三國時(shi)期,劉(liu)備和(he)孫權聯(lian)合抗曹(cao)(cao),曹(cao)(cao)操(cao)(cao)(cao)親率(lv)八十萬(wan)兵馬進攻夏口。諸葛(ge)亮到(dao)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)東(dong)與東(dong)吳都督(du)周瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)共商破曹(cao)(cao)大(da)計(ji),決(jue)定由(you)周瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)統率(lv)大(da)軍(jun)水路御敵。大(da)戰前(qian)夕(xi),曹(cao)(cao)操(cao)(cao)(cao)謀(mou)士(shi)蔣干(gan)過江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)訪(fang)周,欲以(yi)同(tong)(tong)窗舊誼勸周瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)降(jiang)曹(cao)(cao)。周瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)料知蔣干(gan)來(lai)意(yi),盛情款待,敘(xu)禮(li)畢,坐定,即(ji)傳(chuan)令悉召江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)左英(ying)杰與子(zi)翼相見。須(xu)臾,文官武將(jiang),各穿(chuan)錦衣;帳(zhang)下(xia)偏裨將(jiang)校,都披銀鎧:分(fen)兩行而入。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)都教相見畢,就列于(yu)(yu)兩傍而坐。大(da)張(zhang)筵席(xi),奏(zou)軍(jun)中(zhong)得勝之(zhi)(zhi)樂,輪換行酒(jiu)。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)告眾官曰(yue)(yue):“此(ci)吾(wu)(wu)(wu)同(tong)(tong)窗契友(you)也(ye)。雖從江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)北到(dao)此(ci),卻(que)不(bu)(bu)是曹(cao)(cao)家(jia)說客。公等勿疑(yi)。”遂解佩劍(jian)付太(tai)史(shi)慈曰(yue)(yue):“公可(ke)佩我劍(jian)作(zuo)(zuo)監(jian)酒(jiu):今日(ri)宴飲,但敘(xu)朋友(you)交(jiao)情;如(ru)(ru)有提起(qi)曹(cao)(cao)操(cao)(cao)(cao)與東(dong)吳軍(jun)旅之(zhi)(zhi)事者,即(ji)斬之(zhi)(zhi)!”太(tai)史(shi)慈應諾,按劍(jian)坐于(yu)(yu)席(xi)上。蔣干(gan)驚愕,不(bu)(bu)敢多言。周瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)曰(yue)(yue):“吾(wu)(wu)(wu)自(zi)領(ling)軍(jun)以(yi)來(lai),滴酒(jiu)不(bu)(bu)飲;今日(ri)見了故(gu)人,又無(wu)疑(yi)忌,當(dang)飲一(yi)醉(zui)。”說罷(ba),大(da)笑暢(chang)飲。座(zuo)上觥籌(chou)交(jiao)錯。飲至(zhi)(zhi)半醋,瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)攜(xie)干(gan)手,同(tong)(tong)步出(chu)帳(zhang)外。左右(you)軍(jun)士(shi),皆全裝慣帶,持戈(ge)執戟而立(li)。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)曰(yue)(yue)“吾(wu)(wu)(wu)之(zhi)(zhi)軍(jun)士(shi),頗雄(xiong)壯否?”干(gan)曰(yue)(yue):“真熊虎之(zhi)(zhi)士(shi)也(ye),”瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)又引干(gan)到(dao)帳(zhang)后(hou)一(yi)望(wang),糧草堆如(ru)(ru)山積(ji)。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)曰(yue)(yue):“吾(wu)(wu)(wu)之(zhi)(zhi)糧草,頗足備否?”干(gan)曰(yue)(yue):“兵精糧足,名(ming)不(bu)(bu)虛傳(chuan)。”瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)佯醉(zui)大(da)笑曰(yue)(yue):“想周瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)與子(zi)翼同(tong)(tong)學業時(shi),不(bu)(bu)曾望(wang)有今日(ri)。”干(gan)曰(yue)(yue):“以(yi)吾(wu)(wu)(wu)兄高才,實不(bu)(bu)為(wei)過。”瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)執干(gan)手曰(yue)(yue):“大(da)丈(zhang)夫(fu)(fu)處世,遇(yu)知己之(zhi)(zhi)主,外托君臣之(zhi)(zhi)義,內(nei)結(jie)骨(gu)肉之(zhi)(zhi)恩,言必行,計(ji)必從,禍福共之(zhi)(zhi)。假使蘇(su)秦(qin)、張(zhang)儀、陸賈、酈生復出(chu),口似懸河,舌如(ru)(ru)利刃,安能動我心哉!”言罷(ba)大(da)笑。蔣干(gan)面如(ru)(ru)土(tu)色。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)復攜(xie)干(gan)入帳(zhang),會諸將(jiang)再飲;因指諸將(jiang)曰(yue)(yue):“此(ci)皆江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)東(dong)之(zhi)(zhi)英(ying)杰。今日(ri)此(ci)會,可(ke)名(ming)群英(ying)會。”飲至(zhi)(zhi)天(tian)晚,點上燈燭,瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)自(zi)起(qi)舞劍(jian)作(zuo)(zuo)歌(ge)。歌(ge)曰(yue)(yue):“丈(zhang)夫(fu)(fu)處世兮(xi)(xi)立(li)功名(ming);立(li)功名(ming)兮(xi)(xi)慰平(ping)生。慰平(ping)生兮(xi)(xi)吾(wu)(wu)(wu)將(jiang)醉(zui);吾(wu)(wu)(wu)將(jiang)醉(zui)兮(xi)(xi)發狂吟(yin)!”歇罷(ba),滿(man)座(zuo)歡笑。故(gu)與同(tong)(tong)榻,偽(wei)造曹(cao)(cao)營水軍(jun)頭(tou)領(ling)蔡(cai)(cai)(cai)瑁、張(zhang)允(yun)降(jiang)吳假信,夾于(yu)(yu)書中(zhong),故(gu)意(yi)誘蔣干(gan)竊(qie)取。蔣干(gan)中(zhong)計(ji),曹(cao)(cao)操(cao)(cao)(cao)一(yi)怒之(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)斬了蔡(cai)(cai)(cai)、張(zhang)二將(jiang),即(ji)覺(jue)中(zhong)計(ji),便遺蔡(cai)(cai)(cai)瑁之(zhi)(zhi)弟蔡(cai)(cai)(cai)中(zhong)、蔡(cai)(cai)(cai)和(he)二人,以(yi)不(bu)(bu)滿(man)曹(cao)(cao)操(cao)(cao)(cao)殺兄為(wei)由(you),到(dao)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)東(dong)詐降(jiang)
《群(qun)英會》是一(yi)部(bu)生、凈、丑行合作演出的(de)三國戲。主要演繹三國時,孫權(吳)、曹操(魏)兩軍(jun)對峙,孫權、劉(liu)備(蜀)聯合抗曹軍(jun)取得戰役勝利(li)的(de)故事。劇中人(ren)物的(de)身份、個性各(ge)有不(bu)同,為(wei)各(ge)自(zi)的(de)利(li)益(yi)斗智斗勇。全劇情節緊湊、動人(ren)心弦。
《群英會(hui)》以用計見(jian)長,斗(dou)智逞謀(mou)(mou),如(ru)重巒疊嶂(zhang),層出不(bu)窮,是三國(guo)(guo)戲(xi)中之(zhi)精華(hua)(hua)。演(yan)(yan)藝頗(po)難(nan),皆須正角,方能(neng)奏效,如(ru)魯(lu)肅(su)之(zhi)忠厚誠懇, 諸(zhu)葛亮之(zhi)談笑自(zi)若,周瑜之(zhi)英爽風流,蔣干(gan)之(zhi)局促不(bu)安,皆非善于(yu)描(miao)摹(mo)神情者(zhe)能(neng)得其形(xing)。早期京師,曾有(you)譚(tan)鑫培、朱素云、羅百歲、貴俊(jun)卿,合(he)(he)(he)演(yan)(yan)此劇(ju),譚(tan)演(yan)(yan)魯(lu)肅(su),貴飾(shi)(shi)諸(zhu)葛,素云周瑜,百歲蔣干(gan),珠(zhu)聯璧合(he)(he)(he),空前(qian)絕后。20世紀50年(nian)代,譚(tan)富(fu)英(1906—1977,譚(tan)派老(lao)生(sheng),譚(tan)鑫培之(zhi)孫,飾(shi)(shi)演(yan)(yan)吳國(guo)(guo)忠厚的文官魯(lu)肅(su))、馬連(lian)良(馬派老(lao)生(sheng),飾(shi)(shi)演(yan)(yan)足智多謀(mou)(mou)的蜀國(guo)(guo)軍師諸(zhu)葛亮)、蕭長華(hua)(hua)(丑角,飾(shi)(shi)演(yan)(yan)為(wei)曹魏(wei)勸降(jiang)的奸詐之(zhi)人蔣干(gan))、葉盛蘭(lan)(葉派小生(sheng),飾(shi)(shi)演(yan)(yan)恃才自(zi)負的吳國(guo)(guo)名將周瑜)、裘(qiu)(qiu)盛戎(裘(qiu)(qiu)派花臉,飾(shi)(shi)演(yan)(yan)施(shi)苦(ku)肉(rou)計的吳國(guo)(guo)老(lao)將黃蓋)、袁世海(花臉,飾(shi)(shi)演(yan)(yan)一代奸雄(xiong)白臉曹操)等(deng)諸(zhu)位藝術家聯袂合(he)(he)(he)演(yan)(yan),至今為(wei)人津津樂(le)道(dao)。