第34部分(第2/7 页)

tole　out　of　the　camp　and；　quite　alone；　took　his　way　home　to　his　native　village。

Soon　the　rebels　decided　to　offer　battle。　In　reply；　Cao　Cao　sent　out　Xu　Chu；　Cao　Ren；　and　Dian　Wei　with　three　hundred　horse。　These　three　leaders　dashed　into　the　rebels　army　but　quickly　retired。　This　maneuver　was　repeated；　and　again　repeated　before　the　real　battle　array　was　formed。

Then　Li　Xian　and　Li　Bie；　nephews　of　Li　Jue；　rode　out。　At　once　from　Cao　Cao's　side　dashed　out　Xu　Chu　and　cut　down　Li　Xian。　Li　Bie　was　so　startled　that　he　fell　out　of　the　saddle。　He　too　was　slain。　The　victor　Xu　Chu　rode　back　to　his　own　side　with　the　two　heads。

＇e＇　Fan　Kuai　（BC　？…189）　a　brave　general　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　close　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　he　was　a　butcher　and　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Enobled　as　Lord　of　Zuo。　。。。。。

When　Xu　Chu　offered　them　to　the　chief；　Cao　Cao　patted　him　on　the　back；　crying；　〃You　are　really　my　Fan　Kuai*！〃

Next　a　general　move　forward　was　made；　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong　leading　the　two　wings　and　Cao　Cao　in　the　center。　They　advanced　to　the　roll　of　the　drum。　The　rebels　fell　back　before　them　and　presently　fled。　They　pursued；　Cao　Cao　himself　leading；　sword　in　hand。　The　slaughter　went　on　till　night。　Ten　thousands　were　killed　and　many　more　surrendered。　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si　went　west；　flying　in　panic　like　dogs　from　a　falling　house。　Having　no　place　of　refuge　they　took　to　the　hills　and　hid　among　the　brushwood。

Cao　Cao's　army　returned　and　camped　again　near　the　capital。

Then　Yang　Feng　and　Han　Xian　said　one　to　another；　〃This　Cao　Cao　has　done　a　great　service；　and　he　will　be　the　man　in　power。　There　will　be　no　place　for　us。〃

So　they　represented　to　the　Emperor　that　they　wished　to　pursue　the　rebels；　and　under　this　excuse