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第55部分（第2页）

　Liu　Bei　had　known　him　before；　had　consulted　him　on　many　occasions；　and　greatly　respected　him。

Liu　Bei　was　glad　that　he　had　remembered　this　man；　and　without　loss　of　time；　in　pany　with　Chen　Deng；　he　went　to　Zheng　Xuans　house　to　ask　him　to　draft　this　letter；　which　Zheng　Xuan　generously　consented　to　do。

Sun　Qian　was　entrusted　with　the　task　of　delivery　and　set　out　at　once。

　Yuan　Shao　read　it　and　considered　the　matter　long　before　speaking。

〃Liu　Bei　destroyed　my　brother；　and　I　ought　not　to　help　him；　but　out　of　consideration　for　the　writer　of　this　letter　I　must。

〃

Thereupon　Yuan　Shao　assembled　his　officers　to　consider　an　attack　upon　Cao　Cao。

Adviser　Tian　Feng　said；　〃Do　not　raise　an　army。

　The　people　are　worn　out；　and　the　granaries　are　empty　with　these　constant　wars。

　Let　us　rather　report　the　recent　victory　of　Gongsun　Zan　to　the　Throne。

　If　that　does　not　reach　the　Emperor；　then　memorialize　that　Cao　Cao　is　hindering　the　government。

　Then　raise　an　army；　occupy　Liyang；　assemble　a　Yellow　River　fleet　in　Henan；　prepare　weapons；　send　out　your　various　divisions；　and　within　three　years　you　will　win　all　round。

〃

Adviser　Shen　Pei　replied；　〃I　do　not　agree。

　The　military　genius　of　our　illustrious　lord　having　overe　the　hordes　of　the　north；　to　dispose　of　Cao　Cao　is　as　simple　as　turning　ones　hand。

　It　is　not　a　matter　of　months。

〃

Adviser　Ju　Shou　said；　〃Victory　is　not　always　to　the　many。

　Cao　Caos　discipline　is　excellent；　his　soldiers　are　brave　and　well　drilled。

　He　will　not　sit　down　quietly　waiting　to　be　surrounded　as　Gongsun　Zan　did。

　Now　you　abandon　the　intention　to　inform　the　Throne　of　our　success；　which　I　find　a　good　plan；　but　you　intend　to　send　out　an　army　without　any　valid　excuse。

　Our　lord　should　not　do　that。

〃

Then　followed　adviser　Guo　Tu；　saying；　〃You　are　wrong。

　No　expedition　against　Cao　Cao　can　lack　excuse。

　But　if　our　master　would　take　the　chance　now　offering　itself　of　ing　into　his　own；　he　will　accede　to　the　request　in　the　letter　of　Zheng　Xuan　and　ally　himself　with　Liu　Bei　for　the　destruction　of　Cao　Cao。

　This　would　win　the　approval　of　Heaven　and　the　affections　of　the　people；　a　double　blessing。

〃

Thus　the　four　advisers　differed　and　wrangled；　and　Yuan　Shao　could　not　decide　which　to　follow。

Then　there　came　two　others；　Xu　You　and　Xun　Shen；　and；　seeing　them；　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃You　two　have　wide　experience；　how　would　you　decide？〃

The　two　made　their　obeisance；　and　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃A　letter　from　Zheng　Xuan　the　Chair　has　arrived；　counseling　me　to　support　Liu　Bei　in　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。

　Now　am　I　to　send　an　army　or　not　send　an　army？〃

They　both　cried　with　one　voice；　〃Send！

　Your　armies　are　numerous　enough　and　strong　enough。

　You　will　destroy　a　traitor　and　help　the　dynasty。

〃

〃Your　words　just　express　my　desire；〃　said　Yuan　Shao　and　thenceforward　the　discussion　turned　on　the　expedition。