第25部分(第2/7 页)

istrate　who　spared　Cao　Cao　after　Cao　Cao　failed　to　assassinate　Dong　Zhuo。　Chen　Gong　and　Cao　Cao　then　traveled　as　fugitives　to　Qiao；　but　they　parted　haft　way。　（chapter　4）

At　this　time　Chen　Gong　was　in　office　in　Dongjun；　and　he　was　also　on　friendly　terms　with　Tao　Qian。　Hearing　of　Cao　Cao's　design　to　destroy　the　whole　population；　Chen　Gong　came　in　haste　to　see　his　former　panion*。　Cao　Cao；　knowing　Chen　Gong's　errand；　put　him　off　at　first　and　would　not　see　him。　But　then　Cao　Cao　could　not　forget　the　kindness　he　had　formerly　received　from　Chen　Gong；　and　presently　the　visitor　was　called　to　his　tent。

Chen　Gong　said；　〃They　say　you　go　to　avenge　your　father's　death　on　Xuzhou；　to　destroy　its　people。　I　have　e　to　say　a　word。　Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　humane　and　a　good　man。　He　is　not　looking　out　for　his　own　advantage；　careless　of　the　means　and　of　others。　Your　worthy　father　met　his　unhappy　death　at　the　hands　of　Zhang　Kai。　Tao　Qian　is　guiltless。　Still　more　innocent　are　the　people；　and　to　slay　them　would　be　an　evil。　I　pray　you　think　over　it。〃

Cao　Cao　retorted　angrily；　〃You　once　abandoned　me　and　now　you　have　the　impudence　to　e　to　see　me！　Tao　Qian　slew　my　whole　family；　and　I　will　tear　his　heart　out　in　revenge。　I　swear　it！　You　may　speak　for　your　friend　and　say　what　you　will。　I　shall　be　as　if　I　heard　not。〃

Intercession　had　failed。　Chen　Gong　sighed　and　took　his　leave。

He　said；　〃Alas！　I　cannot　go　to　Tao　Qian　and　look　upon　his　face。〃

So　Chen　Gong　rode　off　to　the　county　of　Chenliu　to　give　service　to　Governor　Zhang　Miao。

Cao　Cao's　army　of　revenge　laid　waste　whatever　place　it　passed　through；　slaying　the　people　and　desecrating　their　cemeteries。

When　Tao　Qian　heard　the　terrible　tidings；　he　looked　up　to　heaven；　saying；　〃I　must　be　guilty　of　s