第一小说网

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第116部分（第2页）

Xu　Shu　smiled；　saying；　〃And　what　of　the　fate　of　these　eight　hundred　thirty　thousand　soldiers　and　horse　of　the　north？〃

〃Do　you　intend　to　wreck　my　scheme；　Xu　Shu？〃

〃I　have　never　forgotten　the　kindness　of　Uncle　Liu　Bei；　nor　my　oath　to　avenge　the　death　of　my　mother　at　Cao　Caos　hands。　I　have　said　I　would　never　think　out　a　plan　for　him。　So　am　I　likely　to　wreck　yours　now；　brother？　But　I　have　followed　Cao　Caos　army　thus　far；　and　after　they　shall　have　been　defeated；　good　and　bad　will　suffer　alike　and　how　can　I　escape？　Tell　me　how　I　can　secure　safety；　and　I　sew　up　my　lips　and　go　away。〃

Pang　Tong　smiled；　〃If　you　are　as　high…minded　as　that；　there　is　no　great　difficulty。〃

〃Still　I　wish　you　would　instruct　me。〃

So　Pang　Tong　whispered　something　in　his　ear；　which　seemed　to　please　Xu　Shu　greatly；　for　he　thanked　him　most　cordially　and　took　his　leave。　Then　Pang　Tong　betook　himself　to　his　boat　and　left　for　the　southern　shore。

His　friend　gone；　Xu　Shu　mischievously　spread　certain　rumors　in　the　camp；　and　next　day　were　to　be　seen　everywhere　soldiers　in　small　groups；　some　talking；　others　listening；　heads　together　and　ears　stretched　out；　till　the　camps　seemed　to　buzz。

Some　of　the　officers　went　to　Cao　Cao　and　told　him；　saying；　〃A　rumor　is　running　around　the　camps　that　Han　Sui　and　Ma　Teng　are　marching　from　Xiliang　to　attack　the　capital。〃

This　troubled　Cao　Cao；　who　called　together　his　advisers　to　council。

Said　he；　〃The　only　anxiety　I　have　felt　in　this　expedition　was　about　the　possible　doings　of　Han　Sui　and　Ma　Teng。　Now　there　is　a　rumor　running　among　the　soldiers；　and　though　I　know　not　whether　it　be　true　or　false；　it　is　necessary　to　be　on　ones　guard。〃

At　this　point　Xu　Shu　said；　〃You　have　been　kind　enough　to　give　me　an　office；　Sir；　and　I　have　really　done　nothing　in　return。　If　I　may　have　three　thousand　troops；　I　will　march　at　once　to　San　Pass　and　guard　this　entrance。　If　there　be　any　pressing　matter；　I　will　report　at　once。〃

〃If　you　would　do　this；　I　should　be　quite　at　my　ease。　There　are　already　troops　beyond　the　Pass；　who　will　be　under　your　mand；　and　now　I　will　give　you　three　thousand　of　horse　and　foot；　and　Zang　Ba　shall　lead　the　van　and　march　quickly。〃

Xu　Shu　took　leave　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　left　in　pany　with　Zang　Ba。　This　was　Pang　Tongs　scheme　to　secure　the　safety　of　Xu　Shu。

A　poem　says：

Cao　Cao　marched　south；　but　at　his　back

There　rode　the　fear　of　rear　attack。

Pang　Tongs　good　counsel　Xu　Shu　took；

And　thus　the　fish　escaped　the　hook。

Cao　Caos　anxiety　diminished　after　he　had　thus　sent　away　Xu　Shu。　Then　he　rode　round　all　the　camps；　first　the　land　forces　and　then　the　naval。　He　boarded　one　of　the　large　ships　and　thereon　set　up　his　standard。　The　naval　camps　were　arranged　along　two　lines；　and　every　ship　carried　a　thousand　bows　and　crossbows。

While　Cao　Cao　remained　with　the　fleet；　it　occurred　the　full　moon　of　the　eleventh　month　of　the　thirteenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　208）。　The　sky　was　clear；　there　was　no　wind；　and　the　river　lay　unruffled。　He　prepared　a　great　banquet；　with　music；　and　thereto　invited　all　his　leaders。　As　evening　drew　on；　the　moon　rose　over　the　eastern　hills　in　its　immaculate　beauty；　and　beneath　it　lay　the　broad　belt　of　the　river　like　a　band　of　pure　silk。　It　was　a　great　assembly；　and　all　the　guests　were　clad　in　gorgeous　silks　and　embroidered　robes；　and　the　arms　of　the　fighting　soldiers　glittered　in　the　moonlight。　The　officers；　civil　and　military；　were　seated　in　their　proper　order　of　precedence。

The　setting；　too；　was　exquisite。　The　Southern　Hills　were　outlined　as　in　a　picture；　the　boundaries　of　Chaisang　lay　in　the　east；　the　river　showed　west　as　far　as　Xiakou；　on　the　south　lay　the　Fan　Mountains；　on　the　north　was　the　Black　Forest。　The　view　stretched　wide　on　every　side。

Cao　Caos　heart　was　jubilant；　and　he　harangued　the　assembly；　saying；　〃My　one　aim　since　I　enlisted　my　first　small　band　of　volunteers　has　been　the　removal　of　evil　from　the　state；　and　I　have　sworn　to　cleanse　the　country　and　restore　tranquillity。　Now　there　is　only　left　this　land　of　the　south　to　withstand　me。　I　am　at　the　head　of　a　hundred　legions。　I　depend　upon　you；　gentlemen；　and　have　no　doubt　of　my　final　success。　After　I　have　subdued　the　South　Land；　there　will　be　no　trouble　in　all　the　country。　Then　we　shall　enjoy　wealth　and　honor　and　revel　in　peace。〃

They　rose　in　a　body　and　expressed　their　appreciation；　saying；　〃We　trust　that　you　may　soon　report　plete　victory；　and　we　shall　all　repose　in　the　shade　of　your　good　fortune。〃

In　his　elation；　Cao　Cao　bade　the　servants　bring　more　wine　and　they　drank　till　late　at　night。

Warmed　and　mellowed；　the　host　pointed　to　the　south　bank；　saying；　〃Zhou　Yu　and　Lu　Su　know　not　the　appointed　time。　Heaven　is　aiding　me　bringing　upon　them　the　misfortune　of　the　desertion　of　their　most　trusted　friends。〃

〃O　Prime　Minister；　say　nothing　of　these　things　lest　they　bee　known　to　the　enemy；〃　said　Xun　You。

But　the　Prime　Minister　only　laughed。

〃You　are　all　my　trusty　friends；〃　said　he；　〃both　officers　and　humble　attendants。　Why　should　I　refrain？〃

Pointing　to　Xiakou；　he　continued；　〃You　do　not　reckon　for　much　with　your　puny　force；　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang。　How　foolish　of　you　to　attempt　to　shake　the　Taishan　Mountains！〃

Then　turning　to　his　officers；　he　said；　〃I　am　now　fifty…four；　and　if　I　get　the　South　Land；　I　shall　have　the　wherewithal　to　rejoice。　In　the　days　of　long　ago；　the　Patriarch　Duke　Qiao　in　the　south　and　I　were　great　friends；　and　we　came　to　an　agreement　on　certain　matters；　for　I　knew　his　two　daughters………Elder　Qiao　and　Younger　Qiao………were　lovely　beyond　words。　Then　by　some　means；　they　became　wives　to　Sun　Ce　and　Zhou　Yu。　But　now　my　palace　of　rest　is　built　on　the　River　Zhang；　and　victory　over　the　South　Land　will　mean　that　I　marry　these　two　fair　women。　I　will　put　them　in　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower；　and　they　shall　rejoice　my　declining　years。　My　desires　will　then　be　pletely　attained。〃

He　smiled　at　the　anticipation。