三国演义英文版-第2章

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heaven　and　the　setting　up　of　the　golden　one；　they　said　a　new　cycle　was　beginning　and　would　bring　universal　good　fortune　to　all　members；　and　they　persuaded　people　to　chalk　the　symbols　for　the　first　year　of　the　new　cycle　on　the　main　door　of　their　dwellings。
With　the　growth　of　the　number　of　his　supporters　grew　also　the　ambition　of　Zhang　Jue。　The　Wise　and　Worthy　Master　dreamed　of　empire。　One　of　his　partisans；　Ma　Yuanyi；　was　sent　bearing　gifts　to　gain　the　support　of　the　eunuchs　within　the　Palace。
To　his　brothers　Zhang　Jue　said；　〃For　schemes　like　ours　always　the　most　difficult　part　is　to　gain　the　popular　favor。　But　that　is　already　ours。　Such　an　opportunity　must　not　pass。〃

＇e＇　One　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants
And　they　began　to　prepare。　Many　yellow　flags　and　banners　were　made；　and　a　day　was　chosen　for　the　uprising。　Then　Zhang　Jue　wrote　letters　to　Eunuch　Feng　Xu*　and　sent　them　by　one　of　his　followers；　Tang　Zhou；　who　alas！　betrayed　his　trust　and　reported　the　plot　to　the　court。　The　Emperor　summoned　the　trusty　Regent　Marshal　He　Jin　and　bade　him　look　to　the　issue。　Ma　Yuanyi　was　at　once　taken　and　beheaded。　Feng　Xu　and　many　others　were　cast　into　prison。
The　plot　having　thus　bee　known；　the　Zhang　brothers　were　forced　at　once　to　take　the　field。　They　took　up　grandiose　titles：　Zhang　Jue　the　Lord　of　Heaven；　Zhang　Ba　the　Lord　of　Earth；　and　Zhang　Lian　the　Lord　of　Human。　And　in　these　names　they　put　forth　this　manifesto：
〃The　good　fortune　of　the　Han　is　exhausted；　and　the　Wise　and　Worthy　Man　has　appeared。　Discern　the　will　of　Heaven；　O　ye　people；　and　walk　in　the　way　of　righteousness；　whereby　alone　ye　may　attain　to　peace。〃
Support　was　not　lacking。　On　every　side　people　bound　their　heads　with　yellow　scarves　and　joined　the　army　of　the　rebel　Zhang　Jue；　so　that　soon　his　strength　was　nearly　half　a　million　strong；　and　the　official　troops　melted　away　at　a　whisper　of　his　ing。
Regent　Marshal　and　Guardian　of　the　Throne；　He　Jin；　memorialized　for　general　preparations　against　the　Yellow　Scarves；　and　an　edict　called　upon　everyone　to　fight　against　the　rebels。　In　the　meantime；　three　Imperial　manders………Lu　Zhi；　Huangfu　Song；　and　Zhu　Jun………marched　against　them　in　three　directions　with　veteran　soldiers。

＇e＇　Ancient　China　was　divided　into　nine　administrative　regions　or　zhou's　。　Each　region　had　a　capital　city；　often　of　the　same　name。　The　nine　regions　were　Bingzhou；　Jingzhou；　Jizhou；　Liangzhou；　Qingzhou；　Xuzhou；　Yizhou；　Youzhou；　and　Yuzhou。　Over　the　time　more　regions　were　created。　During　the　Three　Kingdoms　period；　there　were　already　more　than　nine　regions。　A　few　of　the　new　regions　were　Xizhou；　Yangzhou；　and　Yongzhou。　（see　map　）
＇e＇　Imperial　Protector　was　the　highest　office　in　an　administrative　region。
Meanwhile　Zhang　Jue　led　his　army　into　Youzhou；　the　northeastern　region　of　the　empire*。　The　Imperial　Protector*　of　Youzhou　was　Liu　Yan；　a　scion　of　the　Imperial　House。　Learning　of　the　approach　of　the　rebels；　Liu　Yan　called　in　mander　Zhou　Jing　to　consult　over　the　position。
Zhou　Jing　said；　〃They　are　many　and　we　few。　We　must　enlist　more　troops　to　oppose　them。〃
Liu　Yan　agreed；　and　he　put　out　notices　calling　for　volunteers　to　serve　against　the　rebels。　One　of　these　notices　was　posted　up　in　the　county　of　Zhuo；　where　lived　one　man　of　high　spirit。
This　man　was　no　mere　bookish　scholar；　nor　found　he　any　pleasure　in　study。　But　he　was　liberal　and　amiable；　albeit　a　man　of　few　words；　hiding　all　feeling　under　a　calm　exterior。　He　had　always　cherished　a　yearning　for　high　enterprise　and　had　cultivated　the　friendship　of　humans　of　mark。　He　was　tall　of　stature。　His　ears　were　long；　the　lobes　touching　his　shoulders；　and　his　hands　hung　down　below　his　knees。　His　eyes　were　very　big　and　prominent　so　that　he　could　see　backward　past　his　ears。　His　plexion　was　as　clear　as　jade；　and　he　had　rich　red　lips。

＇e＇　Reigned　BC　157…141。
He　was　a　descendant　of　Prince　Sheng　of　Zhongshan　whose　father　was　the　Emperor　Jing*；　the　fourth　emperor　of　the　Han　Dynasty。　His　name　was　Liu　Bei。　Many　years　before；　one　of　his　forbears　had　been　the　governor　of　that　very　county；　but　had　lost　his　rank　for　remissness　in　ceremonial　offerings。　However；　that　branch　of　the　family　had　remained　on　in　the　place；　gradually　being　poorer　and　poorer　as　the　years　rolled　on。　His　father　Liu　Hong　had　been　a　scholar　and　a　virtuous　official　but　died　young。　The　widow　and　orphan　were　left　alone；　and　Liu　Bei　as　a　lad　won　a　reputation　for　filial　piety。
At　this　time　the　family　had　sunk　deep　in　poverty；　and　Liu　Bei　gained　his　living　by　selling　straw　sandals　and　weaving　grass　mats。　The　family　home　was　in　a　village　near　the　chief　city　of　Zhuo。　Near　the　house　stood　a　huge　mulberry　tree；　and　seen　from　afar　its　curved　profile　resembled　the　canopy　of　a　wagon。　Noting　the　luxuriance　of　its　foliage；　a　soothsayer　had　predicted　that　one　day　a　man　of　distinction　would　e　forth　from　the　family。
As　a　child；　Liu　Bei　played　with　the　other　village　children　beneath　this　tree；　and　he　would　climb　up　into　it；　saying；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　Heaven；　and　this　is　my　chariot！〃　His　uncle；　Liu　Yuanqi；　recognized　that　Liu　Bei　was　no　ordinary　boy　and　saw　to　it　that　the　family　did　not　e　to　actual　want。
When　Liu　Bei　was　fifteen；　his　mother　sent　him　traveling　for　his　education。　For　a　time　he　served　Zheng　Xuan　and　Lu　Zhi　as　masters。　And　he　became　great　friends　with　Gongsun　Zan。
Liu　Bei　was　twenty…eight　when　the　outbreak　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　called　for　soldiers。　The　sight　of　the　notice　saddened　him；　and　he　sighed　as　he　read　it。
Suddenly　a　rasping　voice　behind　him　cried；　〃Sir；　why　sigh　if　you　do　nothing　to　help　your　country？〃
Turning　quickly　he　saw　standing　there　a　man　about　his　own　height；　with　a　bullet　head　like　a　leopard's；　large　eyes；　a　swallow　pointed　chin；　and　whiskers　like　a　tiger's。　He　spoke　in　a　loud　bass　voice　and　looked　as　irresistible　as　a　dashing　horse。　At　once　Liu　Bei　saw　he　was　no　ordinary　man　and　asked　who　he　was。
〃Zhang　Fei　is　my　name；〃　replied　the　stranger。　〃I　live　near　here　where　I　have　a　farm；　and　I　am　a　wine　seller　and　a　butcher　as　well；　and　I　like　to　bee　acquainted　with　worthy　people。　Your　sighs　as　you　read　the　notice　drew　me　toward　you。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　of　the　Imperial　Family；　Liu　Bei　is　my　name。　And　I　wish　I　could　destroy　these　Yellow　Scarves　and　restore　peace　to　the　land；　but　alas！　I　am　helpless。〃
〃I　have　the　means；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃Suppose　you　and　I　raised　some　troops　and　tried　what　we　could　do。〃
This　was　happy　news　for　Liu　Bei；　and　the　two　betook　themselves　to　the　village　inn　to　talk　over　the　project。　As　they　were　drinking；　a　huge；　tall　fellow　appeared　pushing　a　hand…cart　along　the　road。　At　the　threshold　he　halted　and　entered　the　inn　to　rest　awhile　and　he　called　for　wine。
〃And　be　quick！〃　added　he。　〃For　I　am　in　haste　to　get　into　the　town　and　offer　myself　for　the　army。〃
Liu　Bei　looked　over　the　newer；　item　by　item；　and　he　noted　the　man　had　a　huge　frame；　a　long　beard；　a　vivid　face　like　an　apple；　and　deep　red　lips。　He　had　eyes　like　a　phoenix's　and　fine　bushy　eyebrows　like　silkworms。　His　whole　appearance　was　dignified　and　awe…inspiring。　Presently；　Liu　Bei　crossed　over；　sat　down　beside　him　and　asked　his　name。
〃I　am　Guan　Yu；〃　replied　he。　〃I　am　a　native　of　the　east　side　of　the　river；　but　I　have　been　a　fugitive　on　the　waters　for　some　five　years；　because　I　slew　a　ruffian　who；　since　he　was　wealthy　and　powerful；　was　a　bully。　I　have　e　to　join　the　army　here。〃
Then　Liu　Bei　told　Guan　Yu　his　own　intentions；　and　all　three　went　away　to　Zhang　Fei's　farm　where　they　could　talk　over　the　grand　project。
Said　Zhang　Fei；　〃The　peach　trees　in　the　orchard　behind　the　house　are　just　in　full　flower。　Tomorrow　we　will　institute　a　sacrifice　there　and　solemnly　declare　our　intention　before　Heaven　and　Earth；　and　we　three　will　swear　brotherhood　and　unity　of　aims　and　sentiments：　Thus　will　we　enter　upon　our　great　task。〃
Both　Liu　Bei　and　Guan　Yu　gladly　agreed。
All　three　being　of　one　mind；　next　day　they　prepared　the　sacrifices；　a　black　ox；　a　white　horse；　and　wine　for　libation。　Beneath　the　smoke　of　the　incense　burning　on　the　altar；　they　bowed　their　heads　and　recited　this　oath：
〃We　three………Liu　Bei；　Guan　Yu；　and　Zhang　Fei………though　of　different　families；　swear　brotherhood；　and　promise　mutual　help　to　one　end。　We　will　rescue　each　other　in　difficulty；　we　will　aid　each　other　in　danger。　We　swea