第一小说网

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第77部分（第1页）

rth；　a　relative　cut　off。　And　each　beat　his　breast　and　wept。

And　all　said；　〃Had　he　but　listened　to　Tian　Feng；　we　had　not　met　this　disaster！〃

Yuan　Shao；　very　remorseful；　said；　〃I　did　not　hearken　unto　Tian　Feng；　and　now　my　soldiers　have　been　beaten　and　I　was　nearly　lost。　How　can　I　return　and　look　him　in　the　face？〃

Next　day　the　march　was　resumed；　and　Yuan　Shao　met　Peng　Ji　with　reinforcements；　to　whom　he　said；　〃I　disregarded　Tian　Fengs　advice　and　have　brought　myself　to　defeat。　Now　shall　I　be　greatly　ashamed　to　look　him　in　the　face。〃

This　tribute　to　Tian　Fengs　prescience　roused　the　jealousy　of　Peng　Ji；　who　replied；　〃Yes；　when　he　heard　the　news　of　your　defeat；　though　he　was　a　prisoner；　he　clapped　his　hands　for　joy　and　said；　Indeed；　just　as　I　foretold！〃

〃How　dare　he　laugh　at　me；　the　blockhead？　Assuredly　he　shall　die；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。

Whereupon　Yuan　Shao　wrote　a　letter　and　sent　therewith　a　sword　to　slay　the　prisoner。

Meanwhile　Tian　Fengs　gaoler　came　to　him　one　day；　saying；　〃Above　all　humans　I　felicitate　you。〃

〃What　is　the　joyful　occasion　and　why　felicitate？〃　said　Tian　Feng。

The　gaoler　replied；　〃Imperial　Protector　Yuan　Shao　has　been　defeated　and　is　on　his　way　back。　He　will　treat　you　with　redoubled　respect。〃

〃Now　am　I　a　dead　man！〃　said　Tian　Feng。

〃Why　say　you　that；　Sir；　when　all　people　give　you　joy？〃

〃The　Imperial　Protector　appears　liberal；　but　he　is　jealous　and　forgetful　of　honest　advice。　Had　he　been　victorious；　he　might　have　pardoned　me。　Now　that　he　has　been　defeated　and　put　to　shame；　I　may　not　hope　to　live。〃

But　the　gaoler　did　not　believe　Tian　Feng。　Before　long　came　the　letter　and　the　sword　with　the　fatal　order。

The　gaoler　was　dismayed；　but　the　victim　said；　〃I　knew　all　too　well　that　I　should　have　to　die。〃

The　gaoler　wept。

Tian　Feng　said；　〃An　able　person　born　into　this　world　who　does　not　recognize　and　serve　the　right　lord　is　ignorant。　Today　I　die；　but　I　am　not　deserving　of　pity。〃

Whereupon　he　cut　his　throat　in　the　prison。

Ju　Shou　but　yesterday　was　killed；

Tian　Feng　ends　his　life　his　fate　fulfilled；

The　Yellow　Rivers　main　beams　break　one　by　one；

Mourn　ye　that　Yuan　House！　Its　day　is　done。

Thus　died　Tian　Feng；　pitied　of　all　who　heard　of　his　fate。

When　Yuan　Shao　came　home　in　Jizhou；　he　was　with　troubled　mind　and　distorted　thoughts。　He　could　not　attend　to　the　business　of　government　and　became　so　ill　that　his　second　wife；　who　came　of　the　Liu　family　and　had　replaced　the　first　wife　after　her　death；　besought　him　to　make　his　last　dispositions。

Now　three　sons　had　been　born　to　Yuan　Shao：　Yuan　Tan　the　eldest；　who　was　mander　at　Qingzhou；　Yuan　Xi；　who　ruled　over　Youzhou；　and　Yuan　Shang；　borne　to　him　by　Lady　Liu。　This　youngest　son　was　very　handsome　and　noble　looking；　and　his　fathers　favorite。　So　he　was　kept　at　home。

After　the　defeat　at　Guandu；　the　lads　mother　was　constantly　urging　that　her　son　should　be　named　as　successor；　and　Yuan　Shao　called　together　four　of　his　counselors　to　consider　this　matter。　These　four　happened　to　be　divided　in　their　sympathies：　Shen　Pei　and　Peng　Ji　being　in　favor　of　the　youngest　son；　and　Xin　Ping　and　Guo　Tu　supporters　of　the　eldest。

When　they　met　to　consult；　Yuan　Shao　said；　〃As　there　is　nought　but　war　and　trouble　outside　our　borders；　it　is　necessary　that　tranquillity　within　be　early　provided　for；　and　I　wish　to　appoint　my　successor。　My　eldest　son　is　hard　and　cruel；　my　second　is　mild　and　unfit。　The　third　has　the　outward　form　of　a　hero；　appreciates　the　wise；　and　is　courteous　to　his　subordinates。　I　wish　him　to　succeed；　but　I　wish　that　you　tell　me　your　opinions。〃

Guo　Tu　said；　〃Yuan　Tan　is　your　first　born；　and　he　is　in　a　position　of　authority　beyond　your　control。　If　you　pass　over　the　eldest　in　favor　of　the　youngest；　you　sow　the　seeds　of　turbulence。　The　prestige　of　the　army　has　been　somewhat　lowered　and　enemies　are　on　our　border。　Should　you　add　to　our　weakness　by　making　strife　between　father　and　son；　elder　and　younger　brothers？　Rather　consider　how　the　enemy　may　be　repulsed　and　turn　to　the　question　of　the　heirship　later。〃

Then　the　natural　hesitation　of　Yuan　Shao　asserted　itself；　and　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind。　Soon　came　news　that　his　sons　Yuan　Tan　was　ing　from　Qingzhou　with　sixty　thousand　troops；　Yuan　Xi　ing　from　Youzhou　with　fifty　thousand　troops；　and　his　nephew　Gao　Gan　ing　from　Bingzhou　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　help　him；　and　he　turned　his　attention　to　preparations　for　fighting　Cao　Cao。