by Luo Guanzhong
Today's excerpt is from Chapter 5. Previously
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Cao Cao was overjoyed. Suddenly, Zhang Fei came out from behind Xuande, and said in a loud voice, "Now that my brother has taken down Hua Xiong, we should fight our way past the pass, and arrest Dong Zhuo; what are we waiting for!" Yuan Shu was outraged, and said, "We senior ministers have been deferential this whole time. How dare this lowly soldier, serving under a county governor, put on such a bellicose display! Get them all out of this tent!" Cao Cao said, "We should reward men of achievement, why make a big deal out of their social status?" Yuan Shu said, "Since all of you only regard a county governor as important, I should take my leave." Cao said, "How can you have such a big misunderstanding over just one sentence?" He then ordered Gongsun Zan to take Xuande,Guan and Zhang back to their camp. Everyone left. Cao Cao secretly sent someone to make a gift of oxen and wine in order to placate the three of them.
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Let us now turn to Hua Xiong's defeated army, who had reported back up to the pass. Li Su hurriedly wrote a letter requesting emergency assistance, which he sent to Dong Zhuo. Zhuo immediately got everyone together, including Li Ru and Lü Bu, to discuss the matter. Ru said, "Now that we have lost General Hua Xiong, the power of the bandit rebels is substantial. Yuan Shao is the leader of their alliance. His uncle is Yuan Wei, the current Grand Tutor. If he works from the inside in coordination with elements from the outside, it will make it deeply inconvenient for us; we should first get rid of him. I invite the chancellor to personally take command of the army, allocating forces to surround and capture him."
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Zhuo agreed with him; he instructed Li Jue and Guo Si to lead a force of 500 soldiers to surround Yuan Wei's house. Everyone was executed, regardless of age. They immediately took the head of Yuan Wei and put it on display at the pass, for all to see. Zhuo then gathered an army of 200,000, and divided them into two routes; Li Jueand Guo Si were put in charge of the first route, which consisted of a force of 50,000 men. They were to take up position at Sishui Pass, but not engage in any fighting. Zhuo personally led a force of 150,000. This group included Li Ru, Lü Bu, Fan Chou and Zhang Ji, among others. This group took up position at Hulao Pass. This pass was 50 li from Luoyang. When the soldiers and horses arrived at the pass, Zhuo ordered Lü Bu to lead a large force of the 30,000 men down to the front of the pass, where he was to make camp. Zhuo made camp at the top of the pass, where he was quite comfortable.
Continued next week. Tomorrow is Poetry Day here at Literature Daily.
This is one of four great novels from China, published when it was the most highly civilization in the world. Map shows China at the time of this story.
Chapter Summary: A forged imperial edict is issued: all towns respond to Lord Cao; breaking through the soldiers at the pass: three heroes battle Lü Bu.
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This translation from Wikipedia. See license CC-BY-SA.
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