三国演义英文版-第88部分

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This　was　displeasing　to　Yuan　Tan；　and　he　angrily　dismissed　Wang　Xiu；　while　he　sent　the　treacherous　invitation　to　his　brother。
Yuan　Shang　and　Shen　Pei　talked　over　the　matter。
Shen　Pei　said；　〃I　recognize　one　of　Guo　Tu's　stratagems　and　if　you　go；　my　lord；　you　will　be　the　victim　of　their　plot。　Rather　strike　at　them　at　once。〃
Whereupon　Yuan　Shang　rode　out　to　battle。　His　brother　Yuan　Tan；　seeing　him　e　with　fifty　thousand　troops；　knew　that　his　treachery　had　been　discovered；　so　he　also　took　the　field。　When　the　forces　were　near　enough；　Yuan　Tan　opened　on　Yuan　Shang　with　a　volley　of　abuse。
〃You　poisoned　my　father　and　usurped　the　succession。　Now　you　e　out　to　slay　your　elder　brother？〃
The　battle　went　against　Yuan　Tan。　Yuan　Shang　himself　took　part　in　the　fight；　risking　the　arrows　and　the　stones。　He　urged　on　his　troops　and　drove　his　brother　off　the　field。　Yuan　Tan　took　refuge　in　Pingyuan。　Yuan　Shang　drew　off　his　army　to　his　own　city。
Yuan　Tan　and　Guo　Tu　decided　upon　a　new　attack；　and　this　time　they　chose　General　Cen　Bi　as　Leader　of　the　Van。　Yuan　Shang　went　to　meet　him。　When　both　sides　had　been　arrayed　and　the　banners　were　flying　and　the　drums　beating；　Cen　Bi　rode　out　to　challenge　and　railed　at　his　opponent。　At　first　Yuan　Shang　was　going　to　answer　the　challenge　himself；　but　Lu　Kuang　had　advanced。　Lu　Kuang　and　Cen　Bi　met　but　had　fought　only　a　few　bouts　when　Cen　Bi　fell。　Yuan　Tan's　soldiers　were　once　more　defeated　and　ran　away　to　Pingyuan。　Shen　Pei　urged　his　master　to　press　for　the　advantage；　and　Yuan　Tan　was　driven　into　the　city；　where　he　fortified　himself　and　would　not　go　out。　So　the　city　was　besieged　on　three　sides。
Yuan　Tan　asked　his　strategist　what　should　be　done　next；　and　Guo　Tu　said；　〃The　city　is　short　of　food；　the　enemy　is　flushed　with　victory；　and　we　cannot　stand　against　them。　My　idea　is　to　send　someone　to　offer　surrender　to　Cao　Cao　and　thus　get　him　to　attack　Jizhou。　Your　brother　will　be　forced　to　return　thither；　which　will　leave　you　free　to　join　in　the　attack。　We　may　capture　Yuan　Shang。　Should　Cao　Cao　begin　to　get　the　better　of　your　brother's　army；　we　will　lend　our　force　to　help　Yuan　Shang　against　Cao　Cao；　and　as　Cao　Cao's　base　of　supply　is　distant；　we　shall　drive　him　off。　And　we　can　seize　on　Jizhou　and　begin　our　great　design。〃
〃Supposing　this　scheme　be　attempted；　who　is　the　man　for　a　messenger？〃
〃I　have　one　Xin　Pi；　Xin　Ping's　younger　brother。　Xin　Pi　is　the　magistrate　here　in　this　very　place。　He　is　a　fluent　speaker　and　good　scholar　and　suited　to　your　purpose。〃
So　Xin　Pi　was　summoned　and　came　readily　enough。　Letters　were　given　him　and　an　escort　of　three　thousand　soldiers　took　him　beyond　the　border。　He　traveled　as　quickly　as　possible。
At　that　time　Cao　Cao's　camp　was　at　the　Xiping　Pass　and　he　was　attacking　Liu　Biao；　who　had　sent　Liu　Bei　out　to　offer　the　first　resistance。　No　battle　had　yet　taken　place。
Soon　after　his　arrival；　Xin　Pi　was　admitted　to　the　Prime　Minister's　presence。　After　the　ceremonies　of　greeting；　Cao　Cao　asked　the　object　of　the　visit。　Xin　Pi　explained　that　Yuan　Tan　wanted　assistance　and　presented　his　dispatches。　Cao　Cao　read　them　and　told　the　messenger　to　wait　in　his　camp　while　he　called　his　officers　to　a　council。
The　council　met。　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃Yuan　Tan　has　been　forced　into　making　this　offer　because　of　the　pressure　of　his　brother's　attack。　Put　no　trust　in　him。〃
Lu　Qian　and　Man　Chong　said；　〃You　have　led　your　armies　here　for　a　special　purpose。　How　can　you　abandon　that　and　go　to　assist　Yuan　Tan？〃
〃Gentlemen；　not　one　of　you　is　giving　good　advice；〃　interposed　Xun　You。　〃This　is　how　I　regard　it。　Since　there　is　universal　trouble；　in　the　midst　of　which　Liu　Biao　remains　quietly　content　with　his　position　between　the　River　Zhang　and　the　River　Han；　it　is　evident　that　he　has　no　ambition　to　enlarge　his　borders。　The　Yuans　hold　four　regions　and　have　many　legions　of　soldiers。　Harmony　between　the　two　brothers　means　success　for　the　family；　and　none　can　foresee　what　will　happen　in　the　empire。　Now　take　advantage　of　this　fraternal　conflict　and　let　them　fight　till　they　are　weakened　and　have　to　yield　to　our　Prime　Minister。　Then　Yuan　Shang　can　be　removed；　and　when　the　times　are　suitable；　Yuan　Tan　can　be　destroyed　in　his　turn。　Thus　peace　will　ensue。　This　present　bination　of　circumstances　is　to　be　taken　advantage　of　to　full　measure。〃
Cao　Cao　realized　the　truth　of　this　and　treated　Xin　Pi　well。
At　a　banquet　Cao　Cao　said；　〃But　is　this　surrender　of　Yuan　Tan　real　or　false？　Do　you　really　think　that　Yuan　Shang's　army　is　sure　to　overe　him？〃
Xin　Pi　replied；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　do　not　inquire　into　the　degree　of　sincerity；　rather　regard　the　situation。　The　Yuans　have　been　suffering　military　losses　for　years　and　are　powerless　without；　while　their　strategists　are　put　to　death　within。　The　brothers　seize　every　chance　to　speak　evil　of　each　other；　and　their　country　is　divided。　Add　to　this　famine；　supplemented　by　calamities　and　general　exhaustion；　and　everybody；　wise　as　well　as　simple；　can　see　that　the　catastrophe　is　near　and　the　time　ordained　of　Heaven　for　the　destruction　of　the　Yuans　is　at　hand。　Now　you　have　a　force　attacking　the　capital　of　Jizhou………Yejun………and　if　Yuan　Shang　will　not　return　to　give　aid；　the　place　of　refuge　is　lost。　If　he　helps；　then　Yuan　Tan　will　follow　up　and　smite　him；　making　use　of　your　power　to　destroy　the　remnant　of　his　brother's　army；　just　as　the　autumn　gale　sweeps　away　the　fallen　leaves。　Now　Liu　Biao's　Jingzhou　is　rich；　the　government　peaceful；　the　people　submissive；　and　it　cannot　be　shaken。　Moreover；　there　is　no　greater　threat　to　it　than　the　North　of　Yellow　River。　If　that　be　reduced；　then　the　task　is　plete。　I　pray　you；　Sir；　think　of　it。〃
〃I　am　sorry　that　I　did　not　meet　you　earlier；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　much　gratified　with　this　speech。
Forthwith　orders　were　given　to　return　and　attack　Jizhou。　Liu　Bei；　fearing　this　retirement　was　only　a　ruse；　allowed　it　to　proceed　without　interference　and　himself　returned　to　Jingzhou。
When　Yuan　Shang　heard　that　Cao　Cao　had　crossed　the　Yellow　River；　he　hastily　led　his　army　back　to　Yejun；　ordering　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang　to　guard　the　rear。
Yuan　Tan　started　from　Pingyuan　with　a　force　in　pursuit。　He　had　proceeded　only　a　dozen　miles　when　he　heard　a　bomb　and　two　bodies　of　troops　came　out　in　front　of　him　and　checked　his　progress。　Their　leaders　were　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang。
Yuan　Tan　reined　in　and　addressed　them；　saying；　〃While　my　father　lived；　I　never　treated　you　badly。　Why　do　you　support　my　brother　and　try　to　injure　me？〃
The　two　generals　had　no　reply　to　make；　but　they　dismounted　and　bowed　before　him　yielding　submission。
Yuan　Tan　said；　〃Do　not　surrender　to　me　but　to　the　Prime　Minister。〃
And　he　led　them　back　to　camp；　where　he　waited　the　arrival　of　Cao　Cao　and　then　presented　the　pair。　Cao　Cao　received　them　well。　He　promised　his　daughter　to　Yuan　Tan　to　wife；　and　he　appointed　the　two　brothers　as　advisers。
When　Yuan　Tan　asked　Cao　Cao　to　attack　Jizhou；　the　reply　was：　〃Supplies　are　short　and　difficult　to　transport。　I　must　turn　the　waters　of　River　Ji　into　the　White　River　whereby　to　convey　my　grain　and　afterwards　I　can　advance。〃
Ordering　Yuan　Tan　to　remain　in　Pingyuan；　Cao　Cao　retired　into　camp　at　Liyang。　The　two　brothers　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang；　who　were　renegades　from　Yuan　Shang；　were　now　raised　to　noble　rank　and　followed　the　army　as　supernumeraries。
Guo　Tu　noted　this　advancement　and　said　to　Yuan　Tan；　〃He　has　promised　you　a　daughter　to　wife。　I　fear　that　bodes　no　good。　Now　he　has　given　titles　of　nobility　to　the　two　Lus　and　taken　them　with　him。　This　is　a　bait　for　the　northern　people；　and　at　the　same　time　he　intends　evil　toward　us。　You；　my　lord；　should　have　two　generals'　seals　engraved　and　send　them　secretly　to　the　brothers　so　that　you　may　have　friends　at　court　ready　for　the　day　when　Cao　Cao　shall　have　broken　your　brother's　power；　and　we　can　begin　to　work　against　him。〃
The　seals　were　engraved　and　sent。
As　soon　as　the　Lu　brothers　received　them；　they　informed　Cao　Cao；　who　smiled；　saying；　〃He　wants　your　support　so　he　sends　you　seals　as　officers。　I　will　consider　it　as　soon　as　Yuan　Shang　has　been　dealt　with。　In　the　meantime　you　may　accept　the　seals　till　I　shall　decide　what　to　do。〃
Thenceforward　Cao　Cao　planned　Yuan　Tan's　doom。
Shen　Pei　and　his　master　also　discussed　the　current　situation。　Yuan　Shang　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　getting　grain　into　the　White　River；　which　means　an　attack　on　Jizhou。　What　is　to　be　done？〃
Shen　Pei　replied；　〃Send　letters　to　Yin　Kai；　mander　of　Wuan；　bidding　him　camp　at　Maocheng　to　secure　the　road　to　Shangdang；　and　direct　Ju　Gu；　son　of　Ju　Shou；　to　maintain　Handan　as　a　distant　auxiliary。　Then　you　may　advance　on　Pingyuan　and　attack　Cao　Cao。〃
The　plan　seemed　good。　Yuan　Shang　left　Shen　Pei　and　Chen　Lin　in　charge　of　Yejun；　appointed　two　manders　Ma　Yan　and　Zhang　Zi　as　Van　Leaders；　and　set　out　hastily　for　Pingyuan。
When　Yuan　Tan　heard　of　the　approach　of　his　brother's　army；　he　sent　urgent　messages　to　Cao　Cao；　who　said　to　himself；　〃I　am　going　to　get　Jizhou　this　time。〃
Just　at　this　time　it　happened　that　Xun　You　came　down　from　the　capital。　When　he　heard　that　Yuan　Shang　was　attacking　his　brother　Yuan　Tan；　he　sought　Cao　Cao　and　said；　〃You；　Sir；　sit　here　on　guard。　Are　you　waiting　till　Heaven's　thunder　shall　strike　the　two　Yuans？〃
〃I　have　thought　it　all　out；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　he　ordered　Cao　Hong　to　go　and　fight　against　Yejun；　while　he　led　another　army　against　Yin　Kai　in　Maocheng。　Yin　Kai　could　make　no　adequate　defense　and　was　killed　by　Xu　Chu。　His　soldiers　ran　away　and　presently　joined　Cao　Cao's　army。　Next　Cao　Cao　led　the　army　to　Handan；　and　Ju　Gu　came　out　to　fight　him。　Zhang　Liao　advanced　to　fight　with　Ju　Gu；　and　after　the　third　encounter　Ju　Gu　was　defeated　and　fled。　Zhang　Liao　went　after　him；　and　when　their　two　horses　were　not　far　apart；　Zhang　Liao　took　his　bow　and　shot。　The　fleeing　warrior　fell　as　the　bowstring　twanged。　Cao　Cao　pleted　the　rout；　and　Ju　Gu's　force　was　broken　up。
Now　Cao　Cao　led　his　armies　to　an　attack　on　Yejun。　Cao　Hong　had　arrived　before；　and　a　regular　siege　began。　The　army　enpassed　the　city　and　began　by　throwing　up　great　mounds。　They　also　tunneled　subterranean　ways。
Within　the　city　Shen　Pei　turned　his　whole　care　to　the　defense　and　issued　the　severest　mands。　The　mander　of　the　East　Gate；　Feng　Li；　got　intoxicated　and　failed　to　keep　his　watch　for　which　he　was　severely　punished。　Feng　Li　resented　this；　snea