第一小说网

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第10部分（第2页）

〃Why　so　late；　Cao　Cao？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

〃My　horse　is　out　of　condition　and　slow；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

Dong　Zhuo　turned　to　his　henchman　Lu　Bu。

〃Some　good　horses　have　e　in　from　the　west。　You　go　and　pick　out　a　good　one　as　a　present　for　him。〃

And　Lu　Bu　left。

〃This　traitor　is　doomed！〃　thought　Cao　Cao。　He　ought　to　have　struck　then；　but　Cao　Cao　knew　Dong　Zhuo　was　very　powerful；　and　he　was　afraid　to　act。　He　wanted　to　make　sure　of　his　blow。

Now　Dong　Zhuos　corpulence　was　such　that　he　could　not　remain　long　sitting；　so　he　rolled　over　couch　and　lay　face　inwards。

〃Now　is　the　time；〃　thought　the　assassin；　and　he　gripped　the　good　sword　firmly。

But　just　as　Cao　Cao　was　going　to　strike；　Dong　Zhuo　happened　to　look　up　and　in　a　mirror　he　saw　the　reflection　of　Cao　Cao　behind　him　with　a　sword　in　the　hand。

〃What　are　you　doing；　Cao　Cao？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　turning　suddenly。　And　at　that　moment　Lu　Bu　came　along　leading　a　horse。

Cao　Cao　in　a　flurry　dropped　on　his　knees　and　said；　〃I　have　a　precious　sword　here　which　I　wish　to　present　to　Your　Benevolence。〃

Dong　Zhuo　took　it。　It　was　a　fine　blade；　over　a　foot　in　length；　inlaid　with　the　seven　precious　signs　and　very　keen………a　fine　sword　in　very　truth。　Dong　Zhuo　handed　the　weapon　to　Lu　Bu　while　Cao　Cao　took　off　the　sheath　which　he　also　gave　to　Lu　Bu。

Then　they　went　out　to　look　at　the　horse。　Cao　Cao　was　profuse　in　his　thanks　and　said　he　would　like　to　try　the　horse。　So　Dong　Zhuo　bade　the　guards　bring　saddle　and　bridle。　Cao　Cao　led　the　creature　outside；　leapt　into　the　saddle；　laid　on　his　whip　vigorously；　and　galloped　away　eastward。

Lu　Bu　said；　〃Just　as　I　was　ing　up；　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　that　fellow　was　going　to　stab　you；　only　a　sudden　panic　seized　him　and　he　presented　the　weapon　instead。〃

〃I　suspected　him　too！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

Just　then　Li　Ru　came　in　and　they　told　him。

〃Cao　Cao　has　no　family　here　in　the　capital　but　lodges　quite　alone　and　not　far　away；〃　said　Li　Ru。　〃Send　for　him。　If　he　es　forthwith；　the　sword　was　meant　as　a　gift。　But　if　he　makes　any　excuses；　he　had　bad　intentions。　And　you　can　arrest　him。〃

They　sent　four　prison　warders　to　call　Cao　Cao。

They　were　absent　a　long　time　and　then　came　back；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　had　not　returned　to　his　lodging　but　rode　in　hot　haste　out　of　the　eastern　gate。　To　the　gate　manders　questions　he　replied　that　he　was　on　a　special　message　for　the　Prime　Minister。　He　went　off　at　full　speed。〃

〃His　conscience　pricked　him　and　so　he　fled。　There　is　no　doubt　that　he　meant　assassination！〃　said　Li　Ru。

〃And　I　trusted　him　so　well！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　in　a　rage。

〃There　must　be　a　conspiracy　afoot。　When　we　catch　him；　we　shall　know　all　about　it；〃　said　Li　Ru。

Letters　and　pictures　of　the　fugitive　Cao　Cao　were　sent　everywhere　with　orders　to　catch　him。　A　large　reward　in　money　was　offered　and　a　patent　of　nobility；　while　those　who　sheltered　him　would　be　held　to　share　his　guilt。

Cao　Cao　traveled　in　hot　haste　toward　Qiao；　his　home　county。　On　the　road　at　Zhongmou；　he　was　recognized　by　the　guards　at　the　gate　and　made　prisoner。　They　took　him　to　the　Magistrate。　Cao　Cao　declared　he　was　a　merchant；　named　Huang　Fu。　The　Magistrate　scanned　his　face　most　closely　and　remained　in　deep　thought。

Presently　the　Magistrate　said；　〃When　I　was　at　the　capital　seeking　a　post；　I　knew　you　as　Cao　Cao。　Why　do　you　try　to　conceal　your　identity？〃

The　Magistrate　ordered　Cao　Cao　to　the　prison　till　the　morrow　when　he　could　send　Cao　Cao　to　the　capital　and　claim　the　reward。　He　gave　the　soldiers　wine　and　food　as　a　reward。

About　midnight　the　Magistrate　sent　a　trusty　servant　to　bring　the　prisoner　into　his　private　rooms　for　interrogation。

〃They　say　the　Prime　Minister　treated　you　well。　Why　did　you　try　to　harm　him？〃　said　Magistrate。

〃How　can　swallows　and　sparrows　understand　the　flight　of　the　crane　and　the　wild　goose？　I　am　your　prisoner　and　to　be　sent　to　the　capital　for　a　reward。　Why　so　many　questions？〃

The　Magistrate　sent　away　the　attendants　and　turning　to　the　prisoner　said；　〃Do　not　despise　me。　I　am　no　mere　hireling；　only　I　have　not　yet　found　the　lord　to　serve。〃

Said　Cao　Cao；　〃My　ancestors　enjoyed　the　bounty　of　Han；　and　should　I　differ　from　a　bird　or　a　beast　if　I　did　not　desire　to　repay　them　with　gratitude？　I　have　bowed　the　knee　to　Dong　Zhuo　that　thereby　I　might　find　an　opportunity　against　him；　and　so　remove　this　evil　from　the　state。　I　have　failed　for　this　time。　Such　is　the　will　of　Heaven。〃

〃And　where　are　you　going？〃

〃Home　to　my　county。　Thence　I　shall　issue　a　summons　calling　all　the　bold　people　to　e　with　forces　to　kill　the　tyrant。　This　is　my　desire。〃

Thereupon　the　Magistrate　himself　loosened　the　bonds　of　the　prisoner；　led　him　to　the　upper　seat；　and　bowed；　saying；　〃I　am　called　Chen　Gong。　My　aged　mother　and　family　are　in　the　east　county　of　Dongjun。　I　am　deeply　affected　by　your　loyalty　and　uprightness；　and　I　will　abandon　my　office　and　follow　you！〃

Cao　Cao　was　delighted　with　this　turn　of　affairs。　Chen　Gong　at　once　collected　some　money　for　the　expenses　of　their　journey　and　gave　Cao　Cao　a　different　dress。　Then　each　took　a　sword　and　rode　away　toward　Qiao。

Three　days　later　at　eventide　they　reached　Chenggao。　Cao　Cao　pointed　with　his　whip　to　a　hamlet　deep　in　the　woods　and　said；　〃There　lives　my　uncle；　Lu　Boshe；　a　sworn…brother　of　my　father。　Suppose　we　go　and　ask　news　of　my　family　and　seek　shelter　for　the　night？〃

〃Excellent！〃　said　his　panion　Chen　Gong；　and　they　rode　over；　dismounted　at　the　farm　gate　and　entered。

Lu　Boshe　greeted　them　and　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃I　hear　the　government　has　sent　stringent　orders　on　all　sides　to　arrest　you。　Your　father　has　gone　into　hiding　to　Chenliu。　How　has　this　all　e　ab