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第133部分（第2页）

At　the　opening　ceremony；　Cao　Cao　wore　a　golden　headdress　inlaid　with　jewels　and　a　robe　of　green　brocaded　silk；　girded　with　a　belt　of　jade。　On　his　feet　were　pearl…encrusted　shoes。　So　clad　he　took　his　seat　as　host；　while　his　officers；　civil　and　military；　were　drawn　up　below　the　terrace。

For　the　military　officers　was　arranged　an　archery　petition；　and　one　of　his　attendants　brought　forth　a　robe　of　red　crimson　Xichuan　silk　as　a　prize。　This　was　suspended　from　one　of　the　drooping　branches　of　a　willow　tree；　beneath　which　was　the　target。　The　distance　was　a　hundred　paces。　The　petitors　were　divided　into　two　bands；　those　of　Cao　Caos　own　family　being　dressed　in　red　and　the　others　in　green。　They　all　had　carved　bows　and　long　arrows　and　were　mounted。　They　stood　holding　in　their　steeds　till　the　signal　should　be　given　for　the　games　to　begin。　Each　was　to　shoot　one　arrow；　and　the　robe　was　the　guerdon　for　hitting　the　target　in　the　red；　misses　were　to　pay　a　forfeit　of　drinking　a　cup　of　cold　water。

As　soon　as　the　signal　was　given；　a　red…robed　youth　rode　quickly　forth。　He　was　Cao　Xiu。　Swiftly　he　galloped　to　and　fro　thrice。　Then　he　adjusted　the　notch　of　his　arrow　to　the　string；　pulled　the　bow　to　its　full；　and　the　arrow　flew　straight　to　the　bulls　eye。

The　clang　of　the　gongs　and　the　roll　of　the　drums　announced　the　feat；　which　astonished　them　all。　And　Cao　Cao；　as　he　sat　on　the　terrace；　was　delighted。

〃A　very　promising　colt　of　my　own；〃　said　he　to　those　about　him；　and　he　sent　a　messenger　for　the　red　robe　that　the　winner　might　receive　it　from　his　own　hands。

But　suddenly　from　the　green　side　rode　out　one　who　cried；　〃It　were　more　fitting　to　let　outsiders　pete　for　the　Prime　Ministers　silken　robe。　It　is　not　right　that　members　of　the　family　monopolize　the　contest。〃

Cao　Cao　looked　at　the　speaker；　who　was　Wen　Ping。　And　some　of　the　officers　cried；　〃Let　us　see　what　his　shooting　is　like！〃

So　Wen　Ping　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　string　and　fired　also　from　horseback　while　galloping。　To　the　surprise　of　the　onlookers；　he　also　made　a　bulls　eye；　which　was　honored　by　another　salute　from　gongs　and　drums。

〃Quickly　bring　me　the　robe；〃　cried　Wen　Ping。

But　at　once　from　the　ranks　of　the　red…robed　another　petitor　dashed　forward；　shouting　fiercely；　〃How　can　you　win　what　has　been　already　won？　But　let　me　show　you　how　I　can　shoot　an　arrow　that　shall　overe　both　your　shots。〃

He　drew　his　bow　to　the　full；　and　the　arrow　flew　straight　to　the　heart　of　the　red。　The　surprised　onlookers　saw　that　this　new　petitor　was　Cao　Hong；　who　now　became　also　a　claimant　for　the　robe。

However；　yet　another　archer　came　forth　from　the　green…robed　ranks；　playing　with　his　bow　and　crying；　〃What　is　there　amazing　in　your　shooting；　you　three？　See　how　I　can　shoot。〃

This　man　was　Zhang　He。　He　put　his　horse　to　the　gallop；　then　turned　his　back　and；　shooting　backwards；　also　hit　the　center　of　the　red。

Thus　four　arrows　were　now　sticking　in　the　bulls　eye；　and　all　agreed　that　it　was　marvelous　archery。

〃I　think　the　robe　should　be　mine；〃　said　Zhang　He。

Before　he　could　finish　speaking；　a　fifth　petitor　came　out　from　the　red　robes　and　shouted；　〃You　shot　backwards；　but　that　is　monplace　enough。　Look　while　I　shoot　better　than　you　all。〃

The　speaker　was　Xiahou　Yuan。　He　galloped　off　to　the　very　limit；　and　then　bending　his　body　over　backwards　he　sent　his　arrow　right　in　among　the　other　four。

As　the　gongs　and　drums　broke　out；　Xiahou　Yuan　put　aside　his　bow　and　rode　up；　saying；　〃Is　not　that　a　better　shot　than　any　of　its　predecessors？〃

Then　came　out　another　from　the　greens　who　cried；　〃Leave　the　robe　there　for　me；　Xu　Huang；　to　win。〃

〃What　can　you　do　that　is　better　than　my　shot？〃　said　Xiahou　Yuan。

〃That　you　hit　the　bulls　eye　is　no　great　feat。　You　will　see　me　win　the　silken　robe　after　all。〃

So　speaking；　Xu　Huang　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow。　Then　looking　around；　he　aimed　at　the　willow　twig　from　which　the　robe　hung　down　and　shot　thereat　so　true　that　his　arrow　cut　it　through；　and　the　robe　fluttered　to　the　ground。　At　once　Xu　Huang　dashed　along；　picked　up　the　robe　and　slipped　it　on。　Then　riding　swiftly　to　the　terrace；　he　thanked　the　Prime　Minister。　No　one　present　could　withhold　unstinted　praise；　and　Xu　Huang　was　turning　to　ride　away。

But　another　green　clad　general　leaped　out；　saying；　〃Where　would　you　go　with　that　robe？　Quickly　leave　it　for　me！〃

All　eyes　turned　to　this　man　who　was　Xu　Chu。

Xu　Huang　cried；　〃The　robe　has　already　been　adjudged　to　me。　Would　you　dare　take　it　by　forces〃

Xu　Chu　made　no　reply　but　galloped　up　to　snatch　the　robe。　As　Xu　Chus　horse　drew　near；　Xu　Huang　struck　at　his　rival　a　blow　with　his　bow。　But　Xu　Chu　seized　the　bow　with　one　hand　while　with　the　other　he　simply　lifted　his　opponent　out　of　his　seat。　Wherefore　Xu　Huang　let　go　the　bow　and　the　next　moment　lay　sprawling　on　the　ground。　Xu　Chu　slipped　out　of　the　saddle　too；　and　they　began　to　pommel　each　other　with　their　fists。　Cao　Cao　sent　one　to　separate　them。　But　in　the　struggle；　the　robe　had　been　torn　and　soiled。　Cao　Cao　called　the　angry　rivals　before　him；　and　they　came；　one　darting　fierce　looks　of　hate；　the　other　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage。

〃Never　mind　the　robe。　I　see　only　your　magnificent　courage；〃　said　Cao　Cao　smiling。　〃What　does　a　robe　more　or　less　matter？〃

Whereupon　Cao　Cao　called　the　generals　to　him　one　by　one；　and　to　each　he　presented　a　robe　of　Xichuan　silk。　They　thanked　him　for　the　generous　gifts；　and　he　then　manded　them　to　take　their　seats　in　due　order。　Then　to　the　strains　of　a　band　of　music；　wherein　each　performer　vied　with　all　the　others；　the　naval　and　military　officers　took　their　places。　Civil　officers　of　repute　and　generals　of　renown　drank　one

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