第一小说网

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第40部分（第2页）

Then　suddenly　the　host　turned　to　his　attendants；　saying；　〃Bring　my　trident　halberd！〃

They　did　so；　and　he　sat　there　gripping　that　graceful　but　effective　weapon　in　his　right　hand。　Both　guests　felt　very　ill　at　ease　and　turned　pale。

Lu　Bu　went　on；　saying；　〃I　have　tried　to　persuade　you　to　make　peace；　for　that　is　the　mand　of　the　Most　High。　It　shall　be　put　to　the　test。〃

He　then　bade　his　servants　take　the　halberd　outside　beyond　the　gate　and　set　it　up。

Then　speaking　to　his　two　guests；　he　said；　〃That　gate　is　one　hundred　and　fifty　paces　distant。　If　I　can　hit　that　left　branch　of　the　halberd…head　with　an　arrow；　you　will　both　withdraw　your　armies。　If　I　miss；　you　can　go　away　and　prepare　for　immediate　battle。　I　shall　stand　against　either　of　you　who　does　not　abide　by　what　I　say。〃

Ji　Ling　thought　to　himself；　〃That　small　mark　at　that　distance！　How　could　anyone　hit　it？〃

So　he　assented；　thinking　he　would　have　plenty　of　fighting　after　his　host　had　missed　the　mark。　Of　course　Liu　Bei　was　willing。

They　all　sat　down　again　and　wine　was　served。　When　this　had　been　drunk；　the　host　called　for　his　bow　and　arrows。　Liu　Bei　silently　prayed　that　Lu　Bu　would　hit　the　mark。

Lu　Bu　turned　back　his　sleeves；　carefully　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　string　and　pulled　the　bow　to　its　utmost　stretch。　A　slight　exclamation　escaped　him　as　the　bow　curved　like　the　harvest　moon　sailing　through　the　sky。　〃Twang！〃　went　the　bowstring；　and　the　arrow　sped　like　a　falling　star。　And　it　struck　the　slender　tongue　of　the　halberd　head　full　and　square。　A　roar　of　acclamation　from　all　sides　greeted　the　exploit。

The　multitude　people　often　hail　their　praise：

O　Lu　Bu　was　a　wonderful　archer；

And　the　arrow　he　shot　sped　straight；

By　hitting　the　mark　he　saved　his　friend

That　day　at　his　camp　gate。

Hou　Yi；　the　archer　of　ancient　days；

Brought　down　each　mocking　sun；

And　the　apes　that　gibbered　to　fright　Yang　Youji

Were　slain　by　him；　one　by　one。

But　we　sing　of　Lu　Bu　that　drew　the　bow；

And　his　feathered　shaft　that　flew；

For　one　hundred　thousand　soldiers　could　doff　their　mails

When　he　hit　the　mark　so　true。

Lu　Bu　laughed　loud　at　the　success　of　his　shot。

Dropping　his　bow　he　seized　his　guests　by　the　hands；　saying；　〃The　mand　of　Heaven　indeed！　And　now　you　cease　from　fighting！〃

He　ordered　the　soldier　attendants　to　pour　out　great　goblets　of　wine　and　each　drank。　Liu　Bei　in　his　inmost　heart　felt　rather　lucky；　his　fellow　guest　sat　silent；　nodding　his　head。

Presently　Ji　Ling　said；　〃I　cannot　disobey　your　mand；　General；　but　let　me　depart。　What　will　my　master　say　and　will　he　believe　me？〃

〃I　will　write　a　letter　and　confirm　it；〃　said　Lu　Bu。

After　a　few　more　rounds　of　the　wine；　Ji　Ling　asked　that　he　might　have　the　letter　and　after　that　departed。

When　the　brothers　took　their　leave；　Lu　Bu　again　reminded　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃Do　not　forget　I　have　delivered　you　today！〃

Liu　Bei　thanked　him　and　departed。　Next　day　the　leaders　broke　camps；　and　the　soldiers　were　gone。