| "I know how to make both of them love me," said Lu
Bu. |
| So he sent invitations to both Liu Bei and Ji Ling to
come to a banquet. |
| Liu Bei was for accepting the invitation and going,
but his brothers dissuaded him, saying, "There is some treachery in his
heart." |
| "I have treated him too well for him to do me any
harm," said Liu Bei. |
| So he mounted and rode away, the two brothers
following. They came to the camp. |
| The host said, "Now by a special effort I have got you
out of danger. I hope you will not forget that when you come into your
own." |
| Liu Bei thanked him heartily and was invited to take a
seat. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took up their usual place as guards. |
| But when Ji Ling was announced, Liu Bei felt a spasm
of fear and got up to go away. |
| "You two are invited for the particular purpose of a
discussion," said the host. "Do not take it amiss." |
| Liu Bei, being quite ignorant of his intentions, was
very uneasy. Presently his fellow guest entered. Seeing Liu Bei in the tent, and
in the seat of honor, Ji Ling was puzzled, hesitated and tried to withdraw. But
the attendants prevented this and Lu Bu, advancing, laid hold of him and drew
him into the tent as if he had been a child. |
| "Do you wish to slay me?" asked Ji Ling. |
| "Not at all," replied Lu Bu. |
| "Then you are going to slay Long-Ears?" |
| "No, not that." |
| "Then what does it mean?" |
| "Liu Bei and I are brothers. Now, General, you are
besieging him, and so I have come to the rescue." |
| "Then slay me," said Ji Ling. |
| "There would be no sense in that. All my life I have
disliked fighting and quarrels, but have loved making peace. And now I want to
settle the quarrel between you two." |
| "May I ask how you think of doing so?" |
| "I have a means and one approved of Heaven
itself." |
| Then Lu Bu drew Ji Ling within the tent and led him up
to Liu Bei. The two men faced each other, full of mutual suspicion, but their
host placed himself between them and they took their seats, Liu Bei on the right
hand of the host. |
| The banquet began. After a number of courses almost in
silence, Lu Bu spoke, saying, "I wish you two gentlemen to listen to me and put
an end to your strife." |
| Liu Bei made no reply, but Ji Ling said, "I have come
with an army of one hundred thousand at the express bidding of my master to take
Liu Bei. How can I cease the strife? I must fight." |
| "What!" exclaimed Zhang Fei drawing his sword. "Few as
we are, we regard you no more than a lot of children. What are you compared with
a million Yellow Scarves? You dare hurt our brother!" |
| Guan Yu urged him to be silent, saying, "Let us see
what General Lu Bu has to say first. After that there will be time to go to our
tents and fight." |
| "I beg you both to come to an understanding. I cannot
let you fight," said Lu Bu. |
| Now on one side Ji Ling was discontented and angry; on
the other Zhang Fei was dying for a fight; and neither of the two chiefly
concerned would signify assent. |
| 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 command 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. |
第二十一課：呂布の仲裁
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