按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃You would do well to surrender； since Cao Cao's army is too large for you to oppose；〃 said Jia Xu。
Seeing the truth of this； Zhang Xiu sent his adviser to propose sub mission。 Cao Cao was greatly pleased with the messenger； admiring his ready and fluent repartee； and tried to win him to his service。
〃I was formerly with Li Jue and was guilty with him。 Now I am with Zhang Xiu who esteems my advice； and I should not like to abandon him；〃 said Jia Xu。
Jia Xu left and next day conducted his master into Cao Cao's presence。 Cao Cao was very generous。 Then he entered Wancheng with a small force； the greater part of the army being put in camp outside where the lines extended some three miles。 Great banquets were given every day by Zhang Xiu； and Cao Cao was always being entertained。
One day； when Cao Cao returned to his quarters in a more than usual merry mood； he asked the attendants if there were any singing girls in the city。
His nephew； Cao Amin； heard the question and said； 〃Peeping through one of the partitions last evening； I saw a perfectly beautiful woman in one of the courts。 They told me she was the wife of Zhang Ji； Zhang Xiu's uncle。 She is very lovely。〃
Cao Cao； inflamed by the description given him of the beauty； told his nephew to go and bring her to visit him。 Cao Amin did so； supported by an armed escort； and very soon the woman stood before Cao Cao。
She was a beauty indeed； and Cao Cao asked her name。
She replied； 〃Thy handmaid was wife to Zhang Ji； I was born of the Zhou family。〃
〃Do you know who I am？〃
〃I have known the Prime Minister by reputation a long time。 I am happy to see him and be permitted to bow before him；〃 said she。
〃It was for your sake that I allowed Zhang Xiu to submit； otherwise I would have slain him and cut him off root and branch；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Indeed； then； I owe my very life to you； I am very grateful；〃 said she。
〃To see you is a glimpse of paradise； but there is one thing I should like better。 Stay here and go with me to the capital where I will see that you are properly cared for。 What do you say to that； my lady？〃
She could but thank him。
〃But Zhang Xiu will greatly wonder at my prolonged absence； and gossips will begin to talk；〃 said she。
〃If you like； you can leave the city tomorrow。〃
She did so； but instead of going at once to the capital； she stayed with him among the tents； where Dian Wei was appointed as a special guard over her apartments。 Cao Cao was the only person whom she saw； and he passed the days in idle dalliance with the lady； quite content to let time flow by。
But people told Zhang Xiu what had gone amiss； and he was angry at the shame brought upon the family。
He confided his trouble to Jia Xu who said； 〃Keep this secret； wait till he appears again to carry on business； and then do so and so。〃
A plan was arranged quite secretly。
Next day Zhang Xiu went into Cao Cao's tent； saying； 〃Since the surrendered troops are deserting in great number； it would be well to camp them in the center of your camp to prevent this。〃
Cao Cao gave the permission； and Zhang Xiu moved and placed his army in four camps。
But Dian Wei； the especial guard of Cao Cao's tent； was a man to be feared； being both brave and powerful。 It was hard to know how to attack him。 So counsel was taken with Hu Juer； the mander of one camp and a man of enormous strength and activity。 He could carry a burden of six hundred pounds and two hundred miles in a day。 Hu Juer proposed a plan。
He said； 〃The fearsome thing about Dian Wei is his double halberds。 But get him to e to a party and make him quite drunk before you send him back。 I will mingle among his escort and so get into his tent and steal away his weapons。 One needs not fear him then。〃
So the necessary arms were prepared and orders given in the various camps。 This done Zhang Xiu gave a banquet； and the intended victim was invited and plied vigorously with wine so that he was quite intoxicated when he left。 And； as arranged； Hu Juer mingled with his escort and made away with his weapons。
That night； when Cao Cao was at supper with Lady Zhou； he heard the voices of men and neighing of horses and sent out to ask what it meant。 They told him it was the night patrol going the rounds； and he was satisfied。
Near the second watch of the night again was heard some noise in the rear of his tent； and one of the fodder carts was reported to be burning。
〃One of the soldiers has dropped a spark； there is nothing to be alarmed at；〃 said Cao Cao。
But very soon the fire spread on all sides and became alarming。 Cao Cao called Dian Wei。 But he； usually so alert； was lying down quite intoxicated。
However； the beating of gongs and rolling of drums mingling with his dreams awoke Dian Wei； and he jumped up。 His trusty halberds had disappeared。 The enemy was near。 He hastily snatched up an infantryman's sword and rushed out。 At the gate he saw a crowd of spearmen just bursting in。 Dian Wei rushed at them slashing all around him； and twenty or more fell beneath his blows。 The others drew back。 But the spears stood around him like reeds on the river bank。 Being totally without mail； he was soon wounded in several places。 He fought desperately till his sword snapped and was no longer of any use。 Throwing it aside he seized a couple of soldiers and with their bodies as weapons felled ten of his opponents。 The others dared not approach； but they shot arrows at him。 These fell thick as rain； but he still maintained the gate against the assailants。
However； the mutineers got in by the rear of the camp； and they wounded Dian Wei in the back with spear thrusts。 Uttering a loud cry he fell。 The blood gushed from the wound in torrents； and he died。 Even after he was dead not a man dared to e in by the main gate。
Cao Cao； relying on Dian Wei to hold the main gate； had fled in haste by the rear gate。 Cao Amin acpanied him on foot。 Then Cao Cao was wounded by an arrow in the arm； and three arrows struck his horse。 However； fortunately； the horse was a fine Dawan beast full of spirit and； in spite of its wounds； it bore its master swiftly and well as far as the bank of River Yu。
Here some of the pursuers came up； and Cao Amin was hacked to pieces。 Cao Cao dashed into the river and reached the further side； but there an arrow struck his steed in the eye and it fell。 Cao Cao's eldest son； Cao Ang； dismounted and yielded his horse to his father； who galloped on。 Cao Ang was killed by arrows； but Cao Cao himself got away。 Soon after he met several of his officers who had rallied a few troops。
The soldiers of Qingzhou under Xiahou Dun seized the occasion to plunder the people。 Yu Jin took his army； fell upon them； and slew many。 Thus he protected and appeased the people。 The plunderers； meeting Cao Cao on the road； knelt down howling and said Yu Jin had mutinied and attacked them。 Cao Cao was surprised； and he gave order to Xiahou Dun； Xu Chu； Li Dian； and Yue Jing to attack Yu Jin。
Now when Yu Jin saw his master and a great pany approaching； he at once stopped the attack and set his troops to make a camp。
An officer asked him； 〃The Qingzhou soldiers say you have turned traitor。 Why do you not explain now that the Prime Minister has arrived？ Why first make a camp？〃
Yu Jin replied； 〃Our enemies are ing up in our rear and are very close。 It is necessary to prepare for defense or we shall not withstand them。 Explanation is a small matter； but defense is very important。〃
Soon after the camp was finished； Zhang Xiu fell upon them。 Yu Jin himself rode out to face them。 Zhang Xiu drew back。 The other generals of Yu Jin； seeing he advance thus boldly； also attacked； and Zhang Xiu was overe。 They pursued him a great distance until his force was almost annihilated。 With the miserable remnant he finally fled to Liu Biao。
Cao Cao's army reformed； and the manders mustered。 Then Yu Jin went to see his master and told him of the conduct of the Qingzhou soldiers and their looting and why he had attacked them。
〃Why did you not tell me before you made the camp？〃
Yu Jin related what had occurred。
Said Cao Cao； 〃When the first thought of a leader in the time of greatest stress is to maintain order and to strengthen his defenses； giving no thought to slander but shouldering his burdens bravely； and when he thereby turns a defeat into a victory； who； even of the ancient leaders； can excel Yu Jin？〃
Cao Cao rewarded Yu Jin with a golden armor and the lordship of Yishou。 But Cao Cao reprimanded Xiahou Dun for the lack of discipline among his soldiers。
Sacrifices in honor of the dead warrior Dian Wei were instituted。 Cao Cao himself led the wailing and paid due honors。
Turning to his officers he said； 〃I have lost my first born son； but I grieve not so heavily for him as for Dian Wei。 I weep for him！〃
All were sad at the loss of this general。 Then orders were issued to return to the capital。
When Imperial Legate Wang Ze； bearing the imperial decree； reached Xuzhou； he was met by Lu Bu； who conducted him into the residence where the decree was read。 It conferred Lu Bu the title General Who Pacifies the East； and a special seal acpanied the mandate。 The private mediating letter was also handed over and the messenger detailed the high appreciation in which Lu Bu was held by the Chief Minister of