小说园

第56部分（第1页）

uction　and　restored　him　to　a　position　of　authority。　Wherein　I　must　confess　to　showing　no　kindness　to　the　people　of　Yanzhou；　although　it　was　a　great　matter　for　Cao　Cao。

〃Later　it　happened　that　the　imperial　cortege　moved　east；　and　a　horde　of　rebels　of　Dong　Zhuos　faction　rose　and　attacked。　The　course　of　government　was　hindered。　At　that　moment　my　territory　was　threatened　from　the　north；　and　I　could　not　leave　it。　Wherefore　I　sent　one　of　my　officers；　Xu　Xun；　to　Cao　Cao　to　see　to　the　repair　of　the　dynastic　temples　and　the　protection　of　the　youthful　sovereign。　Thereupon　Cao　Cao　gave　the　rein　to　his　inclinations。　He　arbitrarily　ordered　the　removal　of　the　court　to　Xuchang。　He　brought　shame　upon　the　Ruling　House　and　subverted　the　laws。　He　engrossed　the　chairmanship　of　the　three　highest　offices　and　monopolized　the　control　of　the　administration。　Offices　and　rewards　were　conferred　according　to　his　will；　punishment　was　at　his　word。　He　glorified　whole　families　of　those　he　loved；　he　exterminated　whole　clans　of　those　he　hated。　Open　critics　were　executed；　secret　opponents　were　assassinated。　Officials　locked　their　lips；　wayfarers　only　exchanged　glances。　Chairs　of　boards　recorded　levies；　and　every　government　official　held　a　sinecure。

〃The　late　Yang　Biao；　a　man　who　had　filled　two　of　the　highest　offices　of　state　as　Chairs　of　two　boards；　because　of　some　petty　grudge　was；　though　guiltless；　charged　with　a　crime。　He　was　beaten　and　suffered　every　form　of　cruelty。　This　arbitrary　and　impulsive　act　was　a　flagrant　disregard　of　constitutional　rules。

〃Another　victim　was　the　Counselor　Zhao　Yan。　He　was　faithful　in　remonstrance；　honest　in　speech；　endowed　with　the　highest　principles　of　rectitude。　He　was　listened　to　at　court。　His　words　carried　enough　weight　with　the　Emperor　to　cause　him　to　modify　his　intention　and　confer　reward　for　outspokenness。　Desirous　of　diverting　all　power　into　his　own　hands　and　stifle　all　criticism；　Cao　Cao　presumed　to　arrest　and　put　to　death　this　censor；　in　defiance　of　all　legal　procedures。

〃Another　evil　deed　was　the　destruction　of　the　tomb　of　Prince　Xiao　of　Liang；　the　brother　of　the　late　Emperor。　His　tomb　should　certainly　have　been　respected；　even　its　mulberries　and　sweetgum　trees；　its　cypresses　and　its　pines。　Cao　Cao　led　soldiers　to　the　cemetery　and　stood　by　while　it　was　desecrated；　the　coffin　destroyed　and　the　poor　corpse　exposed。　They　stole　the　gold　and　jewels　of　the　dead。　This　deed　brought　tears　to　the　eyes　of　the　Emperor　and　rent　the　hearts　of　all　people。　Cao　Cao　also　appointed　new　offices………mander　Who　Opens　Grave　Mounds　and　General　Who　Seeks　for　Gold………whose　tracks　were　marked　by　desecrated　graves　and　exhumed　bodies。　Indeed；　while　assuming　the　position　of　the　highest　officer　of　state；　he　indulged　the　inclination　of　a　bandit；　polluting　the　empire；　oppressing　the　people；　a　bane　to　gods　and　humans。

〃He　added　to　this　by　setting　up　minute　and　vexatious　prohibitions　so　that　there　were　nets　and　snares　spread　in　every　pathway；　traps　and　pitfalls　laid　in　every　road。　A　hand　raised　was　caught　in　a　net；　a　foot　advanced　was　taken　in　an　entanglement。　Wherefore　the　people　of　his　regions；　Yanzhou　and　Yuzhou；　waxed　desperate　and　the　inhabitants　of　the　metropolis　groaned　and　murmured　in　anger。

〃Read　down　the　names　through　all　the　years；

Of　ministers　that　all　people　curse；

For　greed　and　cruelty　and　lust；

Than　Cao　Cao　you　will　not　find　a　worse。

〃I　have　investigated　the　cases　of　evil　deeds　in　the　regions；　but　I　have　been　unable　to　reform　him。　I　have　given　him　repeated　opportunities　hoping　that　he　would　repent。　But　he　has　the　heart　of　a　wolf；　the　nature　of　a　wild　beast。　He　nourishes　evil　in　his　bosom　and　desires　to　pull　down　the　pillars　of　the　state；　to　weaken　the　House　of　Han；　to　destroy　the　loyal　and　true；　and　to　stand　himself　conspicuous　as　the　chiefest　of　criminals。

〃Formerly；　when　I　attacked　the　north；　Gongsun　Zan；　that　obstinate　bandit　and　perverse　brave；　resisted　my　might　for　a　year。　Before　Gongsun　Zan　could　be　destroyed；　this　Cao　Cao　wrote　to　him　that；　under　the　pretense　of　assisting　my　loyal　armies；　he　would　covertly　lead　them　to　destruction。　The　plot　was　discovered　through　his　messengers；　and　Gongsun　Zan　also　perished。　This　blunted　Cao　Caos　ardor；　and　his　plans　failed。

〃Now　he　is　camped　at　the　Ao　Granaries；　with　the　Yellow　River　to　strengthen　his　position。　Like　the　mantis　in　the　story；　who　threatened　the　chariot　with　its　forelegs；　he　thinks　himself　terrible。　But　with　the　dignity　and　prestige　of　Han　to　support　me；　I　confront　the　whole　world。　I　have　spearmen　by　millions；　horsemen　by　hundreds　of　thousands；　fierce　and　vigorous　warriors　strong　as　Chong　Huang　and　Wu　Huo；　those　heroes　of　antiquity。　I　have　enlisted　expert　archers　and　strong　bowmen。　In　Bingzhou　my　armies　have　crossed　the　Taihang　Range；　and　in　Qingzhou　they　have　forded　River　Ji　and　River　Ta。　They　have　coasted　down　the　Yellow　River　to　attack　his　van；　and　from　Jingzhou　the　armies　of　Liu　Biao　have　descended　to　Wancheng　and　Wangye　to　smite　his　rearguard。　Thunder…like　in　the　weight　of　their　march；　tiger…like　in　the　alertness　of　their　advance；　they　are　as　flames　let　loose　among　light　grass；　as　the　blue　ocean　poured　on　glowing　embers。　Is　there　any　hope　that　he　escape　destruction？

〃Of　the　hordes　of　Cao　Cao；　those　who　can　fight　are　from　the　north　or　from　other　camps；　and　they　all　desire　to　return　home。　They　weep　whenever　they　look　to　the　north。　The　others　belong　to　Yanzhou　or　Yuzhou；　being　remnants　of　the　armies　of　Lu　Bu　and　Zhang　Yang。　Beaten；　stern　necessity　forced　them　to　accept　service；　but　they　take　it　only　as　a　temporary　expedient。　They　who　have　been　wounded　hate　each　other。　If　I　give　the　signal　to　return　and　send　my　drums　to　the　mountain　tops；　and　wave　the　white　flag　to　show　them　they　may　surrender；　they　will　melt　away　like　dew　before　the　sun；　and　no　blood　will　be　shed。　The　victory　will　be　mine。

〃Now　the　Hans　are　failing　and　the　bonds　of　empire　are　relaxed。　The　sacred　dynasty　has　no　supporter；　the　ministers　are　not　strong　enough　to　cope　with　the　difficulties。　Within　the　capital　the　responsible　ministers　are　crestfallen　and　helpless。　There　is　no　one　to　rely　upon。　Such　loyal　and　high　principled　people　as　are　left　are　browbeaten　by　a　tyrannical　minister。　How　can　they　manifest　their　virtue？

〃Cao　Cao　has　surrounded　the　Palace　with　seven　hundred　veterans；　the　ostensible　object　being　to　guard　the　Emperor；　but　the　covert　design　being　to　hold　him　prisoner。　I　fear　this　is　but　the　first　step　in　usurpation；　and　so　I　take　my　part。　Now　is　the　time　for　loyal　ministers　to　sacrifice　their　lives；　the　opportunity　for　officers　to　perform　meritorious　deeds。　Can　I　fail　to　urge　you？

〃Cao　Cao　has　forged　mands　to　himself　to　undertake　the　control　of　government　affairs　and；　in　the　name　of　the　state；　sends　out　calls　for　military　assistance。　I　fear　lest　distant　regions　may　obey　his　behest　and　send　troops　to　help　him；　to　the　detriment　of　the　multitude　and　their　everlasting　shame。　No　wise　person　will　do　so。

〃The　forces　of　four　regions………Bingzhou；　Jizhou；　Qingzhou；　and　Youzhou………are　moving　out　simultaneously。　When　this　call　reaches　Jingzhou；　you　will　see　their　forces　cooperate　with　those　of　Liu　Biao。　All　regions　and　counties　ought　to　organize　volunteers　and　set　them　along　their　borders　to　demonstrate　their　force　and　prove　their　loyal　support　of　the　dynasty。　Will　not　this　be　rendering　extraordinary　service？

〃The　rank　of　lordship；　with　feudal　rights　over　five　thousand　households　and　a　money　reward　of　five　millions；　will　be　the　reward　of　the　one　who　brings　the　head　of　Cao　Cao。　No　questions　will　be　asked　of　those　who　surrender。　I　publish　abroad　this　notice　of　my　bounty　and　the　rewards　offered　that　you　may　realize　that　the　dynasty　is　in　real　danger。〃

Yuan　Shao　read　this　effusion　with　great　joy。　He　at　once　ordered　copies　to　be　posted　everywhere；　in　towns　and　cities；　at　gates；　tax　stations；　ferries；　and　passes。　Copies　found　their　way　to　the　capital；　and　one　got　into　Cao　Caos　palace。　That　day　he　happened　to　be　in　bed　with　a　bad　headache。　The　servants　took　the　paper　to　the　sick　mans　room。　He　read　it　and　was　frightened　from　the　tips　of　his　hair　to　the　marrow　of　his　very　bones。　He　broke　out　into　a　cold　perspiration；　and　his　headache　vanished。

Cao　Cao　bounded　out　of　bed　and　said　to　Cao　Hong；　〃Who　wrote　this？〃

〃They　say　it　is　Chen　Lins　brush；〃　replied　he。

Cao　Cao　laughed；　〃They　have　the　literary　gift；　they　would　rather　have　the　military　too　to　back　it　up。　This　fellow　may　be　a　very　elegant　writer；　but　what　if　Yuan　Shaos　fighting　capacity　falls　short？〃

Cao　Cao　called　his　advisers　together　to　consider　the　next　move。

Kong　Rong　heard　of　the　summons　and　went　to　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃You　should　not　fight　with　Yuan　Shao：　He　is　too　strong。　Make　peace。〃

Xun　Yu　said；　〃He　is　despicable。　Do　not　make　peace。〃

Kong　Rong　replied；　〃His　land　is　wide　and　his　people　strong。　He　has　many　skillful　strategists　like　Guo　Tu；　Xu　You；　Peng　Ji；　and　Shen　Pei；　loyal　leaders　like　Tian　Feng　and　Ju　Shou；　and　formidable　generals　like　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou；　able　manders　like　Gao　Lan；　Zhang　He；　Han　Meng；　and　Chunyu　Qiong。　You　cannot　say　he　is　despicable。〃

Xun　Yu　laughed；　saying；　〃His　army　is　a　rabble。　One　general；　Tian　Feng；　is　bold　but　treacherous；　another；　Xu　You；　is　greedy　and　ignorant；　Shen　Pei　is　devoted　but　stupid；　Peng　Ji　is　steady　but　useless。　And　these　four　of　such　different　temperaments；　mutually　inpatible；　will　make　for　confusion　rather　than　efficiency。　The　brave　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　are　worthless　and　can　be　disposed　of　in　the　first　battle；　and　the　others　such　as　Gao　Lan；　Zhang　He；　Han　Meng；　and　Chunyu　Qiong　are　poor；　rough　stuff。　What　is　the　use　even　of　their　hundred　thousands？〃

Kong　Rong　was　silent；　and　Cao　Cao　smiled。

〃They　are　even　as　Xun　Yu　describes；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Then　Cao　Cao　issued　orders。　Generals　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong　were　to　lead　an　army　of　fifty　thousand　troops；　displaying　the　Prime　Ministers　banners；　and　march　against　Xuzhou　to　attack　Liu　Bei。

This　Liu　Dai　had　been　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou　but　had　surrendered　to　Cao　Cao　and　entered　Cao　Caos　service　after　the　fall　of　his　region。　Cao　Cao　had　given　him　a　rank　as　Supernumerary　Leader　and　now　was　disposed　to　make　use　of　him。

Cao　Cao　himself　took　mand　of　a　large　army　of　two　hundred　thousand　troops　for　a　simultaneous　attack　on　Yuan　Shao　at　Liyang。

Adviser　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃The　two　Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong　sent　against　Liu　Bei　are　unequal　to　their　task。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃They　are　not　meant　to　fight　Liu　Bei。　It　is　merely　a　feint。　They　have　orders　not　to　make　any　real　attack　till　I　have　overe　Yuan　Shao。　Then　Liu　Bei　will　be　next。〃

Liu　Dai　and　Wang　Zhong　went　their　way；　and　Cao　Cao　marched　out　his　grand　army；　which　came　into　touch　with　the　enemy；　then　thirty　miles　distant；　at　Liyang。　Both　sides　made　fortified　camps　and　waited　watching　each　other。　This　went　on　for　two　months　of　the　autumn。

There　was　dissension　in　Yuan　Shaos　camp。　Xu　You　was　at　enmity　with　his　colleague；　Shen　Pei；　who　was　in　manding　position；　and　the　strategist　Ju　Shou　resented　the　rejection　of　his　plan。　So　they　would　not　attack。　Yuan　Shao　also　could　not　make　up　his　mind。

Tired　of　this　state　of　inaction；　Cao　Cao　then　gave　orders　to　his　manders：　Zang　Ba　was　to　continue　the　pressure　on　Qingzhou　and　Xuzhou；　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　deploy　troops　along　the　Yellow　River；　Cao　Ren　to　quarter　the　main　force　at　Guandu