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第49部分（第2页）

The　traitors　shouted　out；　〃Lu　Bu　has　been　captured　alive！〃

But　Xiahou　Yuan　could　hardly　believe　it　till　they　threw　down　the　famous　halberd。　The　gates　were　flung　open；　and　the　enemy　entered　the　city。　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao；　who　were　at　the　opposite　gate；　were　surrounded　and　cut　off　by　the　water　and　helpless。　They　were　captured。　Chen　Gong　made　a　dash　to　the　south　gate　but　was　also　taken　by　Xu　Huang。　Presently　Cao　Cao　entered　and　at　once　gave　orders　to　turn　the　streams　back　into　their　usual　courses。　He　put　out　proclamations　to　sooth　the　people。

Cao　Cao　and　Liu　Bei；　with　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　behind；　seated　themselves　side　by　side　in　the　White　Gate　Tower。　The　captives　were　brought　before　them。　Lu　Bu　looked　a　pitiable　object。　Although　a　very　tall　man；　he　was　tied　up　in　a　veritable　ball。

〃The　bonds　are　very　tight；〃　cried　he；　〃I　beseech　you　to　loosen　them！〃

〃Bindings　a　tiger　must　binding　tight；　of　course；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。

Seeing　Hou　Cheng；　Song　Xian；　and　Wei　Xu　standing　there　looking　pleased　at　their　success；　Lu　Bu　said；　〃I　treated　you　all　well　enough：　How　could　you　turn　against　me？〃

Said　Song　Xian；　〃You　listened　to　the　words　of　your　women；　but　rejected　the　advice　of　your　generals。　Was　not　that　mean？〃

Lu　Bu　was　silent。　Then　Gao　Shun　was　brought　forward。

〃What　have　you　to　say？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

Gao　Shun　sulkily　held　his　tongue。　He　was　ordered　out　to　execution。

Next　Chen　Gong　was　led　in。

〃I　hope　you　have　been　well　since　we　last　saw　each　other；　Chen　Gong？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Your　ways　were　crooked；　and　so　I　left　you；〃　said　Chen　Gong。

〃You　say　I　was　crooked；　and　what　of　your　serving　Lu　Bu？〃

〃Though　he　was　a　fool；　he　did　not　resemble　you　in　deceit　and　wickedness。〃

〃You　say　you　are　able　enough　and　clever；　but　what　about　your　position　today？〃

Turning　toward　Lu　Bu；　Chen　Gong　said；　〃This　man　would　not　follow　my　advice。　Had　he　done　so；　he　would　not　now　be　a　captive。〃

〃What　think　you　ought　to　be　done　about　this　days　work？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃There　is　death　for　me　today；　and　that　is　the　end！〃　said　Chen　Gong　undauntedly。

〃Very　well　for　you；　but　what　of　your　mother　and　wife　and　children？〃

〃It　is　said　that　one　who　rules　with　due　regard　to　filial　piety　does　not　harm　a　persons　family；　one　who　would　show　benevolence　does　not　cut　off　the　sacrifices　at　a　persons　tomb。　My　mother　and　wife　and　children　are　in　your　hands。　But　since　I　am　your　prisoner；　I　pray　you　slay　me　quickly　and　not　to　try　to　harrow　my　feelings。〃

Cao　Caos　heart　still　leaned　toward　mercy；　but　Chen　Gong　turned　and　walked　away；　repulsing　the　attendants　who　would　stop　him。　Cao　Cao　rose　from　his　place　and　walked　with　Chen　Gong；　the　tears　falling　from　his　eyes。　Chen　Gong　never　looked　at　him。

Turning　to　his　guards　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Let　his　mother　and　family　be　taken　to　Xuchang　and　looked　after　immediately。　Any　postponement　will　be　punished！〃

The　condemned　man　heard　him　but　uttered　no　word。　He　stretched　out　his　neck　for　the　blow。　Tears　sprang　to　the　eyes　of　all　present。　His　remains　were　honorably　coffined　and　buried　in　Xuchang。

A　poem　pitying　Chen　Gongs　fate　says：

Neither　hope　of　life　nor　fear　of　death　moved　him。

How　brave　was　he；　a　hero　indeed！

But　his　lord　heeded　not　his　words；

Wherefore　in　vain　possessed　he　great　talents。

Nevertheless；　in　that　he　stood　by　his　master。

To　parting　with　wife　and　mother；

He　merits　our　pity　and　profound　respect。

Who　would　resemble　Chen　Gong

That　day　he　died　at　the　White　Gate　Tower？

While　Cao　Cao　sadly　escorted　Chen　Gong　on　the　way　to　death；　Lu　Bu　appealed　to　Liu　Bei；　〃Noble　Sir；　you　sit　there　an　honored　guest　while　poor　I　lie　bound　at　your　feet。　Will　you　not　utter　one　word　to　alleviate　my　lot？〃

Liu　Bei　n