三国演义英文版-第55部分

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　Main　Next　to　Chapter　22　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　22
　Chapter　22
Yuan　Shao　And　Cao　Cao　Both　Take　The　Field；
Guan　Yu　And　Zhang　Fei　Captures　Two　Generals。
This　was　the　plan　Chen　Deng　proposed　to　Liu　Bei；　〃Yuan　Shao　is　Cao　Cao's　terror。　He　is　strongly　posted　in　an　extensive　territory　of　four　regions………Jizhou；　Qingzhou；　Youzhou；　and　Bingzhou………with　one　million　fighting　soldiers　and　numerous　able　officers。　Write　letters　and　pray　him　rescue　you。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃But　we　have　never　had　any　dealings　with　each　other；　and　he　is　unlikely　to　do　such　a　thing　for　a　person　who　has　just　destroyed　his　brother。〃
〃There　is　someone　here　whose　family　have　been　on　intimate　terms　with　the　Yuans　for　a　hundred　years。　Yuan　Shao　would　surely　e；　if　he　wrote。〃
〃And　who　is　this？〃
〃A　man　you　know　well　and　respect　greatly。　Can　you　not　guess？〃
〃You　surely　mean　Zheng　Xuan；〃　said　Liu　Bei　suddenly。
〃That　is　he；〃　said　Chen　Deng　smiling。
Now　Zheng　Xuan　was　a　student　and　a　man　of　great　talent；　who　had　long　studied　under　the　famed　teacher　Ma　Rong；　whose　knowledge　of　the　Book　of　Odes　was　universally　recognized。　Whenever　Ma　Rong　lectured；　he　let　fall　a　curtain　behind　which　were　a　circle　of　singing　girls。　The　students　were　assembled　in　front　of　this　curtain。　Zheng　Xuan　attended　these　lectures　for　three　years　and　never　once　let　his　eyes　wander　to　the　curtain。
Naturally　the　master　admired　his　pupil。　After　Zheng　Xuan　had　finished　his　studies　and　gone　home；　Ma　Rong　praised　him　to　the　others；　saying；　〃Only　one　man　has　penetrated　the　inner　meaning　of　my　instructions；　and　that　one　is　Zheng　Xuan。〃
In　Zheng　Xuan's　household；　the　waiting　maids　were　familiar　with　the　Book　of　Odes。　Once　one　of　the　maids　opposed　Zheng　Xuan's　wishes；　so　as　punishment　she　was　made　to　kneel　in　front　of　the　steps。　Another　girl　made　fun　of　her；　quoting　from　an　ode：

〃What　are　you　doing　there　in　the　mire？〃

The　kneeling　girl　capped　the　verse　from　another　ode；　quoted　she：

〃That　was　but　a　simple　word　I　said；
Yet　brought　it　wrath　upon　my　head。〃

Such　was　the　family　in　which　Zheng　Xuan　had　been　born。　In　the　reign　of　the　Emperor　Huan；　he　rose　to　the　rank　of　Chair　of　the　Secretariat。　But　when　the　Ten　Eunuchs　began　to　control　the　government；　he　gave　up　office　and　retired　into　the　country　to　Xuzhou。　Liu　Bei　had　known　him　before；　had　consulted　him　on　many　occasions；　and　greatly　respected　him。
Liu　Bei　was　glad　that　he　had　remembered　this　man；　and　without　loss　of　time；　in　pany　with　Chen　Deng；　he　went　to　Zheng　Xuan's　house　to　ask　him　to　draft　this　letter；　which　Zheng　Xuan　generously　consented　to　do。
Sun　Qian　was　entrusted　with　the　task　of　delivery　and　set　out　at　once。　Yuan　Shao　read　it　and　considered　the　matter　long　before　speaking。
〃Liu　Bei　destroyed　my　brother；　and　I　ought　not　to　help　him；　but　out　of　consideration　for　the　writer　of　this　letter　I　must。〃
Thereupon　Yuan　Shao　assembled　his　officers　to　consider　an　attack　upon　Cao　Cao。
Adviser　Tian　Feng　said；　〃Do　not　raise　an　army。　The　people　are　worn　out；　and　the　granaries　are　empty　with　these　constant　wars。　Let　us　rather　report　the　recent　victory　of　Gongsun　Zan　to　the　Throne。　If　that　does　not　reach　the　Emperor；　then　memorialize　that　Cao　Cao　is　hindering　the　government。　Then　raise　an　army；　occupy　Liyang；　assemble　a　Yellow　River　fleet　in　Henan；　prepare　weapons；　send　out　your　various　divisions；　and　within　three　years　you　will　win　all　round。〃
Adviser　Shen　Pei　replied；　〃I　do　not　agree。　The　military　genius　of　our　illustrious　lord　having　overe　the　hordes　of　the　north；　to　dispose　of　Cao　Cao　is　as　simple　as　turning　one's　hand。　It　is　not　a　matter　of　months。〃
Adviser　Ju　Shou　said；　〃Victory　is　not　always　to　the　many。　Cao　Cao's　discipline　is　excellent；　his　soldiers　are　brave　and　well　drilled。　He　will　not　sit　down　quietly　waiting　to　be　surrounded　as　Gongsun　Zan　did。　Now　you　abandon　the　intention　to　inform　the　Throne　of　our　success；　which　I　find　a　good　plan；　but　you　intend　to　send　out　an　army　without　any　valid　excuse。　Our　lord　should　not　do　that。〃
Then　followed　adviser　Guo　Tu；　saying；　〃You　are　wrong。　No　expedition　against　Cao　Cao　can　lack　excuse。　But　if　our　master　would　take　the　chance　now　offering　itself　of　ing　into　his　own；　he　will　accede　to　the　request　in　the　letter　of　Zheng　Xuan　and　ally　himself　with　Liu　Bei　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。　This　would　win　the　approval　of　Heaven　and　the　affections　of　the　people；　a　double　blessing。〃
Thus　the　four　advisers　differed　and　wrangled；　and　Yuan　Shao　could　not　decide　which　to　follow。
Then　there　came　two　others；　Xu　You　and　Xun　Shen；　and；　seeing　them；　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃You　two　have　wide　experience；　how　would　you　decide？〃
The　two　made　their　obeisance；　and　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃A　letter　from　Zheng　Xuan　the　Chair　has　arrived；　counseling　me　to　support　Liu　Bei　in　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。　Now　am　I　to　send　an　army　or　not　send　an　army？〃
They　both　cried　with　one　voice；　〃Send！　Your　armies　are　numerous　enough　and　strong　enough。　You　will　destroy　a　traitor　and　help　the　dynasty。〃
〃Your　words　just　express　my　desire；〃　said　Yuan　Shao　and　thenceforward　the　discussion　turned　on　the　expedition。
First；　Liu　Bei's　legate；　Sun　Qian；　was　sent　back　with　Yuan　Shao's　consent　and　instructions　for　Liu　Bei　to　make　ready　to　cooperate。　Second；　Yuan　Shao　assigned　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji　as　manding　Generals；　Tian　Feng；　Xun　Shen；　and　Xu　You　as　Military　Advisers；　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　as　Generals。　The　army　was　to　be　posed　of　three　hundred　thousand；　horse　and　foot　in　equal　numbers。　They　were　to　march　on　Liyang。
When　the　arrangements　were　plete；　Guo　Tu　went　to　his　chief；　saying；　〃In　order　to　manifest　the　righteousness　of　your　attack　on　Cao　Cao；　it　would　be　well　to　issue　a　manifesto　with　a　summary　of　his　various　crimes。〃
Yuan　Shao　approved　of　this；　and　Chen　Lin；　well　known　as　a　scholar；　was　entrusted　to　pose　such　a　document。　Chen　Lin　had　been　the　Court　Secretary　in　the　reign　of　the　late　Emperor　Ling。　When　Dong　Zhuo　unseated　Regent　Marshal　He　Jin；　Chen　Lin　sought　safety　in　Jizhou。　This　is　the　manifesto：
〃A　perspicacious　ruler　wisely　provides　against　political　vicissitudes；　a　loyal　minister　carefully　foresees　the　difficulties　in　the　assertion　of　authority。　Wherefore　a　person　of　unusual　parts　precedes　an　extraordinary　situation；　and　of　such　a　person　the　achievements　will　be　extraordinary。　For　indeed　the　ordinary　person　is　quite　unequal　to　an　extraordinary　situation。

＇e＇　Zhao　Gao　a　court　eunuch　serving　the　First　Emperor。　Zhao　Gao　killed　the　eldest　son　and　supported　the　second　son　for　the　throne　after　the　First　Emperor's　death　（BC　209）。　In　the　final　days　of　Qin　Dynasty；　Zhao　Gao　killed　the　Second　Emperor　and　placed　the　First　Emperor's　grandson　on　the　throne　（BC　206）。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Zhou　Bo　was　prime　minister　of　Han　Emperor　Wen　（BC　179…156）。　After　Empress　Lu　died；　Zhou　Bo　cooperated　with　Chen　Ping　and　Liu　Zhan　to　purge　the　Lu　clan。　Ennobled　as　Lord　of　Jiang。　。。。。。
〃In　former　days；　after　having　gained　ascendancy　over　a　weakling　emperor　of　the　powerful　Qin　Dynasty；　Prime　Minister　Zhao　Gao*　wielded　the　whole　authority　of　the　Throne；　overruling　the　government。　All　dignity　and　fortune　came　through　him；　and　his　contemporaries　were　restrained　so　that　none　dared　to　speak　openly。　Slowly　but　surely　evolved　the　tragedy　of　the　Wangyi　Palace；　when　the　Emperor　was　slain　and　the　Imperial　Tablets　perished　in　the　flames。　Zhao　Gao；　the　author　of　these　crimes；　has　ever　since　been　held　up　to　obloquy　as　the　arch　example　of　an　evil　doer。
〃In　the　later　days　of　Empress　Lu　of　the　Hans；　after　the　death　of　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　the　world　saw　Lu　Chan　and　Lu　Lu；　brothers　of　the　Empress　and　fellows　in　wickedness；　monopolizing　the　powers　of　government。　Within　the　capital；　they　manded　two　armies；　and　without　they　ruled　the　feudal　states　of　Liang　and　Zhao。　They　arbitrarily　controlled　all　state　affairs　and　decided　all　questions　in　the　council　chamber　and　the　court。　This　dominance　of　the　base　and　declension　of　the　noble　continued　till　the　hearts　of　the　people　grew　cold　within　them。
〃Thereupon　Zhou　Bo*；　Lord　of　Jiang；　and　Liu　Zhan；　Lord　of　Zhuxu；　asserted　their　dignity　and　let　loose　their　wrath。　They　destroyed　the　contumacious　ministers　and　restored　their　ruler　to　his　royal　state。　Thus　they　enabled　the　kingly　way　to　be　reestablished　and　the　glory　to　be　manifested。　Here　are　two　instances　where　ministers　asserted　their　authority。
〃This　Cao　Cao；　now　Minister　of　Works；　forsooth；　had　for　ancestor　a　certain　eunuch　named　Cao　Teng；　fitting　panion　of　Xu　Huan　and　Zuo　Guan。　All　three　were　prodigies　of　wickedness　and　insatiably　avaricious　and；　let　loose　on　the　world；　they　hindered　ethical　progress　and　preyed　upon　the　populace。　This　Cao　Teng　begged　for　and　adopted　Cao　Cao's　father　who；　by　wholesale　bribery；　wagons　of　gold　and　cartloads　of　jewels　presented　at　the　gates　of　the　influential；　contrived　to　sneak　his　way　into　considerable　office　where　he　could　subvert　authority。　Thus　Cao　Cao　is　the　depraved　bantling　of　a　monstrous　excrescence；　devoid　of　all　virtue　in　himself；　ferocious　and　cunning；　delighting　in　disorder　and　reveling　in　public　calamity。
〃Now　I；　Yuan　Shao；　a　man　of　war；　have　mustered　my　armies　and　displayed　my　might　that　I　may　sweep　away　and　destroy　the　evil　opponents　of　government。　I　have　already　had　to　deal　with　Dong　Zhuo；　the　ruffian　who　invaded　the　official　circle　and　wrested　the　government。　At　that　time　I　grasped　my　sword　and　beat　the　drums　to　restore　order　in　the　east。　I　assembled　warriors；　selected　the　best；　and　took　them　into　my　service。　In　this　matter　I　came　into　relations　with　this　Cao　Cao　and　conferred　with　him　to　further　my　scheme。　I　gave　him　mand　of　a　subordinate　force　and　looked　to　him　to　render　such　petty　service　as　he　was　equal　to。　I　suffered　his　stupidities　and　condoned　his　shortings；　his　rash　attacks　and　facile　retreats；　his　losses　and　shameful　defeats；　his　repeated　destruction　of　whole　armies。　Again　and　again　I　sent　him　more　troops　and　filled　the　gaps　in　his　depleted　ranks。　I　even　addressed　a　memorial　to　the　Throne　for　him　to　be　appointed　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou。　I　made　him　feel　as　he　were　a　tiger。　I　added　to　his　honors　and　increased　his　authority；　hoping　that　eventually　he　would　justify　himself　by　a　victory　against　Dong　Zhuo　such　as　Qin　used　Meng　Ming　against　Jin。
〃But　Cao　Cao　availed　himself　of　the　opportunity　to　overstep　all　bounds；　to　give　free　rein　to　violence　and　evil。　He　stripped　the　mon　people；　outraged　the　good；　and　injured　the　virtuous。　Bian　Rang；　Governor　of　Jiujiang；　was　a　man　of　conspicuous　talent　and　of　world…wide　reputation。　He　was　honest　in　speech　and　correct　in　demeanor。　He　spoke　without　flattery。　Cao　Cao　put　him　to　death　and　his　head　was　exposed；　and　his　family　utterly　destroyed。　From　that　day　to　this　scholars　have　deeply　mourned；　and　popular　resentment　has　steadily　grown。　One　person　raised　his　arm　in　anger；　and　the　whole　countryside　followed　him。　Whereupon　Cao　Cao　was　smitten　at　Xuzhou；　and　his　territory　was　snatched　by　Lu　Bu。　He　fled　eastward　without　shelter　or　refuge。
〃My　policy　is　a　strong　trunk　and　weak　branches；　a　manding　central　government　and　obedient　feudal　lords。　Also　I　am　no　partisan。　Therefore　I　again　raised　my　banners；　donned　my　armor；　and　moved　forward　to　attack。　My　drums　rolled　for　an　assault　on　Lu　Bu；　and　his　multitudes　incontinently　fled。　I　saved　Cao　Cao　from　destruction　and　restored　him　to　a　position　of　authority