　I　am　not　so　clever　as　Zhou　Yu；　but　Sun　Jiao's　consanguinity　will　be　a　greater　obstacle　than　mere　length　of　service；　and　I　fear　he　may　not　be　wholly　with　me。〃
Sun　Quan　saw　the　force　of　the　contention；　and　appointed　Lu　Meng　to　sole　mand　with　Sun　Jiao　to　help　him　in　the　missariat。　Lu　Meng　thanked　his　lord　for　his　mission；　soon　got　his　thirty　thousand　marines　together；　and　assembled　eighty　ships　for　the　expedition。
Lu　Meng　dressed　a　number　of　sailors　in　the　plain　white　costumes　of　ordinary　merchants　and　put　them　on　board　to　work　his　vessels。　He　concealed　his　veterans　in　the　partments。　He　selected　seven　generals………Han　Dang；　Jiang　Qin；　Zhu　Ran；　Pan