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第116部分（第1页）

〃What　is　this　excellent　scheme？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃The　river　is　wide；　and　the　tides　ebb　and　flow。　The　winds　and　waves　are　never　at　rest。　Your　troops　from　the　north　are　unused　to　ships；　and　the　motion　makes　them　ill。　If　your　ships；　large　and　small；　were　classed　and　divided　into　thirties；　or　fifties；　and　joined　up　stem　to　stem　by　iron　chains　and　boards　spread　across　them；　to　say　nothing　of　soldiers　being　able　to　pass　from　one　to　the　next；　even　horses　could　move　about　on　them。　If　this　were　done；　then　there　would　be　no　fear　of　the　wind　and　the　waves　and　the　rising　and　falling　tides。〃

ing　down　from　his　seat；　Cao　Cao　thanked　his　guest；　saying；　〃I　could　never　defeat　the　land　of　the　south　without　this　scheme　of　yours。〃

〃That　is　only　my　idea；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃It　is　for　you　to　decide　about　it。〃

Orders　were　then　issued　to　call　up　all　the　blacksmiths　and　set　them　to　work；　night　and　day；　forging　iron　chains　and　great　bolts　to　lock　together　the　ships。　And　the　soldiers　rejoiced　when　they　heard　of　the　plan。

In　the　Red　Cliffs　fight　they　used　the　flame；

The　weapon　here　will　be　the　same。

By　Pang　Tongs　advice　the　ships　were　chained；

Else　Zhou　Yu　had　not　that　battle　gained。

Pang　Tong　further　told　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃I　know　many　bold　people　on　the　other　side　who　hate　Zhou　Yu。　If　I　may　use　my　little　tongue　in　your　service；　I　can　induce　them　to　e　over　to　you。　If　Zhou　Yu　be　left　alone；　you　can　certainly　take　him　captive。　And　Liu　Bei　is　of　no　account。〃

〃Certainly　if　you　could　render　me　so　great　a　service；　I　would　memorialize　the　Throne　and　obtain　for　you　one　of　the　highest　offices；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃I　am　not　doing　this　for　the　sake　of　wealth　or　honors；　but　from　a　desire　to　succor　humankind。　If　you　cross　the　river；　I　pray　you　be　merciful。〃

〃I　am　Heavens　means　of　doing　right　and　could　not　bear　to　slay　the　people。〃

Pang　Tong　thanked　him　and　begged　for　a　document　that　would　protect　his　own　family。

Cao　Cao　asked；　〃Where　do　they　live？〃

〃All　are　near　the　river　bank。〃

And　Cao　Cao　ordered　a　protection　declaration　to　be　prepared。　Having　sealed　it；　he　gave　it　to　Pang　Tong。

Pang　Tong　said；　〃You　should　attack　as　soon　as　I　have　gone；　but　do　not　let　Zhou　Yu　doubt　anything。〃

Cao　Cao　promised　secrecy；　and　the　wily　traitor　took　his　leave。　Just　as　he　was　about　to　embark；　he　met　a　man　in　a　Taoist　robe；　with　a　bamboo　b　in　his　hair；　who　stopped　him。

The　man　said；　〃You　are　very　bold。　Huang　Gai　is　planning　to　use　the　personal　injury　ruse；　and　Kan　Ze　has　presented　the　letter　of　pretended　desertion。　You　have　proffered　the　fatal　scheme　of　chaining　the　ships　together　lest　the　flames　may　not　pletely　destroy　them。　This　sort　of　mischievous　work　may　have　been　enough　to　deceive　Cao　Cao；　but　I　saw　it　all。〃

Pang　Tong　bee　helpless　with　fear………his　viscera　flown　away；　his　spirit　scattered。

By　guileful　means　one　may　succeed；

The　victims　too　find　friends　in　need。

The　next　chapter　will　tell　who　the　stranger　was。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　48　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　48

Chapter　48

Banquet　On　The　Great　River；　Cao　Cao　Sings　A　Song；

Battle　On　Water；　The　Northern　Soldiers　Fight　With　Chained　Ships。

In　the　last　chapter　Pang　Tong　was　brought　up　with　a　sudden　shock　when　someone　seized　him　and　said　of　his　scheme。　Upon　turning　to　look　at　the　man；　Pang　Tong　saw　it　was　Xu　Shu；　an　old　friend；　and　his　heart　revived。

Looking　around　and　seeing　no　one　near；　Pang　Tong　said；　〃It　would　be　a　pity　if　you　upset　my　plan。　The　fate　of　the　people　of　all　the　eighty…one　southern　counties　is　in　your　hands。〃