第83部分(第2/7 页)

ily　could　not　make　the　best　of　them！　But　if　they　had　done　so；　I　should　never　have　dared　to　turn　my　eyes　toward　this　place。〃

The　intrepid　mourner　was　not　put　to　death。　The　remains　of　Yuan　Tan　were　properly　interred；　and　Wang　Xiu　was　well　treated　and　even　given　an　appointment。

In　his　new　position　Wang　Xiu　was　asked　for　advice　about　the　best　way　to　proceed　against　Yuan　Shang；　who　had　fled　to　his　second　brother；　but　Wang　Xiu　remained　silent；　thereby　winning　from　Cao　Cao　renewed　admiration　for　his　constancy。

〃He　is　indeed　loyal！〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Then　he　questioned　Guo　Jia；　who　advised　him；　saying；　〃Give　Yuan　Xi's　former　generals　the　mand　and　ask　them　to　attack　Youzhou。〃

Whereupon　Jiao　Chu　and　Zhang　Neng　were　given　the　mand　and　reinforced　by　the　armies　under　Lu　Xiang；　Lu　Kuang；　Ma　Yan；　and　Zhang　Zi　to　bring　about　the　surrender　of　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang。　Then　six　generals；　to　attack　Youzhou　along　three　routes。　Other　armies　led　by　Li　Dian；　Yue　Jing；　and　Zhang　Yan　were　sent　against　Gao　Gan　at　Bingzhou。

The　two　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　heard　of　Cao　Cao's　advance　with　dismay　for　they　had　no　hope　of　successful　resistance。　Therefore　they　abandoned　Youzhou　and　hastily　marched　into　Liaoxi　to　seek　refuge　with　the　Wuhuan　tribespeople　in　the　frontier　Wuhuan　State。

Then　Wuhuan　Chu；　new　Imperial　Protector　of　Youzhou；　was　not　disposed　to　incur　the　enmity　of　the　powerful　Cao　Cao；　so　he　called　his　subordinates　together　to　swear　them　to　support　him。

Wuhuan　Chu　said；　〃I　understand　that　Cao　Cao　is　the　most　powerful　man　of　the　day；　and　I　am　going　to　support　him；　and　those　who　do　not　go　with　me　I　shall　put　to　death。〃

Each　in　turn　smeared　his　lips　with　the　blood　of　sacrifice　and　took　the　oath；　till　it　came　to　the　turn　of　Han　Heng。

In