第56部分(第4/7 页)

　all　desire　to　return　home。　They　weep　whenever　they　look　to　the　north。　The　others　belong　to　Yanzhou　or　Yuzhou；　being　remnants　of　the　armies　of　Lu　Bu　and　Zhang　Yang。　Beaten；　stern　necessity　forced　them　to　accept　service；　but　they　take　it　only　as　a　temporary　expedient。　They　who　have　been　wounded　hate　each　other。　If　I　give　the　signal　to　return　and　send　my　drums　to　the　mountain　tops；　and　wave　the　white　flag　to　show　them　they　may　surrender；　they　will　melt　away　like　dew　before　the　sun；　and　no　blood　will　be　shed。　The　victory　will　be　mine。

〃Now　the　Hans　are　failing　and　the　bonds　of　empire　are　relaxed。　The　sacred　dynasty　has　no　supporter；　the　ministers　are　not　strong　enough　to　cope　with　the　difficulties。　Within　the　capital　the　responsible　ministers　are　crestfallen　and　helpless。　There　is　no　one　to　rely　upon。　Such　loyal　and　high　principled　people　as　are　left　are　browbeaten　by　a　tyrannical　minister。　How　can　they　manifest　their　virtue？

〃Cao　Cao　has　surrounded　the　Palace　with　seven　hundred　veterans；　the　ostensible　object　being　to　guard　the　Emperor；　but　the　covert　design　being　to　hold　him　prisoner。　I　fear　this　is　but　the　first　step　in　usurpation；　and　so　I　take　my　part。　Now　is　the　time　for　loyal　ministers　to　sacrifice　their　lives；　the　opportunity　for　officers　to　perform　meritorious　deeds。　Can　I　fail　to　urge　you？

〃Cao　Cao　has　forged　mands　to　himself　to　undertake　the　control　of　government　affairs　and；　in　the　name　of　the　state；　sends　out　calls　for　military　assistance。　I　fear　lest　distant　regions　may　obey　his　behest　and　send　troops　to　help　him；　to　the　detriment　of　the　multitude　and　their　everlasting　shame。　No　wise　person　will　do　so。

〃The　forces　of　four　regions………Bingzhou；　Jizhou；　Qingzhou；　and　Youzhou………are　moving　out　simultaneously。　When　this　call　reaches　Jingz