小说园

第79部分（第2页）

Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji　declared　Yuan　Shang　successor　with　the　titles　of　Regent　Marshal　and　Supreme　Imperial　Protector　of　the　four　regions　of　Jizhou；　Qingzhou；　Youzhou；　and　Bingzhou　and　sent　in　a　report　of　the　death　of　the　late　Imperial　Protector。

At　this　time　Yuan　Tan；　the　eldest　son；　had　already　marched　out　his　army　to　oppose　Cao　Cao。　But　hearing　of　his　fathers　death；　he　called　in　Guo　Tu　and　Xin　Ping　to　consult　as　to　his　course　of　action。

〃In　your　absence；　my　lord；〃　said　Guo　Tu；　〃the　two　advisers　of　your　younger　brother　will　certainly　set　him　up　as　lord；　wherefore　you　must　act　quickly。〃

〃Those　two；　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji；　have　already　laid　their　plans；〃　said　Xin　Ping。　〃If　you　go；　you　will　meet　with　some　misfortune。〃

〃Then　what　should　I　do？〃　asked　Yuan　Tan。

Guo　Tu　replied；　〃Go　and　camp　near　the　city；　and　watch　what　is　taking　place　while　I　enter　and　inquire。〃

Accordingly　Guo　Tu　entered　the　city　and　sought　an　interview　with　the　young　Imperial　Protector。

〃Why　did　not　my　brother　e？〃　asked　Yuan　Shang　after　the　usual　salutes。

Guo　Tu　said；　〃He　cannot　e　as　he　is　in　the　camp　unwell。〃

〃By　the　mand　of　my　late　father；　I　take　the　lordship。　Now　I　confer　upon　my　brother　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　and　I　wish　him　to　go　at　once　to　attack　Cao　Cao；　who　is　pressing　on　the　borders。　I　will　follow　as　soon　as　my　army　is　in　order。〃

〃There　is　no　one　in　our　camp　to　give　advice；〃　said　Guo　Tu。　〃I　wish　to　have　the　services　of　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji。〃

〃I　also　need　the　help　of　these　two；〃　said　Yuan　Shang。　〃And　as　I　am　always　working　at　schemes；　I　do　not　see　how　I　can　do　without　them。〃

〃Then　let　one　of　these　two　go；〃　replied　Guo　Tu。

Yuan　Shang　could　do　no　other　than　accede　to　this　request；　so　he　bade　the　two　men　cast　lots　who　should　go。　Peng　Ji　drew　the　lot　and　was　appointed；　receiving　a　seal　of　office。　Then　he　acpanied　Guo　Tu　to　the　camp。　But　when　he　arrived　and　found　Yuan　Tan　in　perfect　health；　he　grew　suspicious　and　resigned。

Yuan　Tan　angrily　refused　to　accept　his　resignation　and　was　disposed　to　put　him　to　death；　but　Guo　Tu　privately　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　is　on　the　borders；　and　Peng　Ji　must　be　kept　here　to　allay　your　brothers　suspicions。　After　we　have　beaten　Cao　Cao；　we　can　at　once　make　an　attempt　on　Jizhou。〃

Yuan　Tan　agreed　and　forthwith　broke　up　his　camp　to　march　against　the　enemy。　He　reached　Liyang　and　lost　no　time　in　offering　battle。　He　chose　for　his　champion　Wang　Zhao　and；　when　Wang　Zhao　rode　out；　Cao　Cao　sent　Xu　Huang　to　meet　him。　These　two　had　fought　but　a　few　bouts　when　Wang　Zhao　was　slain。　At　once　Cao　Caos　army　pressed　forward；　and　Yuan　Tan　suffered　a　severe　defeat。　Yuan　Tan　drew　off　his　army　and　retired　into　Liyang；　whence　he　sent　to　his　brother　for　reinforcements。

Yuan　Shang　and　his　adviser　Shen　Pei　discussed　the　matter　and　only　five　thousand　troops　were　sent。　Cao　Cao　hearing　of　the　dispatch　of　this　meager　force　sent　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing　to　waylay　them；　and　the　half　legion　was　destroyed。　When　Yuan　Tan　heard　of　the　inadequate　force　sent　and　their　destruction；　he　was　very　wrath　and　roundly　abused　Peng　Ji。

Peng　Ji　replied；　〃Let　me　write　to　my　lord　and　pray　him　to　e　himself。〃

So　Peng　Ji　wrote　and　the　letter　was　sent。　When　it　arrived；　Yuan　Shang　again　consulted　Shen　Pei。

The　Counselor　said；　〃Guo　Tu；　your　elder　brothers　adviser；　is　very　guileful。　Formerly　he　left　without　discussion　because　Cao　Cao　was　on　the　border。　If　Cao　Cao　be　defeated；　there　will　certainly　be　an　attempt　on　you。　The　better　plan　is　to　withhold　assistance　and　use　Cao　Caos　hand　to　destroy　your　rival。〃

Yuan　Shang　took　his　advice　and　no　help　was　sent。　When　the　messenger　returned　to　Liyang　without　success；　Yuan　Tan　was　very　angry　and　showed　it　by　putting　Peng　Ji　to　death。　He　also　began　to　talk　of　surrendering　to　Cao　Cao。　Soon　spies　brought　news　of　this　to　Yuan　Shang；　and　again　Shen　Pei　was　called　in。

Yuan　Shang　said；　〃If　Yuan　Tan　goes　over　to　Cao　Cao；　they　will　both　attack　Jizhou；　and　we　shall　be　in　great　danger。〃

Finally　Shen　Pei　and　General　Su　You　were　left　to　take　care　of　the　defense　of　the　city；　and　Yuan　Shang　marched　his　army　to　the　rescue　of　his　brother。

〃Who　dares　lead　the　van？〃　said　Yuan　Shang。

Two　brothers　named　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　volunteered；　and　thirty　thousand　troops　were　given　them。　They　were　the　first　to　reach　Liyang。

Yuan　Tan　was　pleased　that　Yuan　Shang　had　decided　to　play　a　brotherly　part　and　e　to　his　aid；　so　he　at　once　abandoned　all　thought　of　going　over　to　the　enemy。　He　being　in　the　city；　Yuan　Shang　camped　outside；　making　that　an　ox…horn　formation　of　their　strategic　position。

Before　long　Yuan　Xi；　the　second　brother；　and　their　cousin；　Gao　Gan；　arrived　with　their　legions　and　also　camped　outside　the　city。

Engagements　took　place　daily；　and　Yuan　Shang　suffered　many　defeats。　On　the　other　hand　Cao　Cao　was　victorious　and　elated。　In　the　second　month　of　the　eighth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　203）；　Cao　Cao　made　separate　attacks　on　all　four　armies　and　won　the　day　against　each。　Then　the　Yuans　abandoned　Liyang；　and　Cao　Cao　pursued　them　to　Jizhou；　where　Yuan　Tan　and　Yuan　Shang　went　into　the　city　to　defend　it；　while　their　brother　and　cousin　camped　about　ten　miles　away　making　a　show　of　great　force。

When　Cao　Cao　had　made　many　attacks　without　success；　Guo　Jia　proffered　the　following　plan。

He　said；　〃There　is　dissension　among　the　Yuans　because　the　elder　has　been　superseded　in　the　succession。　The　brothers　are　about　equally　strong　and　each　has　his　party。　If　we　oppose　them；　they　unite　to　assist　each　other；　but　if　we　have　patience；　they　will　be　weakened　by　family　strife。　Wherefore　send　first　a　force　to　reduce　Liu　Biao　in　Jingzhou；　and　let　the　fraternal　quarrels　develop。　When　they　have　fully　developed；　we　can　smite　them　and　settle　the　matter。〃

Cao　Cao　approved　of　the　plan。　So　leaving　Jia　Xu　as　Governor　of　Liyang　and　Cao　Hong　as　guard　at　Guandu；　the　army　went　away　toward　Jingzhou。

The　two　brothers　Yuan　Tan　and　Yuan　Shang　congratulated　each　other　on　the　withdrawal　of　their　enemy；　and　their　brother　Yuan　Xi　and　their　cousin　Gao　Gan　marched　their　armies　back　to　their　own　districts。

Then　the　quarrels　began。　Yuan　Tan　said　to　his　confidants　Guo　Tu　and　Xin　Ping；　〃I；　t