第49部分(第6/7 頁)

　all　well　enough：　How　could　you　turn　against　me？〃

Said　Song　Xian；　〃You　listened　to　the　words　of　your　women；　but　rejected　the　advice　of　your　generals。　Was　not　that　mean？〃

Lu　Bu　was　silent。　Then　Gao　Shun　was　brought　forward。

〃What　have　you　to　say？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

Gao　Shun　sulkily　held　his　tongue。　He　was　ordered　out　to　execution。

Next　Chen　Gong　was　led　in。

〃I　hope　you　have　been　well　since　we　last　saw　each　other；　Chen　Gong？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Your　ways　were　crooked；　and　so　I　left　you；〃　said　Chen　Gong。

〃You　say　I　was　crooked；　and　what　of　your　serving　Lu　Bu？〃

〃Though　he　was　a　fool；　he　did　not　resemble　you　in　deceit　and　wickedness。〃

〃You　say　you　are　able　enough　and　clever；　but　what　about　your　position　today？〃

Turning　toward　Lu　Bu；　Chen　Gong　said；　〃This　man　would　not　follow　my　advice。　Had　he　done　so；　he　would　not　now　be　a　captive。〃

〃What　think　you　ought　to　be　done　about　this　day's　work？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃There　is　death　for　me　today；　and　that　is　the　end！〃　said　Chen　Gong　undauntedly。

〃Very　well　for　you；　but　what　of　your　mother　and　wife　and　children？〃

〃It　is　said　that　one　who　rules　with　due　regard　to　filial　piety　does　not　harm　a　person's　family；　one　who　would　show　benevolence　does　not　cut　off　the　sacrifices　at　a　person's　tomb。　My　mother　and　wife　and　children　are　in　your　hands。　But　since　I　am　your　prisoner；　I　pray　you　slay　me　quickly　and　not　to　try　to　harrow　my　feelings。〃

Cao　Cao's　heart　still　leaned　toward　mercy；　but　Chen　Gong　turned　and　walked　away；　repulsing　the　attendants　who　would　stop　him。　Cao　Cao　rose　from　his　place　and　walked　with　Chen　Gong；　the　tears　falling　from　his　eyes。　Chen　Gong　never　looked　at　him。

Turning　to　his　guards　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Let　his　mother　and　fa