第178部分(第1/7 页)

s　and　hasten　Cao　Cao's　retreat。　For　this　reason　the　retreating　army　had　to　keep　on　the　move。　Beside；　Cao　Cao　was　suffering　from　his　wound；　and　he　marched　as　hurriedly　as　possible。　But　it　was　a　dejected　army；　when　the　leading　legions　encountered　fire　on　both　flanks；　which　had　been　raised　by　troops　placed　in　ambush　while　Ma　Chao's　main　force　kept　driving　the　army　before　it。　Everyone　in　the　Cao　Cao　army　was　dispirited；　and　there　was　no　more　courage　in　them。　They　pressed　forward　day　and　night　alike　without　halting　to　rest。　It　was　only　after　reaching　Jingzhao　that　they　had　some　repose。

Having　conquered　Hanzhong；　Liu　Bei　sent　Liu　Feng；　Meng　Da；　and　Wang　Ping　to　take　Shangyong。　The　mander　of　the　city；　Shen　Dan；　and　his　colleagues；　knowing　that　Cao　Cao　had　retreated；　offered　their　submission。　After　confidence　had　been　restored　among　the　people；　Liu　Bei　rewarded　his　army　generously；　and　they　were　all　joyful。

It　was　after　this　that　the　general　body　of　the　officers　decided　to　urge　Liu　Bei　to　assume　the　title　of　〃Emperor〃；　but　they　dared　not　tell　him　so。　However；　they　sent　up　a　petition　to　Zhuge　Liang。

He　replied；　〃I　have　already　decided　on　this　course。〃

So　Zhuge　Liang　and　Fa　Zheng　headed　a　deputation　that　went　in　to　see　their　lord。

They　said；　〃Now　that　Cao　Cao　really　holds　the　reins　of　authority；　the　people　are　without　a　true　sovereign。　Our　lord；　your　kindness　and　sense　of　justice　have　spread　throughout　the　empire。　You　have　restored　peace　over　the　two　River　Lands；　and　your　being　an　emperor　would　be　according　to　God's　will　and　the　desire　of　the　people。　Then　by　right　and　title　you　could　destroy　rebels。　This　matter　should　not　be　delayed；　and　we　pray　you　choose　the　auspicious　day。〃

But　Liu　Bei　evinced　great　surprise；　and　replied；　〃Your　wor