三国演义英文版-第58部分

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of　peace；　Jia　Xu　asked　what　their　success　had　been　lately　against　Cao　Cao。
〃The　war　had　ceased　for　the　moment　on　account　of　the　winter；〃　replied　the　messenger。　〃As　you；　General；　and　Liu　Biao　are　both　well　reputed　officers　of　the　state；　I　have　been　sent　to　request　your　help。〃
Jia　Xu　laughed；　〃You　can　return　to　your　master　and　say　that　as　he　could　not　brook　rivalry　of　his　brother；　he　certainly　would　be　sorely　put　to　it　with　that　of　all　the　officers　of　the　state。〃
The　letter　was　torn　into　fragments　before　the　messenger's　face；　and　he　was　angrily　bidden　be　gone。
〃But　his　master；　Yuan　Shao；　is　stronger　than　Cao　Cao；〃　protested　Zhang　Xiu。　〃You　have　torn　up　his　letter　and　are　dismissing　his　man。　What　shall　we　say　about　such　an　insult　should　Yuan　Shao　e？〃
〃Better　join　hands　with　Cao　Cao；〃　said　Jia　Xu。
〃But　there　is　still　between　us　an　unavenged　enmity。　We　could　not　suffer　each　other。〃
Jia　Xu　said；　〃There　are　three　advantages　in　joining　hands　with　Cao　Cao。　First；　he　has　a　mand　from　the　Emperor　to　restore　peace。　Second；　as　Yuan　Shao　is　so　strong；　our　little　help　to　him　will　be　despised；　while　we　shall　loom　large　and　be　well　treated　by　Cao　Cao。　Third；　Cao　Cao　is　going　to　be　Chief　of　the　Feudal　Lords；　and　he　will　ignore　all　private　feuds　in　order　to　show　his　magnanimity　to　all　the　world。　I　hope；　General；　you　will　see　these　things　clearly　and　hesitate　no　longer。〃
Zhang　Xiu；　now　convinced；　became　more　reasonable　and　recalled　Liu　Ye；　who；　at　the　interview；　extolled　the　many　virtues　of　his　master。
〃If　the　Prime　Minister　had　any　thought　of　the　old　quarrel；　he　would　hardly　have　sent　me　to　make　friendly　engagements；　would　he？〃　said　Liu　Ye　at　the　last。

＇e＇　Cao　Cao　slept　with　Zhang　Xiu's　aunt。
So　Zhang　Xiu　and　his　adviser　proceeded　to　the　capital　where　formal　submission　was　made。　At　the　interview　Zhang　Xiu　bowed　low　at　the　steps；　but　Cao　Cao；　hastening　forward；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　raised　him；　saying；　〃Forget　that　little　fault　of　mine*；　I　pray　you；　General！〃
Zhang　Xiu　received　the　title　of　General　Who　Possesses　Prowess；　and　Jia　Xu　was　appointed　Counselor。
Cao　Cao　then　directed　his　secretaries　to　draft　letters　inviting　the　support　of　Liu　Biao。
Jia　Xu　said；　〃Liu　Biao　loves　to　have　to　do　with　famous　people。　If　some　famous　scholar　should　be　sent　to　him；　he　would　submit　forthwith。〃
So　Cao　Cao　inquired　of　Xun　You　who　was　the　best　person　to　go　as　a　messenger；　and　he　remended　Kong　Rong。　Cao　Cao　agreed　and　sent　Xun　You　to　speak　with　this　officer。
Xun　You　went　to　Kong　Rong；　saying；　〃A　scholar　of　reputation　is　required　to　aid　as　a　messenger　of　state。　Can　you　undertake　this　task？〃
Kong　Rong　replied；　〃I　have　a　certain　friend；　Mi　Heng；　whose　talents　are　ten　times　mine。　He　ought　to　be　constantly　at　the　court　of　the　Emperor　and　not　merely　be　sent　as　a　state　messenger。　I　will　remend　him　to　the　Emperor。〃
So　Kong　Rong　wrote　the　following　memorial：

＇e＇　Emperor　Wu；　aka　Liu　Che；　（reigned　BC　141…87）　whose　reign　was　longest　among　the　Han　emperors。　Emperor　Wu　was　perhaps　the　most　influential　Han　emperor　who　concerned　not　only　about　expanding　territory　but　also　about　developing　trade　with　other　countries　（the　Silk　Road；　for　example）。　Emperor　paid　special　attention　to　longevity；　and　his　court　often　had　elaborate　rituals。　。。。。。
〃In　ancient　days；　when　the　great　waters　were　abroad；　the　emperor　pondered　over　their　regulation　and　he　sought　out　people　of　talent　from　all　directions。　In　old　time；　when　Emperor　Wu*　of　the　Hans　desired　to　enlarge　his　borders；　crowds　of　scholars　responded　to　his　call。
〃Intelligent　and　holy；　Your　Majesty　ascended　the　throne。　You　have　fallen　upon　evil　days；　but　have　been　diligent；　modest；　and　untiring　in　your　efforts。　Now　the　great　mountains　have　sent　forth　spirits；　and　people　of　genius　appear。
〃I；　your　humble　servant；　know　of　a　certain　simple　scholar；　Mi　Heng　by　name；　of　Pingyuan；　a　young　man　of　twenty…four。　His　moral　character　is　excellent；　his　talents　eminent。　As　a　youth　he　took　a　high　place　in　study　and　penetrated　the　most　secret　arcane　of　learning。　What　he　glanced　at　he　could　repeat；　what　he　heard　once　he　never　forgot。　He　is　naturally　high　principled；　and　his　thoughts　are　divine。　Sang　Hongyang's　mental　calculations　and　Zhang　Anshi's　memorial　feats　pared　with　Mi　Heng's　powers　are　no　longer　wonderful。　Loyal；　sincere；　correct；　and　straight…forward；　his　ambition　is　unsullied。　He　regards　the　good　with　trembling　respect；　he　detests　the　evil　with　unpromising　hatred。　Ren　Zuo　in　unflinching　candor；　Shi　Yu　in　severe　rectitude；　never　surpassed　him。
〃Hundreds　of　hawks　are　not　worth　one　osprey。　If　Mi　Heng　be　given　a　court　appointment；　notable　results　must　follow。　Ready　in　debate；　rapid　in　utterance；　his　overwhelming　intelligence　wells　up　in　profusion。　In　the　solution　of　doubts　and　the　unraveling　of　difficulties　he　has　no　peer。
〃In　former　days　of　Han；　Jia　Yi　begged　to　be　sent　on　trial　to　a　vassal　state　for　the　control　of　the　Xiongnu　tribespeople；　Zhong　Jun　offered　to　bring　back　the　Prince　of　Nanyue　to　do　homage　to　the　emperor。　The　generous　conduct　of　these　youths　has　been　much　admired。
〃In　our　day　Lu　Cui　and　Yan　Xiang；　remarkable　for　their　talents；　have　been　appointed　among　the　secretaries。　And　Mi　Heng　is　no　less　capable。　Should　he　be　got；　then　all　possibilities　may　be　realized：　The　dragon　may　curvet　through　the　celestial　streets　and　soar　along　the　Milky　Way；　fame　will　extend　to　the　poles　of　the　universe　and　hang　in　the　firmament　with　rainbow　glory。　He　would　be　the　glory　of　all　the　present　Ministers　and　enhance　the　majesty　of　the　Palace　itself。　The　Music　will　acquire　new　beauties；　and　the　Palace　will　contain　an　excellent　treasure。　People　like　Mi　Heng　are　but　few。　As　in　the　recitation　of　'Ji　Chu　Songs'　and　the　singing　of　'Yang　E　Poems'；　the　most　skillful　performers　are　sought；　and　such　fleet　horses　as　'Fei　Tu　Broncos'　and　'Yao　Niao　Mustangs'　were　looked　for　by　the　famous　judges　of　horses；　Wang　Liang　and　Bo　Le。　So　I；　the　humble　one；　dare　not　conceal　this　man。　Your　Majesty　is　careful　in　the　selection　of　servants　and　should　try　him。　Let　him　be　summoned　as　he　is；　simply　clad　in　his　serge　dress；　and　should　he　not　appear　worthy；　then　may　I　be　punished　for　the　fault　of　deception。〃
The　Emperor　read　the　memorial　and　passed　it　to　his　Prime　Minister；　who　duly　summoned　Mi　Heng。　He　came；　but　after　his　formal　salutations　were　over；　he　was　left　standing　and　not　invited　to　sit　down。
Looking　up　to　heaven；　Mi　Heng　sighed　deeply；　saying；　〃Wide　as　is　the　universe；　it　cannot　produce　the　person。〃
〃Under　my　orders　are　scores　of　people　whom　the　world　call　heroes。　What　do　you　mean　by　saying　there　is　not　the　person；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃I　should　be　glad　to　hear　who　they　are；〃　said　Mi　Heng。

＇e＇　Xiao　He　（BC　？…193）　a　close　adviser　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Became　Han's　prime　minister。　Enobled　as　the　Lord　of　Cuo。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Chen　Ping　（BC　？…178）　a　master　strategist　of　Liu　Bang。　He　first　served　Xiang　Yu　but　then　became　a　follower　in　Liu　Bang's　camp。　Served　as　Liu　Bang's　prime　minister　and　Empress　Lu's　left　minister。　After　the　death　of　Empress　Lu；　Chen　Ping　played　an　important　role　in　returning　royal　authority　to　the　Liu　clan。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Cen　Peng　was　a　general　of　Liu　Xiu。　Cen　Peng　was　loyal　and　contributed　much　to　Liu　Xiu's　success。　He；　together　with　Yao　Qi；　Deng　Yu；　Chen　Jun；　and　Du　Mao；　was　executed　by　Liu　Xiu　by　mistake　when　Liu　Xiu　was　drunk。　Liu　Xiu　later　died　of　this　grief。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Ma　Wu　was　a　general　of　Liu　Xiu。　Also　contributed　much　to　Liu　Xiu's　success。　Ma　Wu　mitted　suicide　after　Liu　Xiu　executed　several　ministers　by　mistake　when　Liu　Xiu　was　drunk。　Liu　Xiu　later　died　of　this　grief。　。。。。。
〃Xun　Yu；　Xun　You；　Guo　Jia；　and　Cheng　Yu　are　all　people　of　profound　skill　and　long　views；　superior　to　Xiao　He*　and　Chen　Ping*。　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Chu；　Li　Dian；　and　Yue　Jing　are　bravest　of　the　brave；　better　than　Cen　Peng*　and　Ma　Wu*。　Lu　Qian　and　Man　Chong　are　my　secretaries；　Yu　Jin　and　Xu　Huang　are　my　van　leaders；　Xiahou　Dun　is　one　of　the　world's　marvels；　Cao　Ren　is　the　most　successful　leader　of　the　age。　Now　say　you　there　are　not　the　people？〃
〃Sir；　you　are　quite　mistaken；〃　said　Mi　Heng　with　a　smile。　〃I　know　all　these　things　you　call　people。　Xun　Yu　is　qualified　to　pose　at　a　funeral　or　ask　after　a　sick　man；　Xun　You　is　fit　to　be　a　tomb　guardian；　Cheng　Yu　might　be　sent　to　shut　doors　and　bolt　windows；　and　Guo　Jia　is　a　reciter　of　poems；　Zhang　Liao　might　beat　drums　and　clang　gongs；　Xu　Chu　might　lead　cattle　to　pasture；　Yue　Jing　would　make　a　fair　reader　of　elegy；　Li　Dian　could　carry　dispatches　and　notices；　Lu　Qian　would　be　a　fair　armorer；　Man　Chong　could　be　sent　to　drink　wine　and　eat　brewers'　grains；　Yu　Jin　might　be　of　use　to　carry　planks　and　build　walls；　Xu　Huang　might　be　employed　to　kill　pigs　and　slay　dogs；　Xiahou　Dun　should　be　styled　'Whole　Body　General；'　and　Cao　Ren　should　be　called　'Money…grubbing　Governor。'　As　for　the　remainder；　they　are　mere　clothes　shelves；　rice　sacks；　wine　vases；　flesh　bags。〃
〃And　what　special　gifts　have　you？〃　said　Cao　Cao　angrily。

＇e＇　Kings　Yao　and　Shun　are　two　ideal　rulers；　while　Confucius　and　Mencius　are　two　great　philosophers。
〃I　know　everything　in　heaven　above　and　the　earth　beneath。　I　am　conversant　with　the　Three　Religions　and　the　Nine　Systems　of　Philosophy。　I　could　make　my　prince　the　rival　of　Kings　Yao　and　Shun；　and　I　myself　could　pare　in　virtue　with　Confucius　and　Mencius。*　Can　I　discuss　on　even　terms　with　mon　people？〃
Now　Zhang　Liao　was　present；　and　he　raised　his　sword　to　strike　down　the　impudent　visitor　who　spoke　thus　to　his　master；　but　Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　want　another　drummer　boy　to　play　on　occasions　of　congratulation　in　the　court。　I　will　confer　this　office　upon　him。〃
Instead　of　indignantly　declining　this；　Mi　Heng　accepted　the　position　and　went　out。
〃He　spoke　very　impertinently；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。　〃Why　did　you　not　put　him　to　death？〃
〃He　has　something　of　a　reputation；　empty；　but　people　have　heard　of　him　and　so；　if　I　put　him　to　death；　they　would　say　I　was　intolerant。　As　he　thinks　he　has　ability；　I　have　made　him　a　drummer　to　mortify　him。〃
Soon　after　Cao　Cao　instituted　a　banquet　in　the　capital　at　which　the　guests　were　many。　The　drums　were　to　be　played；　and　the　old　drummers　were　ordered　to　wear　new　clothes。　But　the　new　drummer　Mi　Heng　took　his　place　with　the　other　musicians　clad　in　old　and　worn　garments。　The　piece　chosen　was　the　〃Tolling　of　Yuyang；〃　and　from　the　earliest　taps　on　the　drum　the　effect　was　exquisite；　profound　as　the　notes　from　metal　and　stone。　The　performance　stirred　deeply　the　emotions　of　every　guest；　some　even　shed　tears。
Seeing　all　eyes　turned　on　the　shabby　performer；　the　attendants　said；　〃Why　did　you　not　put　on　your　new　uniform？〃
Mi　Heng　turned　to　them；　slipped　off　his　frayed　and　torn　robe　and　stood　there　in　full　view；　naked　as　he　was　born。　The　assembled　guests　covered　their　faces。　Then　the　drummer　posedly　drew　on　his　nether　garments。
〃Why　do　you　behave　so　rudely　at　court？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃To　flout　one's　prince　and　insult　one's　superiors　is　the　real　rudeness；〃　cried　Mi　Heng。　〃I　bare　my　natural　body　as　an　emblem　of　my　purity。〃
〃So　you　are　pure！　And　who　is　foul？〃
〃You　do　not　distinguish　between　the　wise　and　the　foolish；　which　is　to　have　foul　vision。　You　have　never　read　the　Odes　or　the　Histories；　which　is　to　have　foul　speech。　You　are