马跃檀溪

马跃檀溪

　　有次打仗，刘备缴获一匹名叫“的卢”的千里马。荆州刺史刘表看后禁不住连声称赞。刘备见刘表如此喜欢，将此马送给了刘表。刘表手下有一人颇懂相马术，言此马有妨主之相，劝刘表将马还给刘备。刘表的夫人蔡氏和其兄蔡瑁早有杀害刘备之心。一次，刘表请刘备代替他到襄阳去会见百官，蔡氏兄妹觉得这是杀害刘备的好机会。该城西门外有一条檀溪河，河宽水急，不易通过。蔡氏兄妹在东、南、北门派重兵把守，只留西门，等待下手。席间，一个叫伊籍的人来到刘备面前暗示，刘备假借更衣来到了后花园，伊籍附耳告诉刘备：“蔡瑁设计害你，已在东南北三个门派人把守，你只能出西门，快逃！”刘备大惊，策马跑出西门，行数里被檀溪河阻住去路，这时追兵赶来，刘备急打马过溪，没走几步，马失前蹄。刘备大呼：“的卢，的卢，今日果然害我！”话音刚落，只见马从水中一跃数丈，飞身上了西岸，摆脱了追兵。

ALeapOvertheTanxiRiver

　　LiuBeicapturedanexcellenthorseinabattle.WhenLiuBiaomarveledatthesteed，LiuBeigaveittohimasagift.UnderLiuBiao，therewasahorseexpertwhosaid，“Thishorse，thoughexcellent，tendstoharmitsowner；you’dbetterreturnittoLiuBei.”Followingtheexpert’sadvice，LiuBiaoreturnedthehorsetoLiuBei.LiuBiao’swifeCaiandherbrotherhadlongwishedtoXiangyangtomeetsomeofficials.Caiandherbrotherdecideditwasangoodopportunity.Theysenttroopstoguardeverycitygateexceptthewesternone，foroutsidethatgate，thewideTanxiRiver，withitsrapidwater，blockedtheroad.Atthebanquetforofficials，amanhintedtoLiuBeithatLiuBiaoplannedtokillhim.LiuBeifollowedthemantothebackgarden，wherehewhisperedintohisearthedetailsofplanCaiandherbrotherhadset.“Everygatebutthewesternoneisheavilyguarded，”themanadded.“Thewesterngateisyouronlychance.”Alarmed，LiuBeimountedthehorseandfled.Outsidethegatetheriverblockedhisway.Soldierswerefastapproaching.LiuBeiwhippedthehorselikemad，theanimalmovedforward，butafterjustafewstepsintotheriveritstumbled.“Surelyyouharmyourmaster，”LiuBeicriedindespair.Atthis，oddly，thehorsemadeavigorousleaptotheothersideoftheriver，leavingthesoldiersbehind.

　　Note：LiuBiaowasagovernorofJingzhouandaHanroyalfamilymember.