快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

〃If　I　live；　I　shall　owe　you　my　life；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
So　he　mounted。　Cao　Hong　tore　off　his　own　breastplate；　gripped　his　sword；　and　went　on　foot　after　the　horse。　Thus　they　proceeded　till　the　fourth　watch　when　they　saw　before　them　a　broad　stream；　and　behind　they　still　heard　the　shouts　of　pursuers　drawing　nearer　and　nearer。
〃This　is　my　fate；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃I　am　really　doomed！〃
Cao　Hong　helped　Cao　Cao　down　from　his　horse。　Then　taking　off　his　fighting　robe　and　helmet；　Cao　Hong　took　the　wounded　man　on　his　back　and　waded　into　the　stream。　When　they　reached　the　further　side；　the　pursuers　had　already　gained　the　bank　whence　they　shot　arrows。
Cao　Cao　all　wet　pushed　on。　Dawn　was　near。　They　went　on　another　ten　miles　and　then　sat　down　to　rest　under　a　precipice。　Suddenly　loud　shouting　was　heard　and　a　party　of　horse　appeared。　It　was　Governor　Xu　Rong　who　had　forded　the　river　higher　up。　Just　at　this　moment　Xiahou　Dun　and　Xiahou　Yuan；　with　several　dozens　men；　came　along。
〃Hurt　not　my　lord！〃　cried　Xiahou　Dun　to　Xu　Rong；　who　at　once　rushed　at　him。
But　the　bat　was　short。　Xu　Rong　speedily　fell　under　a　spear　thrust　of　Xiahou　Dun；　and　his　troops　were　driven　off。　Before　long　Cao　Cao's　other　generals　arrived。　Sadness　and　joy　mingled　in　the　greetings。　They　gathered　together　the　few　hundreds　of　soldiers　left　and　then　returned　to　Luoyang。
When　the　confederate　lords　entered　Luoyang；　Sun　Jian；　after　extinguishing　the　fires；　camped　within　the　walls；　his　own　tent　being　set　up　near　the　Dynastic　Temple。　His　people　cleared　away　the　debris　and　closed　the　rifted　tombs。　The　gates　were　barred。　On　the　site　of　the　Dynastic　Temple　he　put　up　a　mat　shed　containing　three　apartments；　and　here　he　begged　the　lords　to　meet　and　replace　the　sacred　tablets；　with　solemn　sacrifices　and　prayers。
This　ceremony　over；　the　others　left　and　Sun　Jian　returned　to　his　camp。　That　night　the　stars　and　moon　vied　with　each　other　in　brightness。　As　Sun　Jian　sat　in　the　open　air　looking　up　at　the　heavens；　he　noticed　a　mist　spreading　over　the　stars　of　the　Constellation　Draco。
〃The　Emperor's　star　is　dulled；〃　said　Sun　Jian　with　a　sigh。　〃No　wonder　a　rebellious　minister　disturbs　the　state；　the　people　sit　in　dust　and　ashes；　and　the　capital　is　a　waste。〃
And　his　tears　began　to　fall。
Then　a　soldier　pointing　to　the　south　said；　〃There　is　a　beam　of　colored　light　rising　from　a　well！〃
Sun　Jian　bade　his　people　light　torches　and　descend　into　the　well。　Soon　they　brought　up　the　corpse　of　a　woman；　not　in　the　least　decayed　although　it　had　been　there　many　days。　She　was　dressed　in　Palace　clothing　and　from　her　neck　hung　an　embroidered　bag。　Opening　this　a　red　box　was　found；　with　a　golden　lock；　and　when　the　box　was　opened；　they　saw　a　jade　seal；　square　in　shape；　four　inches　each　way。　On　it　were　delicately　engraved　five　dragons　intertwined。　One　corner　had　been　broken　off　and　repaired　with　gold。　There　were　eight　characters　in　the　seal　style　of　engraving　which　interpreted　read：
I　have　received　the　mand　from　Heaven：　May　my　time　be　always　long　and　prosperous。
Sun　Jian　showed　this　to　his　adviser；　General　Cheng　Pu；　who　at　once　recognized　it　as　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　of　the　Emperor。

＇e＇　Bian　He　of　the　state　of　Chu　（circa　BC　800）　found　a　jadestone　in　Jing　Mountains　and　presented　it　to　two　Chu　kings；　but　he　was　sentenced　to　amputation　of　both　feet　because　the　stone　was　thought　as　fake。　When　a　new　king　took　the　throne；　Bian　He　tried　once　more；　and　this　time　the　stone　was　recognized　as　the　purest　kind　of　jade。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Li　Si　（BC　280…208）　was　the　statesman　who　was　responsible　for　most　of　the　radical　political　and　cutural　innovations　made　in　Qin　after　BC　221。　。。。。。
Cheng　Pu　said；　〃This　seal　has　a　history。　In　olden　days　Bian　He*　saw　a　phoenix　sitting　on　a　certain　stone　at　the　foot　of　the　Jing　Mountains。　He　offered　the　stone　at　court。　The　King　of　Chu　split　open　the　stone　and　found　a　piece　of　jade。　In　the　twenty…sixth　year　of　Qin　Dynasty　（BC　221）；　a　jade　cutter　made　a　seal　from　it；　and　Li　Si*；　the　First　Emperor's　Prime　Minister；　engraved　the　characters。　Two　years　later；　while　the　First　Emperor　was　sailing　in　Dongting　Lake；　a　terrific　storm　arrived。　The　Emperor　threw　the　seal　to　the　water　as　a　propitiatory　offering；　and　the　storm　immediately　ceased。　Ten　years　later　again；　when　the　First　Emperor　was　making　a　progress　and　had　reached　Huaying；　an　old　man　by　the　road　side　handed　a　seal　to　one　of　the　attendants　saying；　'This　is　now　restored　to　the　ancestral　dragon！'　and　had　then　disappeared。　Thus　the　jewel　returned　to　Qin。
〃The　next　year　the　First　Emperor　died。　Later　Zi　Ying；　the　last　Emperor　of　Qin　and　grandson　of　the　First　Emperor；　presented　the　seal　to　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　the　founder　of　Han　Dynasty。　Two　hundred　years　later；　in　Wang　Mang's　rebellion；　the　Emperor's　mother；　Lady　Yuan；　struck　two　of　the　rebels；　Wang　Xun　and　Su　Xian；　with　the　seal　and　broke　off　a　corner；　which　was　repaired　with　gold。　Liu　Xiu　the　Latter　Han　Founder　got　possession　of　it　at　Yiyang；　and　it　has　been　regularly　bequeathed　hereafter。

＇e＇　The　Yangtze　or　Yangzi　river；　which　flows　from　west　to　east　to　the　Pacific　at　Shanghai。
〃I　heard　this　treasured　seal　had　been　lost　during　the　trouble　in　the　Palace　when　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants　hurried　off　the　Emperor。　It　was　missed　on　His　Majesty's　return。　Now　my　lord　has　it　and　certainly　will　e　to　the　imperial　dignity。　But　you　must　not　remain　here　in　the　north。　Quickly　go　home　to　Changsha；　south　of　the　Great　River*；　where　you　can　lay　plans　for　the　acplishment　of　the　great　design。〃
〃Your　words　exactly　accord　with　my　thoughts；〃　said　Sun　Jian。　〃Tomorrow　I　will　make　an　excuse　that　I　am　unwell　and　get　away。〃
The　soldiers　were　told　to　keep　the　discovery　a　secret。　But　one　among　them　was　a　patriot　of　the　elected　chief　of　the　confederacy………Yuan　Shao。　He　thought　this　might　be　of　great　advantage　to　him；　so　he　stole　away　out　of　the　camp　and　betrayed　his　master。　He　went　to　Yuan　Shao's　camp；　informed　the　secret；　and　received　a　liberal　reward。　Yuan　Shao　kept　the　informant　in　his　own　camp。
Next　morning　Sun　Jian　came　to　take　leave；　saying；　〃I　am　rather　unwell　and　wish　to　return　to　Changsha。〃
Yuan　Shao　laughed；　saying；　〃I　know　what　you　are　suffering　from：　It　is　called　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal！〃
This　was　a　shock　to　Sun　Jian；　and　he　paled　but　said；　〃Whence　these　words？〃
Yuan　Shao　said；　〃The　armies　were　raised　for　the　good　of　the　state　and　to　relieve　it　from　oppression。　The　seal　is　state　property；　and　since　you　have　got　hold　of　it；　you　should　publicly　hand　it　over　to　me　as　chief。　When　Dong　Zhuo　has　been　slain；　it　must　go　back　to　the　government。　What　do　you　mean　by　concealing　it　and　going　away？〃
〃How　could　the　seal　get　into　my　hands？〃　said　Sun　Jian。
〃Where　is　the　article　out　of　the　well　near　the　Hall　of　Paragons？〃
〃I　have　it　not：　Why　harass　me　thus？〃
〃Quickly　produce　it；　or　it　will　be　the　worst　for　you！〃
Sun　Jian　pointing　toward　the　heavens　as　an　oath　said；　〃If　I　have　this　jewel　and　am　hiding　it　myself；　may　my　end　be　unhappy　and　my　death　violent！〃
The　lords　all　said；　〃After　an　oath　like　this；　we　think　he　cannot　have　it。〃
Then　Yuan　Shao　called　out　his　informant。
〃When　you　pulled　that　thing　out　of　the　well；　was　this　man　there？〃　asked　he　of　Sun　Jian。
Sun　Jian's　anger　burst　forth；　and　he　sprang　forward　to　kill　the　man。
Yuan　Shao　also　drew　his　sword；　saying；　〃You　touch　that　soldier　and　it　is　an　insult　to　me！〃
Behind　Sun　Jian；　Generals　Cheng　Pu；　Huang　Gai；　and　Han　Dang　stepped　forth；　behind　Yuan　Shao；　Generals　Yan　Liang　and　Wen　Chou　were　ready　to　act。　In　a　moment　on　all　sides　swords　flew　from　their　scabbards。　But　the　confusion　was　stayed　by　the　efforts　of　the　others；　and　Sun　Jian　left　the　assembly。　Soon　he　broke　up　his　camp　and　marched　to　his　own　place。
Yuan　Shao　was　not　satisfied。　He　wrote　to　Jingzhou　Region　and　sent　the　letter　by　a　trusty　hand　to　tell　Imperial　Protector　Liu　Biao　to　stop　Sun　Jian　and　take　away　the　seal。
Just　after　this　came　the　news　of　the　defeat　and　misfortune　of　Cao　Cao；　and　when　he　was　ing　home；　Yuan　Shao　sent　out　to　wele　him　and　conduct　him　into　camp。　They　also　prepared　a　feast　to　console　him。
During　the　feast　Cao　Cao　said　sadly；　〃My　object　was　for　the　public　good；　and　all　you　gentlemen　nobly　supported　me。　My　plan　was　to　get　Yuan　Shao　with　his　Henei　troops　to　approach　Mengching；　and　my　force　at　Qiao　to　keep　Chenggao；　while　the　others　of　you　to　hold　Suanzao；　to　close　the　passes　of　Huanyuan　and　Daigu；　and　to　take　possession　of　the　granaries；　to　control　the　points　of　vantage；　and　thus　to　secure　the　Capital　District。　I　planned　for　Yuan　Shu　with　his　Nanyang　army　to　occupy　the　counties　of　Danshi　and　Xilin　and　go　into　Wu　Pass　to　help　the　three　supports。　All　were　to　fortify　their　positions　and　not　to　fight。　Advantage　lay　in　a　diverse　military　coalition　that　could　show　the　empire　a　possibility　of　dealing　with　the　rebellion。　We　could　have　convinced　the　people　to　side　with　us　against　Dong　Zhuo。　Victory　would　have　been　ours　at　once。　But　then　came　delays　and　doubts　and　inaction；　and　the　confidence　of　the　people　was　lost；　and　I　am　ashamed。〃

＇e＇　Liu　Dai　was　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou　at　that　time。
No　reply　was　possible　and　the　guests　dispersed。　Cao　Cao　saw　that　the　others　mistrusted　him；　and　in　his　heart　knew　that　nothing　could　be　acplished。　So　he　led　off　his　force　to　Yanzhou　Region*。
Then　Gongsun　Zan　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃This　Yuan　Shao　is　an　incapable；　and　things　will　turns　chaotic。　We　had　better　go　too。〃
So　he　broke　camp　and　went　north。　At　Pingyuan　he　left　Liu　Bei　in　mand　and　went　to　strengthen　his　own　position　and　refresh　his　troops。
The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　Liu　Dai；　wished　to　borrow　grain　of　the　Governor　of　Dongjun；　Qiao　Mao。　Being　denied；　Liu　Dai　attacked　the　camp；　killed　Qiao　Mao　and　took　over　all　his　army。　Yuan　Shao　seeing　the　confederacy　breaking　up　also　marched　away　and　went　east。
On　the　way　home；　Sun　Jian　was　passing　through　Jingzhou　Region。　The　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou；　Liu　Biao；　was　a　scion　of　the　imperial　house　and　a　native　of　Shanyang。　As　a　young　man　he　had　made　friends　with　many　famous　people；　and　he　and　his　panions　were　called　the　Eight　Wise　Ones。　The　other　seven　were：

。1。　Chen　Xiang　from　Runan
。2。　Fan　Pang　from　Runan
。3。　Kong　Yu　from　Luting
。4。　Fan　Kang　from　Bohai
。5。　Tan　Fu　from　Shanyang
。6。　Zhang　Jian　from　Shanyang
。7。　Cen　Zhi　from　Nanyang

Liu　Biao　was　friends　with　all　these。　He　had　three　famous　persons　who　helped　him　in　the　government　of　his　region。　They　were　Kuai　Liang　and　Kuai　Yue　from　Yanping；　and　Cai　Mao　from　Xiangyang。
When　Yuan　Shao's　letter　detailing　the　fault　of　Sun　Jian　arrived；　Liu　Biao　ordered　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　with　ten　thousand　soldiers　to　bar　the　way。　When　Sun　Jian　drew　near；　the　force　was　arranged　in　fighting　order　and　the　leaders　were　in　the　front。
〃Why　are　you　thus　barring　the　road　with　armed　troops？〃　asked　Sun　Jian。
〃Why　do　you；　a　servant　of　Han；　secrete　the　Emperor's　special　seal？　Leave　it　with　me　at　once　and　you　go　free；〃　said　Kuai　Yue。
Sun　Jian　angrily　ordered　out　General　Huang　Gai。　On　the　other　side　Cai　Mao　rode　forth　with　his　sword　set　to　strike。　But　after　a　few　bouts　Huang　Gai　dealt　Cai　Mao　a　blow　with　the　iron　whip　on　the　armor　just　over　the　heart。　Cai　Mao　turned　his　steed　and　fled；　and　Sun　Jian　got　through　with　a　sudden　rush。
However；　there　arose　the　sound　of　gongs　and　drums　on　the　hills　behind；　and　there　was　Liu　Biao　in　person　with　a　large　army。
Sun　Jian　rode　straight　up　to　him　and　bowing　low　spoke；　〃Why　did　you；　on　the　faith　of　a　letter　from　Yuan　Shao；　try　to　coerce　the　chief　of　a　neighboring　region？〃
〃You　have　concealed　the　state　jewel；　and　I　want　you　to　restore　it；〃　was　Liu　Biao's　reply。
〃If　I　have　this　thing；　may　I　die　a　violent　death！〃
〃If　you　want　me　to　believe　you；　let　me　search　your　baggage。〃
〃What　force　have　you　that　you　dare　e　to　flout　me　thus？〃
And　only　Liu　Biao's　prompt　retirement　prevented　a　battle。　Sun　Jian　proceeded　on　his　way。　But　from　the　rear　of　the　second　hill　an　ambush　suddenly　discovered　itself；　and　Kuai　Yue　and　Cai　Mao　were　still　pursuing。　Sun　Jian　seemed　entirely　hemmed　in。

What　does　a　man　to　hold　the　state　jewel　for；
If　its　possession　lead　to　strife？

How　Sun　Jian　got　clear　of　the　difficulty　will　presently　be　told。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　7　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　7
　Chapter　7
Yuan　Shao　Fights　Gongsun　Zan　At　The　River　Pan；
Sun　Jian　Attacks　Liu　Biao　Ac