小说园

第142部分（第1页）

〃The　scheme　looks　excellent；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

And　he　wrote　the　letter　as　suggested；　and　then　erased　and　changed　it；　after　which　he　sealed　it　securely　and　sent　it　across　to　Han　Sui。

Surely　enough　someone　told　Ma　Chao　about　the　letter；　which　increased　his　doubts；　and　he　came　to　Han　Suis　quarters　to　ask　to　see　it。　Han　Sui　gave　it　to　him；　and　the　erasures　and　alterations　struck　Ma　Chao　at　once。

〃Why　are　all　these　alterations　here？〃　asked　he。

〃It　came　like　that。　I　do　not　know。〃

〃Does　anyone　send　a　rough　draft　like　this？　It　seems　to　me；　Uncle；　that　you　are　afraid　I　shall　know　something　or　other　too　well；　and　so　you　have　changed　the　wording。〃

〃It　must　be　that　Cao　Cao　has　sealed　up　the　rough　draft　by　mistake。〃

〃I　do　not　think　so。　He　is　a　careful　man　and　would　not　make　such　a　mistake。　You　and　I；　Uncle；　have　been　allies　in　trying　to　slay　the　rebel。　Why　are　you　turning　against　me　now　？〃

〃If　you　doubt　my　word；　I　will　tell　you　what　you　can　do。　Tomorrow；　in　full　view　of　the　army；　I　will　get　Cao　Cao　to　e　out　and　talk。　You　can　hide　in　behind　the　ranks　ready　to　kill　me　if　I　am　false。〃

〃That　being　so；　I　shall　know　that　you　are　true；　Uncle。〃

This　arrangement　made；　next　day　Han　Sui　with　five　generals　in　his　train………Li　Kan；　Ma　Wan；　Yang　Qiu；　Hou　Xuan；　and　Liang　Xing………rode　to　the　front；　while　Ma　Chao　concealed　himself　behind　the　great　standard。　Han　Sui　sent　over　to　say　that　he　wished　to　speak　to　the　Prime　Minister。

Thereupon　at　his　mand；　Cao　Hong；　with　a　train　of　ten　horsemen　rode　out；　advanced　straight　to　Han　Sui；　leaned　over　to　him　and　said；　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　plainly；　〃Last　night　the　Prime　Minister　quite　understood。　Let　there　be　no　mistake。〃

Then　without　another　word　on　either　side　Cao　Hong　rode　away。

Ma　Chao　had　heard。　He　gripped　his　spear　and　started　galloping　out　to　slay　his　panion　in　arms。　But　the　five　generals　checked　him　and　begged　him　to　go　back　to　camp。

When　Han　Sui　saw　him；　he　said；　〃Nephew；　trust　me；　really　I　have　no　evil　intentions。〃

But　Ma　Chao；　burning　with　rage；　went　away。　Then　Han　Sui　talked　over　the　matter　with　his　five　generals。

〃How　can　this　be　cleared　up？〃

〃Ma　Chao　trusts　too　much　to　his　strength；〃　said　Yang　Qiu。　〃He　is　always　inclined　to　despise　you；　Sir。　If　we　overe　Cao　Cao；　do　you　think　he　will　give　way　to　you？　I　think　you　should　rather　take　care　of　your　own　interests；　go　over　to　the　Prime　Ministers　side；　and　you　will　surely　get　rank　one　day。〃

〃I　was　his　fathers　pledged　brother　and　could　not　bear　to　desert　him；〃　said　Han　Sui。

〃It　seems　to　me　that　as　things　have　e　to　this　pass：　You　simply　have　to　now。〃

〃Who　would　act　as　go…between？〃　asked　Han　Sui。

〃I　will；〃　said　Yang　Qiu。

Then　Han　Sui　wrote　a　private　letter　which　he　confided　to　Yang　Qiu；　who　soon　found　his　way　over　to　the　other　camp。　Cao　Cao　was　only　too　pleased；　and　he　promised　that　Han　Sui　should　be　made　Lord　of　Xiliang　and　Yang　Qiu　its　Governor。　The　other　confederates　should　be　rewarded　in　other　ways。　Then　a　plot　was　planned：　When　the　preparations　for　the　act　of　treachery　were　plete；　a　bonfire　was　to　be　lighted　in　Han　Suis　camp；　and　all　would　try　to　do　away　with　Ma　Chao。

Yang　Qiu　went　back　and　related　all　this　to　his　chief；　and　Han　Sui　felt　elated　at　the　success　of　his　overtures。　A　lot　of　wood　was　collected　in　camp　at　the　back　of　his　tent　ready　for　the　signal　blaze；　and　the　five　generals　got　ready　for　the　foul　deed。　It　was　decided　that　Ma　Chao　should　be　persuaded　into　ing　to　a　banquet；　and　there　they　would　slay　him　then。

All　this　was　done；　but　not　without　some　hesitation　and　delay；　and　some　news　of　the　plot　reached　Ma　Chao。　He　found　out　the　careful　preparations　that　had　been　made　and　resolved　to　act　first。　Leaving　Ma　Dai　and　Pang　De　in　reserve；　he　chose　a　few　trusted　leaders　and　with　stealthy　steps　made　his　way　into　Han　Suis　tent。　There　he　found　Han　Sui　and　his　five　confederates　deep　in　conversation。　He　just　caught　a　word　or　two　that　Yang　Qiu　said；　〃We　must　not　delay；　now　is　the　time。〃

In　burst　Ma　Chao　raging　and　yelling；　〃You　herd　of　rebels！　Would　you　dare　to　plot　against　me？〃