第83部分(第3/7 页)

stead　he　dashed　his　sword　to　the　ground；　crying；　〃I　have　received　great　promotions　and　benefits　from　the　Yuans。　Now　my　lord　has　been　vanquished。　My　knowledge　was　powerless　to　save　him；　and　my　bravery　insufficient　to　cause　me　to　die　for　him：　I　have　failed　in　my　duty。　But　I　refuse　to　mit　the　crowning　act　of　treachery　and　ally　myself　with　Cao　Cao。〃

This　speech　made　the　others　turn　pale。

The　chief　said；　〃For　a　great　undertaking；　there　must　be　lofty　principles。　However；　success　does　not　necessarily　depend　upon　universal　support；　and　since　Han　Heng　is　actuated　by　such　sentiments；　then　let　him　follow　his　conscience。〃

So　Wuhuan　Chu　turned　Han　Heng　out　of　the　assembly。　Wuhuan　Chu　then　went　out　of　the　city　to　meet　and　wele　Cao　Cao's　army　and　rendered　his　submission。　He　was　well　received　and　the　title　given　him　of　General　Who　Guards　the　North。

Then　the　scouts　came　to　report：　〃Generals　Li　Dian；　Yue　Jing；　and　Zhang　Yan　had　marched　to　Bingzhou；　but　that　Gao　Gan　had　occupied　Huguan　Pass　and　could　not　be　dislodged。〃

So　Cao　Cao　marched　thither　himself。　The　defender　still　maintaining　his　position；　Cao　Cao　asked　for　plans。　Xun　You　proposed　that　a　band　should　go　over　pretending　to　be　deserters。　Cao　Cao　assented　and　then　called　the　two　Lu　Xiang　and　Lu　Kuang；　to　whom　he　gave　whispered　orders。　They　left　with　their　panies。

Soon　they　came　near　the　pass　and　called　out；　saying；　〃We　are　old　officers　in　Yuan　Shao's　armies　forced　into　surrender　to　Cao　Cao。　We　find　him　so　false　and　he　treats　us　so　meanly　that　we　want　to　return　to　help　our　old　master。　Wherefore　quickly　open　your　gates　to　us。〃

Gao　Gan　was　suspicious；　but　he　let　the　two　officers　e　up　to　the　pass；　and　when　they　had　stripped　off　their　armor　and　left　their　horses；　they　were　permitted　to　ente