| ←page 6 | Sanguo zhi pinghua Part A, page 7
|
page 8→ |
| Brotherhood Sworn in the Peach Orchard |
| Xuande sighed: “A real man is supposed to take responsibilities!” They often gathered together and discussed current affairs. They intended to save the masses from misery and suffering, to help the emperor solve urgent problems. They always felt indignant. Villains and slanderous ministers are startled in their sleep. One day, Fei told his two brothers: “Nowadays, Yellow Turban rebels are everywhere, robbing people and taking their wives and daughters. If one day they arrive here, I can’t really do anything about it although I am wealthy.” Xuande asked: “Then what should we do?” Fei answered: “How about we ask our magistrate to recruit some righteous soldiers, so that we would not be afraid of the robbers?” Xuande and Lord Guan agreed: “It makes sense.” Immediately, Fei mounted a horse and left for the magistrate of Yan.[1] Soon he arrived at the magistrate’s mansion. He got off the horse. But the doorman stopped them. Fei said: “We are here to discuss important things with the magistrate.” The doorman responded: “Just a second. Let me inform my lord.” Then he took Fei to the hallway, told the magistrate: “There is a person who wants to discuss something with you, my lord.” The magistrate of Yan said: “Bring him in.” Fei followed the doorman entered the hall. The magistrate of Yan seated Fei. Then he asked: “How can I help you, sir?” Fei answered: “Nowadays, Yellow Turban rebels are everywhere. What if they come here and we are not prepared, would they destroy the capital of Yan?” The magistrate of Yan said: “Having said that, there is no money in the treasury, no millet in the storage, and no food to feed soldiers. Who can I appoint to be the leader?” Fei answered: “Although I am only a commoner under your command, I do have a little bit property that can be used to support the soldiers.” The magistrate said: “Then we will be able to recruit some righteous soldiers. Who should I appoint to be the leader?” Fei answered: “I have someone to recommend. His last name is Liu, first name is Bei, style name is Xuande. He is the descendent of Prince Jing of Zhongshan state--Liu Sheng. Xuande has a dragon nose, and phoenix eyes. His ears hung down over the shoulders. And his arms hung down over the knees. He can be the leader.” Then the magistrate of Yan made a command, raised the righteous flag. The righteous army was led by Liu Xuande, followed by Guan Yunchang, Zhang Yide, Mi Fang, Jian Xianhe and Sun Qian. Within a month, they recruited three thousand and five hundred soldiers. One day, the magistrate of Yan was supervising the troop training and parade with Liu Bei. The magistrate was very glad to see that all the soldiers and officers were strong and powerful. Suddenly someone came to the front gate and reported: “Disaster!” While rebel Yellow Turbans came to commit suicide. The magistrate of Yan asked: “What disaster?” The spy answered: “Yellow Turban traitors are coming to take over You Province. Now they are only hundreds of kilometers away.” The magistrate asked: “What should we do, the leader of the righteous army?” Xuande answered: “Don’t worry, your majesty. I am willing to lead the troops to defeat the Yellow Turbans.” Immediately, Xuande left the magistrate, led the soldiers, and camped twelve kilometers away from the city.[2] In the praetorian tent, Xuande asked: “Who have the courage to find out how many enemies are there?” Before he finished the question, Zhang Fei stepped forward, answered: “Fei is willing to go.” Xuande said: “Be careful, my brother!” Then Fei mounted a horse and left the stockade. Before long, Fei came back, got off the horse and reported: “The emperor of Han sent Marshal Huangfu Song with an imperial order to recruit soldiers. The ones who can defeat the Yellow Turban traitors can be appointed to be the vanguards. The ones who can wipe out the Yellow Turban traitors can be awarded with ranks and price. I am telling you, my elder brother: if we stay here, we will only control one province. It would be better if we go to assist the marshal of Han, to contribute for our country, so that we can defeat the enemies in the east and the west, fight over the south and the north. We can make contributions for today, and make tremendous reputation for the future.” Xuande was very excited to hear what Fei said. He went out the stockade to welcome the marshal right away. The marshal came to the tent and said: “On behalf of the emperor, you will not be accused of recruiting armies. If you can defeat the Yellow Turban rebels, you will be awarded with high rank positions and great price.” Then the marshal granted Xuande a seat. Guan, Zhang and others stood and guarded aside. The marshal glimpsed at extraordinary looks of Xuande, Guan and Zhang. He commented with great joy: “You real heroes will treat the Yellow Turban traitors like straws!” Then the marshal appointed Xuande as the vanguard. Xuande sent out a spy to detect the number of[3] the Yellow Turbans. |
。。。嘆曰：「大丈夫生於世，當如此乎！」時時共議，欲救黎民於塗炭之中，解天子倒懸之急。見奸臣竊命，賊子弄權，常有不平之心。
不爭龍虎興仁義，賊子讒臣睡里驚。
卻說張飛，一日告二兄曰：「今黃巾賊遍州郡，劫掠民財，奪人妻女，倘若賊來，飛雖有家財，不能作主。」玄德曰：「似此若何？」飛曰：「咱不若告燕主，招些義兵，便賊來何懼？」玄德並關公言曰：「此舉有理。」即便上馬，離家來見燕主議事。
捻指到燕主階前，下馬，被門人攔住。飛曰：「念某特來見主公，有商議的事。」把門人曰：「少待某報知主公。」把門人至廳前稱：「有一人在衙前，欲與主公有議的事。」燕主曰：「交請來。」飛即隨門吏人到於廳上。燕主賜飛坐。燕主曰：「公有何干？」飛曰：「今有黃巾賊遍天下，倘若來此都，此中無備，卻不踏碎燕京？」燕主曰：「雖然如此，府庫無錢，倉廩無粟，無甚糧草養濟軍人。交誰人為其頭目？」飛曰：「某雖有上部下民，略有些小家財，可贍軍人。」燕主曰：「便招得些義兵，交誰為頭目？」飛曰：「某家有一人，姓劉名備，字玄德，乃中山靖王劉勝之後，其人生的龍准鳳目，耳垂過肩，手垂過膝，可為頭目。」燕主即時出令，立起義旗。為首者乃劉玄德，次下關雲長、張翼德、糜芳、簡獻和、孫虔。不滿一月，招的義軍三千五百。
燕主當日，共劉備於教場內教演其軍。燕主看時，所招軍將，人人有力，個個威雄。燕主甚喜。正門中間有人報曰：「禍事也！」
幽郡聚勇興戈甲，反亂黃巾覓死來。
燕主言曰：「有何禍事？」答曰：「今有黃巾賊，離城百里，來取幽州。」燕主曰：「義軍頭目如何？」玄德曰：「主公免憂，備願領軍去破黃巾。」道罷，玄德辭了燕主，領所招軍將，出城三十里下寨。
玄德坐於帳上，問曰：「誰人敢去探賊兵多少？」道一聲未了，有張飛帳前報喏：「飛願自往。」玄德曰：「兄弟去，小心者！」道罷，張飛上馬出寨去。不多時，飛複回，下馬至帳前告曰：「今有漢天子，差元帥皇甫嵩，持詔敕，如有作下罪人，招軍買馬，敢破黃巾賊者，便挂先鋒印。若滅了黃巾賊，封官賜賞。告哥哥：咱在此處，只一郡之主，不若投漢元帥，與國家出力；東蕩西除，南征北伐，顯功於今，揚名於後。」玄德聽得張飛道罷，甚喜；即時引手下人出寨迎接元帥。
元帥至帳上言曰：「今天子赦你每招義軍之罪，若破了黃巾，即賜高官重賞。」道罷，元帥賜玄德坐。關、張並眾人侍立。元帥覷了玄德、關、張，狀貌威雄，大喜：「據此英雄，視黃巾賊如草芥然！」元帥即時教玄德挂了先鋒印，遂差快騎往探黃巾。。。