第100部分(第5/7 頁)

of　the　Lord　Who　Brings　Obedience。

When　they　went　to　thank　Cao　Cao　for　these　honors；　he　told　them；　saying；　〃I　am　about　to　propose　to　the　Throne　that　Liu　Biao's　son　should　be　perpetual　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou　in　succession　to　his　late　father。〃

With　this　promise　for　their　young　master　and　the　honors　for　themselves；　they　retired。

Then　Xun　You　asked　Cao　Cao；　〃Why　these　two　evident　self…seekers　and　flatterers　have　been　treated　so　generously？〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃Do　I　not　know　all　about　them？　Only　in　the　north；　where　we　have　been；　we　know　very　little　of　war　by　water；　and　these　two　men　do。　I　want　their　help　for　the　present。　When　my　end　is　achieved；　I　can　do　as　I　like　with　them。〃

Liu　Zong　was　highly　delighted　when　his　two　chief　supporters　returned　with　the　promise　Cao　Cao　had　given　them。　Soon　after　he　gave　up　his　seal　and　military　mission　and　proceeded　to　wele　Cao　Cao；　who　received　him　very　graciously。

Cao　Cao　next　proceeded　to　camp　near　Xiangyang。　The　populace；　led　by　Cai　Mao　and　Zhang　Yun；　weled　him　with　burning　incense；　and　he　on　his　part　put　forth　proclamations　couched　in　forting　terms。

Cao　Cao　presently　entered　the　city　and　took　his　seat　in　the　residence　in　state。　Then　he　summoned　Kuai　Yue　and　said　to　him　graciously；　〃I　do　not　rejoice　so　much　at　gaining　Jingzhou　as　at　meeting　you；　friend　Kuai　Yue。〃

Cao　Cao　made　Kuai　Yue　Governor　of　Jiangling　and　Lord　of　Fancheng；　Wang　Can；　Fu　Xuan；　and　Kuai　Yue's　other　adherents　were　all　ennobled。　Liu　Zong　became　Imperial　Protector　of　Qingzhou　in　the　north　and　was　ordered　to　proceed　to　his　region　forthwith。

Liu　Zong　was　greatly　frightened　and　said；　〃I　have　no　wish　to　bee　an　actual　official。　I　wish　to　remain　in　the　place　where　my　father　and　mother　live。〃

Said　Cao　Cao；