三国演义英文版-第38部分

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ding　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　enemy's　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　Cao's　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　wise　servant　chooses　his　master。　When　one　meets　a　worthy　master　and　lets　him　go；　one　is　very　reckless。〃
〃I　am　willing　to　do　what　you　say；〃　said　Xu　Huang；　rising。
〃Why　not　put　these　two　to　death　as　an　introductory　gift？〃　said　Man　Chong。
〃It　is　very　wrong　for　a　servant　to　slay　his　master。　I　will　not　do　that。〃
〃True；　you　are　really　a　good　man。〃
Then　Xu　Huang；　taking　only　a　few　horsemen　of　his　own　men　with　him；　left　that　night　and　deserted　to　Cao　Cao。　Soon　someone　took　the　news　to　Yang　Feng；　who　at　the　head　of　a　thousand　strong　horsemen；　set　out　to　capture　the　deserter。
As　they　drew　close；　Yang　Feng　called　out；　〃Betrayer！　Stop　there！〃
But　Yang　Feng　fell　into　an　ambush。　Suddenly　the　whole　mountain　side　was　lit　up　with　torches　and　out　sprang　Cao　Cao's　troops；　he　himself　being　in　mand。
〃I　have　been　waiting　here　a　long　time。　Do　not　run　away！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。
Yang　Feng　was　pletely　surprised　and　tried　to　draw　off；　but　was　quickly　surrounded。　Then　Han　Xian　came　to　his　rescue；　and　a　confused　battle　began。　Yang　Feng　succeeded　in　escaping；　while　Cao　Cao　kept　up　the　attack　on　the　two　disordered　armies。　A　great　number　of　the　rebels　gave　in；　and　the　leaders　found　they　had　too　few　men　left　to　maintain　their　independence；　so　they　betook　themselves　to　Yuan　Shu。
When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　camp；　the　newly　surrendered　general　was　presented　and　well　received。　Then　again　the　cavalcade　set　out　for　the　new　capital。　In　due　time　they　reached　Xuchang；　and　they　built　palaces　and　halls；　an　ancestral　temple　and　an　altar；　terraces　and　public　offices。　The　walls　were　repaired；　storehouses　built　and　all　put　in　order。
Then　came　the　rewards　for　Cao　Cao's　adherents　and　others。　Dong　Cheng　and　thirteen　others　were　raised　to　rank　of　lordship。　All　good　service　was　rewarded；　certain　others　again；　who　deserved　it；　were　punished；　all　according　to　Cao　Cao's　sole　decision。
Cao　Cao　himself　was　made　Prime　Minister；　Regent　Marshal；　and　Lord　of　Wuping。　Xun　Yu　was　made　Imperial　Counselor　and　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　Xun　You；　Minister　of　War；　Guo　Jia；　Minister　of　Rites　and　Religion；　Liu　Ye；　Minister　of　Works；　Mao　Jie；　Minister　of　Agriculture；　and　together　with　Ren　Jun；　they　were　put　over　the　supervision　of　military　farms　and　stores。　Cheng　Yu　was　appointed　Lord　of　Dongping；　Dong　Zhao；　Magistrate　of　Luoyang；　Man　Chong；　Magistrate　of　Xuchang。　Xiahou　Dun；　Xiahou　Yuan；　Cao　Ren；　Cao　Hong；　Lu　Qian；　Li　Dian；　Yue　Jing；　Yu　Jin；　and　Xu　Huang　were　made　manders；　Xu　Chu　and　Dian　Wei；　manders　of　Capital　District。　All　good　service　received　full　recognition。
Cao　Cao　was　then　the　one　man　of　the　court。　All　memorials　went　first　to　him　and　were　then　submitted　to　the　Throne。　When　state　matters　were　in　order；　Cao　Cao　gave　a　great　banquet　in　his　private　quarters　to　all　his　advisers；　and　affairs　outside　the　capital　were　the　subject　of　discussion。
Then　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Liu　Bei　has　his　army　at　Xuzhou；　and　he　carries　on　the　administration　of　the　region。　Lu　Bu　fled　to　Liu　Bei　when　defeated；　and　Liu　Bei　gave　Lu　Bu　Xiaopei　to　live　in。　If　these　two　agreed　to　join　forces　and　attack；　my　position　would　be　most　serious。　What　precautions　can　be　taken？〃
Then　rose　Xu　Chu；　saying；　〃Give　me　fifty　thousand　of　picked　soldiers；　and　I　will　give　the　Prime　Minister　both　their　heads。〃
Xun　Yu　said；　〃O　Leader；　you　are　brave；　but　we　must　consider　the　present　circumstance。　We　cannot　start　a　sudden　war　just　as　the　capital　has　been　changed。　However；　there　is　a　certain　ruse　known　as　'Rival　Tigers　and　One　Prey。'　Liu　Bei　has　no　decree　authorizing　him　to　govern　the　region。　You；　Sir　Prime　Minister；　can　procure　one　for　him；　and　when　sending　it；　and　so　conferring　upon　him　right　in　addition　to　his　might；　you　can　enclose　a　private　note　telling　him　to　get　rid　of　Lu　Bu。　If　he　does；　then　he　will　have　lost　a　vigorous　warrior　from　his　side；　and　he　could　be　dealt　with　as　occasions　serve。　Should　he　fail；　then　Lu　Bu　will　slay　him。　This　is　'Rival　Tigers　and　One　Prey'　ruse；　they　wrangle　and　bite　each　other。〃
Cao　Cao　agreed　that　this　was　a　good　plan；　so　he　memorialized　for　the　formal　appointment；　which　he　sent　to　Liu　Bei。　Liu　Bei　was　created　General　Who　Conquers　the　East；　Lord　of　Yicheng；　and　Imperial　Protector　of　Xuzhou　as　well。　At　the　same　time　a　private　note　was　enclosed。
In　Xuzhou；　when　Liu　Bei　heard　of　the　change　of　capital；　he　began　to　prepare　a　congratulatory　address。　In　the　midst　of　this　an　imperial　messenger　was　announced　and　was　met　which　all　ceremony　outside　the　gate。　When　the　epistle　had　been　reverently　received；　a　banquet　was　prepared　for　the　messenger。
The　messenger　said；　〃This　decree　was　obtained　for　you　by　Prime　Minister　Cao　Cao。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him。　Then　the　messenger　drew　forth　his　secret　letter。
After　reading　it；　Liu　Bei　said；　〃This　matter　can　be　easily　arranged。〃
The　banquet　over　and　the　messenger　conducted　to　his　lodging　to　seek　repose。　Liu　Bei；　before　going　to　rest；　called　in　his　councilors　to　consider　the　letter。
〃There　need　be　no　punction　about　putting　him　to　death；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。　〃Lu　Bu　is　a　bad　man。〃
〃But　he　came　to　me　for　protection　in　his　weakness：　How　can　I　put　him　to　death？　That　would　be　immoral；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　he　was　a　good　man；　it　would　be　difficult；〃　replied　Zhang　Fei。
Liu　Bei　would　not　consent。
Next　day；　when　Lu　Bu　came　to　offer　congratulations；　he　was　received　as　usual。　He　said；　〃I　have　e　to　felicitate　you　on　the　receipt　of　the　imperial　bounty。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　in　due　form。　But　then　he　saw　Zhang　Fei　draw　his　sword　and　e　up　the　hall　as　if　to　slay　Lu　Bu。　Liu　Bei　hastily　interfered　and　stopped　Zhang　Fei。
Lu　Bu　was　surprised　and　said；　〃Why　do　you　wish　to　slay　me；　Zhang　Fei？〃
〃Cao　Cao　says　you　are　immoral　and　tells　my　brother　to　kill　you；〃　shouted　Zhang　Fei。
Liu　Bei　shouted　again　and　again　to　Zhang　Fei　to　go　away；　and　he　led　Lu　Bu　into　the　private　apartments　out　of　the　way。　Then　he　told　Lu　Bu　the　whole　story　and　showed　him　the　secret　letter。
Lu　Bu　wept　as　he　finished　reading；　〃This　is　that　miscreant's　scheme　for　sowing　discord　between　us。〃
〃Be　not　anxious；　elder　brother；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃I　pledge　myself　not　to　be　guilty　of　such　an　infamous　crime。〃
Lu　Bu　again　and　again　expressed　his　gratitude；　and　Liu　Bei　kept　him　for　a　time。