第12部分(第1/7 页)

All　being　ready；　the　chief　lord　was　invited　to　ascend　the　altar。　Clad　in　ceremonial　robes　and　girded　with　a　sword；　Yuan　Shao　reverently　ascended。　There　he　burned　incense；　made　obeisance　and　recited　the　oath：

〃The　House　of　Han　has　fallen　upon　evil　days；　the　bands　of　imperial　authority　are　loosened。　The　rebel　minister；　Dong　Zhuo；　takes　advantage　of　the　discord　to　work　evil；　and　calamity　falls　upon　honorable　families。　Cruelty　overwhelms　simple　folks。　We；　Yuan　Shao　and　his　confederates；　fearing　for　the　safety　of　the　imperial　prerogatives；　have　assembled　military　forces　to　rescue　the　state。　We　now　pledge　ourselves　to　exert　our　whole　strength　and　act　in　concord　to　the　utmost　limit　of　our　powers。　There　must　be　no　disconcerted　or　selfish　action。　Should　any　depart　from　this　pledge；　may　he　lose　his　life　and　leave　no　posterity。　Almighty　Heaven　and　Universal　Earth　and　the　enlightened　spirits　of　our　forebears；　be　ye　our　witnesses！〃

The　reading　finished；　Yuan　Shao　smeared　the　blood　of　the　sacrifice　upon　his　lips　and　upon　the　lips　of　those　who　shared　the　pledge。　All　were　deeply　affected　by　the　ceremony　and　many　shed　tears。

This　done；　the　chief　lord　was　supported　down　from　the　high　place　and　led　to　his　tent；　where　he　took　the　highest　place　and　the　others　arranged　themselves　according　to　rank　and　age。　Here　wine　was　served。

Presently　Cao　Cao　said；　〃It　behooves　us　all　to　obey　the　chief　we　have　this　day　set　up；　and　support　the　state。　There　must　be　no　feeling　of　rivalry　or　superiority　based　upon　numbers。〃

Yuan　Shao　replied；　〃Unworthy　as　I　am；　yet　as　elected　chief　I　must　impartially　reward　merit　and　punish　offenses。　Let　each　see　to　it　that　he　obeys　the　national　laws　and　the　army　precepts。　These　must　not　be　broken。〃

〃Only　thy　mands　are　to　be　obeye