第77部分(第1/7 页)

rth；　a　relative　cut　off。　And　each　beat　his　breast　and　wept。

And　all　said；　〃Had　he　but　listened　to　Tian　Feng；　we　had　not　met　this　disaster！〃

Yuan　Shao；　very　remorseful；　said；　〃I　did　not　hearken　unto　Tian　Feng；　and　now　my　soldiers　have　been　beaten　and　I　was　nearly　lost。　How　can　I　return　and　look　him　in　the　face？〃

Next　day　the　march　was　resumed；　and　Yuan　Shao　met　Peng　Ji　with　reinforcements；　to　whom　he　said；　〃I　disregarded　Tian　Feng's　advice　and　have　brought　myself　to　defeat。　Now　shall　I　be　greatly　ashamed　to　look　him　in　the　face。〃

This　tribute　to　Tian　Feng's　prescience　roused　the　jealousy　of　Peng　Ji；　who　replied；　〃Yes；　when　he　heard　the　news　of　your　defeat；　though　he　was　a　prisoner；　he　clapped　his　hands　for　joy　and　said；　'Indeed；　just　as　I　foretold！'〃

〃How　dare　he　laugh　at　me；　the　blockhead？　Assuredly　he　shall　die；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

Whereupon　Yuan　Shao　wrote　a　letter　and　sent　therewith　a　sword　to　slay　the　prisoner。

Meanwhile　Tian　Feng's　gaoler　came　to　him　one　day；　saying；　〃Above　all　humans　I　felicitate　you。〃

〃What　is　the　joyful　occasion　and　why　felicitate？〃　said　Tian　Feng。

The　gaoler　replied；　〃Imperial　Protector　Yuan　Shao　has　been　defeated　and　is　on　his　way　back。　He　will　treat　you　with　redoubled　respect。〃

〃Now　am　I　a　dead　man！〃　said　Tian　Feng。

〃Why　say　you　that；　Sir；　when　all　people　give　you　joy？〃

〃The　Imperial　Protector　appears　liberal；　but　he　is　jealous　and　forgetful　of　honest　advice。　Had　he　been　victorious；　he　might　have　pardoned　me。　Now　that　he　has　been　defeated　and　put　to　shame；　I　may　not　hope　to　live。〃

But　the　gaoler　did　not　believe　Tian　Feng。　Before　long　came　the　letter　and　the　sword　with　the　fatal　order。

The　gaoler　was　dismayed；　but　the　victim　said；　〃I　knew　all　too