“This Lu Bu is a marvel,” said Dong Zhuo. “If he were only on my side, I would defy the whole world！”
At this a man advanced saying, “Be content, O my lord！ I am a fellow villager of his and know him well： He is valorous, but not crafty； he will let go principles, when he sees advantages. With this little, blarneying tongue of mine, I can persuade him to put up his hands and come over to your side.”
Dong Zhuo was delighted and gazed admiringly at the speaker. It was Li Su, a general in the Imperial Tiger Army.
“What arguments will you use with him？” asked Dong Zhuo.
“You have a fine horse, Red Hare, one of the best ever bred. I must have this steed, and gold and pearls to win his heart. Then will I go and persuade him. He will certainly abandon Ding Yuan's service for yours.”
“What think you？” said Dong Zhuo to his adviser Li Ru.
“One cannot grudge a horse to win an empire,” was the reply.
So they gave Li Su what he demanded——a thousand ounces of gold, ten strings of beautiful pearls, a jeweled belt, and Red Hare——and these accompanied Li Su on his visit to his fellow villager.
Li Su reached the camp and said to the guard, “Please tell General Lu Bu that a very old friend has come to visit him.”
He was admitted forthwith.
“Worthy brother, have you been well since we last met？” greeted Li Su while bowing.
“How long it is since we last saw each other！” replied Lu Bu, bowing in return. “And where are you now？”
“I am a general in the Imperial Tiger Army. When I learned you were a strong supporter of the Throne, I could not say how I rejoiced. I have come now to present to you a really fine horse, a five-hundred-mile-a-day horse, one that crosses rivers and goes up mountains as if they were the level plain. Its name is Red Hare. It will be a fitting aid to your valor.”
Marvel 令人惊异的人
Content 满意的
Valorous 勇武的
Blarney 奉承
Grudge 不愿意给
Forthwith 立刻
卓曰：“吾观吕布非常人也。吾若得此人，何虑天下哉！”帐前一人出曰：“主公勿忧。某与吕布同乡，知其勇而无谋，见利忘义。某凭三寸不烂之舌，说吕布拱手来降，可乎？”卓大喜，观其人，乃虎贲中郎将李肃也。卓曰：“汝将何以说之？”肃曰：“某闻主公有名马一匹，号曰赤兔，日行千里。须得此马，再用金珠，以利结其心。某更进说词，吕布必反丁原，来投主公矣。”卓问李儒曰：“此言可乎？”儒曰：“主公欲破天下，何惜一马！”卓欣然与之，更与黄金一千两、明珠数十颗、玉带一条。李肃赍了礼物，投吕布寨来。伏路军人围住。肃曰：“可速报吕将军，有故人来见。”军人报知，布命入见。肃见布曰：“贤弟别来无恙！”布揖曰：“久不相见，今居何处？”肃曰：“现任虎贲中郎将之职。闻贤弟匡扶社稷，不胜之喜。有良马一匹，日行千里，渡水登山，如履平地，名曰赤兔：特献与贤弟，以助虎威。”
