第74部分(第2/7 页)

the　weak　points　of　the　enemy。

Cao　Cao's　army　arrived　and　were　smitten　with　fear　when　they　heard　of　the　strength　of　their　enemy。　The　leader　called　together　his　council。

Then　said　Adviser　Xun　You；　〃The　enemy　are　many　but　not　terrible。　Ours　is　an　army　of　veterans；　every　soldier　of　ours　worth　ten　of　theirs。　But　our　advantage　lies　in　a　speedy　battle；　for　unhappily　our　stores　are　insufficient　for　a　long　campaign。〃

〃You　speak　to　the　point；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃I　think　the　same。〃

Therefore　Cao　Cao　issued　orders　to　press　noisily　forward　and　force　on　a　battle。　Yuan　Shao's　soldiers　took　up　the　challenge；　and　the　two　sides　were　arrayed。　On　Yuan　Shao's　side；　Shen　Pei　placed　ten　thousand　of　crossbowmen　in　ambush　on　the　two　wings；　while　five　thousand　of　archers　held　the　center。　The　signal　for　general　attack　was　a　bomb；　and　the　onset　was　to　continue　through　three　rolls　of　the　drum。

Yuan　Shao　wore　a　silver　helmet　and　breastplate　and　an　embroidered　robe　held　in　by　a　jeweled　belt。　He　took　up　his　post　in　the　center　with　his　manders………Gao　Lan；　Zhang　He；　Han　Meng；　Chunyu　Qiong；　and　others………ranged　right　and　left。　His　banners　and　ensigns　made　a　brave　show。

When　Cao　Cao's　army's　center　opened　and　the　banners　moved　aside；　the　chieftain　appeared　on　horseback　with　his　staff　of　doughty　leaders　all　fully　armed………Xu　Chu；　Zhang　Liao；　Xu　Huang；　Li　Dian；　and　others。

Pointing　with　his　whip　at　Yuan　Shao；　Cao　Cao　cried；　〃In　the　presence　of　the　Emperor；　I　pressed　your　claims　to　consideration　and　obtained　for　you　the　title　of　Regent　Marshal。　Why　do　you　now　plan　rebellion？〃

Yuan　Shao　replied；　〃You　take　the　title　of　a　minister　of　Han；　but　you　are　really　a　rebel　against　the　House。　Your　crimes　and　evil　deeds　reach　to　the　heavens；　and　you　are　worse　than　the　usur