三國演義英文版

第16部分 (第3/7頁)

　half　his　troops。　Sun　Jian　he　returned　to　the　South　Land；　southeast　of　the　Great　River*。　Henceforward　Sun　Jian　and　Liu　Biao　were　open　enemies。

Yuan　Shao　was　in　Henei。　Being　short　of　supplies；　he　sent　to　borrow　from　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou；　Han　Fu；　whence　he　obtained　the　wherewithal　to　support　his　army。

Then　one　of　Yuan　Shao's　advisers；　Peng　Ji；　said　to　him；　〃You　are　really　the　strongest　power　here　about。　Why　then　depend　upon　another　for　food？　Jizhou　Region　is　rich　and　wide。　Why　not　seize　it？〃

〃I　have　no　good　plan；〃　replied　Yuan　Shao。

〃You　could　secretly　send　a　letter　to　Gongsun　Zan；　asking　him　to　attack；　promising　him　your　support。　Imperial　Protector　Han　Fu　of　Jizhou；　being　incapable；　must　ask　you　to　take　over　his　region；　and　you　will　get　it　without　lifting　a　finger。〃

So　the　letter　was　sent。　When　Gongsun　Zan　saw　therein　the　proposal　to　make　a　joint　attack　and　divide　the　territory；　he　agreed　to　give　his　help。　In　the　meantime　Yuan　Shao　had　sent　to　warn　Han　Fu　of　Gongsun　Zan's　threat。　Han　Fu　sought　advice　from　Advisers　Xun　Chang　and　Xin　Ping。

Xun　Chang　said；　〃Governor　Gongsun　Zan　of　Beiping　is　manding　a　huge　and　strong　army。　If　he　came　to　attack　us；　we　could　not　stand　against　him；　especially　if　he　had　the　help　of　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers。　At　present；　Yuan　Shao　is　bolder　than　most；　and　he　has　many　able　and　famous　leaders　under　him。　You　cannot　do　better　than　ask　him　to　assist　in　administering　this　region。　Yuan　Shao　will　certainly　treat　you　with　generosity；　and　you　need　have　no　fear　from　Gongsun　Zan。〃

Han　Fu　agreed　and　sent　a　message　to　Yuan　Shao　by　the　hand　of　Guan　Chun。

But　mander　Geng　Wu　remonstrated　with　his　master；　saying；　〃Yuan　Shao　is　a　needy　man　with　a　hungry　army　and　as　dependent　on　us　for　existence　as