三國時期(qi),劉備(bei)和孫權聯合抗曹(cao)(cao),曹(cao)(cao)操親率八(ba)十萬(wan)兵(bing)馬進(jin)攻夏口。諸(zhu)(zhu)葛亮到江(jiang)東(dong)(dong)(dong)與東(dong)(dong)(dong)吳都(dou)督周(zhou)瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)共商破曹(cao)(cao)大計(ji),決定(ding)由周(zhou)瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)統率大軍(jun)(jun)水路御敵。大戰前夕,曹(cao)(cao)操謀(mou)士(shi)蔣(jiang)干(gan)(gan)過江(jiang)訪周(zhou),欲(yu)以(yi)同窗舊誼(yi)勸周(zhou)瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)降曹(cao)(cao)。周(zhou)瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)料(liao)知蔣(jiang)干(gan)(gan)來(lai)意(yi),盛(sheng)情(qing)款待,敘(xu)禮畢(bi),坐定(ding),即傳令悉召江(jiang)左(zuo)英(ying)杰(jie)與子(zi)翼(yi)相(xiang)見(jian)。須臾,文官武將(jiang),各穿(chuan)錦衣;帳(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)下(xia)偏裨將(jiang)校(xiao),都(dou)披銀鎧:分兩(liang)(liang)行(xing)而入。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)都(dou)教(jiao)相(xiang)見(jian)畢(bi),就列于(yu)(yu)兩(liang)(liang)傍而坐。大張筵席,奏軍(jun)(jun)中得(de)勝之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)樂,輪(lun)換行(xing)酒(jiu)(jiu)。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)告眾官曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“此(ci)吾(wu)(wu)同窗契友(you)也。雖從江(jiang)北到此(ci),卻(que)不(bu)是曹(cao)(cao)家說(shuo)客。公等勿疑(yi)。”遂解佩劍(jian)付太(tai)史慈曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“公可(ke)佩我劍(jian)作監酒(jiu)(jiu):今(jin)日(ri)宴飲(yin),但敘(xu)朋友(you)交情(qing);如(ru)(ru)(ru)有(you)提起(qi)曹(cao)(cao)操與東(dong)(dong)(dong)吳軍(jun)(jun)旅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)事(shi)者,即斬之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)!”太(tai)史慈應諾,按(an)劍(jian)坐于(yu)(yu)席上。蔣(jiang)干(gan)(gan)驚愕(e),不(bu)敢多言。周(zhou)瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“吾(wu)(wu)自領軍(jun)(jun)以(yi)來(lai),滴酒(jiu)(jiu)不(bu)飲(yin);今(jin)日(ri)見(jian)了(le)故(gu)人,又無疑(yi)忌,當飲(yin)一醉(zui)。”說(shuo)罷,大笑(xiao)暢飲(yin)。座(zuo)上觥籌交錯。飲(yin)至(zhi)半醋,瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)攜干(gan)(gan)手,同步出(chu)帳(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)外。左(zuo)右軍(jun)(jun)士(shi),皆全裝(zhuang)慣帶,持戈執戟(ji)而立(li)(li)。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)“吾(wu)(wu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)軍(jun)(jun)士(shi),頗雄(xiong)壯(zhuang)否(fou)?”干(gan)(gan)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“真熊虎之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)士(shi)也,”瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)又引(yin)干(gan)(gan)到帳(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)后一望,糧(liang)草堆(dui)如(ru)(ru)(ru)山積。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“吾(wu)(wu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)糧(liang)草,頗足備(bei)否(fou)?”干(gan)(gan)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“兵(bing)精糧(liang)足,名不(bu)虛(xu)傳。”瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)佯醉(zui)大笑(xiao)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“想(xiang)周(zhou)瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)與子(zi)翼(yi)同學業(ye)時,不(bu)曾望有(you)今(jin)日(ri)。”干(gan)(gan)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“以(yi)吾(wu)(wu)兄(xiong)高才,實(shi)不(bu)為(wei)過。”瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)執干(gan)(gan)手曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“大丈夫處(chu)世,遇(yu)知己之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)主,外托君臣之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)義,內(nei)結骨肉之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)恩,言必(bi)(bi)行(xing),計(ji)必(bi)(bi)從,禍福共之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。假(jia)使蘇秦、張儀、陸賈、酈(li)生復(fu)出(chu),口似懸河,舌如(ru)(ru)(ru)利刃(ren),安(an)能動我心哉!”言罷大笑(xiao)。蔣(jiang)干(gan)(gan)面如(ru)(ru)(ru)土色(se)。瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)復(fu)攜干(gan)(gan)入帳(zhang)(zhang)(zhang),會(hui)諸(zhu)(zhu)將(jiang)再飲(yin);因指諸(zhu)(zhu)將(jiang)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“此(ci)皆江(jiang)東(dong)(dong)(dong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)英(ying)杰(jie)。今(jin)日(ri)此(ci)會(hui),可(ke)名群英(ying)會(hui)。”飲(yin)至(zhi)天晚,點(dian)上燈燭(zhu),瑜(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)自起(qi)舞劍(jian)作歌。歌曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue):“丈夫處(chu)世兮立(li)(li)功名;立(li)(li)功名兮慰平生。慰平生兮吾(wu)(wu)將(jiang)醉(zui);吾(wu)(wu)將(jiang)醉(zui)兮發狂吟!”歇罷,滿座(zuo)歡笑(xiao)。故(gu)與同榻,偽造曹(cao)(cao)營水軍(jun)(jun)頭領蔡(cai)瑁(mao)(mao)、張允降吳假(jia)信,夾于(yu)(yu)書中,故(gu)意(yi)誘蔣(jiang)干(gan)(gan)竊取。蔣(jiang)干(gan)(gan)中計(ji),曹(cao)(cao)操一怒之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下(xia)斬了(le)蔡(cai)、張二將(jiang),即覺(jue)中計(ji),便遺(yi)蔡(cai)瑁(mao)(mao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)弟蔡(cai)中、蔡(cai)和二人,以(yi)不(bu)滿曹(cao)(cao)操殺兄(xiong)為(wei)由,到江(jiang)東(dong)(dong)(dong)詐降
《群(qun)英會(hui)》是一部生(sheng)、凈、丑(chou)行合作演出的三(san)國戲。主要演繹三(san)國時(shi),孫(sun)權(吳)、曹操(魏)兩軍對峙,孫(sun)權、劉備(蜀)聯合抗曹軍取得(de)戰(zhan)役(yi)勝利的故事。劇(ju)(ju)中人(ren)物的身份(fen)、個性(xing)各(ge)有不同(tong),為(wei)各(ge)自的利益斗(dou)智(zhi)斗(dou)勇(yong)。全(quan)劇(ju)(ju)情節緊湊、動人(ren)心弦。
《群英會》以用計見長(chang),斗智(zhi)逞謀(mou),如重巒(luan)疊嶂,層出不窮(qiong),是三國戲(xi)中(zhong)之(zhi)(zhi)精(jing)華。演(yan)(yan)(yan)藝頗難,皆(jie)(jie)須(xu)正角(jiao),方能(neng)奏效,如魯(lu)肅之(zhi)(zhi)忠厚誠懇, 諸葛亮之(zhi)(zhi)談(tan)笑自若,周(zhou)(zhou)瑜(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)英爽風流,蔣干之(zhi)(zhi)局促不安,皆(jie)(jie)非善于(yu)描(miao)摹神(shen)情者能(neng)得其形。早(zao)期京師,曾有譚鑫(xin)培、朱素云、羅百歲(sui)(sui)、貴俊卿,合演(yan)(yan)(yan)此劇,譚演(yan)(yan)(yan)魯(lu)肅,貴飾(shi)諸葛,素云周(zhou)(zhou)瑜(yu),百歲(sui)(sui)蔣干,珠聯璧合,空前絕后。20世紀50年代,譚富(fu)英(1906—1977,譚派(pai)老生(sheng),譚鑫(xin)培之(zhi)(zhi)孫(sun),飾(shi)演(yan)(yan)(yan)吳(wu)國忠厚的(de)文(wen)官(guan)魯(lu)肅)、馬(ma)連良(馬(ma)派(pai)老生(sheng),飾(shi)演(yan)(yan)(yan)足智(zhi)多(duo)謀(mou)的(de)蜀國軍師諸葛亮)、蕭長(chang)華(丑(chou)角(jiao),飾(shi)演(yan)(yan)(yan)為曹魏勸降的(de)奸(jian)詐(zha)之(zhi)(zhi)人蔣干)、葉(xie)盛蘭(葉(xie)派(pai)小生(sheng),飾(shi)演(yan)(yan)(yan)恃才(cai)自負的(de)吳(wu)國名將周(zhou)(zhou)瑜(yu))、裘盛戎(裘派(pai)花臉(lian),飾(shi)演(yan)(yan)(yan)施苦肉計的(de)吳(wu)國老將黃(huang)蓋)、袁世海(花臉(lian),飾(shi)演(yan)(yan)(yan)一(yi)代奸(jian)雄白臉(lian)曹操)等(deng)諸位藝術家聯袂合演(yan)(yan)(yan),至(zhi)今(jin)為人津津樂道。