第一小说网

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第148部分（第3页）

Now　the　Nine　Dignities；　or　signs　of　honor；　were：

1。　Chariots：　Gilded　chariots　drawn　by　eight　horses

2。　Court　dresses：　Dragon…embroidered　robes；　headdresses；　and　shoes

3。　Music　at　banquets：　By　royal　bands

4。　Red　doors：　Symbols　of　wealth

5。　Inner　staircase：　Protection　for　every　step

6。　Imperial　Tiger　Guard：　Three　hundred　at　the　gates

7。　Imperial　axes：　manding　and　ceremonial　symbols

8。　Bow　and　arrows：　Red…lacquered　bow　with　a　hundred　arrows

9。　Libation　vessels：　Jade　tablets　and　libation　cups

However；　all　the　courtiers　were　not　of　one　mind。

Said　High　Adviser　Xun　Yu；　〃This　should　not　be　done；　O　Prime　Minister。　You　raised　a　force　by　an　appeal　to　the　innate　sense　of　righteousness　of　the　people；　and　with　that　force　you　restored　the　Han　authority。　Now　you　should　remain　loyal　and　humble。　The　virtuous　person　loves　people　with　a　virtuous　love　and　would　not　act　in　this　way。〃

Cao　Cao　did　not　take　this　opposition　kindly。

Dong　Zhao　said；　〃How　can　we　disappoint　the　hopes　of　many　because　of　the　words　of　one？〃

So　a　memorial　went　to　the　Throne；　and　Cao　Caos　ambitions　and　desires　were　gratified　with　the　title　of　Duke　of　Wei。　The　Nine　Dignities　were　added。

〃I　did　not　think　to　see　this　day！〃　said　Xun　Yu；　sighing。

This　remark　was　repeated　to　the　newly　created　Duke　and　angered　him。　He　took　it　to　mean　that　Xun　Yu　would　no　longer　aid　him　or　favor　his　designs。

＇e＇　In　previous　campaigns；　Cao　Cao　always　left　Xun　Yu　at　the　capital　and　appointed　Xun　Yu　Court　Administrator；　who　managed　Cao　Caos　affair　in　his　absence。

In　the　winter　of　the　seventeenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　212）；　Cao　Cao　decided　to　send　an　army　to　conquer　the　South　Land；　and　he　ordered　Xun　Yu　to　go　with　it*。　Xun　Yu　understood　from　this　that　Cao　Cao　wished　his　death；　so　he　declined　the　appointment　on　the　plea　of　illness。　While　Xun　Yu　was　at　home；　he　received　one　day　a　box　such　as　one　sent　with　presents　of　dainties。　It　was　addressed　in　Cao　Caos　own　handwriting。　Opening　it；　Xun　Yu　found　therein　nothing。　He　understood；　so　he　took　poison　and　died。　He　was　fifty…two　years　of　age。

Xun　Yus　talents　were　to　all　people　known；

That　was　sad　that　at　the　door　of　power　he　tripped。

Posterity　is　wrong　to　class　him　with　the　noble　Zhang　Liang；

For；　nearing　death；　he　dared　not　face　his　lord　of　Han。

News　of　Xun　Yus　death　came　to　Cao　Cao　in　the　form　of　the　ordinary　letter　of　mourning　by　his　son；　Xun　Yun。　Then　Cao　Cao　was　sorry　and　gave　orders　for　an　imposing　funeral。　He　also　obtained　for　the　dead　man　the　posthumous　title　of　lordship。

The　northern　army　reached　River　Ruxu；　whence　Cao　Cao　sent　a　reconnaissance　of　thirty　thousand　troops　led　by　Cao　Hong　down　to　the　river。

Soon　Cao　Hong　reported：　〃The　enemys　fleet　blankets　the　river；　but　no　sign　of　movements。〃

Feeling　suspicious；