第117部分(第2/7 页)

d　without　finding　a　resting　place。　These　are　ill…omened　words。〃

〃How　dare　you　try　to　belittle　my　endeavor？〃　cried　Cao　Cao；　very　wrathful。　And　with　that　he　smote　Liu　Fu　with　his　spear　and　slew　him。

The　assembly　broke　up；　and　the　guests　dispersed　in　fear　and　confusion。　Next　day；　when　Cao　Cao　had　recovered　from　his　drunken　bout；　he　was　very　grieved　at　what　he　had　done。　When　the　murdered　man's　son；　Liu　Xi；　came　to　crave　the　body　of　his　father　for　burial；　Cao　Cao　wept　and　expressed　his　sorrow。

〃I　am　guilty　of　your　father's　death。　I　was　drunk　yesterday。　I　regret　the　deed　exceedingly。　Your　father　shall　be　interred　with　the　honors　of　a　minister　of　the　highest　rank。〃

Cao　Cao　sent　an　escort　of　soldiers　to　take　the　body　to　the　homeland　for　burial。

A　few　days　after；　the　two　leaders　of　the　naval　force；　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin；　came　to　say　the　ships　were　all　connected　together　by　chains　as　had　been　ordered；　and　all　was　now　ready。　They　asked　for　the　mand　to　start。

Thereupon　the　leaders　of　both　land　and　naval　forces　were　assembled　on　board　a　large　ship　in　the　center　of　the　squadron　to　receive　orders。　The　various　armies　and　squadrons　were　distinguished　by　different　flags：　Mao　Jie　and　Yu　Jin　led　the　central　naval　squadron　with　yellow　flag；　Zhang　He；　the　leading　squadron；　red　flag；　Lu　Qian；　the　rear　squadron；　black　flag；　Wen　Ping；　the　left　squadron；　blue　flag；　and　Li　Tong；　the　right　squadron；　white　flag。　On　shore　Xu　Huang　manded　the　horsemen　with　red　flag；　Li　Dian；　the　vanguard；　black　flag；　Yue　Jing；　the　left　wing；　blue　flag；　and　Xiahou　Yuan；　the　right　wing；　white　flag。　Xiahou　Dun　and　Cao　Hong　were　in　reserve；　and　the　general　staff　was　under　the　leadership　of　Xu　Chu　and　Zhang　Liao。　The　other　leaders　were　ordered　to　remain　in　camps；　but　ready　for　action