小说园

第34部分（第2页）

Said　Dong　Zhao；　〃You；　Illustrious　Sir；　with　your　noble　army　have　swept　away　rebellion　and　have　bee　the　mainstay　of　the　Throne；　an　achievement　worthy　of　the　ancient　Five　Protectors。　But　the　officials　will　look　at　it　in　very　different　ways　and　not　all　favorably　to　you。　I　think　you　would　not　be　wise　to　remain　here；　and　I　advise　a　change　of　capital　to　Xuchang。　However；　it　must　be　remembered　that　the　restoration　of　the　capital　has　been　published　far　and　wide　and　the　attention　of　all　the　people　is　concentrated　on　Luoyang；　hoping　for　a　period　of　rest　and　tranquillity。　Another　move　will　displease　many。　However；　the　performance　of　extraordinary　deed　may　mean　the　acquisition　of　extraordinary　merit。　It　is　for　you　to　decide。〃

〃Exactly　my　own　inclination！〃　said　Cao　Cao；　seizing　his　guests　hand。　〃But　are　there　not　dangers？　Yang　Feng　at　Daliang　and　the　court　officials！〃

〃That　is　easily　managed。　Write　to　Yang　Feng　and　set　his　mind　at　rest。　Then　say　to　the　high　officials　plainly　that　there　is　no　food　in　the　capital　here；　and　so　you　are　going　to　another　place　where　there　is；　and　where　there　is　no　danger　of　scarcity。　When　they　hear　it；　they　will　approve。〃

Cao　Cao　had　now　decided；　and　as　his　guest　took　leave；　Cao　Cao　seized　his　hands　once　more；　saying；　〃I　shall　need　your　advice　in　future　affairs。〃

Dong　Zhao　thanked　and　left。　Thereafter　Cao　Cao　and　his　advisers　secretly　discussed　the　change　of　capital。

＇e＇　Jin　state　occupied　the　western　part　of　the　empire；　in　the　mountainous　area　north　of　the　Yellow　River。　During　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　under　the　leadership　of　Duke　Wen　and　his　successors；　Jin　grew　into　a　very　large　state；　which　broke　into　three　states　in　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Wei　was　a　state　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Wei　came　into　existence　after　the　partition　of　Jin。　Succeeded　Jin　in　dominating　the　empire。　。。。。。

Now　Court　Counselor　Wang　Li；　who　was　an　astrologer；　said　to　Liu　Cai；　Royal　Clan　Recorder；　〃I　have　been　studying　the　stars。　Since　last　spring　Venus　has　been　nearing　the　Guard　star　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　Measure；　and　the　Cowherd　（the　Great　Bear　and　Vega）　crossing　the　River　of　Heaven。　Mars　has　been　retrograding　and　came　into　conjunction　with　Venus　in　the　Gate　of　Heaven；　so　that　metal　（Venus）　and　fire　（Mars）　are　mingled。　Thence　must　emerge　a　new　ruler。　The　aura　of　the　Hans　is　exhausted；　and　the　ancient　states　of　Jin*　and　Wei*　must　increase。〃

A　secret　memorial　was　presented　to　the　Emperor；　saying：

〃The　Mandate　of　Heaven　has　its　course　and　the　five　elements………metal；　wood；　water；　fire；　and　earth………are　out　of　proportion。　Earth　attacking　fire　is　Wei　attacking　Han；　and　the　successor　to　the　empire　of　Han　is　in　Wei。〃

Cao　Cao　heard　of　these　sayings　and　memorials　and　sent　a　man　to　the　astrologer　to　say；　〃Your　loyalty　is　well　known；　but　the　ways　of　Heaven　are　past　finding　out。　The　less　said　the　better。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　discussed　with　Xun　Yu。

The　adviser　expounded　the　meaning　thus：　〃The　virtue　of　Han　was　fire；　your　element　is　earth。　Xuchang　is　under　the　influence　of　earth；　and　so　your　fortune　depends　on　getting　there。　Fire　can　overe　earth；　as　earth　can　multiply　wood。　Dong　Zhao　and　Wang　Li　agree；　and　you　have　only　to　hide　your　time。〃

So　Cao　Cao　made　up　his　mind。

Next　day　at　court　he　said；　〃Luoyang　is　deserted　and　cannot　be　restored；　nor　can　it　be　supplied　easily　with　food。　Xuchang　is　a　noble　city；　resourceful　and　close　to　Luyang；　which　is　a　grain　basin。　It　is　everything　that　a　capital　should　be。　I　venture　to　request　that　the　court　move　thither。〃

The　Emperor　dared　not　oppose　and　the　officials　were　too　overawed　to　have　any　independent　opinion；　so　they　chose　a　day　to　set　out。　Cao　Cao　manded　the　escort；　and　the　officials　all　followed。　When　they　had　traveled　a　few　stages　they　saw　before　them　a　high　mound　and　from　behind　this　there　arose　the　beating　of　drums。

Then　Yang　Feng　and　Han　Xian　came　out　and　barred　the　way。　In　front　of　all　stood　Xu　Huang；　who　shouted；　〃Cao　Cao　is　stealing　away　the　Emperor！〃

Cao　Cao　rode　out　and　took　a　good　look　at　this　man。　He　seemed　a　fine　fellow；　and　in　his　secret　soul　Cao　Cao　greatly　admired　him；　although　he　was　an　enemy。　Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　Xu　Chu　to　go　and　fight　Xu　Huang。　The　bat　was　battle…ax　against　broadsword；　and　the　two　men　fought　more　than　half　a　hundred　bouts　without　advantage　to　either　side。　Cao　Cao　then　beat　the　gongs　and　drew　off　his　troops。

In　the　camp　a　council　was　called。　Cao　Cao　said；　〃The　two　rebels　themselves　need　not　be　discussed；　but　Xu　Huang　is　a　fine　general；　and　I　was　unwilling　to　use　any　great　force　against　him。　I　want　to　win　him　over　to　our　side。〃

Then　stepped　out　Man　Chong；　replying；　〃Do　not　let　that　trouble　you。　I　will　have　a　word　with　him。　I　shall　disguise　myself　as　a　soldier　this　evening　and　steal　over　to　the　enemys　camp　to　talk　to　him。　I　shall　incline　his　heart　toward　you。〃

That　night　Man　Chong；　duly　disguised；　got　over　to　the　other　side　and　made　his　way　to　the　tent　of　Xu　Huang；　who　sat　there　by　the　light　of　a　candle。　Xu　Huang　was　still　wearing　his　coat　of　mail。

Suddenly　Man　Chong　ran　out　in　front　and　saluted；　saying；　〃You　have　been　well　since　we　parted；　old　friend？〃

Xu　Huang　jumped　up　in　surprise；　gazed　into　the　face　of　the　speaker　a　long　time；　and　presently　said；　〃What！　You　are　Man　Chong　of　Shanyang？　What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃I　am　an　officer　in　General　Cao　Caos　army。　Seeing　my　old　friend　out　in　front　of　the　army　today；　I　wanted　to　say　a　word　to　him。　So　I　took　the　risk　of　stealing　in　this　evening　and　here　I　am。〃

Xu　Huang　invited　Man　Chong　in；　and　they　sat　down。

Then　said　Man　Chong；　〃There　are　very　few　as　bold　as　you　on　the　earth。　Why　then　do　you　serve　such　as　your　present　chiefs；　Yang　Feng　and　Han　Xian？　My　master　is　the　most　prominent　man　in　the　world………a　man　who　delights　in　wise　people　and　appreciates　soldiers　as　everyone　knows。　Your　valor　today　won　his　entire　admiration；　and　so　he　took　care　that　the　attack　was　not　vigorous　enough　to　sacrifice　you。　Now　he　has　sent　me　to　invite　you　to　join　him。　Will　you　not　leave　darkness　for　light　and　help　him　in　his　magnificent　task？〃

Xu　Huang　sat　a　long　time　pondering　over　the　offer。

Then　he　said；　with　a　sigh；　〃I　know　my　masters　are　doomed　to　failure；　but　I　have　followed　their　fortunes　a　long　time　and　do　not　like　to　leave　them。〃

〃But　you　know　the　prudent　bird　selects　its　tree；　and　the