第82部分(第6/7 頁)

ao。　When　both　sides　were　arrayed；　Cao　Cao　rode　to　the　front。

Pointing　with　his　whip　at　his　opponent；　Cao　Cao　railed　at　him；　saying；　〃I　treated　you　well。　Why　then　have　you　turned　against　me？〃

Yuan　Tan　replied；　〃You　have　invaded　my　land；　captured　my　cities；　and　broken　off　my　marriage。　Yet　you　accuse　me　of　turning　against　you！〃

Cao　Cao　ordered　Xu　Huang　to　go　out　and　give　battle。　Yuan　Tan　bade　Peng　An　accept　the　challenge。　After　a　few　bouts　Peng　An　was　slain；　and　Yuan　Tan；　having　lost；　fled　and　went　into　Nanpi；　where　he　was　besieged。　Yuan　Tan；　panic…stricken；　sent　Xin　Ping　to　see　Cao　Cao　and　arrange　surrender。

〃He　is　nothing　but　a　tickle…minded　child；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃He　is　never　of　the　same　mind　two　days　running；　and　I　cannot　depend　upon　what　he　says。　Now　your　brother　Xin　Pi　is　in　my　employ　and　has　a　post　of　importance；　you　had　better　remain　here　also。〃

〃Sir　Prime　Minister；　you　are　in　error；〃　said　Xin　Ping。　〃It　is　said　that　the　lord's　honor　is　the　servant's　glory；　the　lord's　sadness　is　the　servant's　shame。　How　can　I　turn　my　back　on　the　family　I　have　so　long　served？〃

Cao　Cao　felt　he　could　not　be　persuaded　and　sent　him　back。　Xin　Ping　returned　and　told　Yuan　Tan　the　surrender　could　not　be　arranged。

Yuan　Tan　turned　on　him　angrily；　saying；　〃Your　brother　is　with　Cao　Cao；　and　you　want　to　betray　me　also！〃

At　this　unmerited　reproach　such　a　huge　wave　of　anger　welled　up　in　Xin　Ping's　breast　that　he　was　overe　and　fell　in　a　swoon。　They　carried　him　out；　but　the　shock　had　been　too　severe；　and　soon　after　he　died。　Yuan　Tan　regretted　his　conduct　when　it　was　too　late。

Then　Guo　Tu　said；　〃Tomorrow　when　we　go　out　to　battle；　we　will　drive　the　people　out　in　front　as　a　screen　for　the　soldiers；　and　we　must　fight　a　winning　battle。〃