三国演义英文版-第204章

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　for　800　years　（BC　1050…221）。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Lu　Wang　was　a　master　strategist；　founding　minister　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　counselor　to　King　Wen。　Before　joining　King　Wen；　Lu　Wang　had　been　a　fisher；　who　mediated　on　the　river　bank　on　political　events。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Wei　was　a　state　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Wei　came　into　existence　after　the　partition　of　Jin。　Succeeded　Jin　in　dominating　the　empire　for　some　time。　。。。。。
Sun　Quan　said；　〃Provision　against　eventualities；　such　as　he　proposes；　is　good。　Against　a　distant　risk　provide；　and　sorrow　walks　not　by　your　side。〃
So　they　sent　soldiers　to　build　ramparts　at　River　Ruxu；　and　as　the　work　ceased　not　day　or　night　the　wall　was　soon　pleted。
In　the　capital　Cao　Cao's　influence　and　glory　waxed　daily　greater。　High　Counselor　Dong　Zhao　proposed　that　the　title　of　duke　should　be　conferred　upon　him。
Dong　Zhao　said；　〃In　all　history；　no　one　has　rendered　such　services　as　you　have；　O　Prime　Minister；　not　even　Duke　of　Zhou*　or　Lu　Wang*。　These　thirty　years　you　have　exposed　yourself　to　all　risks；　been　bed　by　the　wind　and　bathed　by　the　rain；　and　you　have　swept　evil　from　the　empire；　succored　the　distressed；　and　restored　the　Hans。　Who　of　all　statesmen　can　rank　with　you？　It　would　be　fitting　for　you　to　bee　the　Duke　of　Wei*　and　receive　the　Nine　Dignities；　that　your　merit　and　virtue　be　known　to　all。〃
Now　the　Nine　Dignities；　or　signs　of　honor；　were：

1。　Chariots：　Gilded　chariots　drawn　by　eight　horses
2。　Court　dresses：　Dragon…embroidered　robes；　headdresses；　and　shoes
3。　Music　at　banquets：　By　royal　bands
4。　Red　doors：　Symbols　of　wealth
5。　Inner　staircase：　Protection　for　every　step
6。　Imperial　Tiger　Guard：　Three　hundred　at　the　gates
7。　Imperial　axes：　manding　and　ceremonial　symbols
8。　Bow　and　arrows：　Red…lacquered　bow　with　a　hundred　arrows
9。　Libation　vessels：　Jade　tablets　and　libation　cups

However；　all　the　courtiers　were　not　of　one　mind。
Said　High　Adviser　Xun　Yu；　〃This　should　not　be　done；　O　Prime　Minister。　You　raised　a　force　by　an　appeal　to　the　innate　sense　of　righteousness　of　the　people；　and　with　that　force　you　restored　the　Han　authority。　Now　you　should　remain　loyal　and　humble。　The　virtuous　person　loves　people　with　a　virtuous　love　and　would　not　act　in　this　way。〃
Cao　Cao　did　not　take　this　opposition　kindly。
Dong　Zhao　said；　〃How　can　we　disappoint　the　hopes　of　many　because　of　the　words　of　one？〃
So　a　memorial　went　to　the　Throne；　and　Cao　Cao's　ambitions　and　desires　were　gratified　with　the　title　of　Duke　of　Wei。　The　Nine　Dignities　were　added。
〃I　did　not　think　to　see　this　day！〃　said　Xun　Yu；　sighing。
This　remark　was　repeated　to　the　newly　created　Duke　and　angered　him。　He　took　it　to　mean　that　Xun　Yu　would　no　longer　aid　him　or　favor　his　designs。

＇e＇　In　previous　campaigns；　Cao　Cao　always　left　Xun　Yu　at　the　capital　and　appointed　Xun　Yu　Court　Administrator；　who　managed　Cao　Cao's　affair　in　his　absence。
In　the　winter　of　the　seventeenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　212）；　Cao　Cao　decided　to　send　an　army　to　conquer　the　South　Land；　and　he　ordered　Xun　Yu　to　go　with　it*。　Xun　Yu　understood　from　this　that　Cao　Cao　wished　his　death；　so　he　declined　the　appointment　on　the　plea　of　illness。　While　Xun　Yu　was　at　home；　he　received　one　day　a　box　such　as　one　sent　with　presents　of　dainties。　It　was　addressed　in　Cao　Cao's　own　handwriting。　Opening　it；　Xun　Yu　found　therein　nothing。　He　understood；　so　he　took　poison　and　died。　He　was　fifty…two　years　of　age。

Xun　Yu's　talents　were　to　all　people　known；
That　was　sad　that　at　the　door　of　power　he　tripped。
Posterity　is　wrong　to　class　him　with　the　noble　Zhang　Liang；
For；　nearing　death；　he　dared　not　face　his　lord　of　Han。

News　of　Xun　Yu's　death　came　to　Cao　Cao　in　the　form　of　the　ordinary　letter　of　mourning　by　his　son；　Xun　Yun。　Then　Cao　Cao　was　sorry　and　gave　orders　for　an　imposing　funeral。　He　also　obtained　for　the　dead　man　the　posthumous　title　of　lordship。
The　northern　army　reached　River　Ruxu；　whence　Cao　Cao　sent　a　reconnaissance　of　thirty　thousand　troops　led　by　Cao　Hong　down　to　the　river。
Soon　Cao　Hong　reported：　〃The　enemy's　fleet　blankets　the　river；　but　no　sign　of　movements。〃
Feeling　suspicious；　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　to　the　river　to　watch　the　enemy　and　deploy　his　troops。　On　the　river　he　saw　displayed　a　fleet　of　ships　all　arranged　in　admirable　order；　the　divisions　being　marked　by　distinctive　flags。　The　equipment　glittered　in　the　sunlight。　In　the　center　was　a　large　ship　whereon　was　a　huge　umbrella；　and　beneath　the　shade　sat　Sun　Quan　in　the　midst　of　his　staff。
〃That　is　the　sort　of　son　to　have；〃　said　Cao　Cao　in　admiration；　〃not　such　piglets　and　puppies　as　Liu　Biao's。〃
Suddenly；　at　the　explosion　of　a　bomb；　the　ships　got　under　way　and　came　flying　toward　him；　while　a　force　moved　out　of　River　Ruxu。　Cao　Cao's　soldiers　at　once　retired　in　great　haste。　A　pany　led　by　the　green…eyed；　purple…bearded　Sun　Quan　made　straight　for　Cao　Cao；　who　hastily　retreated。　But　Cao　Cao　was　sore　pressed　by　other　Sun　Quan's　manders；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai；　and　it　had　gone　hard　with　him　but　that　Xu　Chu　came　to　his　rescue　and　fought　with　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　till　his　master　could　escape。　Xu　Chu　fought　some　score　bouts　before　he　could　draw　off　and　return　to　his　own　aide。
When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　camp；　he　conferred　rich　rewards　upon　his　henchman　who　had　saved　him；　and　he　reprimanded　his　other　leaders　for　their　too　hasty　retirement。
〃You　blunt　the　keen　spirits　of　the　army。　And　if　you　do　such　a　thing　again；　I　will　put　you　to　death；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
About　midnight　that　night　there　arose　great　motion　at　the　gates　of　the　camp。　When　Cao　Cao　went　outside；　he　found　that　the　enemy　had　crept　up　secretly　and　started　a　conflagration。　The　soldiers　of　the　South　Land　forced　their　way　into　the　stockade　and　went　hither　and　thither；　slaying　till　morning　broke。　Then　Cao　Cao　and　his　army　retired。
Cao　Cao　was　greatly　distressed　by　this　misfortune。　He　was　sitting　in　his　tent　poring　over　the　Book　of　War　when　Cheng　Yu　came　in　to　see　him。
〃O　Prime　Minister；〃　said　Cheng　Yu；　〃you　who　know　so　thoroughly　the　art　of　war；　have　you　forgotten　the　maxim　to　strike　quickly？　You　had　your　army　ready；　but　you　postponed　action　and　allowed　your　enemies　to　build　the　ramparts　at　River　Ruxu。　Now　you　will　find　it　hard　to　capture　the　place。　It　would　be　better　now　to　retreat　on　the　capital　and　await　a　more　propitious　moment。〃
Cao　Cao　listened；　but　said　nothing。　After　a　time　Cheng　Yu　went　away。　Cao　Cao　remained　seated　in　his　tent；　leaning　on　a　small　table　by　his　side。　And　he　fell　asleep。　Suddenly　he　heard　a　sound　as　of　a　rushing　stream　or　galloping　squadrons　of　horse；　and　out　of　the　river　in　front　of　him　arose　a　huge　red　sun；　so　bright　that　his　eyes　were　dazzled　by　it。　Looking　up　at　the　sky；　he　saw　two　other　suns　as　if　reflections　of　this　one。　And　as　he　wondered；　the　first　sun　suddenly　flew　up　and　then　dropped　among　the　hills　in　front　of　his　camp　with　a　roar　like　thunder。
This　woke　him。　He　was　in　his　tent　and　had　been　dreaming；　and　the　sentry　at　his　tent　door　was　just　reporting　noon。
Soon　he　had　his　horse　saddled　and　rode　out；　with　a　small　escort　of　fifty　riders；　toward　the　spot　he　had　seen　in　his　dream。　As　he　stood　gazing　around　him；　an　army　of　horse　came　along　with　Sun　Quan　at　their　head。　Sun　Quan　wore　a　glittering　helmet　and　was　clad　in　silver　armor。
Seeing　his　chief　enemy；　Sun　Quan　showed　no　sign　of　haste　or　dismay；　but　reined　in　his　steed　on　a　rise。
Pointing　with　his　whip　at　Cao　Cao；　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Behold　the　all…powerful　minister　who　holds　the　Middle　Land　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand！　He　has　reached　the　acme　of　wealth　and　good　fortune　and　yet　he　is　not　content；　but　must　e　to　encroach　upon　our　South　Land。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃You　are　disobedient；　and　the　mand　of　the　Emperor　is　to　exterminate　you！〃
〃What　words！〃　cried　Sun　Quan　with　a　laugh。　〃Are　you　not　ashamed？　Everyone　knows　that　you　control　every　act　of　the　Emperor　and　you　tyrannize　over　the　nobles。　I　am　no　rebel　against　the　dynasty；　but　I　do　desire　to　capture　you　and　reform　the　government。〃
Cao　Cao　grew　angry　at　this　speech　and　bade　his　generals　go　over　and　take　Sun　Quan　prisoner。　But　before　they　could　obey；　Han　Dang　and　Zhou　Tai；　Chen　Wu　and　Pan　Zhang　led　out　two　armies　of　soldiers　from　left　and　right　at　the　sound　of　beating　drums；　and　arrows　and　crossbow　bolts　began　to　fall　like　raindrops　around　Cao　Cao。