第48部分(第3/7 页)

　your　fresh　troops；　and　you　will　certainly　defeat　them。〃

So　said　Chen　Gong；　but　Lu　Bu　replied；　〃I　have　suffered　too　many　defeats　lately　to　take　any　risk。　Wait　till　they　actually　attack；　and　you　will　see　them　floating　away　on　the　waters。〃

So　Lu　Bu　neglected　the　confidant's　advice　and　waited　till　the　enemy　had　settled　into　their　camp。　This　done；　the　attackers　advanced　against　the　city。　From　the　foot　of　the　wall；　Cao　Cao　called　to　Lu　Bu　to　listen　while　he　spoke。　Lu　Bu　ascended　to　the　wall　where　he　stood。

Cao　Cao　addressed　him；　saying；　〃When　I　heard　that　your　family　and　that　of　Yuan　Shu　were　likely　to　be　united　by　marriage；　I　sent　an　army　against　you。　Yuan　Shu　was　guilty　of　treason；　while　you　had　to　your　credit　on　the　destruction　of　Dong　Zhuo。　For　what　reason　have　you　sacrificed　all　your　merits　to　throw　in　your　lot　with　a　rebel？　It　will　be　over　late　to　regret　when　this　city　shall　have　fallen。　But　if　you　surrender　and　help　me　to　support　the　ruling　house；　you　shall　not　lose　your　rank。〃

Lu　Bu　replied；　〃If　the　Prime　Minister　will　retire；　we　may　be　able　to　discuss　the　matter。〃

But　Chen　Gong；　standing　near　his　master；　began　to　rail　at　Cao　Cao　for　a　rebel　and　shot　an　arrow　that　struck　his　plumed　helmet。

〃My　oath；　but　I　will　slay　you　at　least！〃　cried　Cao　Cao；　pointing　his　finger　at　Chen　Gong。

Then　the　attack　on　the　walls　began。

〃They　have　e　from　far　and　cannot　maintain　this　for　long；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃General；　go　out　with　your　horse　and　foot　and　take　up　a　position　outside；　leaving　me　to　maintain　the　defense　with　the　remainder　of　our　troops。　If　he　engages　you；　I　will　e　out　and　strike　at　his　rear　ranks；　if　he　attacks　the　city；　you　can　e　to　our　aid。　In　ten　days　their　stores　will　fail；　and　we　can　beat　them　off。　This　will　place　the