第34部分(第3/7 页)

withdrew　their　army　and　camped　at　Daliang。

One　day　the　Emperor　sent　to　summon　Cao　Cao　to　audience。　The　messenger　was　called　in。　Cao　Cao　noticed　that　the　messenger　looked　remarkably　well　and　could　not　understand　it　seeing　that　everyone　else　looked　hungry　and　famine　stricken。

So　Cao　Cao　said；　〃You　look　plump　and　well；　Sir；　how　do　you　manage　it？〃

〃Only　this：　I　have　lived　meager　for　thirty　years。〃

Cao　Cao　nodded；　〃What　office　do　you　hold？〃

〃I　am　a　graduate　remended　for　filial　piety　and　honesty。　I　had　offices　under　Yuan　Shao　and　Zhang　Yang；　but　came　here　when　the　Emperor　returned。　Now　I　am　one　of　the　secretaries。　I　am　a　native　of　Dingtao；　and　my　name　is　Dong　Zhao。〃

Cao　Cao　got　up　from　his　place　and　crossed　over；　saying；　〃I　have　heard　of　you。　How　happy　I　am　to　meet　you！〃

Then　wine　was　brought　into　the　tent；　and　Xun　Yu　was　called　in　and　introduced。　While　they　were　talking；　a　man　came　in　to　report　that　a　party　was　moving　eastward。　Cao　Cao　ordered　to　find　out　whose　people　these　were；　but　Dong　Zhao　knew　at　once。

〃They　are　old　leaders　under　the　rebels；　Yang　Feng　and　the　White　Wave　General　Han　Xian。　They　are　running　off　because　you　have　e；　Illustrious　Sir！〃

〃Do　they　mistrust　me？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃They　are　not　worthy　of　your　attention。　They　are　a　poor　lot。〃

〃What　of　this　departure　of　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si？〃

〃Tigers　without　claws；　birds　without　wings………they　will　not　escape　you　very　long。　They　are　not　worth　thinking　about。〃

Cao　Cao　saw　that　he　and　his　guest　had　much　in　mon；　so　he　began　to　talk　of　affairs　of　state。

Said　Dong　Zhao；　〃You；　Illustrious　Sir；　with　your　noble　army　have　swept　away　rebellion　and　have　bee　the　mainstay　of　the　Throne；　an　achievement　worthy　of　the　ancient　Five　Protectors。　Bu