第11部分(第7/7 页)

assembly　to　decide　upon　their　plan　of　attack。

Then　spoke　the　Governor　of　Henei；　Wang　Kuang；　〃We　have　been　moved　by　a　noble　sense　of　right　to　assemble　here。　Now　must　we　first　choose　a　chief　and　bind　ourselves　to　obedience。〃

Then　said　Cao　Cao；　〃For　four　generations　the　highest　offices　of　state　have　been　filled　by　members　of　the　Yuan　family；　and　their　clients　and　supporters　are　everywhere。　As　a　descendant　of　ancient　ministers　of　Han；　Yuan　Shao　is　a　suitable　man　to　be　our　chief　lord。〃

Yuan　Shao　again　and　again　declined　this　honor。　But　they　all　said；　〃It　must　be　he！　There　is　no　other！〃

And　then　he　agreed。

So　the　next　day　a　three…story　altar　was　built；　and　they　planted　about　it　the　banners　of　all　parties　in　five　directions　of　space。　And　they　set　up　white　yaks'　tails　and　golden　axes　and　emblems　of　military　authority　and　the　seals　of　leadership　round　about。

All　being　ready；　the　chief　lord　was　invited　to　ascend　the　altar。　Clad　in　ceremonial　robes　and　girded　with　a　sword；　Yuan　Shao　reverently　ascended。　There　he　burned　incense；　made　obeisance　and