第55章 奋斗改变人生（5）

　　“左右或奏帝曰：‘近闻魏公欲自立为王，不久必将篡位。’帝与伏后大哭。后曰：

　　‘妾父伏完常有杀操之心，妾今当修书一封，密与父图之。’帝曰：‘昔董承为事不密，反遭大祸；今恐又泄露，朕与汝皆休矣！’后曰：‘旦夕如坐针毡，似此为人，不如早亡！妾看宦官中之忠义可托者，莫如穆顺，当令寄此书。’乃即召穆顺入屏后，退去左右近侍。帝后大哭告顺曰：‘操贼欲为‘魏王’，早晚必行篡夺之事。朕欲令后父伏完密图此贼，而左右之人，俱贼心腹，无可托者。欲汝将皇后密书，寄与伏完。量汝忠义，必不负朕。’顺泣曰：‘臣感陛下大恩，敢不以死报！臣即请行。’后乃修书付顺。顺藏书于发中，潜出禁宫，径至伏完宅，将书呈上。完见是伏后亲笔，乃谓穆顺曰：‘操贼心腹甚众，不可遽图。

　　除非江东孙权、西川刘备，二处起兵于外，操必自往。此时却求在朝忠义之臣，一同谋之。

　　内外夹攻，庶可有济。’顺曰：‘皇丈可作书覆帝后，求密诏，暗遣人往吴、蜀二处，令约会起兵，讨贼救主。’伏完即取纸写书付顺。顺乃藏于头髻内，辞完回宫。原来早有人报知曹操。操先于宫门等候。穆顺回遇曹操……操大怒，执下穆顺于密室问之，顺不肯招。操连夜点起甲兵三千，围住伏完私宅，老幼并皆拿下；搜出伏后亲笔之书，随将伏氏三族尽皆下狱。平明，使御林将军郗虑持节入宫，先收皇后玺绶……华歆拿伏后见操。操骂曰：‘吾以诚心待汝等，汝等反欲害我耶！吾不杀汝，汝必杀我！’喝左右乱棒打死。随即入宫，将伏后所生二子，皆鸩杀之。时建安十九年（公元215年）十一月也。”（第六十六回）

　　“The royal attendants said to the Emperor，‘We have heard that the lord patriarch of Wei wants toestablish himself as king of Wei. Before long he will usurp your throne.’Emperor and Empress wept.‘Myfather， Fu Wan，’the Empress said，‘always wanted to kill Cao Cao. Let me write to him now in secret sothat he can attempt it.’‘Once，’the Emperor said，‘Dong Cheng tried to do that. He was discoveredand executed. If they caught us， we would be doomed.’‘Day and night we sit on pins，’the Empresscontinued.‘I prefer death to a life like this. Among our eunuchs Mu Shun is loyal and true. He could deliverthe letter.’Thus， Mu Shun was summoned into the Empress’s presence for a private conference. Weeping，the royal couple appealed to Mu Shun：‘The traitor Cao wants to be king of Wei and may soon try for thethrone. We want the Empress’s father， Fu Wan， to move against Cao. But everyone works for Cao. Whomcan we trust to take him a secret message from the Empress？ We know your sense of loyalty and honourwill not permit you to refuse us.’Tearfully， Mu Shun replied，‘I would gladly give my life to repay yourMajesties’ generosity. With your leave I shall go directly.’The Empress wrote the letter and handed it toMu Shun. He concealed it in his hair， slipped out of the forbidden chambers， and delivered it to Fu Wan. FuWan， recognizing his daughter’s hand， said to the bearer，‘Cao Cao’s creatures are legion. We cannot actprecipitately. Sun Quan and Liu Bei will have to mobilize and draw Cao Cao into the field. At this stage wemust look for loyal and honorable men at court to join with us. Only united action inside and out offers anychance of success.’Mu Shun replied，‘Then， Your Worship， write back to the Emperor and Empress andrequest that secret edicts go out to the Southland and to the Two Plain summoning them to arms to punish thetraitor and rescue the sovereign.’Fu Wan wrote the letter， which Mu Shun carried hidden in his topknot.

　　Unfortunately， Cao Cao had already been informed of Mu Shun’s movements and was awaiting him at thepalace gate. When Mu Shun returned to the palace， angered， Cao Cao had Mu Shun detained and questionedin a secret chamber. Mu Shun would not confess. That night Cao Cao surrounded Fu Wan’s home with threethousand men and seized the entire family. When he found the Empress’s original letter， he arrested everymember of the Fu clan. The following morning he authorized Chi Lü， general of the Royal Guard， to seize theEmpress’s seal and cord... Hua Xin took Empress Fu before Cao Cao.‘I treated you all with sincerity，’heranted，‘yet you planned to murder me. I must kill you first！’He ordered his men to beat her to death. Hethen removed the Empress’s two sons from the palace and had them poisoned. That evening he had Fu Wan，Mu Shun， and more than two hundred of their clansmen executed in public. This occurred during the eleventhmonth of the nineteenth year of Jian An (A. D. 215)”. (Chapter 66)

　　“曹洪、曹休力请献帝出殿……华歆奏曰：‘陛下可依臣等昨日之议，免遭大祸。’……帝曰：‘谁敢弑朕耶？’歆厉声曰：‘天下之人，皆知陛下无人君之福，以致四方大乱！若非魏王在朝，弑陛下者，何止一人？陛下尚不知恩报德，直欲令天下人共伐陛下耶？’帝大惊，拂袖而起。王朗以目视华歆。歆纵步向前，扯住龙袍，变色而言曰：‘许与不许，早发一言！’帝战罥不能答。曹洪、曹休拔剑大呼曰：‘符宝郎何在？’祖弼应声出曰：‘符宝郎在此！’曹洪索要玉玺。祖弼叱曰：‘玉玺乃天子之宝，安得擅索！’洪喝令武士推出斩之。祖弼大骂不绝口而死……帝颤罥不已。只见阶下披甲持戈数百余人，皆是魏兵。帝泣谓群臣曰：‘朕愿将天下禅于魏王，幸留残喘，以终天年。’……帝只得令陈群草禅国之诏，令华歆赍捧诏玺，引百官直至魏王宫献纳……曹丕听毕，便欲受诏。司马懿谏曰：‘不可。虽然诏玺已至，殿下宜上表谦辞，以绝天下之谤。’丕从之……三辞而诏不许，然后受之……至期，献帝请魏王曹丕登坛受禅，坛下集大小官僚四百余员，御林虎赍禁军三十余万，帝亲捧玉玺奉曹丕。丕受之。坛下群臣跪听册曰：……读册已毕，魏王曹丕即受八般大礼，登了帝位……丕降旨封帝为山阳公，即日便行……献帝含泪拜谢，上马而去。坛下军民人等见之，伤感不已。”（第八十回）

　　“Cao Hong and Cao Xiu strenuously urged the Emperor to attend the court session... HuaXin addressed the throne：‘Let Your Majesty be guided by our discussions of yesterday lest disasterstrike.’...‘Who would dare to murder me？’the Emperor demanded. Stridently Hua Xin replied，‘Allthe empire knows that Your Majesty， lacking the‘great blessing’by which Heaven mandates the rulerof men， must take responsibility for the chaotic state of the realm. If not for the king of Wei， Cao Cao， therewould have been more than one who would have put Your Majesty to the sword. But still you refuse toacknowledge his past concern and repay his erstwhile kindness， and seem to want a general assault uponyour imperial person.’Appalled， the Emperor rose with a sweeping motion of his sleeves. Wang Langeyed Hua Xin meaningfully. Hua Xin advanced boldly， laid hands on the sacred dragon robe and， his facecontorted， said，‘Agreed？ Or not？ Speak. Now.’The trembling Emperor could not respond. Cao Hongand Cao Xiu drew their swords and called for the keeper of the imperial jade seal. The keeper， Zu Bi，responded，‘Present.’Cao Hong demanded the jade seal. Zu Bi protested，‘The jade seal is the treasureof the Son of Heaven. How dare you demand it？’Cao Hong called for his guards who removed the keeperand cut off his head. Zu Bi continued to protest until the moment of his death... The Emperor shook violently.

　　At the base of the stairs leading to his throne all he could see were hundreds of armed men of Wei. Tearfully，the Emperor addressed the assemblage：‘We intend here solemnly to abdicate our rule， transferring allunder Heaven to the king of Wei. Kindly spare what breath still remains to me， that I may live out my naturalyears.’... The Emperor had no choice. He ordered Chen Qun to draft the edict； next， he ordered Hua Xinto receive the document and the imperial seal and then to bring the whole court to the king’s palace to makethe ritual presentation... When the edict had been read， Cao Pi was anxious to accept the decree， but Sima Yiwarned him，‘That would be wrong. Even though the edict and seal were brought here， let Your Highnessdecline in due modesty so as to forestall criticism in the outside world.’On this advice Cao Pi declined threetimes but finally accepted as the edict required... When the appointed time came， Emperor Xian invited CaoPi， king of Wei， to ascend the altar. Around the base clustered a vast assemblage of four hundred officials，major and minor， as well as some thirty thousand warriors including the Royal Guard， the Imperial Guard，and the Palace Guard. The Emperor held the jade seal in both hands and transferred it respectfully to Cao Pi.

　　Below， the assembly kneeled to hear the declaration of transmission... After the ceremonial reading， Cao Piundertook the eight-round inauguration ceremony and ascended the imperial throne... Cao Pi directed thatthe Han Emperor be honoured as lord of Shanyang and depart forthwith... Holding back tears， Emperor Xianmade the ritual gesture of appreciation， bowing low； then he mounted and set off under the grieving gaze ofthe commoners and soldiers around the altar.”(Chapter 80)

　　吕布：字奉先，丁原义子。丁原指董卓骂曰：“尔无尺寸之功，焉敢妄言废立，欲乱朝廷！”董卓未及回言，吕布飞马直杀过来。董卓慌走，建阳率军掩杀。卓兵大败，退三十余里下寨，聚众商议。卓曰：“吾观吕布非常人也。吾若得此人，何虑天下哉！”账前一人出曰：“主公勿忧。某与吕布同乡，知其勇而无谋，见利忘义。某凭三寸不烂之舌，说吕布拱手来降，可乎？”卓曰：“汝将何以说之？”肃曰：“某闻主公有名马一匹，号曰‘赤兔’，日行千里。须得此马，再用金珠，以利结其心。某更进说词，吕布必反丁原，来投主公矣。”果然，吕布得了赤兔马、金珠、玉带，见利忘义，杀了丁原。“次日，布持丁原首级，往见李肃。肃遂引布见卓。卓大喜，置酒相待。卓先下拜曰：‘卓今得将军，如旱苗之得甘雨也。’布纳卓坐而拜之曰：‘公若不弃，布请拜为义父。’卓以金甲锦袍赐布……封吕布为骑都尉、中郎将、都亭侯。”（第三回）

　　Lü Bu： His style is Fengxian， Ding Yuan’s adopted son. Ding Yuan pointed at Dong Zhuo and criedout，“Now you， without a jot of merit， speak madly of meddling in the succession. Do you want to overthrowthe dynasty yourself？”Before Dong Zhuo could reply Lü Bu was charging him； Dong Zhuo fled. Jian Yangtook a heavy toll of his forces， driving them back thirty li， where they pitched camp and took counsel.“LüBu is extraordinary！”said Zhuo.“If only I could win him to our side， the realm would be ours with littletrouble！”Li Su， a commander of the Imperial Tiger Escort， stepped up to Dong Zhuo and said，“Yourproblem is solved， my lord. I come from Lü Bu’s village and know him to be brave but shallow， and forgetfulof honor when it’s to his advantage. Let me try my powers of persuasion on him； I am sure I can get him tojoin us with his hands meekly folded.“How do you plan to do it？”asked Zhuo.“I understand，”Li Sureplied，“that you， my lord， have a prize horse， called Red Hare， of extraordinary speed and stamina. Letme offer it to him， together with gold and pearls， to engage his interest. I will add some arguments of my own，and I guarantee that Lü Bu will betray Ding Yuan and enter your service.”Just as Li Su expected that LüBu， to forsake good for the sake of gold， killed Ding Yuan after he had got the prize horse Red Hare， lots ofgold， pearls and a jade belt.“The next day Lü Bu brought Ding Yuan’s head to Li Su， and Li Su broughtLü Bu to Dong Zhuo. With great satisfaction Dong Zhuo ordered wine and invited Lü Bu to drink. He said，kneeling.“To have you here is to me like rain to the parched seedling.”Lü Bu then raised Dong Zhuo，urged him to his seat， and prostrated himself in turn.“If you will have me， I beg to honor you as a fosterfather.”Dong Zhuo presented Lü Bu with gleaming metal armor and robes. He appointed Lü Bu cavalrycommander and Imperial Corps commander， and enfeoffed him with a Capital Precinct. (Chapter 3)

　　“董卓欺主弄权，社稷旦夕难保。”（第四回）吕布助纣为虐，挺身出曰：“父亲勿虑。关外诸侯，布视之如草芥；愿提虎狼之师，尽斩其首，悬于都门。”卓大喜曰：“吾有奉先，高枕无忧矣！”（第五回）真是狼狈为奸，罪恶滔天。自然恶有恶报。“王司徒巧使连环计”（第八回），“除暴凶吕布助司徒”（第九回）。为何吕布又杀父？只因为了一美女。真是色胆包天！忘恩负义！

　　“Dong Zhuo has wronged the Emperor and abused his power. The dynastic shrines stand inperil.”(Chapter 4) Lü Bu has been accessory to a tyrant’s crimes， rising to speak：“Father， have nofear. Those lords beyond the pass are so many weak reeds to me. With my stout warriors I’ll string uptheir heads on the capital gates.”Dong Zhuo， immensely pleased， said，“With Lü Bu on my side， Isleep easy.”(Chapter 5) It’s true that they were banded together as traitors and guilty of the most heinouscrimes. Naturally， evil actions will bring retribution.“Wang Yun Shrewdly Sets a Double Snare”(Chapter8).“Lü Bu Kills the Tyrant for Wang Yun”(Chapter 9). Why has Lü Bu killed his another foster father？

　　Just because of a great beauty. He’s really bold enough to run the extreme risks for sex and has no sense ofgratitude and justice！

　　“吕布自遭李、郭之乱，逃出武关，去投袁术；术怪吕布反覆不定，拒而不纳。投袁绍，绍纳之，与布共破张燕于常山。布自以为得志，傲慢袁绍手下将士。绍欲杀之。布乃去投张杨，杨纳之。时庞舒在长安城中，私藏吕布妻小，送还吕布。李罥、郭汜知之，遂斩庞舒，写书与张扬，教杀吕布。布因弃张扬而去投张邈。恰好张邈弟张超引陈宫来见张邈。宫说邈曰：‘今天下分崩，英雄并起；君以千里之众，而反受制于人，不亦鄙乎！今曹操征东，兖州空虚；而吕布乃当世勇士，若与之共取兖州，霸业可图也。’张邈大喜，便令吕布袭破兖州，随据濮阳。”（第十一回）“兵至濮阳，吕布欲自将出迎，陈宫谏：‘不可出战。待众将聚会后方可。’吕布曰：‘吾怕谁来？’遂不听宫言，引兵出阵，横戟大骂。许褚便出。斗二十合，不分胜负。操曰：‘吕布非一人可胜。’便差典韦助战，两将夹攻；左边夏侯罥、夏侯渊，右边李典、乐进齐到，六员将共攻吕布。布遮拦不住，拨马回城。城上田氏，见布败回，急令人拽起吊桥。布大叫：‘开门！’田氏曰：‘吾已降曹将军矣。’布大骂，引军奔定陶而去。陈宫急开东门，保护吕布老小出城。”“布军三停去了二停，败卒回报陈宫。宫曰：‘空城难守，不若急去。’遂与高顺保着吕布老小，弃定陶而走。”（第十二回）“曹操大破吕布于定陶，布乃收集败残军马于海滨，众将皆来会集，欲再与曹操决战。陈宫曰：‘今曹兵势大，未可与争。先寻取安身之地，那时再来未迟。’布曰：‘吾欲再投袁绍，何如？’……袁绍在冀州，闻知曹操与吕布相持，谋士审配进曰：‘吕布，豺虎也：若得兖州，必图冀州。不若助操攻之，方可无患。’……布大惊，与陈宫商议。

　　宫曰：‘闻刘玄德新领徐州，可往投之。’布从其言，竟投徐州来。有人报知玄德。玄德曰：‘布乃当今英勇之士，可出迎之。’糜竺曰：‘吕布乃虎狼之徒，不可收留；收则伤人矣。’……次日，吕布来辞玄德曰：‘蒙使君不弃，但恐令弟辈不能相容。’玄德曰：‘近邑小沛，乃备昔日屯兵之处。将军不嫌浅狭，权且歇马，如何？’吕布谢了玄德，自引军投小沛安身去了。（第十三回）“吕布先乘夜袭徐郡”（第十四回）“袁术知吕布袭了徐州，星夜差人至吕布处，许以粮五万斛、马五百匹、金银一万两、彩缎一千匹，使夹攻刘备。布喜，令高顺领兵五万袭玄德之后”（第十五回）由此可见，吕布不仅唯利是图、见利忘义，而且反复无常、恩将仇报。

　　“After fleeing Chang’an during the invasion of Dong Zhuo’s two generals， Li Jue and Guo Si， Lü Buhad turned to Yuan Shu. But Yuan Shu mistrusted the turncoat warrior and refused his service； however，Yuan Shu’s brother Shao welcomed Lü Bu， and together they defeated Zhang Yan in Changshan. Impressedwith his own success， Lü Bu snubbed Yuan Shao’s officers and men， and Yuan Shao tried to kill him.

　　Thereupon， Lü Bu took refuge with Zhang Yang. At that time one Pang Shu， who had been hiding Lü Bu’sfamily in Chang’an， sent the members on to rejoin him. In Chang’an Li Jue and Guo Si learned of this andput Pang Shu to death. They also asked Zhang Yang to kill Lü Bu. Lü Bu had to move on； he left ZhangYang and found another protector in Zhang Miao. By coincidence Chen Gong had already been introducedto Zhang Miao by his brother Zhang Chao. Having failed to talk Cao Cao out of invading Xuzhou， Chen Gongurged Zhang Miao to invade Cao Cao’s territory.‘The empire is breaking apart，’he said，‘and heroesare rising all over. It is demeaning for someone with the territory and population you have here to be subjectto another’s control. Cao Cao’s province of Yanzhou is vulnerable while he is occupied with his easterncampaign against Tao Qian. Lü Bu， who has just applied for your protection， is a renowned warrior. If youand he could conquer Yanzhou， you would be in a position to establish independent rule.’Chen Gong’sproposal excited Zhang Miao. He ordered Lü Bu to attack Yanzhou and to occupy Puyang.”(Chapter11)“In Puyang， Lü Bu wanted to oppose Cao Cao personally， but Chen Gong advised him to wait until allhis commanders had gathered.‘I fear no man，’Lü Bu said and led his men out of the city to confront theattackers. Resting his giant halberd across his horse， Lü Bu reviled Cao Cao. Xu Chu rode forth and foughttwenty passes with Bu， but neither prevailed.‘No man can defeat Lü Bu alone，’Cao Cao said and orderedDian Wei to assist Xu Chu by attacking Bu from another side. Next， Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan arrivedon the left， and Li Dian and Yue Jin arrived on the right. Lü Bu， unable to withstand the combined attack ofCao’s six commanders， retreated to Puyang. But the head of the Tian family (who had previously helped LüBu by luring Cao Cao into the city) now ordered the drawbridge raised.‘Let me in！’Lü Bu demanded.‘Ihave already surrendered Puyang to Cao Cao，’cried Tian. Enraged， Lü Bu raced to Dingtao as Chen Gongrushed Lü Bu’s family out through Puyang’s east gate.”(Chapter 12)“Badly beaten at Dingtao by Cao Cao，Lü Bu collected his battered units at points near the coast； his commanders rallied， eager for a showdownwith Cao Cao.“Cao Cao has the upper hand now，”objected Chen Gong.“This is no time to take him on.

　　Once we have a base of our own， there will be time enough for another battle.”“What about turning toYuan Shao as we did before？”Lü Bu suggested... Informed of the standoff between Cao Cao and Lü Bu，Yuan Shao considered his options.‘Lü Bu is ravenous beast，’Shen Pei advised Yuan Shao.‘If he takesYanzhou， our Jizhou will be next. It’s safer to help Cao.’The news astounded Lü Bu， and he turned to ChenGong for advice. Chen Gong said，‘I hear that Liu Xuande has recently take over Xuzhou. Let’s try him.’

　　Lü Bu agreed and headed for Xuzhou. On hearing of his approach， Xuande said，‘Lü Bu is a hero of ourtime. Let us receive him.’But Mi Zhu objected：‘He is a beast， a brute. We will suffer for it in the end’...

　　The next day Lü Bu came to take leave of Xuande，‘I am grateful that you have not objected me， YourLordship，’he said，‘but I fear your brother has.’Xuande replied，‘Previously I stationed my army atXiaopei. I know it is small； but if you can overlook its limitations， please use it as a place to rest and recover.

　　What do you say？’Lü Bu thanked Xuande and settled down in Xiaopei. (Chapter 13)“Lü Bu AttacksXuzhou by Night”(Chapter 14)“Meanwhile， Yuan Shu (the object of Xuande’s southern expedition) hadlearned of Lü Bu’s coup in Xuzhou and promised him fifty thousand bushels of grain， five hundred horses，ten thousand ounces of gold and silver， and one thousand rolls of varicolored silk. Lü Bu， encouraged by thisoffer， eagerly sent General Gao Shun and fifty thousand men to attack Xuande from the rear.”(Chapter 15)From here we can see Lü Bu is not only blind to all but his own interest and forgetting all moral principles atthe sight of profits but also always chopping and changing and biting the hand that feeds him.

　　“胤到徐州见布，称说：‘主公仰慕将军，欲求令爱为儿妇，永结“秦晋之好”……原来吕布有二妻一妾；先娶严氏为正妻，后娶貂蝉为妾；及居小沛时，又娶曹豹之女为次妻。曹氏先亡无出，貂蝉亦无所出，惟严氏生一女，布最钟爱。当下严氏对布曰：‘吾闻袁公路久镇淮南，兵多粮广，早晚将为天子。若成大事，则吾女有后妃之望。只不知他有几子？”布曰：‘止有一子。’妻曰：‘既如此，即当许之。纵不为皇后，吾徐州亦无忧矣。’布意遂决，厚款韩胤许了亲事。”吕布连夜具办妆奁，收拾宝马香车，令宋宪、魏续一同韩胤送女前去。陈罥扶病来见吕布曰：‘前者袁公以金帛送公，欲杀刘玄德，而公以射戟解之；今忽来求亲，其意盖欲以公女为质，随后就来攻玄德而取小沛。小沛亡，徐州危矣。’布大惊曰：‘陈宫误我！’急命张辽引兵，追赶至三十里之外，将女抢归；连韩胤都拿回监禁，不放归去。却令人回复袁术，只说女儿妆奁未备，俟备毕便自送来。陈罥又说吕布，使解韩胤赴许都。当被告知张飞劫了一半好马时，吕布随即点兵往小沛来斗张飞。布骂曰：‘你能抵赖夺了我好马一百五十匹吗？’张飞挺枪出马曰：‘是我夺了你好马！你今待怎么？’布骂曰：‘环眼贱！你累次藐视我！’飞曰：‘我夺你马你便恼，你夺我哥哥的徐州便不说了！’……玄德随令人出城，至吕布营中，说情愿送还马匹，两相罢兵。布不从所请，攻城愈急。刘、关、张突出重围，直奔许都，到城外下寨。次日，玄德入见操。诉吕布之事。操曰：‘布乃无义之辈，吾与贤弟并力诛之。’次日，即表荐刘备领豫州牧。程昱谏曰：‘刘备终不为人之下，不如早图之。’操曰：‘方今正用英雄之时，不可杀一人而失天下之心。——此郭奉孝与吾有同见也。’遂不听昱言，以兵三千、粮万斛送与玄德，使往豫州到任，进兵屯小沛，招集原散之兵，攻吕布。（第十六回）袁术在淮南，地广粮多，又有孙策所质玉玺，遂建号仲氏，立台省等官，乘龙凤辇，祀南北郊，立冯方女为后，立子为东宫。因命使催取吕布之女为东宫妃，却闻布已将韩胤解赴许都，为曹操所斩，乃大怒；遂拜张勋为大将军，统领大军二十余万，分七路征徐州。（第十七回）“曹操得了徐州，心中大喜，商议起兵攻下邳。”“吕布在下邳，自恃粮食足备，且有泗水之险，安心坐守，可保无虞。”“布于是终日不出，只同严氏、貂蝉饮酒解闷。谋士许汜、王楷入见布，进计曰：

　　‘今袁术在淮南，声势大振。将军旧曾与彼约婚，今何不仍求之？彼兵若至，内外夹攻，操不难破也。’布从其计，即日修书，就着二人前去。当许、王回告吕布袁术所说：‘奉先反复无信，可先送女，然后发兵。’吕布曰：‘今日便送去，如何？’吕布虽勇，终是缚一女在身上，只恐有伤，不敢冲突重围。吕布回到城中，心中忧闷，只是饮酒。操令军士决沂、泗之水。水淹下邳。众军飞报吕布。布曰：‘吾有赤兔马，渡水如平地，又何惧哉！’乃日与妻妾痛饮美酒。众将无不丧气。宪曰：‘布只恋妻子，视吾等如草芥。’续曰：‘军围城下，水绕壕边，吾等死无日矣！’宪曰：‘布无仁无义，我等弃之而走，何如？’续曰：

　　‘非丈夫也。不若擒布献曹公。’侯成曰：‘我因追马受责，而布所倚恃者，赤兔马也。汝二人果能献门擒布，吾当先盗马去见曹公。’三人商议定了，并照所说去做了。”这就是为何“下邳城曹操鏖兵\/白门楼吕布殒命”（第十九回）。吕布“反复无信”、“无仁无义”，岂能不败？他自私自利、刚愎自用，谁能救他？

　　“Han Yin presented himself to Lü Bu， saying，‘My master， long your admirer， seeks your treasureddaughter’s hand in behalf of his son in order to bind the two houses in marriage as the states of Qin andJin did in ancient times.’...Lü Bu had three wives. His principle wife was Lady Yan； Diaochan was hisconcubine； and later he had married a daughter of Cao Bao’s when he was Xuande’s guest in Xiaopei. Hissecond wife died young and without issue； Diaochan had never borne a child， Lady Yan’s daughter was LüBu’s only child and the dearest object of his affections. In response to Han Yin’s offer Lady Yan said to LüBu，‘Yuan Shu has dominated the region below the River Huai for a long time. From such a powerful basehe should become emperor sooner or later. Our daughter could be empress. But how many sons does hehave？’‘Only the one，’Lü Bu replied.‘Then give your consent at once！’she said.‘Empress or noempress， our hold on Xuzhou will be strengthened.’His course decided， Lü Bu treated Han Yin royally andagreed to the marriage.”Lü Bu prepared the trousseau， put horses and carriage in order， and sent the girloff the same night. Han Yin， together with Lü Bu’s generals Song Xian and Wei Xu， rode escort. Despite hisailment， Chen Gui took himself to see Lü Bu and said，‘Some time ago， Yuan Shu sent presents hoping youwould kill Xuande. But your marksmanship got Xuande out of that. Now he’s back again seeking an alliancethrough marriage. He must want your daughter as a hostage so he can attack Xuande. Once Xiaopei fallsto him， Xuzhou is no longer safe.’...Realizing the sense of Chen Gui’s argument， Lü Bu panicked.‘SoChen Gong has led me astray！’he cried and ordered Zhang Liao to overtake the bridal carriage—it wasalready thirty li away—force it to return， and seize Han Yin. At the same time he told Yuan Shu to expect hisdaughter when her trousseau was ready. Chen Gui also wanted Lü Bu to deliver the prisoner， Han Yin， toCao Cao in the capital at Xuchang... Being informed that Zhang Fei had stolen half of their horses， Lü Bumarched at once to Xiaopei.“Can you deny，”Lü Bu cried angrily，“that you have stolen one hundred andfifty of my best？”“Yes， I stole them！ So what？”Zhang Fei cried， dashing out with spear poised.“Round-eyed rogue，”Lü Bu retorted，“this is the final insult！”“You mind my stealing your horses？”Zhang Feitaunted him.“What about your stealing Xuzhou from my brother？”... Xuande sent a man to Lü Bu offeringto return the horses and make peace. Lü Bu accordingly attacked Xiaopei with renewed ferocity. Liu， Guan，Zhang broke through the encirclement and pitched camp outside the capital. The following day Xuandepresented himself to Cao Cao. To Xuande’s account of Lü Bu’s conduct Cao Cao responded，‘Lü Bu isno man of honor. Let’s work together to get rid of him， worthy brother.’... The next day Cao Cao prepared amemorial to the Emperor recommending Xuande as protector of Yuzhou. But Cheng Yu advised，‘Liu Beiwill not remain long under anybody. You’d better deal with him before it is too late.’‘At a time，’Cao Caoreplied，‘when we are calling for outstanding men to serve us， we cannot afford to lose the world by killingone person. Guo Jia agrees with me on this.’Thus Cao Cao rejected Cheng Yu’s advice. He gave Xuandethree thousand men and ten thousand bushels of grain and sent him off to his new post with instructions toround up any soldier near Xiaopei and continue the war against Lü Bu. (Chapter 16) Yuan Shu， possessorof Huainan’s extensive dominions and ample wealth as well as the royal seal Sun Ce had left as a pledge...

　　established the reign period Zhong Shi and created a secretariat and other state offices. Borne in a dragon-and-phoenix carriage， he preformed the imperial rituals at the northern and southern limits of the city. Hemade Feng Fang’s daughter his empress， his son crown prince， and sent an envoy to Xuzhou to speed thewedding with Lü Bu’s daughter. At that point he learned that Lü Bu had already delivered the go-between，Han Yin， to the capital， where Cao Cao had had him executed. In great anger Yuan Shu organized an armyof over two hundred thousand under the leadership of Regent-Marshal Zhang Xun： his object， to conquerXuzhou. (Chapter 17)“The acquisition of Xuzhou was a great satisfaction to Cao Cao. He began at once toplan the attack on Xiapi.”Lü Bu， with his reserves of grain and the protection of the River Si， was contentto remain on the defensive.”“Lü Bu stayed indoors all day drinking with Lady Yan and Diaochan todispel his sorrows. Counselors Xu Si and Wang Kai came before Lü Bu and presented a plan：‘Yuan Shuis in Huainan； his influence is great. Why not renew the attempt to form an alliance by marriage with him，General？ If he sends troops to relieve us， we will be able to defeat Cao Cao with a two-sided attack.’Lü Buapproved the plan and ordered the two to take a letter to Yuan Shu.”When Xu Si and Wang Kai returnedand told Lü Bu what Yuan Shu said，‘How fickle and faithless Lü Bu is！ Send the girl first； then I’ll sendtroops.’‘What about today？’Lü Bu said. Lü Bu， though a warrior of boundless courage， would notrush the enemy lines lest the girl come to harm. Finally he was forced back into Xiapi. Lü Bu drank heavilyin despair and Cao Cao ordered his men to divert water from the rivers Yi and Si into the city. The watersflooded Xiapi. Soldiers raced to Lü Bu with the news.“I have a champion horse，”Lü Bu said，“thatcrosses water as if it were land， flat and dry. We have nothing to fear.”Joined by his wives， Lü Bu wenton sating himself with choice wines. The commanders were deeply disheartened.“Lü Bu loves only hisfamily，”Xian said，“We are chaff to him，”added Wei Xu.“The city is besieged； the towers are floodedround—we are done for.”“He has no humanity， no honor. Why not leave him to his fate？”suggestedXian.“That’s not a hero’s part，”replied Wei Xu.“Let’s deliver him to Cao Cao instead.”At this pointHou Cheng spoke up，“I suffered for recapturing the horses， yet it is Red Hare that he depends on. If youtwo seize Lü Bu and deliver the city， I will steal his horse and present it to Cao Cao myself.”Thus the threemen set their course and did what they said. That’s why“Cao Cao Battles Fiercely at Xiapi \/ Lü Bu Falls atWhite Gate Tower”. Since Lü Bu“is fickle and faithless”and“has no humanity， no honor”， how canhe not be defeated？ He’s so selfish， so self-willed and conceited that no one can save him.

　　乱世三国时期是个英雄辈出的时代。吕布武艺超群，真有“人中吕布，马中赤兔”之说。为何他只能称雄一时而终究没有安身之地或正义大业？

　　The Chaotic Three Kingdoms Period is an era that gives birth to a multitude of heroes. Lü Bu’s militaryarts excel all and truly is it said：“Among heroes， Lü Bu； among horses， Red Hare.”Why can Lü Bu onlyswagger like a conquering hero for a time but not have a base of his own or any cause of justice after all？