第84部分(第3/7 页)

With　these　intentions　they　went　into　the　city。　They　were　received　and　lodged　in　the　guests'　quarters。　But　when　they　wished　to　see　Gongsun　Kang；　he　put　them　off　with　the　excuse　of　indisposition。

However；　before　many　days　the　spies　returned　with　the　news　that　Cao　Cao's　army　was　quiescent　and　there　was　no　hint　of　any　attack。

Then　Gongsun　Kang　called　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　into　his　presence。　But　before　they　came　he　hid　swordsmen　and　ax…men　behind　the　arras　in　the　hall。　When　the　visitors　came　and　had　made　their　salutations；　Gongsun　Kang　bade　them　be　seated。

Now　it　was　bitterly　cold　and　on　the　couches　where　they　were　sitting　were　no　coverings。　So　Yuan　Shang　said；　〃May　we　have　cushions？〃

The　host　said；　〃When　your　heads　take　that　long；　long　journey；　will　there　be　any　cushions？〃

Before　Yuan　Shang　could　recover　from　his　fright；　Gongsun　Kang　shouted；　〃Why　do　you　not　begin？〃

At　this　out　rushed　the　assassins　and　the　heads　of　the　two　brothers　were　cut　off　as　they　sat。　Packed　in　a　small　wooden　box　they　were　sent　to　Cao　Cao　at　Yezhou。

All　this　time　Cao　Cao　had　been　calmly　waiting。　His　impatient　officers　had　petitioned　in　a　body；　saying；　〃Let's　march　to　the　capital　to　ward　off　Liu　Biao's　threat　if　we　are　not　going　to　attack　the　east。〃

Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　am　waiting　for　the　heads　of　the　enemy。　We　will　go　as　soon　as　the　heads　arrive。〃

In　their　secret　hearts　they　laughed。　But　then；　surely　enough；　messenger　soon　came　from　Liaodong　bringing　the　heads。　Then　they　were　greatly　surprised。

And　when　the　messenger　presented　Gongsun　Kang's　letters；　Cao　Cao　cried；　〃Just　as　Guo　Jia　said！〃

He　amply　rewarded　the　messenger；　and　the　Governor　of　Liaodong　was　made　Lord　of　Xiangping　and　General　of　the　Left　Army。　When　the　officers　a