三国演义英文版-第12部分

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　this　all　e　about？〃
Cao　Cao　told　him　and　said；　〃Had　it　not　been　for　this　man　here　with　me；　I　should　have　been　already　hacked　to　pieces。〃
Lu　Boshe　bowed　low　to　Chen　Gong；　saying；　〃You　are　the　salvation　of　the　Cao　family。　But　be　at　ease　and　rest；　I　will　find　you　a　bed　in　my　humble　cottage。〃
Lu　Boshe　then　rose　and　went　into　the　inner　chamber　where　he　stayed　a　long　time。　When　he　came　out；　he　said；　〃There　is　no　good　wine　in　the　house。　I　am　going　over　to　the　village　to　get　some　for　you。〃
And　he　hastily　mounted　his　donkey　and　rode　away。　The　two　travelers　sat　a　long　time。　Suddenly　they　heard　at　the　back　of　the　house　the　sound　of　sharpening　a　knife。
Cao　Cao　said　to　Chen　Gong；　〃He　is　not　my　real　uncle。　I　am　beginning　to　doubt　the　meaning　of　his　going　off。　Let　us　listen。〃
So　they　silently　stepped　out　into　a　straw　hut　at　the　back。
Presently　someone　said；　〃Bind　before　killing；　eh？〃
〃As　I　thought；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃Now　unless　we　strike　first；　we　shall　be　taken！〃
Suddenly　Cao　Cao　and　Chen　Gong　dashed　in；　sword　in　hand；　and　slew　the　whole　household　male　and　female；　in　all　eight　persons。
After　this　they　searched　the　house。　In　the　kitchen　they　found　a　pig　bound　ready　to　kill。
〃You　were　too　suspicious；〃　said　Chen　Gong；　〃and　we　have　slain　honest　folks！〃
Cao　Cao　and　Chen　Gong　at　once　mounted　and　rode　away。　Soon　they　met　their　host　Lu　Boshe　ing　home；　and　over　the　saddle　in　front　of　him　they　saw　two　vessels　of　wine。　In　his　hands　he　carried　fruits　and　vegetables。
〃Why　are　you　going；　Sirs？〃　Lu　Boshe　called　to　them。
〃Wanted　people　dare　not　linger；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃But　I　have　bidden　them　kill　a　pig！　Why　do　you　refuse　my　poor　hospitality？　I　pray　you　ride　back　with　me。〃
Cao　Cao　paid　no　heed；　urging　his　horse　forward。　But　he　suddenly　drew　his　sword　and　rode　back　after　Lu　Boshe。
〃Who　is　that　ing　along？〃　called　Cao　Cao。
Lu　Boshe　turned　and　looked　back；　and　Cao　Cao　at　the　same　instant　cut　Lu　Boshe　down。
Chen　Gong　was　frightened。
〃We　were　wrong　enough　before；〃　cried　Chen　Gong。　〃What　now　is　this？〃
〃When　he　got　home　and　saw　his　family　killed；　think　you　he　would　bear　it　patiently？　If　he　had　raised　an　alarm　and　followed　us；　we　should　have　been　killed。〃
〃To　kill　deliberately　is　very　wrong；〃　said　Chen　Gong。

＇e＇　Karl；　a　reader：　〃True；　true。。。。　＇Cao　Cao＇　has　to　do　what　he　can　to　preserve　the　life　of　his　saviour　＇Chen　Gong＇；　and　continue　the　grand　task；　which　is　much　more　important　than　the　lives　of　a　few　friends　of　his　father。　More　lives　will　be　lost　in　affairs　of　the　state。　Cao　Cao　is　realistic；　logical。　Throughout　the　story；　he　just　demonstrates　the　most　appropriate　path；　for　the　grander　purposes。〃　。。。。。
＇e＇　Matteo；　a　reader：　〃I　think　that　Cao　Cao　is　the　Machiavelli's　Prince。。。　We　cannot　say　he　was　cruel　or　evil。。。　He　is；　and　Luo　Guanzhong　said　the　same　in　the　first　chapter　of　the　book；　the　man　for　this　moment　of　war　and　revolt。。。　that's　all。〃　。。。。。
〃Rather　we　let　down　the　world　than　the　world　let　us　down！〃　was　the　reply。*
Chen　Gong　only　thought。　They　rode　on　some　distance　by　moonlight　and　presently　knocked　up　an　inn　for　shelter。　Having　first　fed　their　horses；　Cao　Cao　was　soon　asleep；　but　Chen　Gong　lay　thinking。
〃I　took　him　for　a　true　man　and　left　all　to　follow　him；　but　he　is　as　cruel　as　a　wolf。　If　I　spare　him；　he　will　do　more　harm　later；〃　thought　Chen　Gong。
And　Chen　Gong　rose　intending　to　kill　his　panion。

In　his　heart　lie　cruelty　and　venom；　he　is　no　true　man；
In　nought　does　he　differ　from　his　enemy　Dong　Zhuo。

The　further　fortunes　of　Cao　Cao　will　be　told　in　later　chapters。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　5　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　5
　Chapter　5
Cao　Cao　Appeals　To　The　Powerful　Lords；
The　Three　Brothers　Fight　Against　Lu　Bu。
At　the　close　of　the　last　chapter；　Chen　Gong　was　about　to　slay　Cao　Cao。　But　Chen　Gong　reflected；　〃I　joined　him　to　do　righteous　things。　Now　if　I　killed　him；　I　would　only　do　unrighteousness；　and　the　people　would　condemn　me。　I　rather　leave　in　silence。〃
Rising　from　his　bed　before　the　sunrise；　Chen　Gong　mounted　his　horse　and　rode　away　eastward　to　his　home　county　of　Dongjun。
Cao　Cao　awoke　with　the　day　and　missed　his　panion。　Thought　he；　〃Chen　Gong　thinks　me　brutal　because　of　a　couple　of　egoistic　phrases　I　used；　and　so　he　has　gone。　I　ought　to　push　on　too　and　not　linger　here。〃
So　Cao　Cao　traveled　as　quickly　as　possible　toward　Qiao。　When　he　saw　his　father；　he　related　what　had　happened　and　said　he　wanted　to　dispose　of　all　the　family　property　and　enlist　soldiers　with　the　money。
〃Our　possessions　are　but　small；〃　said　his　father；　〃and　not　enough　to　do　anything　with。　However；　there　is　a　graduate　here；　one　Wei　Hong；　careless　of　wealth　but　careful　of　virtue；　whose　family　is　very　rich。　With　his　help　we　might　hope　for　success。〃
A　feast　was　prepared；　and　Wei　Hong　was　invited。
Cao　Cao　made　him　a　speech：　〃The　Hans　have　lost　their　lordship；　and　Dong　Zhuo　is　really　a　tyrant。　He　flouts　his　prince　and　is　cruel　to　the　people；　who　gnash　their　teeth　with　rage。　I　would　restore　the　Hans；　but　my　means　are　insufficient。　Sir；　I　appeal　to　your　loyalty　and　public　spirit。〃
Wei　Hong　replied；　〃I　have　long　desired　this　but；　so　far；　have　not　found　a　person　fit　to　undertake　the　task。　Since　you；　Cao　Cao；　have　so　noble　a　desire；　I　willingly　devote　all　my　property　to　the　cause。〃
This　was　joyful　news；　and　the　call　to　arms　was　forthwith　prepared　and　sent　far　and　near。　So　they　established　a　corps　of　volunteers　and　set　up　a　large　white　recruiting　banner　with　the　words　Loyalty　and　Honor　inscribed　thereon。　The　response　was　rapid；　and　volunteers　came　in　like　rain　drops　in　number。

＇e＇　Xiahou　Ying　（？…173）　a　major　general　of　Liu　Bang。　Ennobled　as　the　Marquis　of　Ruyin　and　monly　called　the　Lord　of　Tang。　。。。。。
One　day　came　a　certain　Yue　Jing　from　Yangping　and　another　Li　Dian　from　Julu。　These　two　were　appointed　to　Cao　Cao's　personal　staff。　Another　was　one　Xiahou　Dun　from　Qiao。　He　was　descended　from　Xiahou　Ying*　of　old。　Xiahou　Dun　had　been　trained　from　his　early　boyhood　to　use　the　spear　and　the　club。　When　only　fourteen　he　had　been　attached　to　a　certain　master…in…arms。　One　day　one　person　spoke　disrespectfully　of　his　master；　and　Xiahou　Dun　killed　that　person。　For　this　deed；　however；　he　had　to　flee　and　had　been　an　exile　for　some　time。　Now　he　came　to　offer　his　services；　acpanied　by　his　cousin　Xiahou　Yuan。　Each　brought　a　thousand　trained　soldiers。　Really　these　two　were　brothers　of　Cao　Cao　by　birth；　since　Cao　Cao's　father　was　originally　of　the　Xiahou　family；　and　had　only　been　adopted　into　the　Cao　family。
A　few　days　later　came　Cao　Cao's　two　cousins；　Cao　Ren　and　Cao　Hong；　each　with　one　thousand　followers。　These　two　were　acplished　horsemen　and　trained　in　the　use　of　arms。
Then　drill　began；　and　Wei　Hong　spent　his　treasure　freely　in　buying　clothing；　armor；　flags；　and　banners。　From　all　sides　poured　in　gifts　of　grain。
When　Yuan　Shao　received　Cao　Cao's　call　to　arms；　he　collected　all　those　under　his　mand　to　the　number　of　thirty　thousand。　Then　he　marched　from　Bohai　to　Qiao　to　take　the　oath　to　Cao　Cao。　Next　a　manifesto　was　issued：
〃Cao　Cao　and　his　associates；　moved　by　a　sense　of　duty；　now　make　this　proclamation。　Dong　Zhuo　defies　Heaven　and　Earth。　He　is　destroying　the　state　and　injuring　his　prince。　He　pollutes　the　Palace　and　oppresses　the　people。　He　is　vicious　and　cruel。　His　crimes　are　heaped　up。　Now　we　have　received　a　secret　mand　to　call　up　soldiers；　and　we　are　pledged　to　cleanse　the　empire　and　destroy　the　evil…doers。　We　will　raise　a　volunteer　army　and　exert　all　our　efforts　to　maintain　the　dynasty　and　succor　the　people。　Respond　to　this；　O　Nobles；　by　mustering　your　soldiers。〃
Many　from　every　side　answered　the　summons　as　the　following　list　shows：

1。　Governor　of　Nanyang………Yuan　Shu
2。　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou　Region………Han　Fu
3。　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou　Region………Kong　Zhou
4。　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou　Region………Liu　Dai
5。　Governor　of　Henei………Wang　Kuang
6。　Governor　of　Chenliu………Zhang　Miao
7。　Governor　of　Dongjun………Qiao　Mao
8。　Governor　of　Shanyang………Yuan　Yi
9。　Lord　of　Jibei………Bao　Xin
10。　Governor　of　Beihai………Kong　Rong
11。　Governor　of　Guangling　………Zhang　Chao
12。　Imperial　Protector　of　Xuzhou　Region………Tao　Qian
13。　Governor　of　Xiliang………Ma　Teng
14。　Governor　of　Beiping………Gongsun　Zan
15。　Governor　of　Shangdang………Zhang　Yang
16。　Governor　of　Changsha………Sun　Jian
17。　Governor　of　Bohai………Yuan　Shao

These　contingents　varied　in　size；　from　ten　thousand　to　thirty　thousand；　but　each　was　plete　in　itself　with　its　officers；　civil　and　military；　and　battle…leaders。　They　were　heading　for　Capital　Luoyang。
The　Governor　of　Beiping；　Gongsun　Zan；　while　on　his　way　with　his　force　of　fifteen　thousand；　passed　through　the　county　of　Pingyuan。　There　he　saw　among　the　mulberry　trees　a　yellow　flag　under　which　marched　a　small　pany。　When　they　drew　nearer；　he　saw　the　leader　was　Liu　Bei。
〃Good　brother；　what　do　you　here？〃　asked　Gongsun　Zan。
〃You　were　kind　to　me　once；　and　on　your　remendation　I　was　made　the　magistrate　of　this　county。　I　heard　you　were　passing　through　and　came　to　salute　you。　May　I　pray　you；　my　elder　brother；　enter　into　the　city　and　rest　your　steed？〃
〃Who　are　these　two？〃　said　Gongsun　Zan；　pointing　to　Liu　Bei's　brothers。
〃These　are　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　my　sworn　brothers。〃
〃Were　they　fighting　with　you　against　the　Yellow　Scarves？〃　asked　Gongsun　Zan。
〃All　my　success　was　due　to　their　efforts；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃And　what　offices　do　they　fill？〃
〃Guan　Yu　is　a　mounted　archer；　Zhang　Fei　is　a　foot　archer。〃
〃Thus　are　able　people　buried！〃　said　Gongsun　Zan；　sighing。　Then　he　continued。　〃All　the　highest　in　the　land　are　now　going　to　destroy　the　rebellious　Dong　Zhuo。　My　brother；　you　would　do　better　to　abandon　this　petty　place　and　join　us　in　restoring　the　House　of　Han。　Why　not？〃
〃I　should　like　to　go；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　you　had　let　me　kill　him　that　other　time；　you　would　not　have　this　trouble　today；〃　said　Zhang　Fei　to　Liu　Bei　and　Guan　Yu。
〃Since　things　are　so；　let　us　pack　and　go；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
So　without　more　ado；　the　three　brothers；　with　a　few　horsemen；　joined　Gongsun　Zan　and　marched　with　him　to　join　the　great　army。
One　after　another　the　feudal　lords　came　up　and　encamped。　Their　camps　extended　over　seventy　miles　and　more。　When　all　had　arrived；　Cao　Cao；　as　the　head；　prepared　sacrificial　bullocks　and　horses　and　called　all　the　lords　to　a　great　assembly　to　decide　upon　their　plan