第133部分(第3/7 页)

eize　the　opportunity　and　your　position　will　be　dangerous。〃

Gu　Yong　supported　Zhang　Zhao；　saying；　〃Beyond　all　doubt　Cao　Cao　has　his　spies　here。　As　soon　as　he　hears　of　any　rift　in　the　friendship　between　the　Sun　and　Liu　families；　he　will　desire　to　e　to　an　understanding　with　the　latter；　and　Liu　Bei；　who　fears　your　power；　will　accept　his　offer　and　take　his　side。　Such　an　alliance　will　be　a　continual　menace　to　the　land　south　of　the　river。　No；　the　plan　for　the　occasion　is　to　secure　the　friendship　of　Liu　Bei　by　memorializing　that　he　be　made　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou。　This　will　make　Cao　Cao　afraid　to　send　any　army　against　the　South　Land。　At　the　same　time　it　will　raise　kindly　feelings　in　the　heart　of　Liu　Bei　and　win　his　support。　You　will　be　able　to　find　someone　who　will　provoke　a　quarrel　between　Cao　Cao　and　Liu　Bei　and　set　them　at　each　other；　and　that　will　be　your　opportunity。　In　this　way　you　will　succeed。〃

〃These　are　good　words；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　〃but　have　I　a　messenger　who　can　acplish　such　a　mission？〃

〃There　is　such　a　man；　one　whom　Cao　Cao　respects　and　loves。〃

〃Who　is　he？〃

〃What　prevents　you　from　employing　Hua　Xin？　He　is　ready　to　hand。〃

Wherefore　Hua　Xin　was　given　letters　and　bidden　go　to　the　capital；　Xuchang；　whither　he　proceeded　at　once　and　sought　to　see　Cao　Cao。　They　told　him　that　Cao　Cao　and　all　his　friends　were　at　Yejun；　celebrating　the　pletion　of　the　Bronze　Bird　Tower。　So　thither　he　went。

＇e＇　There　is　a　story　about　how　Shan　Zidao　played　chess　with　Cao　Cao　and　helped　him　get　out　of　the　Red　Cliffs　depression。　Read　Cao　Cao　and　Weiqi　。

Cao　Cao　had　indeed　never　forgotten　his　great　defeat　at　the　Red　Cliffs　and　nourished　schemes　to　avenge　it；　but　he　feared　the　bination　of　his　two　chief　enemies；　and　that　fear　restrained　hi