三国演义英文版-第91部分

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ent　Xin　Ping　to　see　Cao　Cao　and　arrange　surrender。
〃He　is　nothing　but　a　tickle…minded　child；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃He　is　never　of　the　same　mind　two　days　running；　and　I　cannot　depend　upon　what　he　says。　Now　your　brother　Xin　Pi　is　in　my　employ　and　has　a　post　of　importance；　you　had　better　remain　here　also。〃
〃Sir　Prime　Minister；　you　are　in　error；〃　said　Xin　Ping。　〃It　is　said　that　the　lord's　honor　is　the　servant's　glory；　the　lord's　sadness　is　the　servant's　shame。　How　can　I　turn　my　back　on　the　family　I　have　so　long　served？〃
Cao　Cao　felt　he　could　not　be　persuaded　and　sent　him　back。　Xin　Ping　returned　and　told　Yuan　Tan　the　surrender　could　not　be　arranged。
Yuan　Tan　turned　on　him　angrily；　saying；　〃Your　brother　is　with　Cao　Cao；　and　you　want　to　betray　me　also！〃
At　this　unmerited　reproach　such　a　huge　wave　of　anger　welled　up　in　Xin　Ping's　breast　that　he　was　overe　and　fell　in　a　swoon。　They　carried　him　out；　but　the　shock　had　been　too　severe；　and　soon　after　he　died。　Yuan　Tan　regretted　his　conduct　when　it　was　too　late。
Then　Guo　Tu　said；　〃Tomorrow　when　we　go　out　to　battle；　we　will　drive　the　people　out　in　front　as　a　screen　for　the　soldiers；　and　we　must　fight　a　winning　battle。〃
That　night　they　assembled　all　the　mon　people　of　the　place　and　forced　into　their　hands　swords　and　spears。　At　daylight　they　opened　the　four　gates；　and　a　huge　party　with　much　shouting　came　out　at　each；　peasantry　carrying　arms　in　front；　and　soldiers　behind　them。　They　pushed　on　toward　Cao　Cao's　camps；　and　a　melee　began　lasted　till　near　midday。　But　this　was　quite　indecisive；　although　heaps　of　dead　lay　everywhere。
Seeing　that　success　was　at　best　only　partial；　Cao　Cao　rode　out　to　the　hills　near　and　thence　had　the　drums　beaten　for　a　new　attack　under　his　own　eye。　His　officers　and　troops；　seeing　that　he　could　observe　them　in　person；　exerted　themselves　to　the　utmost；　and　Yuan　Tan's　army　was　severely　defeated。　Of　the　peasantry　driven　into　the　battlefield；　multitudes　were　slain。
Cao　Hong；　who　displayed　very　great　valor；　burst　into　the　press　of　battle　and　met　Yuan　Tan　face　to　face。　The　two　slashed　and　hammered　at　each　other；　and　Yuan　Tan　was　killed。
Guo　Tu　saw　that　his　side　was　wholly　disorganized　and　tried　to　withdraw　into　the　shelter　of　Nanpi。　Yue　Jing　saw　this　and　opened　a　tremendous　discharge　of　arrows　so　that　Guo　Tu　fell　and　the　moat　was　soon　filled　with　dead。
The　city　of　Nanpi　fell　to　Cao　Cao。　He　entered　and　set　about　restoring　peace　and　order。　Then　suddenly　appeared　a　new　army　under　two　of　Yuan　Xi's　generals；　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng。　Cao　Cao　led　out　his　troops　to　meet　them；　but　the　two　manders　laid　down　their　arms　and　yielded。　They　were　rewarded　with　the　rank　of　lordship。
Then　Zhang　Yan；　the　leader　of　the　Black　Hills　Brigands；　came　with　one　hundred　thousand　troops　and　gave　in　his　submission。　He　was　made　General　Who　Pacifies　the　North。
By　an　order　of　Cao　Cao；　the　head　of　Yuan　Tan　was　exposed；　and　death　was　threatened　to　anyone　who　should　lament　for　him。　Nevertheless　a　man　dressed　in　mourning　attire　was　arrested　for　weeping　below　the　exposed　head　at　the　north　gate。　Taken　into　Cao　Cao's　presence；　he　said　he　was　Wang　Xiu　and　had　been　an　officer　in　Qingzhou。　He　had　been　expelled　because　he　had　remonstrated　with　Yuan　Tan。　But　when　the　news　of　Yuan　Tan's　death　came；　he　had　e　to　weep　for　his　late　master。
〃Did　you　know　of　my　mand？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　knew　it。〃
〃Yet　you　were　not　afraid？〃
〃When　one　has　received　favors　from　a　man　in　life；　it　would　be　wrong　not　to　mourn　at　his　death。　How　can　one　stand　in　the　world　if　one　forgets　duty　through　fear？　If　I　could　bury　his　body；　I　would　not　mind　death。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃And　there　were　many　such　as　this　in　the　north。　What　a　pity　that　the　Yuan　family　could　not　make　the　best　of　them！　But　if　they　had　done　so；　I　should　never　have　dared　to　turn　my　eyes　toward　this　place。〃
The　intrepid　mourner　was　not　put　to　death。　The　remains　of　Yuan　Tan　were　properly　interred；　and　Wang　Xiu　was　well　treated　and　even　given　an　appointment。
In　his　new　position　Wang　Xiu　was　asked　for　advice　about　the　best　way　to　proceed　against　Yuan　Shang；　who　had　fled　to　his　second　brother；　but　Wang　Xiu　remained　silent；　thereby　winning　from　Cao　Cao　renewed　admiration　for　his　constancy。
〃He　is　indeed　loyal！〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　he　questioned　Guo　Jia；　who　advised　him；　saying；　〃Give　Yuan　Xi's　former　generals　the　mand　and　ask　them　to　attack　Youzhou。〃
Whereupon　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng　were　given　the　mand　and　reinforced　by　the　armies　under　Lu　Xiang；　Lu　Kuang；　Ma　Yan；　and　Zhang　Zi　to　bring　about　the　surrender　of　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang。　Then　six　generals；　to　attack　Youzhou　along　three　routes。　Other　armies　led　by　Li　Dian；　Yue　Jing；　and　Zhang　Yan　were　sent　against　Gao　Gan　at　Bingzhou。
The　two　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　heard　of　Cao　Cao's　advance　with　dismay　for　they　had　no　hope　of　successful　resistance。　Therefore　they　abandoned　Youzhou　and　hastily　marched　into　Liaoxi　to　seek　refuge　with　the　Wuhuan　tribespeople　in　the　frontier　Wuhuan　State。
Then　Wuhuan　Chu；　new　Imperial　Protector　of　Youzhou；　was　not　disposed　to　incur　the　enmity　of　the　powerful　Cao　Cao；　so　he　called　his　subordinates　together　to　swear　them　to　support　him。
Wuhuan　Chu　said；　〃I　understand　that　Cao　Cao　is　the　most　powerful　man　of　the　day；　and　I　am　going　to　support　him；　and　those　who　do　not　go　with　me　I　shall　put　to　death。〃
Each　in　turn　smeared　his　lips　with　the　blood　of　sacrifice　and　took　the　oath；　till　it　came　to　the　turn　of　Han　Heng。
Instead　he　dashed　his　sword　to　the　ground；　crying；　〃I　have　received　great　promotions　and　benefits　from　the　Yuans。　Now　my　lord　has　been　vanquished。　My　knowledge　was　powerless　to　save　him；　and　my　bravery　insufficient　to　cause　me　to　die　for　him：　I　have　failed　in　my　duty。　But　I　refuse　to　mit　the　crowning　act　of　treachery　and　ally　myself　with　Cao　Cao。〃
This　speech　made　the　others　turn　pale。
The　chief　said；　〃For　a　great　undertaking；　there　must　be　lofty　principles。　However；　success　does　not　necessarily　depend　upon　universal　support；　and　since　Han　Heng　is　actuated　by　such　sentiments；　then　let　him　follow　his　conscience。〃
So　Wuhuan　Chu　turned　Han　Heng　out　of　the　assembly。　Wuhuan　Chu　then　went　out　of　the　city　to　meet　and　wele　Cao　Cao's　army　and　rendered　his　submission。　He　was　well　received　and　the　title　given　him　of　General　Who　Guards　the　North。
Then　the　scouts　came　to　report：　〃Generals　Li　Dian；　Yue　Jing；　and　Zhang　Yan　had　marched　to　Bingzhou；　but　that　Gao　Gan　had　occupied　Huguan　Pass　and　could　not　be　dislodged。〃
So　Cao　Cao　marched　thither　himself。　The　defender　still　maintaining　his　position；　Cao　Cao　asked　for　plans。　Xun　You　proposed　that　a　band　should　go　over　pretending　to　be　deserters。　Cao　Cao　assented　and　then　called　the　two　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang；　to　whom　he　gave　whispered　orders。　They　left　with　their　panies。
Soon　they　came　near　the　pass　and　called　out；　saying；　〃We　are　old　officers　in　Yuan　Shao's　armies　forced　into　surrender　to　Cao　Cao。　We　find　him　so　false　and　he　treats　us　so　meanly　that　we　want　to　return　to　help　our　old　master。　Wherefore　quickly　open　your　gates　to　us。〃
Gao　Gan　was　suspicious；　but　he　let　the　two　officers　e　up　to　the　pass；　and　when　they　had　stripped　off　their　armor　and　left　their　horses；　they　were　permitted　to　enter。
And　they　said　to　Gao　Gan；　〃Cao　Cao's　troops　are　new　to　the　country　and　not　settled。　You　ought　to　fall　upon　their　camp　this　very　evening。　If　you　approve；　we　will　lead　the　attack。〃
Gao　Gan　decided　to　trust　them　and　prepared　to　attack；　giving　the　two　brothers　the　leadership　of　ten　thousand　soldiers。　But　as　they　drew　near　Cao　Cao's　camp；　a　great　noise　arose　behind　them　and　they　found　themselves　in　an　ambush　attacked　on　all　sides。　Realizing　too　late　that　he　had　been　the　victim　of　a　ruse；　Gao　Gan　retreated　to　the　pass；　but　found　it　occupied　by　Li　Dian　and　Yue　Jing。　Gao　Gan　then　made　the　best　of　his　way　to　the　Chieftain　of　the　Xiongnu　People。　Cao　Cao　gave　orders　to　hold　the　passes　and　sent　panies　in　pursuit。
When　Gao　Gan　reached　the　boundary　of　the　Xiongnu　State；　he　met　Ce　Xian；　the　Khan　of　the　northern　tribespeople。
Gao　Gan　dismounted　and　made　a　low　obeisance；　saying；　〃Cao　Cao　is　conquering　and　absorbing　all　the　borders　and　your　turn；　O　King；　will　e　quickly。　I　pray　you　help　me　and　let　us　smite　together　for　the　safety　of　the　northern　regions。〃
Ce　Xian　the　Khan　replied；　〃I　have　no　quarrel　with　Cao　Cao。　Why　then　should　he　invade　my　land？　Do　you　desire　to　embroil　me　with　him？〃
He　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　Gao　Gan　and　sent　him　sway。　At　his　wits'　end；　Gao　Gan　decided　to　try　to　join　Liu　Biao　and　go　southward　so　far　on　his　journey　as　Shanglu　when　he　was　taken　prisoner　and　put　to　death　by　Governor　Wang　Yan。　His　head　was　sent　to　Cao　Cao；　and　Wang　Yan　received　lordship　for　this　service。
Thus　Bingzhou　was　conquered。　Then　Cao　Cao　began　to　discuss　the　overthrow　of　the　Wuhuan　State。
Cao　Hong；　speaking　in　the　name　of　other　officials；　said；　〃The　two　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　are　nearly　done　for　and　too　weak　to　be　feared。　They　have　fled　far　into　the　Sea　of　Sand。　If　we　pursue　them　thither；　it　may　bring　down　Liu　Biao　and　Liu　Bei　upon　the　capital。　Should　we　be　unable　to　rescue　it；　the　misfortune　would　be　immense。　Wherefore　we　beg　you　to　return　to　Xuchang。〃
But　Guo　Jia　was　of　different　advice。
〃You　are　wrong；〃　said　he。　〃Though　the　prestige　of　our　lord　fills　the　empire；　yet　the　peoples　of　the　desert；　relying　upon　their　inaccessibility；　will　not　be　prepared　against　us。　Wherefore　I　say　attack；　and　we　shall　conquer　them。　Beside　Yuan　Shao　was　kind　to　the　nomads；　and　the　two　brothers　have　been　more　so。　They　must　be　destroyed。　As　for　Liu　Biao　he　is　a　mere　gossip；　who　needs　not　cause　the　least　anxiety。　And　Liu　Bei　is　unfit　for　any　heavy　responsibility　and　will　take　no　trouble　over　a　light　one。　You　may　leave　the　base　with　perfect　safety　and　make　as　long　an　expedition　as　you　choose。　Nothing　will　happen。〃
〃You　speak　well；　O　Guo　Jia；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
He　led　his　legions；　heavy　and　light；　to　the　edge　of　the　desert；　with　many　wagons。　The　expedition　marched　into　the　Gobi　Desert。　The　rolling　ocean　of　yellow　sand　spread　its　waves　before　them；　and　they　saw　far　and　near　the　eddying　sand　pillars；　and　felt　the　fierce　winds　that　drove　them　forward。　The　road　became　precipitous　and　progress　difficult。　Cao　Cao　began　to　think　of　returning　and　spoke　thereof　to　Guo　Jia；　who　had　advised　the　journey。
Guo　Jia　had　speedily　fallen　victim