第10部分(第6/7 页)

Cao　Cao　traveled　in　hot　haste　toward　Qiao；　his　home　county。　On　the　road　at　Zhongmou；　he　was　recognized　by　the　guards　at　the　gate　and　made　prisoner。　They　took　him　to　the　Magistrate。　Cao　Cao　declared　he　was　a　merchant；　named　Huang　Fu。　The　Magistrate　scanned　his　face　most　closely　and　remained　in　deep　thought。

Presently　the　Magistrate　said；　〃When　I　was　at　the　capital　seeking　a　post；　I　knew　you　as　Cao　Cao。　Why　do　you　try　to　conceal　your　identity？〃

The　Magistrate　ordered　Cao　Cao　to　the　prison　till　the　morrow　when　he　could　send　Cao　Cao　to　the　capital　and　claim　the　reward。　He　gave　the　soldiers　wine　and　food　as　a　reward。

About　midnight　the　Magistrate　sent　a　trusty　servant　to　bring　the　prisoner　into　his　private　rooms　for　interrogation。

〃They　say　the　Prime　Minister　treated　you　well。　Why　did　you　try　to　harm　him？〃　said　Magistrate。

〃How　can　swallows　and　sparrows　understand　the　flight　of　the　crane　and　the　wild　goose？　I　am　your　prisoner　and　to　be　sent　to　the　capital　for　a　reward。　Why　so　many　questions？〃

The　Magistrate　sent　away　the　attendants　and　turning　to　the　prisoner　said；　〃Do　not　despise　me。　I　am　no　mere　hireling；　only　I　have　not　yet　found　the　lord　to　serve。〃

Said　Cao　Cao；　〃My　ancestors　enjoyed　the　bounty　of　Han；　and　should　I　differ　from　a　bird　or　a　beast　if　I　did　not　desire　to　repay　them　with　gratitude？　I　have　bowed　the　knee　to　Dong　Zhuo　that　thereby　I　might　find　an　opportunity　against　him；　and　so　remove　this　evil　from　the　state。　I　have　failed　for　this　time。　Such　is　the　will　of　Heaven。〃

〃And　where　are　you　going？〃

〃Home　to　my　county。　Thence　I　shall　issue　a　summons　calling　all　the　bold　people　to　e　with　forces　to　kill　the　tyrant。　This　is　my　desire。〃

Thereupon　the　Magistrate　himself　loosened　the　bonds　of　the　pris