第75部分(第3/7 页)

ould　not　thus　salute　a　simple　civilian　like　me。〃

〃But　you　are　my　old　friend；　and　no　name　or　office　makes　any　difference　to　us；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

〃Having　been　unable　to　choose　the　lord　I　would　serve；　I　bowed　my　head　before　Yuan　Shao　wishing　to　support　him　sincerely。　But　he　was　deaf　to　my　words　and　disregarded　my　plans。　Wherefore　I　have　left　him　and　e　now　to　see　my　old　friend　from　whom　I　hope　employment。〃

〃If　you　are　willing　to　e；　then　have　I　indeed　a　helper；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃I　desire　you　to　give　me　a　scheme　for　the　destruction　of　Yuan　Shao。〃

〃I　counseled　him　to　send　a　light　force　to　take　Capital　Xuchang　and　at　the　same　time　attack　here　in　full　scale　so　that　head　and　tail　be　both　attacked。〃

Cao　Cao　was　alarmed；　saying；　〃If　he　does　so；　I　am　lost！〃

〃How　much　grain　have　you　in　store？〃　said　the　new　adviser。

〃Enough　for　a　year。〃

〃I　think　not　quite；〃　said　Xu　You；　smiling。

〃Well；　half　a　year。〃

The　visitor　shook　out　his　sleeves；　rose　and　hurried　toward　the　door　of　the　tent；　saying；　〃I　offer　him　good　counsel；　and　he　repays　me　with　deceit。　Could　I　have　expected　it？〃

Cao　Cao　held　him　back。

〃Do　not　be　angry；〃　said　he。　〃I　will　tell　you　the　truth。　Really　I　have　here　only　enough　for　three　months。〃

〃Everybody　says　you　are　a　marvel　of　wickedness；　and　indeed　it　is　true；〃　said　Xu　You。

〃But　who　does　not　know　that　in　war　there　is　no　objection　to　deceit？〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

Then　whispering　in　Xu　You's　ear；　he　said；　〃Actually　here　I　have　only　supplies　for　this　month's　use。〃

〃O　do　not　throw　dust　in　my　eyes　any　more。　Your　grain　is　exhausted　and　I　know　it。〃

Cao　Cao　was　startled；　for　he　thought　no　one　knew　of　the　straits　he　was　in。

〃How　did　you　find　that　out？〃　said　Cao　Cao。