第142部分(第1/7 页)

〃The　scheme　looks　excellent；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

And　he　wrote　the　letter　as　suggested；　and　then　erased　and　changed　it；　after　which　he　sealed　it　securely　and　sent　it　across　to　Han　Sui。

Surely　enough　someone　told　Ma　Chao　about　the　letter；　which　increased　his　doubts；　and　he　came　to　Han　Sui's　quarters　to　ask　to　see　it。　Han　Sui　gave　it　to　him；　and　the　erasures　and　alterations　struck　Ma　Chao　at　once。

〃Why　are　all　these　alterations　here？〃　asked　he。

〃It　came　like　that。　I　do　not　know。〃

〃Does　anyone　send　a　rough　draft　like　this？　It　seems　to　me；　Uncle；　that　you　are　afraid　I　shall　know　something　or　other　too　well；　and　so　you　have　changed　the　wording。〃

〃It　must　be　that　Cao　Cao　has　sealed　up　the　rough　draft　by　mistake。〃

〃I　do　not　think　so。　He　is　a　careful　man　and　would　not　make　such　a　mistake。　You　and　I；　Uncle；　have　been　allies　in　trying　to　slay　the　rebel。　Why　are　you　turning　against　me　now　？〃

〃If　you　doubt　my　word；　I　will　tell　you　what　you　can　do。　Tomorrow；　in　full　view　of　the　army；　I　will　get　Cao　Cao　to　e　out　and　talk。　You　can　hide　in　behind　the　ranks　ready　to　kill　me　if　I　am　false。〃

〃That　being　so；　I　shall　know　that　you　are　true；　Uncle。〃

This　arrangement　made；　next　day　Han　Sui　with　five　generals　in　his　train………Li　Kan；　Ma　Wan；　Yang　Qiu；　Hou　Xuan；　and　Liang　Xing………rode　to　the　front；　while　Ma　Chao　concealed　himself　behind　the　great　standard。　Han　Sui　sent　over　to　say　that　he　wished　to　speak　to　the　Prime　Minister。

Thereupon　at　his　mand；　Cao　Hong；　with　a　train　of　ten　horsemen　rode　out；　advanced　straight　to　Han　Sui；　leaned　over　to　him　and　said；　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　plainly；　〃Last　night　the　Prime　Minister　quite　understood。　Let　there　be　no　mistake。〃

Then　without　another　word　on　either　side　Cao　Hong　rode