第一小说网

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第63部分（第2页）

Fortune　dealt　a　stunning　blow；　still　he　played　his　part；

Partitioning　his　dwelling　proved　his　purity　of　heart。

The　crafty　minister　desired　to　win　him　to　his　side；

But　felt　that　failure　was　foredoomed　however　much　he　tried。

Said　Cao　Cao　to　Zhang　Liao；　〃I　have　treated　Guan　Yu　pretty　liberally；　but　he　still　cherishes　the　desire　to　leave　me。　Do　you　know　if　it　is　really　so？〃

〃I　will　try　to　find　out；〃　was　the　reply。

So　Zhang　Liao　took　an　early　opportunity　of　seeing　Guan　Yu；　and　when　the　politeness　of　the　visit　were　over；　Zhang　Liao　said；　〃I　remended　you　to　the　Prime　Minister；　and　you　have　not　lost　much　by　that。〃

〃I　am　deeply　affected　by　his　kindness　and　bounty；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃but；　though　my　body　is　here；　yet　I　am　always　thinking　of　my　brother。〃

〃Your　words　do　not　express　present　conditions　quite　correctly。　One　who　lives　in　the　world　without　discrimination　and　consideration　of　his　relations　with　others　is　not　the　most　admirable　type　of　person。　Even　Liu　Bei　never　treated　you　better　than　does　the　Prime　Minister。　Why　then　do　you　maintain　this　desire　to　get　away？〃

〃I　know　only　too　well　that　he　has　been　most　kind；　but　I　have　also　received　great　kindness　from　Uncle　Liu　Bei。　Beside　we　have　sworn　to　die　together；　and　I　cannot　remain　here。　But　before　I　go；　I　must　try　to　render　the　Prime　Minister　some　signal　service　to　prove　my　gratitude。〃

〃Supposing　Liu　Bei　should　have　left　the　world；　whither　will　you　go？〃　said　Zhang　Liao。

〃I　will　follow　him　to　the　below　realms　of　Nine　Golden　Springs。〃

There　could　no　longer　be　the　least　doubt　as　to　Guan　Yus　intentions；　and　Zhang　Liao　told　Cao　Cao　just　how　matters　stood。　Cao　Cao　sighed。

〃To　serve　ones　chief　with　unswerving　fidelity　is　a　proof　of　the　highest　principle　of　all；〃　said　he。

Said　Xun　Yu；　〃He　spoke　of　performing　some　act　of　service　before　leaving。　If　he　gets　no　chance　of　such　a　thing；　he　will　not　be　able　to　go。〃

Cao　Cao　agreed　that　this　was　so。

Liu　Bei　went　to　Yuan　Shao　for　refuge。　Here　Liu　Bei　was　always　sorrowful　and；　when　asked　the　reason；　said　he　did　not　know　where　his　brothers　were　nor　what　had　happened　to　his　family　since　they　fell　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Cao。

〃Why　should　I　not　be　sad　when　I　have　failed　towards　my　country　and　my　family？〃　said　he。

〃I　have　long　wished　to　attack　Xuchang；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Now　it　is　autumn　and　just　the　time　for　an　expedition；　so　let　us　discuss　plans　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。〃

Tian　Feng　at　once　opposed　this。

〃When　Cao　Cao　attacked　Xuzhou　and　Xuchang　was　undefended；　you　let　the　chance　slip　by。　Now　that　Xuzhou　has　been　captured；　and　their　soldiers　are　flushed　with　victory；　it　would　be　madness　to　attempt　it。　It　is　necessary　to　await　another　chance。〃

〃Let　me　think　about　it；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

He　asked　advice　from　Liu　Bei　whether　to　attack　or　to　hold　on。

Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel。　I　think　you　are　failing　in　your　duty　if　you　do　not　attack　him。〃

〃Your　words　are　good；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

He　made　up　his　mind　to　move。　But　again　the　adviser　Tian　Feng　intervened。

Then　Yuan　Shao　grew　angry；　saying；　〃You　fellows　who　cultivate　literature　and　despise　war　have　made　me　miss　a　lot！〃

Tian　Feng　bowed　his　head　and　said；　〃Neglect　your　servants　wise　words；　and　you　will　fail　in　the　field。〃

Yuan　Shao　was　so　angry　that　he　wanted　to　put　Tian　Feng　to　death。　However；　Liu　Bei　begged　him　off　and　he　was　only　imprisoned。

Seeing　the　fate　of　his　colleague；　another　adviser；　Ju　Shou；　assembled　his　clan　and　distributed　among　them　all　his　possessions；　saying；　〃I　go　with　the　army。　If　we　succeed；　then　nothing　can　exceed　our　glory；　but　if　we　are　defeated；　the　risk　I　run　is　great。〃

His　friends　wept　as　they　said　farewell。

General　Yan　Liang　was　appointed　to　the　mand　of　the　advance　guard；　to　go　to　attack　Baima。

Then　Ju　Shou　first　protested；　〃His　mind　is　too　narrow　for　such　a　post。　He　is　brave　but　unequal　to　such　a　trust。〃

〃You　are　not　the　sort　of　man　to　measure　my　best　generals；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。

The　army　marched　to　Liyang；　and　Governor　Liu　Yue　of　Dongjun　sent　an　urgent　call　to　Xuchang　for　aid。　Cao　Cao　moved　his　armies　hastily。

As　soon　as　the　news　of　battle　got　about；　Guan　Yu　went　to　see　the　Prime　Minister　and　said；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　the　army　is　mobilized。　I　volunteer　for　the　van　leader。〃

〃I　scarcely　dare　put　you　to　such　inconvenience；　but　presently；　if　need　arises；　I　will　call　upon　you。〃

So　Guan　Yu　retired；　and　one　hundred　fifty　thousand　soldiers　marched　out　in　three　directions。　On　the　road　the　letters　from　Liu　Yue　arrived　praying　for　help；　and　Cao　Cao　marched　the　first　fifty　thousand　troops　to　Baima　and　took　up　a　position　supported　by　the　hills。　In　the　wide　plains　in　front　of　them；　Yan　Liang　was　encamped　with　one　hundred　thousand　veterans。

Cao　Cao　was　frightened　at　the　force　opposed　to　him　and；　returning　to　camp；　spoke　to　Song　Xian；　who　had　once　served　under　Lu　Bu；　saying；　〃You　are　one　of　Lu　Bus　famous　veteran　generals。　Can　you　give　battle　to　this　Yan　Liang？〃

Song　Xian　agreed　to　try。　He　armed　himself；　mounted；　and　rode　to　the　front。　Yan　Liang　was　there　on　horseback；　his　sword　lying　crossways。　Seeing　an　opponent　approaching；　he　uttered　a　loud　shout　and　galloped　toward　Song　Xian。　The　two　met；　but　after　only　three　bouts；　Song　Xi