第50部分(第6/7 页)

rious　Sir；　your　prestige　grows　daily。　Why　not　seize　the　opportunity　to　take　the　position　of　Chief　of　the　Feudatory　Princes？〃

〃There　are　still　too　many　supporters　of　the　court；〃　was　the　reply。　〃I　must　be　careful。　I　am　going　to　propose　a　royal　hunt　to　try　to　find　out　the　best　line　to　follow。〃

This　expedition　being　decided　upon　they　got　together　fleet　horses；　famous　falcons；　and　pedigree　hounds；　and　prepared　bows　and　arrows　in　readiness。　They　mustered　a　strong　force　of　guards　outside　the　city。

When　the　Prime　Minister　proposed　the　hunting　expedition；　the　Emperor　said　he　feared　it　was　an　improper　thing　to　do。

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃In　ancient　times　rulers　made　four　expeditions　yearly　at　each　of　the　four　seasons　in　order　to　show　their　strength。　They　were　called　Sou；　Miao；　Xien；　and　Shou；　in　the　order　of　spring；　summer；　autumn；　and　winter。　Now　that　the　whole　country　is　in　confusion；　it　would　be　wise　to　inaugurate　a　hunt　in　order　to　train　the　army。　I　am　sure　Your　Majesty　will　approve。〃

So　the　Emperor　with　the　full　paraphernalia　for　an　imperial　hunt　joined　the　expedition。　He　rode　a　saddled　horse；　carried　an　inlaid　bow；　and　his　quiver　was　filled　with　gold…tipped　arrows。　His　chariot　followed　behind。　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　were　in　the　imperial　train；　each　with　his　bow　and　quiver。　Each　party　member　wore　a　breastplate　under　the　outer　robe　and　held　his　especial　weapon；　while　their　escort　followed　them。　Cao　Cao　rode　a　dun　horse　called　〃Flying…Lightning；〃　and　the　army　was　one　hundred　thousand　strong。

The　hunt　took　place　in　Xutian；　and　the　legions　spread　out　as　guards　round　the　hunting　arena　which　extended　over　some　one　hundred　square　miles。　Cao　Cao　rode　even　with　the　Emperor；　the　horses'　heads　alternating　in　the　lead。　The　imperial　attendants　immedi