第84部分(第2/7 页)

e　Yuan　brothers　have　fled　to　him。　Would　it　not　be　well　to　attack　before　they　move　against　you？〃

〃I　need　not　trouble　your　tiger　courage；　Sirs；〃　said　Cao　Cao　smiling。　〃Wait　a　few　days　and　you　will　see　the　heads　of　our　two　enemies　sent　to　me。〃

They　could　not　believe　it。

As　has　been　related　the　two　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　escaped　to　the　east　with　a　few　hundreds　of　horse。　The　Governor　of　Liaodong　was　a　son　of　Gongsun　Du　the　Warlike；　the　General　of　Han。　Gongsun　Kang　was　a　native　of　Xiangping。　When　he　heard　that　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　were　on　their　way　to　his　territory；　he　called　a　council　to　decide　upon　his　plan。

At　the　council　Gongsun　Gong　rose；　saying；　〃When　Yuan　Shao　was　alive；　he　nourished　the　plan　of　adding　this　territory　to　his　own。　Now　his　sons；　homeless；　with　a　broken　army　and　no　officers；　are　ing　here。　It　seems　to　me　like　the　dove　stealing　the　magpie's　nest。　If　we　offer　them　shelter；　they　will　assuredly　intrigue　against　us。　I　advise　that　they　be　inveigled　into　the　city；　put　to　death；　and　their　heads　sent　to　Cao　Cao；　who　will　be　most　grateful　to　us。〃

Said　the　Governor　Gongsun　Kang；　〃I　have　one　fear：　Cao　Cao　will　e　against　us。　If　so；　it　would　be　better　to　have　the　help　of　the　Yuans　against　him。〃

〃Then　you　can　send　spies　to　ascertain　whether　Cao　Cao's　army　is　preparing　to　attack　us。　If　it　is；　then　save　the　Yuans　alive；　if　not；　then　follow　my　advice。〃

It　was　decided　to　wait　till　the　spies　came　back。

In　the　meantime；　Yuan　Xi　and　Yuan　Shang　had　taken　counsel　together　as　they　approached　Liaodong；　saying；　〃Liaodong　has　a　large　army；　strong　enough　to　oppose　Cao　Cao。　We　will　go　thither　and　submit　till　we　can　slay　the　Governor　and　take　possession。　Then　when　we　are　strong　enough；　we　will　attack　and　recover　our　own　land。〃