小说园

第33部分（第2页）

A　poem　written　in　pity　for　the　sufferings　of　that　time　says：

Mortally　wounded；　the　white　serpent　poured　forth　its　life　blood　at　Mangdang　Hills；

Blood…red　pennons　of　war　waved　then　in　every　quarter；

Chieftain　with　chieftain　strove　and　raided　each　others　borders；

Midst　the　turmoil　and　strife　the　Kingship　even　was　threatened。

Wickedness　stalks　in　a　country　when　the　King　is　a　weakling；

Brigandage　always　is　rife；　when　a　dynastys　failing；

Had　one　a　heart　of　iron；　wholly　devoid　of　feeling；

Yet　would　one　surely　grieve　at　the　sight　of　such　desolation。

Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　memorialized　the　Throne；　saying；　〃The　decree　issued　to　me　some　time　ago　has　never　been　acted　upon。　Now　Cao　Cao　is　very　strong　in　the　east　of　Huashang　Mountains；　and　it　would　be　well　to　associate　him　in　the　government　that　he　might　support　the　ruling　house。〃

The　Emperor　replied；　〃There　was　no　need　to　refer　to　the　matter　again。　Send　a　messenger　when　you　will。〃

So　the　decree　went　forth　and　a　messenger　bore　it　into　the　East　of　Huashang。　Now　when　Cao　Cao　had　heard　that　the　court　had　returned　to　Capital　Luoyang；　he　called　together　his　advisers　to　consult。

＇e＇　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　（reigned　636…628　BC）　was　ruler　of　the　western　state　of　Jin　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　He　and　his　successors　made　Jin　a　dominant　state　for　nearly　200　years。　。。。。。

＇e＇　The　Qin　Dynasty　ended　in　BC　206。　From　BC　206　to　BC　202；　there　was　actually　no　emperor　in　China；　and　the　principal　event　in　this　period　of　anarchy　was　what　we　call　the　Strife　between　Chu　and　Han。　It　was　a　continuous　conflict　between　Xiang　Yu　and　Liu　Bang；　the　former　a　native　of　Wu；　and　the　latter　of　Pei。　Both　of　them　had　been　lieutenants　under　King　Huai　of　Chu。　This　King；　aka　Emperor　Yi；　was　a　descendant　of　the　old　ruling　house　of　the　state　of　Chu；　and　during　the　troubles　attending　the　breakup　of　the　Qin　empire；　he　setup　a　kingdom　on　the　ruins。　Xiang　Yu　eventually　became　the　leader　of　Chu　army；　and　he　allegedly　had　King　Huai　murdered。　Liu　Bang；　now　a　leader　of　Han　army；　mourned　King　Huais　death　to　show　his　loyal　heart。

Xun　Yu　laid　the　matter　before　Cao　Cao　and　the　council　thus：　〃Eight　hundred　years　ago；　Duke　Wen　of　Jin　supported　Prince　Xiang　of　the　declining　Zhou　Dynasty；　and　all　the　feudal　lords　backed　Duke　Wen*。　The　Founder　of　the　Hans；　Liu　Bang；　won　the　popular　favor　by　wearing　mourning　for　Emperor　Yi　of　Chu*。　Now　Emperor　Xian　has　been　a　fugitive　on　the　dusty　roads。　To　take　the　lead　in　offering　an　army　to　restore　him　to　honor　is　to　have　an　unrivaled　opportunity　to　win　universal　regard。　But　you　must　act　quickly　or　someone　will　get　in　before　you。〃

Cao　Cao　understood　and　at　once　prepared　his　army　to　move。　Just　at　this　moment　an　imperial　messenger　was　announced　with　the　very　mand　Cao　Cao　wanted；　and　Cao　Cao　immediately　set　out。

At　Luoyang　everything　was　desolate。　The　walls　had　fallen；　and　there　were　no　means　of　rebuilding　them；　while　rumors　and　reports　of　the　ing　of　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　kept　up　a　state　of　constant　anxiety。

The　frightened　Emperor　spoke　with　Yang　Feng；　saying；　〃What　can　be　done？　There　is　no　answer　from　the　East　of　Huashang；　and　our　enemies　are　near。〃

Then　Yang　Feng　and　Han　Xian　said；　〃We；　your　ministers；　will　fight　to　the　death　for　you。〃

But　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃The　fortifications　are　weak　and　our　military　resources　small；　so　that　we　cannot　hope　for　victory；　and　what　does　defeat　mean？　I　see　nothing　better　to　propose　than　a　move　into　the　east　of　Huashang　Mountains。〃

The　Emperor　agreed　to　this；　and　the　journey　began　without　further　preparation。　There　being　few　horses；　the　officers　of　the　court　had　to　march　afoot。　Hardly　a　bowshot　outside　the　gate　they　saw　a　thick　cloud　of　dust　out　of　which　came　all　the　clash　and　clamor　of　an　advancing　army。　The　Emperor　and　his　Consort　were　dumb　with　fear。　Then　appeared　a　horseman；　he　was　the　messenger　returning　from　the　East　of　Huashang　Mountains。

He　rode　up　to　the　chariot；　made　an　obeisance；　and　said；　〃General　Cao　Cao；　as　manded；　is　ing　with　all　the　military　force　of　the　East　of　Huashang；　but　hearing　that　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　had　again　approached　the　capital；　he　has　sent　Xiahou　Dun　in　advance。　With　Xiahou　Dun　are　many　capable　leaders　and　fifty　thousand　of　proved　soldiers。　They　will　guard　Your　Majesty。〃

All　fear　was　swept　away。　Soon　after　Xiahou　Dun　and　his　staff　arrived。　Xiahou　Dun；　Xu　Chu；　and　Dian　Wei　were　presented　to　the　Emperor　who　graciously　addressed　them。　Then　one　came　to　say　a　large　army　was　approaching　from　the　east；　and　at　the　Emperors　mand　Xiahou　Dun　went　to　ascertain　who　these　were。　He　soon　returned　saying　they　were　Cao　Caos　infantry。

In　a　short　time　Cao　Hong；　Li　Dian；　and　Yue　Jing　came　to　the　imperial　chariot　and　their　names　having　been　duly　municated。

Cao　Hong　said；　〃When　my　brother；　Cao　Cao；　heard　of　the　approach　of　the　rebels；　he　feared　that　the　advance　guard　he　had　sent　might　be　too　weak；　so　he　sent　me　to　march　quickly　for　reinforcement。〃

〃General　Cao　Cao　is　indeed　a　trusty　servant！〃　said　the　Emperor。

Orders　were　given　to　advance；　Cao　Hong　leading　the　escort。　By　and　by　scouts