第56部分(第3/7 頁)

that　he　would　repent。　But　he　has　the　heart　of　a　wolf；　the　nature　of　a　wild　beast。　He　nourishes　evil　in　his　bosom　and　desires　to　pull　down　the　pillars　of　the　state；　to　weaken　the　House　of　Han；　to　destroy　the　loyal　and　true；　and　to　stand　himself　conspicuous　as　the　chiefest　of　criminals。

〃Formerly；　when　I　attacked　the　north；　Gongsun　Zan；　that　obstinate　bandit　and　perverse　brave；　resisted　my　might　for　a　year。　Before　Gongsun　Zan　could　be　destroyed；　this　Cao　Cao　wrote　to　him　that；　under　the　pretense　of　assisting　my　loyal　armies；　he　would　covertly　lead　them　to　destruction。　The　plot　was　discovered　through　his　messengers；　and　Gongsun　Zan　also　perished。　This　blunted　Cao　Cao's　ardor；　and　his　plans　failed。

〃Now　he　is　camped　at　the　Ao　Granaries；　with　the　Yellow　River　to　strengthen　his　position。　Like　the　mantis　in　the　story；　who　threatened　the　chariot　with　its　forelegs；　he　thinks　himself　terrible。　But　with　the　dignity　and　prestige　of　Han　to　support　me；　I　confront　the　whole　world。　I　have　spearmen　by　millions；　horsemen　by　hundreds　of　thousands；　fierce　and　vigorous　warriors　strong　as　Chong　Huang　and　Wu　Huo；　those　heroes　of　antiquity。　I　have　enlisted　expert　archers　and　strong　bowmen。　In　Bingzhou　my　armies　have　crossed　the　Taihang　Range；　and　in　Qingzhou　they　have　forded　River　Ji　and　River　Ta。　They　have　coasted　down　the　Yellow　River　to　attack　his　van；　and　from　Jingzhou　the　armies　of　Liu　Biao　have　descended　to　Wancheng　and　Wangye　to　smite　his　rearguard。　Thunder…like　in　the　weight　of　their　march；　tiger…like　in　the　alertness　of　their　advance；　they　are　as　flames　let　loose　among　light　grass；　as　the　blue　ocean　poured　on　glowing　embers。　Is　there　any　hope　that　he　escape　destruction？

〃Of　the　hordes　of　Cao　Cao；　those　who　can　fight　are　from　the　north　or　from　other　camps；　and　they