第35部分(第1/7 頁)

〃

〃But　you　know　the　prudent　bird　selects　its　tree；　and　the　wise　servant　chooses　his　master。　When　one　meets　a　worthy　master　and　lets　him　go；　one　is　very　reckless。〃

〃I　am　willing　to　do　what　you　say；〃　said　Xu　Huang；　rising。

〃Why　not　put　these　two　to　death　as　an　introductory　gift？〃　said　Man　Chong。

〃It　is　very　wrong　for　a　servant　to　slay　his　master。　I　will　not　do　that。〃

〃True；　you　are　really　a　good　man。〃

Then　Xu　Huang；　taking　only　a　few　horsemen　of　his　own　men　with　him；　left　that　night　and　deserted　to　Cao　Cao。　Soon　someone　took　the　news　to　Yang　Feng；　who　at　the　head　of　a　thousand　strong　horsemen；　set　out　to　capture　the　deserter。

As　they　drew　close；　Yang　Feng　called　out；　〃Betrayer！　Stop　there！〃

But　Yang　Feng　fell　into　an　ambush。　Suddenly　the　whole　mountain　side　was　lit　up　with　torches　and　out　sprang　Cao　Cao's　troops；　he　himself　being　in　mand。

〃I　have　been　waiting　here　a　long　time。　Do　not　run　away！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。

Yang　Feng　was　pletely　surprised　and　tried　to　draw　off；　but　was　quickly　surrounded。　Then　Han　Xian　came　to　his　rescue；　and　a　confused　battle　began。　Yang　Feng　succeeded　in　escaping；　while　Cao　Cao　kept　up　the　attack　on　the　two　disordered　armies。　A　great　number　of　the　rebels　gave　in；　and　the　leaders　found　they　had　too　few　men　left　to　maintain　their　independence；　so　they　betook　themselves　to　Yuan　Shu。

When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　camp；　the　newly　surrendered　general　was　presented　and　well　received。　Then　again　the　cavalcade　set　out　for　the　new　capital。　In　due　time　they　reached　Xuchang；　and　they　built　palaces　and　halls；　an　ancestral　temple　and　an　altar；　terraces　and　public　offices。　The　walls　were　repaired；　storehouses　built　and　all　put　in　order。

Then　came　the　rewards　for　Cao　Cao's　adherents　an