第80部分(第3/7 页)

was　summoned　and　came　readily　enough。　Letters　were　given　him　and　an　escort　of　three　thousand　soldiers　took　him　beyond　the　border。　He　traveled　as　quickly　as　possible。

At　that　time　Cao　Cao's　camp　was　at　the　Xiping　Pass　and　he　was　attacking　Liu　Biao；　who　had　sent　Liu　Bei　out　to　offer　the　first　resistance。　No　battle　had　yet　taken　place。

Soon　after　his　arrival；　Xin　Pi　was　admitted　to　the　Prime　Minister's　presence。　After　the　ceremonies　of　greeting；　Cao　Cao　asked　the　object　of　the　visit。　Xin　Pi　explained　that　Yuan　Tan　wanted　assistance　and　presented　his　dispatches。　Cao　Cao　read　them　and　told　the　messenger　to　wait　in　his　camp　while　he　called　his　officers　to　a　council。

The　council　met。　Cheng　Yu　said；　〃Yuan　Tan　has　been　forced　into　making　this　offer　because　of　the　pressure　of　his　brother's　attack。　Put　no　trust　in　him。〃

Lu　Qian　and　Man　Chong　said；　〃You　have　led　your　armies　here　for　a　special　purpose。　How　can　you　abandon　that　and　go　to　assist　Yuan　Tan？〃

〃Gentlemen；　not　one　of　you　is　giving　good　advice；〃　interposed　Xun　You。　〃This　is　how　I　regard　it。　Since　there　is　universal　trouble；　in　the　midst　of　which　Liu　Biao　remains　quietly　content　with　his　position　between　the　River　Zhang　and　the　River　Han；　it　is　evident　that　he　has　no　ambition　to　enlarge　his　borders。　The　Yuans　hold　four　regions　and　have　many　legions　of　soldiers。　Harmony　between　the　two　brothers　means　success　for　the　family；　and　none　can　foresee　what　will　happen　in　the　empire。　Now　take　advantage　of　this　fraternal　conflict　and　let　them　fight　till　they　are　weakened　and　have　to　yield　to　our　Prime　Minister。　Then　Yuan　Shang　can　be　removed；　and　when　the　times　are　suitable；　Yuan　Tan　can　be　destroyed　in　his　turn。　Thus　peace　will　ensue。　This　present　bination　of　circumstances　is　to　be　taken　advantage　o