Read Online The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 by Luo Guanzhong - Free Book Online Page B

enough, it was a fine steed, all its hair being of a uniform color of glowing charcoal, not a single one of another color. It measured ten feet from head to tail and eight feet from hoof to neck. When it neighed, it had the appearance of riding up into the air or down into the sea. Later, a poet wrote the following in praise of the steed:
The fine steed gallops a thousand li a day, kicking off dust as it goes;
It crosses rivers and climbs hills, dispersing the purple mist;
    Now he breaks the rein and shakes the jade bridle;
Like a fiery dragon, he descends from the highest heaven.
    Lu Bu was delighted with the horse and said, “Thank you for giving me such a fine horse. But what can I hope to offer in return?”
    “I came here out of a sense of loyalty to my friend, not for repayment.”
    Then wine was brought in and they drank. After they had been drinking for some time, Li Su said, “I have seen very little of you but I am constantly meeting your honorable father.”
    “You are drunk,” said Lu Bu. “My father has been dead for years. How can you meet him?”
    Li Su laughed. “Oh, no. I mean Minister Ding Yuan, the man of the day.”
    Lu Bu started. “Yes, I am with him but only because I can do no better,” he explained.
    “My worthy brother, you have talents to rule the air and control the seas. Who in the world does not admire you? Ranks and riches are yours for the taking. And you say you can do no better than remain a subordinate!”
    “If only I could find the right master to serve!” sighed Lu Bu.
    Li Su smiled and said, “The clever bird chooses the best branch on which to perch and the wise official selects the worthy master to serve. If you don’t seize the chance when it comes, you will only repent when it’s too late.”
    “Now you are in the government. Who do you think is the most worthy of all?” Lu Bu asked.
    “None of the officials can be compared with Dong Zhuo. He is the one who respects the wise and reveres the scholarly; he is discriminating in his rewards and punishments. I am sure he is destined for a great cause.”
    “I wish I could serve him but there is no way, I fear,” replied Lu Bu.
    Then Li Su produced the gold, the pearls, and the jade belt, laying them out before his host.
    “What does this mean?” asked Lu Bu in surprise.
    “Send away the attendants,” said Li Su. After they were gone, he continued, “These gifts are from Dong Zhuo, who has long admired you for your valor. The Red Hare is also from him.”
    “He is so kind to me. What can I do in return?”
    “If an untalented person like me can be an officer in his army, think what great honor awaits you if you serve under him.”
    “But I am afraid I can offer him no service worth mentioning to grant an audience with him.”
    “There is an easy service for you to perform—only you will not do it.”
    For a long time Lu Bu sat thinking in silence. In the end he said, “I would slay Ding Yuan and bring over his soldiers to your side. What do you say to that?”
    “If you would do that, there could be no greater service. But make haste. There should be no delay.”
    Lu Bu promised his friend that he would submit to Dong Zhuo the next day. Then Li Su left to report his success.
    That very night, Lu Bu entered his adopted father’s tent. The unsuspecting man was reading by the candlelight. Seeing who came in he asked, “My son, why do you come here?”
    “I am a man of dignity,” said Lu Bu, “do you think I am willing to be a son of yours?”
    “Why this sudden change of heart, Feng-xian?”
    The young man stepped forward and, with one single swing of his sword, cut off his protector’s head. Then he shouted, “Ding Yuan was an unjust man and I have slain him. Let those who are with me stay; the others may leave!” A majority of the soldiers ran away.
    The next day, holding the head of the murdered man, Lu Bu went to see his friend Li Su, who introduced him to his master. Dong Zhuo was very pleased to