第一小说网

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第169部分（第1页）

med　into　two　cranes　that　rose　into　the　sky　and　flew　away。　Zhao　Yang　came　back　home　and　told　what　he　had　seen。　Guan　Lu　told　him　the　red…robed　man　was　the　Southern　Dipper　Constellation；　and　the　white…robed；　the　Northern　Dipper。

〃But　the　Northern　Dipper　consists　of　nine　stars；　and　there　was　only　one　man；　objected　the　lad。

〃Separately　they　are　nine；　but　they　bine　to　form　one。　The　Northern　Dipper　records　deaths；　the　Southern　Dipper；　births。　Now　the　extra　figure　has　been　added；　you　need　have　no　anxiety。　You　will　live　long。

〃Father　and　son　both　thanked　him　most　sincerely；　but　thereafter　Guan　Lu　was　very　careful　how　he　divined　for　people　lest　he　should　betray　celestial　secrets。

〃Now；　this　man　is　at　Pingyuan；　and　you；　O　Prince；　can　seek　your　fate　of　him。　Why　not　call　him？〃

Cao　Cao　was　greatly　glad。　Guan　Lu　was　sent　for　and　came。　As　soon　as　the　salutations　were　over；　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　cast　lots　for　him。

Guan　Lu　at　once　found　the　cause　and　said；　〃Your　illness　is　only　due　to　magical　machinations。　It　should　not　create　anxiety。〃

Cao　Cao　was　much　relieved　in　his　mind；　and　his　health　began　to　improve。　Next　Cao　Cao　wished　to　know　about　the　conditions　in　the　empires　affairs。

After　the　necessary　calculations　the　prophet　said：

〃Three　and　eight　cross；

Where　the　army　halt；

The　yellow　boar　meets　the　tiger；

It　causes　the　loss　of　one　limb。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　inquire　whether　his　life　should　be　long　or　not。

Guan　Lu　replied：

〃In　the　Lion　Palace

The　talents　of　ancestors　are　preserved。

The　Princes　way　is　securely　renewed；

And　his　son　and　grandson　shall　e　to　high　honor。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　asked　concerning　himself。

〃Divination　concerning　the　fate　of　the　universe　may　not　be　foreknown。　Wait　a　time　and　I　will　look　into　it。〃

Cao　Cao　was　pleased　and　would　like　to　keep　such　a　man　near　him；　so　he　offered　him　the　post　of　Historiographer　（who　was　also　soothsayer）　at　his　court；　but　it　was　declined。

〃My　destiny　is　mean；　my　luck　despicable。　I　am　not　equal　to　such　an　office　and　dare　not　undertake　it；〃　said　Guan　Lu。

〃Why　not？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃My　forehead　has　no　lofty　fullness；　my　eyes　no　steady　expression；　my　nose　no　bridge；　my　feet　no　round；　solid　heels；　my　back　lacks　the　triple　armor　（of　shoulder　blades　and　intervening　muscles）；　and　my　breast　the　three　marks　（like　the　character　indicating　wealth）。　I　can　only　control　evil　spirits　securely；　I　cannot　rule　living　humans。〃

〃What　think　you　of　my　physiognomy？〃

〃What　can　a　minister　of　extremely　exalted　rank　like　yourself　desire　further？〃　said　Guan　Lu。

Cao　Cao　pressed　him　to　say。　The　soothsayer　only　laughed。　Then　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　look　at　the　many　officers　of　all　kinds　standing　around。

〃Everyone　of　them　is　a　servant　equal　to　the　administration　of　the　empire；〃　said　Guan　Lu。