第25部分(第3/7 页)

ome　fault　before　Heaven　to　have　brought　this　evil　upon　my　people！〃

He　called　together　his　officials　to　consult。

One　of　them；　Cao　Bao；　said；　〃Now　the　enemy　is　upon　us：　We　cannot　sit　and　await　death　with　folded　hands。　I　for　one　will　help　you　to　make　a　fight。〃

Tao　Qian　reluctantly　sent　the　army　out。　From　a　distance　he　saw　Cao　Cao's　army　spread　abroad　like　frost　and　rushed　far　and　wide　like　snow。　In　their　midst　was　a　large　white　flag　and　on　both　sides　was　written　Vengeance　。

When　he　had　ranged　his　troops；　Cao　Cao　rode　out　dressed　in　mourning　white　and　abused　Tao　Qian。

But　Tao　Qian　advanced；　and　from　beneath　his　ensign　he　bowed　low　and　said；　〃I　wished　to　make　friends　with　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　and　so　I　sent　Zhang　Kai　to　escort　your　family。　I　knew　not　that　his　rebel　heart　was　still　unchanged。　The　fault　does　not　lie　at　my　door　as　you　must　see。〃

〃You　old　wretch！　You　killed　my　father；　and　now　you　dare　mumble　this　nonsense；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

And　he　asked　who　would　go　out　and　seize　Tao　Qian。

Xiahou　Dun　undertook　this　service　and　rode　out。　Tao　Qian　fled　to　the　inner　portion　of　his　array；　and　as　Xiahou　Dun　came　on；　Cao　Bao　went　to　meet　him。　But　just　as　the　two　horses　met；　a　hurricane　burst　over　the　spot；　and　the　flying　dust　and　pebbles　threw　both　sides　into　the　utmost　confusion。　Both　drew　off。

Tao　Qian　retired　into　the　city　and　called　his　officers　to　council。

〃The　force　against　us　is　too　strong；〃　said　he。　〃I　will　give　myself　up　as　a　prisoner　and　let　him　wreak　his　vengeance　on　me。　I　may　save　the　people。〃

But　a　voice　was　heard　saying；　〃You　have　long　ruled　here；　and　the　people　love　you。　Strong　as　the　enemy　are；　they　are　not　necessarily　able　to　break　down　our　walls；　especially　when　defended　by　you　and　your　people。