第75部分(第2/7 頁)

ve　old　liking　for　each　other；　and　he　has　bribed　you　to　do　his　dirty　work　for　him　and　help　his　base　schemes。　Now　you　want　to　betray　my　army。　I　ought　to　take　off　your　head；　but　temporarily　I　will　let　your　neck　carry　it　away。　Get　out　and　never　let　me　see　you　again。〃

The　discredited　adviser　sighed　and　went　out；　saying；　〃Faithful　words　offend　his　ear。　He　is　a　pest　and　unworthy　of　advice　from　me。　And　now　that　Shen　Pei　has　injured　my　son　and　nephew；　how　can　I　look　my　fellow　folks　in　the　face　again？〃

And　Xu　You　drew　his　sword　to　end　his　life。　But　his　people　prevented　that。

They　said；　〃If　Yuan　Shao　rejects　your　honest　words；　then　assuredly　he　will　be　taken　by　Cao　Cao。　You　are　an　old　friend　of　Cao　Cao's：　Why　not　abandon　the　shade　for　the　sunlight？〃

Just　these　few　words　awakened　Xu　You　to　consciousness　of　his　position；　and　he　decided　to　leave　Yuan　Shao　and　go　over　to　Cao　Cao　for　he　was　an　old　friend。

Vainly　now　for　chances　lost

Yuan　Shao　sighs；　once　he　was　great。

Had　he　taken　Xu　You's　advice；

Cao　Cao　had　not　set　up　a　state。

Xu　You　stealthily　left　the　camp　and　set　out　for　Cao　Cao's　lines。　He　was　captured　on　the　way。　He　told　his　captors：　〃I　am　an　old　friend　of　the　Prime　Minister。　Go　and　tell　the　Prime　Minister　that　Xu　You　of　Nanyang　wishes　to　see　him。〃

They　did　so。　Cao　Cao　was　resting　in　his　tent；　his　clothing　loose　and　fortable　after　the　toils　of　the　day。　When　he　heard　who　wished　to　see　him；　he　arose　quite　joyfully　and　hastily　ran　out；　on　bare　feet；　to　receive　Xu　You。　Cao　Cao　went　forth　to　greet　him。　They　saw　each　other　in　the　distance；　and　Cao　Cao　clapped　his　hands　with　gladness；　bowing　to　the　ground　when　near　enough　to　his　visitor。

Xu　You　hastened　to　help　him　rise；　saying；　〃Sir；　you；　a　great　minister；　sh