第55部分(第3/7 页)

ot　agree。　The　military　genius　of　our　illustrious　lord　having　overe　the　hordes　of　the　north；　to　dispose　of　Cao　Cao　is　as　simple　as　turning　one's　hand。　It　is　not　a　matter　of　months。〃

Adviser　Ju　Shou　said；　〃Victory　is　not　always　to　the　many。　Cao　Cao's　discipline　is　excellent；　his　soldiers　are　brave　and　well　drilled。　He　will　not　sit　down　quietly　waiting　to　be　surrounded　as　Gongsun　Zan　did。　Now　you　abandon　the　intention　to　inform　the　Throne　of　our　success；　which　I　find　a　good　plan；　but　you　intend　to　send　out　an　army　without　any　valid　excuse。　Our　lord　should　not　do　that。〃

Then　followed　adviser　Guo　Tu；　saying；　〃You　are　wrong。　No　expedition　against　Cao　Cao　can　lack　excuse。　But　if　our　master　would　take　the　chance　now　offering　itself　of　ing　into　his　own；　he　will　accede　to　the　request　in　the　letter　of　Zheng　Xuan　and　ally　himself　with　Liu　Bei　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。　This　would　win　the　approval　of　Heaven　and　the　affections　of　the　people；　a　double　blessing。〃

Thus　the　four　advisers　differed　and　wrangled；　and　Yuan　Shao　could　not　decide　which　to　follow。

Then　there　came　two　others；　Xu　You　and　Xun　Shen；　and；　seeing　them；　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃You　two　have　wide　experience；　how　would　you　decide？〃

The　two　made　their　obeisance；　and　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃A　letter　from　Zheng　Xuan　the　Chair　has　arrived；　counseling　me　to　support　Liu　Bei　in　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。　Now　am　I　to　send　an　army　or　not　send　an　army？〃

They　both　cried　with　one　voice；　〃Send！　Your　armies　are　numerous　enough　and　strong　enough。　You　will　destroy　a　traitor　and　help　the　dynasty。〃

〃Your　words　just　express　my　desire；〃　said　Yuan　Shao　and　thenceforward　the　discussion　turned　on　the　expedition。

First；　Liu　Bei's　legate；　Sun　Qian；　was　sent　back　with　Yuan　Shao's　consent　and　instructions