第一小说网

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第173部分（第2页）

＇e＇　There　is　a　drawing　by　Zhang　Yu　titled　〃Cai　Yan　Returns　to　Her　Homeland〃。　。。。。。

Now　Cao　Cao　and　Cai　Yong　had　been　excellent　friends　at　one　time。　Cai　Yongs　daughter　had　been　first　married　to　Wei　Zhongdao。　Then　she　was　abducted　by　the　frontier　tribes　and　taken　away　to　the　north；　where　she　had　borne　two　sons。　She　had　posed　a　ballad　called　〃Eighteen　Stanzas　for　the　Mongol　Flageolet；〃　which　was　widespread　to　the　empire。　Cao　Cao　had　been　moved　by　pity　for　her　sorrows　and　sent　a　messenger　with　a　thousand　ounces　of　gold　to　ransom　her。　The　Prince　of　the　frontier　Xiongnu　State；　Ce　Xian　the　Khan；　overawed　by　Cao　Caos　strength；　had　restored　her　to　Cai　Yong。　Then　Cao　Cao　gave　her　in　marriage　to　Dong　Si。*

Ordering　his　escort　to　march　on；　Cao　Cao　went　up　to　the　gate　with　only　a　few　attendants；　dismounted；　and　inquired　after　the　lady　of　the　house。　At　this　time　Dong　Si　was　absent　at　his　post；　and　the　lady　was　alone。　As　soon　as　she　heard　who　her　visitor　was；　she　hastened　to　wele　him　and　led　him　into　the　reception　room。　When　Cao　Cao　was　seated　and　she　had　performed　the　proper　salutations；　she　stood　respectfully　at　his　side。　Glancing　round　the　room；　Cao　Cao　saw　a　rubbing　of　a　tablet　hanging　on　the　wall。　So　he　got　up　to　read　it；　and　asked　his　hostess　about　it。

〃It　is　a　tablet　of　Cao　E；　or　the　fair　Lady　Cao。　In　the　time　of　the　Emperor　He　（AD　100）；　in　the　Xiongnu　State　there　was　a　certain　magician　named　Cao　Xu；　who　could　dance　and　sing　like　the　very　Spirit　of　Music。　On　the　fifth　of　the　fifth　month　he　was　out　in　a　boat；　and　being　intoxicated；　fell　overboard　and　was　drowned。　He　had　a　daughter；　Cao　E；　then　fourteen　years　of　age。　She　was　greatly　distressed　and　sought　the　body　of　her　father　for　seven　days　and　nights；　weeping　all　the　while。　Then　she　threw　herself　into　the　waves；　and　five　days　later　she　floated　to　the　surface　with　her　fathers　body　in　her　arms。　The　villagers　buried　them　on　the　bank；　and　the　magistrate　reported　the　occurrence　to　the　Emperor　as　a　worthy　instance　of　daughterly　affection　and　remarkable　piety。

〃A　later　magistrate　had　the　story　inscribed　by　Handan　Chun　in　memory　of　the　event。　At　that　time　Handan　Chun　was　only　thirteen；　but　the　position　of　the　inscription　was　so　perfect　that　neither　jot　nor　tittle　could　be　added；　and　yet　he　had　written　it　impromptu　without　revision。　The　stone　was　set　up　beside　the　grave；　and　both　inscription　and　story　were　the　admiration　of　all　the　people　of　that　day。　My　father　went　to　see　it。　It　was　evening；　but　in　the　obscurity　he　felt　out　the　inscription　with　his　fingers。　He　got　hold　of　a　pencil　and　wrote　eight　large　characters　on　the　reverse　of　the　stone　and；　later；　some　person　recutting　the　stone　engraved　these　eight　words　as　well。〃

Cao　Cao　then　read　the　eight　words；　they　formed　an　enigma。　Literally　they　read；　〃yellow　silk；　young　wife；　a　daughters　child；　pestle　and　mortar。〃

〃Can　you　explain？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　his　hostess。

〃No；　although　it　is　a　writing　of　my　fathers；　thy　handmaid　cannot　interpret　it；〃　she　replied。

Turning　to　the　strategists　of　his　staff；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Can　anyone　of　you　explain　it？〃

But　no　one　made　any　reply。　Suddenly；　they　heard　one　voice；　〃I　have　grasped　the　meaning　of　it。〃

The　man　who　said　he　had　fathomed　the　meaning　was　First　Secretary　Yang　Xiu。

〃Do　not　tell　me　yet。　Let　me　think　it　out；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Soon　after　they　took　leave　of　the　lady；　went　out　of　the　farm；　and　rode　on。　About　one　mile　from　the　farm；　the　meaning　suddenly　dawned　upon　Cao　Cao。

He　laughingly　turned　to　Yang　Xiu；　saying；　〃Now；　you　may　try。〃

〃This　is　the　solution　of　the　enigma；〃　said　Yang　Xiu。　〃Yellow　silk　is　silk　threads　of　natural　color；　and　the　character　for　silk　placed　beside　that　for　color　forms　a　word　meaning　finally；　decidedly。　The　young　wife　is　a　little　female；　and　the　character　for　female　with　little；　or　few；　placed　beside　it　forms　a　word　meaning　admirable；　fine。　The　daughters　child　is　daughter　and　child；　which　side　by　side　make　the　word　good。　And　a　pestle　and　mortar　suggest　pounding　together　the　five　bitter　herbs　in　a　receptacle：　The　character　for　receptacle　and　bitter　form　a　word　meaning　to　tell。　So　the　four　words　are　Decidedly　fine　and　well　told。〃

Cao　Cao　was　astonished　at　Yang　Xius　cleverness；　and　said；　〃Just　what　I　made　it。〃

Those　around　greatly　wondered　at　Yang　Xius　ingenuity　and　knowledge。

In　less　than　a　day　they　reached　Nanzheng；　where　Cao　Hong　weled　them。　He　told　the　tale　of　Zhang　Hes　misfortunes。

〃To　suffer　defeat　is　no　crime；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃That　and　victory　are　things　that　happen　constantly　in　war。〃

〃Liu　Bei　has　sent　Huang　Zhong　to　take　Dingjun　Mountain；〃　said　Cao　Hong。　〃Xiahou　Yuan；　hearing　you　were　ing；　O　Prince；　has　been　defending　the　position　and　not　going　out　to　give　battle。〃

〃But　standing　always　on　the　defensive　is　showing　weakness；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Thereupon　he　bade　a　man　carry　an　authority　ensign　to　the　Mountain　mander　and　so　order　him　to　attack　the　enemy。

〃Xiahou　Yuan　is　very　stern　and　inflexible；　and　he　may　be　carried　too　far　and　fall　victim　to　some　vile　ruse；〃　said　Liu　Ye。

Wherefore　the　Prince　wrote　a　letter　to　him　to　acpany　the　authority　ensign。　And　when　the　messenger　arrived　and　the　letter　was　opened；　it　read：

〃Every　leader　must　exercise　a　bination　of　inflexibility　and　yielding。　Boldness　is　not　the　only　thing　that　counts；　if　he　makes　it　so；　then　is　he　a　mere　creature　to　fight。　Now　I　am　camped　at　Nanzheng　ready　to　watch　the　deeds　of　your　admirable　prowess　and　capacity；　and　all　I　have　to　say　is；　Do　not　disgrace　your　previous　reputation。〃

The　letter　pleased　the　mander　mightily。　Having　sent　away　the　bearer；　Xiahou　Yuan　called　in　Zhang　He　to　consult。

〃The　Prince　has　a　great　army　at　Nanzheng　ready　to　destroy　Liu　Bei。　We　have　been　on　the　defense　here　long　enough；　and　it　is　time　we　rendered　some　solid　service。　Tomorrow　I　am　going　out　to　battle；　and　hope　to　capture　Huang　Zhong。〃

〃Your　opponent　bines　ready　resource　with　boldness　and　prevision；〃　said　Zhang　He。　〃Beside；　he　has　Fa　Zheng　to　aid　him；　and　you　must　be　cautious；　for　the　country　is　very　difficult　and　dangerous。　You　had　better　keep　on　the　defensive。〃

〃How　shall　we　be　able　to　look　our　pri