第57部分(第7/7 頁)

the　hearts　of　your　people。〃

Wherefore　the　death　sentence　was　not　executed；　but　they　were　deprived　of　rank　and　status。

Cao　Cao　next　proposed　to　lead　an　army　himself　to　attack　Liu　Bei；　but　Kong　Rong　advised；　〃The　weather　is　too　inclement。　We　must　wait　the　return　of　spring。　In　the　interval；　we　better　use　the　time　to　arrange　peace　with　Zhang　Xiu　and　Liu　Biao；　before　launching　an　expedition　against　Xuzhou。〃

Wherefore　Liu　Ye　was　sent　to　Zhang　Xiu　and　in　due　time　reached　Xiangyang。　He　first　had　an　interview　with　Jia　Xu；　Zhang　Xiu's　adviser；　whereat　he　dwelt　upon　Cao　Cao's　virtues　so　that　Jia　Xu　was　impressed。　Jia　Xu　kept　Liu　Ye　as　a　guest　and　undertook　to　smooth　his　way。

Soon　after　Liu　Ye　saw　Zhang　Xiu　and　spoke　of　the　advantages　of　ing　to　terms　with　Cao　Cao。　While　the　discussion　was　in　progress；　a　messenger　from　Yuan　Shao　was　announced；　and　he　was　called　in。　He　presented　letters　and；　when　they　also　proposed　terms　of　peace；　Jia　Xu　asked　what　their　success　had　been　lately　against　Cao　Cao。

〃The　war　had　ceased　for