三国演义英文版-第156部分

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〃It　may　be　an　excellent　idea；〃　said　Jia　Xu；　〃but　it　is　not　sufficient　simply　to　estrange　two　people。　I　can　improve　on　it；　and　we　will　make　them　quarrel　and　even　kill　each　other。〃
〃What　is　your　scheme？〃
〃Ma　Chao　is　brave　but　not　very　astute。　You　write　a　letter　with　your　own　hand　to　Han　Sui　himself　and　put　in　it　some　rambling　statements　about　some　harm　that　is　going　to　happen。　Then　blot　it　out　and　write　something　else。　Afterwards　you　will　send　it　to　Han　Sui；　taking　care　that　Ma　Chao　shall　know　all　about　it。　Ma　Chao　will　demand　to　read　the　letter；　and　when　he　sees　that　the　important　part　of　the　letter　has　been　changed；　he　will　think　that　Han　Sui　has　made　the　changes　lest　his　secrets　should　leak　out。　This　will　fit　into　the　private　talk　you　had　with　Han　Sui　the　other　day；　and　the　suspicion　will　grow　until　it　has　brought　about　trouble。　I　can　also　secretly　corrupt　some　of　Han　Sui's　subordinates；　and　get　them　to　widen　the　breach。　Then　we　can　settle　Ma　Chao。〃
〃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　Sui's　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　Minister's　side；　and　you　will　surely　get　rank　one　day。〃
〃I　was　his　father's　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　Sui's　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　Sui's　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？〃
They　were　taken　aback。　Ma　Chao　sprang　at　Han　Sui　and　slashed　at　his　face。　Han　Sui　put　up　his　hand　to　ward　off　the　blow；　and　his　hand　was　cut　off。　The　five　drew　their　swords　and　set　on　Ma　Chao　and　his　men；　who　rushed　outside。　Soon　Ma　Chao　was　hemmed　in　by　the　five；　but　he　kept　them　at　bay　by　wonderful　swordsmanship。　And　as　the　swords　flashed；　the　red　blood　flowed。　Soon　Ma　Wan　was　down　and　Liang　Xing　disabled；　then　the　other　three　fled。
Ma　Chao　ran　back　into　the　tent　to　finish　Han　Sui；　but　the　servants　had　removed　him。　Then　a　torch　was　lit；　and　soon　there　was　motion　all　through　the　camp。　Ma　Chao　mounted　his　horse；　for　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　had　now　arrived；　and　the　real　fight　began。　Cao　Cao's　troops　poured　in　from　all　sides：　Xu　Chu　and　Xu　Huang　were　in　front　and　behind；　Xiahou　Yuan　and　Cao　Hong　to　the　left　and　right。　Meanwhile；　the　Xiliang　soldiers　fought　with　each　other。
Losing　sight　of　his　generals；　Ma　Chao　and　one　hundred　riders　got　to　the　head　of　the　floating　bridge　over　the　River　Wei　just　about　dawn。　There　he　fell　across　Li　Kan　ing　over　the　bridge　with　an　army。　Ma　Chao　set　his　spear　and　rode　at　him　full　tilt。　Li　Kan　turned　down　his　spear　and　fled。　From　behind　Ma　Chao；　Yu　Jin　came　up　in　pursuit。　But　unable　to　get　near　enough　to　seize　Ma　Chao；　Yu　Jin　sent　an　arrow　flying　after　him。　Ma　Chao's　ear　caught　the　twang　of　the　bowstring；　and　he　dodged　the　arrow；　which　flew　on　and　killed　Li　Kan。　Ma　Chao　turned　to　attack　his　pursuer；　who　galloped　away；　and　then　he　returned　and　took　possession　of　the　bridge。
Quickly　Cao　Cao's　troops　gathered　about　him；　and　the　fiercest　among　them；　the　Tiger　Guard；　shot　arrows　at　Ma　Chao；　which　he　warded　off　with　his　spear　shaft　so　that　they　fell　harmless　to　the　earth。　Ma　Chao　and　his　troops　rode　to　and　fro　striking　a　blow　wherever　there　was　a　chance；　but　the　enemy　were　very　thick　about　him；　and　he　could　not　force　his　way　out。　In　desperation　he　cut　an　alley　northwards　and　got　through；　but　quite　alone。　Of　his　followers　everyone　fell。
Still　he　kept　on　dashing　this　way　and　that；　till　he　was　brought　down　by　a　crossbow　bolt。　He　lay　upon　the　ground　and　his　enemies　were　pressing　in。　But　at　the　critical　moment；　an　army　came　in　from　the　northwest　and　rescued　him。　Pang　De　and　Ma　Dai　had　e　up　in　the　very　nick　of　time。
Thus　Ma　Chao　was　rescued；　and　they　set　him　on　one　of　the　soldiers'　horses；　and　he　again　took　up　the　battle。　Leaving　a　trail　of　blood　in　his　rear；　he　got　away　northwest。
Hearing　that　his　enemy　had　got　away；　Cao　Cao　gave　order　to　his　generals；　〃Pursue　him　day　and　night；　and　rich　rewards　are　for　him　dead　or　alive。　For　his　head　the　rewards　are　a　thousand　ounces　of　gold　and　the　lordship　of　a　fief　of　ten　thousand　families。　If　anyone　captures　Ma　Chao；　the　reward　is　the　rank　of　general。〃
Consequently　the　pursuit　was　hot　as　everyone　was　anxious　to　win　renown　and　reward。　Meanwhile　careless　of　all　but　flight；　Ma　Chao　galloped　on；　and　one　by　one　his　followers　dropped　by　the　way。　The　footmen　who　were　unable　to　keep　up　were　captured　till　very　few　remained；　and　only　some　scores　of　riders　were　left。　They　traveled　toward　Lintao；　a　city　in　West　Valley　Land。
Cao　Cao　in　person　joined　the　pursuit　and　got　to　Anding；　but　there　Ma　Chao　was　still　far　in　advance；　so　he　gave　up　and　returned。　Gradually　the　generals　did　the　same；　all　ing　back　to　Changan。　Poor　Han　Sui；　with　the　loss　of　his　left　hand；　was　an　invalid；　but　he　was　rewarded　with　the　Lordship　of　Xiliang。　Yang　Qiu　and　Hou　Xuan　were　given　noble　ranks　and　offices　in　Weikou。
Then　orders　were　given　to　lead　the　whole　army　back　to　the　capital。　Yang　Fu；　a　military　adviser　from　Liangzhou；　came　to　Changan　to　point　out　the　danger　of　withdrawal。
〃Ma　Chao　has　the　boldness　of　Lu　Bu　and　the　heart　of　a　barbarian。　Unless　you　destroy　him　this　time；　he　will　e　again　and　he　will　be　both　bolder　and　stronger；　and　the　whole　west　will　be　lost。　Wherefore　you　should　not　withdraw　your　army。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　would　be　quite　willing　to　finish　the　subjugation。　But　there　is　much　to　do　in　the　capital；　and　the　south　is　still　to　conquer。　So　I　cannot　remain。　But　you；　Sir；　might　secure　this　region　for　me。　Do　you　consent？〃
Yang　Fu　did　consent。　And　he　brought　to　Cao　Cao's　notice　Wei　Kang；　who　was　made　Imperial　Protector　of　Liangzhou；　with　joint　military　powers。
Just　before　Yang　Fu　left；　he　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃A　strong　force　ought　to　be　left　in　Changan；　as　a　reserve　in　case　they　be　required。〃
〃That　has　been　already　dealt　with；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
Contentedly　enough　Yang　Fu　took　leave　and　went　away。
Cao　Cao's　generals　asked　him　to　explain　his　recent　policy；　saying；　〃Since　the　first　outbreak　at　Tong　Pass；　O　Prime　Minister；　the　north　bank　of　River　Wei　was　undefended。　Why　did　you　not　cross　to　the　north　bank　from　the　east　of　the　Yellow　River？　But　instead　you　engaged　in　the　attack　of　the　Pass　for　many　days　before　crossing　to　the　north　bank。〃
And　he　replied；　〃The　rebels　first　held　the　Pass。　Had　I　forthwith　taken　the　east　side　of　the　Yellow　River；　the　rebels　would　have　defended　the　camps　one　by　one　and　mustered　at　all　the　ferries；　and　I　should　never　have　got　across　to　the　west　side　（which　was　also　the　north　bank　of　River　Wei）。　So　I　massed　troops　against　Tong　Pass　and　made　the　rebels　guard　the　south　bank　of　River　Wei；　so　that　the　north　bank　was　left　open。　Thus　Xu　Huang　and　Zhu　Ling　could　move　there；　and　I　was　a