三国演义英文版-第68章
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g Zhuo； the ruffian who invaded the official circle and wrested the government。 At that time I grasped my sword and beat the drums to restore order in the east。 I assembled warriors； selected the best； and took them into my service。 In this matter I came into relations with this Cao Cao and conferred with him to further my scheme。 I gave him mand of a subordinate force and looked to him to render such petty service as he was equal to。 I suffered his stupidities and condoned his shortings； his rash attacks and facile retreats； his losses and shameful defeats； his repeated destruction of whole armies。 Again and again I sent him more troops and filled the gaps in his depleted ranks。 I even addressed a memorial to the Throne for him to be appointed Imperial Protector of Yanzhou。 I made him feel as he were a tiger。 I added to his honors and increased his authority； hoping that eventually he would justify himself by a victory against Dong Zhuo such as Qin used Meng Ming against Jin。
〃But Cao Cao availed himself of the opportunity to overstep all bounds； to give free rein to violence and evil。 He stripped the mon people； outraged the good； and injured the virtuous。 Bian Rang； Governor of Jiujiang； was a man of conspicuous talent and of world…wide reputation。 He was honest in speech and correct in demeanor。 He spoke without flattery。 Cao Cao put him to death and his head was exposed； and his family utterly destroyed。 From that day to this scholars have deeply mourned； and popular resentment has steadily grown。 One person raised his arm in anger； and the whole countryside followed him。 Whereupon Cao Cao was smitten at Xuzhou； and his territory was snatched by Lu Bu。 He fled eastward without shelter or refuge。
〃My policy is a strong trunk and weak branches； a manding central government and obedient feudal lords。 Also I am no partisan。 Therefore I again raised my banners； donned my armor； and moved forward to attack。 My drums rolled for an assault on Lu Bu； and his multitudes incontinently fled。 I saved Cao Cao from destruction and restored him to a position of authority。 Wherein I must confess to showing no kindness to the people of Yanzhou； although it was a great matter for Cao Cao。
〃Later it happened that the imperial cortege moved east； and a horde of rebels of Dong Zhuo's faction rose and attacked。 The course of government was hindered。 At that moment my territory was threatened from the north； and I could not leave it。 Wherefore I sent one of my officers； Xu Xun； to Cao Cao to see to the repair of the dynastic temples and the protection of the youthful sovereign。 Thereupon Cao Cao gave the rein to his inclinations。 He arbitrarily ordered the removal of the court to Xuchang。 He brought shame upon the Ruling House and subverted the laws。 He engrossed the chairmanship of the three highest offices and monopolized the control of the administration。 Offices and rewards were conferred according to his will； punishment was at his word。 He glorified whole families of those he loved； he exterminated whole clans of those he hated。 Open critics were executed； secret opponents were assassinated。 Officials locked their lips； wayfarers only exchanged glances。 Chairs of boards recorded levies； and every government official held a sinecure。
〃The late Yang Biao； a man who had filled two of the highest offices of state as Chairs of two boards； because of some petty grudge was； though guiltless； charged with a crime。 He was beaten and suffered every form of cruelty。 This arbitrary and impulsive act was a flagrant disregard of constitutional rules。
〃Another victim was the Counselor Zhao Yan。 He was faithful in remonstrance； honest in speech； endowed with the highest principles of rectitude。 He was listened to at court。 His words carried enough weight with the Emperor to cause him to modify his intention and confer reward for outspokenness。 Desirous of diverting all power into his own hands and stifle all criticism； Cao Cao presumed to arrest and put to death this censor； in defiance of all legal procedures。
〃Another evil deed was the destruction of the tomb of Prince Xiao of Liang； the brother of the late Emperor。 His tomb should certainly have been respected； even its mulberries and sweetgum trees； its cypresses and its pines。 Cao Cao led soldiers to the cemetery and stood by while it was desecrated； the coffin destroyed and the poor corpse exposed。 They stole the gold and jewels of the dead。 This deed brought tears to the eyes of the Emperor and rent the hearts of all people。 Cao Cao also appointed new offices………mander Who Opens Grave Mounds and General Who Seeks for Gold………whose tracks were marked by desecrated graves and exhumed bodies。 Indeed； while assuming the position of the highest officer of state； he indulged the inclination of a bandit； polluting the empire； oppressing the people； a bane to gods and humans。
〃He added to this by setting up minute and vexatious prohibitions so that there were nets and snares spread in every pathway； traps and pitfalls laid in every road。 A hand raised was caught in a net； a foot advanced was taken in an entanglement。 Wherefore the people of his regions； Yanzhou and Yuzhou； waxed desperate and the inhabitants of the metropolis groaned and murmured in anger。
〃Read down the names through all the years；
Of ministers that all people curse；
For greed and cruelty and lust；
Than Cao Cao you will not find a worse。
〃I have investigated the cases of evil deeds in the regions； but I have been unable to reform him。 I have given him repeated opportunities hoping 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 all desire to return home。 They weep whenever they look to the north。 The others belong to Yanzhou or Yuzhou； being remnants of the armies of Lu Bu and Zhang Yang。 Beaten； stern necessity forced them to accept service； but they take it only as a temporary expedient。 They who have been wounded hate each other。 If I give the signal to return and send my drums to the mountain tops； and wave the white flag to show them they may surrender； they will melt away like dew before the sun； and no blood will be shed。 The victory will be mine。
〃Now the Hans are failing and the bonds of empire are relaxed。 The sacred dynasty has no supporter； the ministers are not strong enough to cope with the difficulties。 Within the capital the responsible ministers are crestfallen and helpless。 There is no one to rely upon。 Such loyal and high principled people as are left are browbeaten by a tyrannical minister。 How can they manifest their virtue？
〃Cao Cao has surrounded the Palace with seven hundred veterans； the ostensible object being to guard the Emperor； but the covert design being to hold him prisoner。 I fear this is but the first step in usurpation； and so I take my part。 Now is the time for loyal ministers to sacrifice their lives； the opportunity for officers to perform meritorious deeds。 Can I fail to urge you？
〃Cao Cao has forged mands to himself to undertake the control of government affairs and； in the name of the state； sends out calls for military assistance。 I fear lest distant regions may obey his behest and send troops to help him； to the detriment of the multitude and their everlasting shame。 No wise person will do so。
〃The forces of four regions………Bingzhou； Jizhou； Qingzhou； and Youzhou………are moving out simultaneously。 When this call reaches Jingzhou； you will see their forces cooperate with those of Liu Biao。 All regions and counties ought to organize volunteers and set them along their borders to demonstrate the
