第34部分(第1/7 页)

〃General　Cao　Cao　is　indeed　a　trusty　servant！〃　said　the　Emperor。

Orders　were　given　to　advance；　Cao　Hong　leading　the　escort。　By　and　by　scouts　came　to　say　that　the　rebels　were　ing　up　very　quickly。　The　Emperor　bade　Xiahou　Dun　divide　his　force　into　two　parts　to　oppose　them。　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong's　armies　threw　out　two　wings　with　cavalry　in　front　and　foot　behind。　They　attacked　with　vigor　and　beat　off　the　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si's　rebels　with　severe　loss　of　ten　thousand。　Then　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong　begged　the　Emperor　to　return　to　Luoyang；　and　Xiahou　Dun　guarded　the　city。

Next　day　Cao　Cao　came　with　his　great　army；　and　having　got　them　duly　camped　he　went　into　the　city　to　audience。　He　knelt　at　the　foot　of　the　steps；　but　was　called　up　hither　to　stand　beside　the　Emperor　and　be　thanked。

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃Having　been　the　recipient　of　great　bounty；　thy　servant　owes　the　state　much　gratitude。　The　measure　of　evil　of　the　two　rebels　is　full；　I　have　two　hundred　thousand　of　good　soldiers　to　oppose　them；　and　those　soldiers　are　fully　equal　to　securing　the　safety　of　Your　Majesty　and　the　Throne。　The　preservation　of　the　state　sacrifice　is　the　matter　of　real　moment。〃

High　honors　were　conferred　on　Cao　Cao。　He　was　appointed　mander　of　Capital　District；　Minister　of　War；　and　granted　Military　Insignia。

The　two　rebels；　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si；　wished　to　attack　Cao　Cao's　army　while　fatigued　from　its　long　march。　But　their　adviser；　Jia　Xu；　opposed　this；　saying；　〃There　was　no　hope　of　victory。　He　has　both　strong　soldiers　and　brave　leaders。　Submission　may　bring　us　amnesty。〃

Li　Jue　was　angry　at　the　suggestion；　crying；　〃Do　you　wish　to　dishearten　the　army？〃

And　he　drew　his　sword　on　Jia　Xu。　But　the　other　officers　interceded　and　saved　the　adviser。　That　same　night　Jia　Xu　s