第80部分(第1/7 页)

own　districts。

Then　the　quarrels　began。　Yuan　Tan　said　to　his　confidants　Guo　Tu　and　Xin　Ping；　〃I；　the　eldest；　have　been　prevented　from　succeeding　my　father；　while　the　youngest　son；　born　of　a　second　wife；　received　the　main　heritage。　My　heart　is　bitter。〃

Said　Guo　Tu；　〃Camp　your　army　outside；　invite　your　brother　and　Shen　Pei　to　a　banquet；　and　assassinate　them。　The　whole　matter　is　easily　settled。〃

And　Yuan　Tan　agreed。　It　happened　that　Adviser　Wang　Xiu　came　just　then　from　Qingzhou　whom　Yuan　Tan　took　into　his　confidence。

Wang　Xiu　opposed　the　murder　plan；　saying；　〃Brothers　are　as　one's　limbs。　How　can　you　possibly　succeed　if　at　a　moment　of　conflict　with　an　enemy　you　cut　off　one　of　your　hands？　If　you　abandon　your　brother　and　sever　relationship；　whom　will　you　take　in　all　the　world　as　a　relation？　That　fellow　Guo　Tu　is　a　dangerous　mischief…maker；　who　would　sow　dissension　between　brothers　for　a　momentary　advantage；　and　I　beg　you　to　shut　your　ears　and　not　listen　to　his　persuasions。〃

This　was　displeasing　to　Yuan　Tan；　and　he　angrily　dismissed　Wang　Xiu；　while　he　sent　the　treacherous　invitation　to　his　brother。

Yuan　Shang　and　Shen　Pei　talked　over　the　matter。

Shen　Pei　said；　〃I　recognize　one　of　Guo　Tu's　stratagems　and　if　you　go；　my　lord；　you　will　be　the　victim　of　their　plot。　Rather　strike　at　them　at　once。〃

Whereupon　Yuan　Shang　rode　out　to　battle。　His　brother　Yuan　Tan；　seeing　him　e　with　fifty　thousand　troops；　knew　that　his　treachery　had　been　discovered；　so　he　also　took　the　field。　When　the　forces　were　near　enough；　Yuan　Tan　opened　on　Yuan　Shang　with　a　volley　of　abuse。

〃You　poisoned　my　father　and　usurped　the　succession。　Now　you　e　out　to　slay　your　elder　brother？〃

The　battle　went　against　Yuan　Tan。　Yuan　Shang　himself　took　par