三国演义英文版-第275部分

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Because　of　court　intrigues
Yue　Yi*　and　Yue　Fei*　failed。

How　matters　went　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　114　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　114
　Chapter　114
Driving　To　The　South　Gate；　Cao　Mao　Plunges　Into　Death；
Abandoning　Stores；　Jiang　Wei　Defeats　The　Wei　Army。
When　the　order　to　retreat　was　given；　Liao　Hua　said；　〃A　leader　in　the　field　is　independent　and　need　not　obey　even　the　mand　of　his　prince。〃
Zhang　Yi　said；　〃The　country　begins　to　resent　these　many　years　of　war。　Rather　take　the　occasion　of　the　victory　you　have　just　won　to　return　and　pacify　the　people。〃
〃It　is　good；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。
A　systematic　and　orderly　retirement　began。　The　army　of　Wei；　loth　to　forgo　an　opportunity；　followed；　but　the　absence　of　the　least　confusion　gave　them　no　chance。
As　he　saw　his　enemy　disappearing　in　perfect　order；　Deng　Ai　sighed；　〃Jiang　Wei　is　a　worthy　inheritor　of　the　warlike　methods　of　Zhuge　Liang。〃
Deng　Ai　did　not　pursue　but　returned　to　his　camp　on　Qishan。
On　his　return　to　Chengdu；　Jiang　Wei　had　audience　with　the　Latter　Ruler；　whereat　he　inquired；　saying；　〃Your　Majesty　has　manded　me　to　return　for　an　important　reason？〃
The　Latter　Ruler　replied；　〃Because　you　have　been　so　long　on　the　frontier；　Noble　Sir。　I　thought　the　soldiers　must　be　weary。　There　was　no　other　reason。〃
〃Your　Majesty；　thy　servant　had　got　his　camps　on　Qishan　and　was　on　the　eve　of　plete　success。　To　leave　off　thus　in　the　middle　just　played　into　the　hands　of　our　enemies。　Surely　Deng　Ai　found　means　of　sowing　distrust　in　me。〃
The　Latter　Ruler　sat　lost　in　thought；　and　silent。
Jiang　Wei　continued；　〃I　am　pledged　to　destroy　those　rebels　and　prove　my　devotion　to　my　country。　Your　Majesty　should　not　listen　to　the　babble　of　mean　persons　till　distrust　grows　in　your　heart。〃
〃I　do　not　distrust　you；〃　said　the　Latter　Ruler　after　a　long　pause。　〃You　may　return　into　Hanzhong　and　await　the　next　favorable　opportunity。〃
Jiang　Wei　left　the　court　and　betook　himself　into　Hanzhong　to　the　army。
Dang　Jun　went　back　to　the　Qishan　camp　and　reported　his　success。
Deng　Ai　and　Sima　Wang　rejoiced；　saying；　〃In　the　River　Lands；　trouble　is　not　far　off　when　the　ruler　and　his　servants　do　not　live　in　harmony。〃
They　sent　Dang　Jun　to　Luoyang　to　tell　his　own　story　to　Sima　Zhao；　who　also　rejoiced；　for　he　ardently　desired　to　subdue　Shu。
On　this　matter　Sima　Zhao　consulted　Jia　Chong；　mander　of　the　Center　Guard。
〃What　do　you　think　of　an　attack　upon　Shu？〃
〃Not　to　be　considered；〃　said　Jia　Chong。　〃The　Emperor　does　not　trust　you；　and　your　departure　would　be　the　beginning　of　trouble　for　you。　Last　year；　when　a　yellow　dragon　was　seen　in　the　Ningling　well　and　all　the　officers　were　felicitating　the　Emperor　upon　such　a　very　auspicious　occurrence；　the　Emperor　said；　'It　is　not　auspicious；　just　the　reverse。　The　dragon　symbolizes　the　ruler。　To　be　neither　in　heaven；　nor　on　earth　among　the　people；　but　to　be　in　a　well；　is　a　dark　portent　and　bodes　evil。'　He　wrote　some　verses；　and　one　stanza　undoubtedly　points　to　you；　my　lord。　It　reads：

〃The　dragon　like　a　prisoner　is；
No　longer　leaps　he　in　the　abyss。
He　soars　not　to　the　Milky　Way
Nor　can　he　in　the　meadows　play；
But　coiled　within　a　dismal　well；
With　slimy　creatures　he　must　dwell；
Must　close　his　jaws；　his　claws　retract；
Alas！　Quite　like　myself　in　fact。〃

The　recital　of　the　poem　annoyed　Sima　Zhao。
〃This　fellow　is　very　like　Cao　Fang；　and　if　I　do　not　remove　him　he　will　hurt　me；〃　said　he。
〃I　will　see　to　it　for　you；〃　said　Jia　Chong。
In　the　fifth　year　of　Sweet　Dew；　in　Wei　calendar　（AD　261）；　during　the　fourth　month；　in　summer；　Sima　Zhao　had　the　effrontery　to　go　to　court　armed。　However；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　received　him　with　exaggerated　courtesy。
The　courtiers　said；　〃The　services　of　the　Regent　Marshal　are　so　magnificent；　and　his　virtue　so　high　that　he　should　be　rewarded　with　the　title　'Duke　of　Jin'　and　the　Nine　Dignities。〃
Cao　Mao　hung　his　head　and　kept　silent。
And　Sima　Zhao　himself　said　discontentedly；　〃My　father　and　my　brother　have　all　given　great　services　to　Wei；　and　yet　I　deserves　not　being　a　mere　Duke　of　Jin？〃
〃Should　I　dare　not　do　what　you　requested？〃　said　Cao　Mao。
〃That　poem　about　the　Lurking　Dragon　called　us　slimy　creatures。　What　sort　of　politeness　is　that？〃　said　Sima　Zhao。
The　Ruler　of　Wei　had　nothing　to　say；　and　the　haughty　minister　left　the　chamber；　smiling　cruelly。
Cao　Mao　retired；　taking　with　him　Minister　Wang　Jing；　Adviser　Wang　Shen；　and　General　of　the　Cavalry　Wang　Ye；　and　they　went　to　a　privy　chamber　to　consult。　Cao　Mao　was　very　sad。
He　said；　〃There　is　no　doubt　that　Sima　Zhao　intends　to　usurp　the　throne………everybody　knows　that。　But　I　will　not　sit　thereon　patiently　awaiting　the　indignity　of　being　pushed　off。　Cannot　you　gentlemen　help　me　to　kill　him？〃
〃He　may　not　be　slain；〃　said　Wang　Jing。　〃That　will　not　do。　In　the　old　state　of　Lu；　King　Zhao　could　not　bear　with　the　Ji　family；　and　ran　away；　thus　losing　his　country。　But　this　Sima　Zhao　and　his　family　have　been　in　power　very　long　and　have　innumerable　supporters；　many　of　whom　are　quite　independent　of　any　act　of　his　whether　loyal　or　disloyal。　They　support　him　under　any　conditions。　Your　Majesty's　guards　are　few　and　weak　and　incapable………not　the　ones　for　any　desperate　effort。　It　would　be　most　lamentable　if　Your　Majesty　could　not　bear　this　trial。　The　correct　course　is　to　wait　and　not　act　hastily。〃
〃If　I　can　bear　this；　what　cannot　I　bear？〃　said　Cao　Mao。　〃But　I　will　do　something；　and　if　I　die；　what　matters？〃
He　went　into　the　private　apartments　and　spoke　to　the　Empress　Dowager。
Wang　Shen；　Wang　Jing；　and　Wang　Ye　sat　outside　talking。
〃This　matter　is　ing　to　a　head；　and　unless　we　want　to　be　put　to　death　and　all　our　loved　ones　with　us；　we　had　better　go　and　warn　Sima　Zhao；〃　said　Wang　Shen。
This　advice　angered　Wang　Jing；　and　he　said；　〃The　prince's　sorrow　is　the　minister's　shame；　and　a　shamed　minister　dies。　Dare　you　contemplate　treachery？〃
Wang　Jing　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　this　visit　to　Sima　Zhao；　but　the　other　two　went　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace　to　betray　their　prince。
Shortly　after；　Cao　Mao　appeared；　called　the　officer　of　the　guard；　Jiao　Bo；　and　bade　him　muster　his　force；　as　many　as　he　could。　Jiao　Bo　got　together　about　three　hundred；　and　this　little　force　marched　out　to　the　beating　of　a　drum　as　escort　to　a　small　carriage；　in　which　sat　the　Ruler　of　Wei　gripping　his　sword。　They　proceeded　south。
Wang　Jing　stepped　to　the　front　and　prayed　Cao　Mao　to　stay　his　steps　and　not　go。
〃To　go　against　Sima　Zhao　with　such　a　force　is　driving　the　sheep　into　the　tiger's　jaws。　To　die　such　a　death　is　a　vain　sacrifice。　Not　that　I　want　to　live；　but　this　can　do　nothing；〃　said　Wang　Jing。
〃Do　not　hinder　me。　I　have　made　up　my　mind；〃　replied　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　heading　toward　the　Dragon　Gate。
Presently　Jia　Chong　came　in　sight。　He　was　armed　and　mounted　on　a　fine　horse。　Beside　him　rode　two　generals；　Cheng　Zu　and　Cheng　Ji；　and　behind　him　followed　a　body　of　mail…clad　guards；　who　shouted　one　to　another　as　they　rode。
Then　Cao　Mao　held　up　his　sword　and　cried；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　God。　Who　are　you　thus　breaking　into　the　Forbidden　City？　Are　you　e　to　murder　your　lawful　ruler？〃
The　soldiers　suddenly　stopped；　for　they　were　Palace　guards。
Then　Jia　Chong　shouted　to　Cheng　Ji；　saying；　〃What　did　Duke　Sima　Zhao　train　you　for　if　not　for　this　day's　work？〃
Cheng　Ji　took　his　halberd　and　turned　to　Jia　Chong；　saying；　〃Death　or　capture？〃
〃Duke　Sima　Zhao　said　the　man　had　to　die；〃　replied　Jia　Chong。
Cheng　Ji　rushed　toward　the　carriage。
〃Fool！　How　dare　you？〃　cried　the　Ruler　of　Wei。
But　the　shout　was　cut　short　by　a　thrust　from　the　halberd　full　in　the　breast；　another　thrust；　and　the　point　came　out　at　the　back；　so　that　Cao　Mao　lay　there　dead　beside　his　carriage。　Jiao　Bo　ing　up　to　strike　a　blow　in　defense　was　also　slain；　and　the　little　escort　scattered。
Wang　Jing；　who　had　followed；　upbraided　Jia　Chong；　shouting；　〃Rebel　and　traitor！　How　dare　you　kill　the　Emperor？〃
Jia　Chong　got　angry　and　bade　his　lictors　arrest　Wang　Jing　and　stop　his　tongue。
When　they　told　Sima　Zhao；　he　went　into　the　Palace；　but　the　Emperor　was　dead。　He　assumed　an　air　of　being　greatly　shocked　and　beat　his　head　against　the　carriage；　weeping　and　lamenting　the　while。　He　sent　to　tell　all　the　officials　of　high　rank。
When　Imperial　Guardian　Sima　Fu　saw　the　dead　body　of　the　Emperor；　he　threw　himself　beside　it；　his　head　resting　thereon；　and　wept；　saying；　〃It　is　my　fault　that　they　slew　Your　Majesty！〃
Sima　Fu　had　a　coffin　brought；　and　the　remains　were　laid　therein　and　borne　to　the　West　Hall。　Therein　Sima　Zhao　entered　and　summoned　the　chief　officers　to　a　council。　They　came；　all　but　Minister　Chen　Tai。　Sima　Zhao　noticed　his　absence　and　sent　the　Chair　of　the　Secretariat　Xun　Yi；　his　uncle；　to　call　him。
Chen　Tai　wept　aloud；　saying；　〃Gossips　often　class　me　and　my　uncle　together。　Yet　today　is　my　uncle　less　virtuous　than　I。〃
However；　Chen　Tai　obeyed　the　summons　and　came；　dressed　in　the　coarse　white　cloth　of　mourning；　and　prostrated　himself　before　the　bier。　Sima　Zhao　feigned　to　be　grieved　also。
〃How　can　this　day's　work　be　judged？〃　said　Sima　Zhao。
〃If　only　Jia　Chong　be　put　to　death；　that　will　only　be　a　slight　atonement　to　satisfy　the　empire；〃　replied　Chen　Tai。
Sima　Zhao　was　silent　and　thought　long　before　he　spoke。　Then　he　said；　〃How　about　a　little　less　severe？〃
〃That　is　only　the　beginning。　I　know　not　other　punishments　less　severe。〃
〃Cheng　Ji　is　the　ungodly　rebel　and　actual　criminal。　He　should　suffer　the　death　of　shame………and　his　family；　too；〃　said　Sima　Zhao。
Thereupon　Cheng　Ji　broke　out　into　abuse　of　Sima　Zhao　and　reviled　him；　saying；　〃It　was　not　my　crime：　It　was　Jia　Chong　who　passed　on　your　own　orders！〃
Sima　Zhao　bade　them　cut　out　his　tongue　and　put　him　to　death。　They　did　so；　and　Cheng　Ji　and　his　brother　Cheng　Zu　were　both　put　to　death　in　the　market　place；　and　their　families　were　exterminated。

〃The　Emperor　must　die；〃　thus　spoke　Sima　Zhao　full　plain
In　Jia　Chong's　hearing；　and　the　Emperor　was　slain。
Although　they　killed　Cheng　Ji；　who　dealt　the　blow；
The　author　of　the　crime　we　all　well　know。

Wang　Jing's　whole　household　were　imprisoned。　He　himself　was　standing　in　the　courthouse　when　he　saw　his　mother；　Lady　Zhao；　being　brought　up　a　prisoner。
He　knocked　his　head　on　the　ground　and　wept；　saying；　〃O　unfilial　son　to　bring　distress　upon　a　gentle　mother！〃
But　his　mother　laughed。
〃Who　does　not　die？〃　cried　she。　〃The　only　thing　to　be　feared　is　not　dying　the　proper　death。　Who　would　regret　dying　like　this？〃
When　next　day　the　family　were　led　out　to　execution；　both　mother　and　son　smiled　as　they　went　past。　But　the　whole　city　wept　tears　of　sorrow。

Mother　Yuan　was　famous　at　the　rise　of　Han；
Mother　Zhao　was　distinguished　at　the　end　of　Wei；
With　purest　virtue　and　unfaltering　heart；
With　resolution　stern　she　played　her　part。
Her　fortitude　was　great　as　Taishan　Mountains；
Her　life　but　as　the　floating　down　did　count；
Like　mother　like　son；　their　fame　never　will　die；
So　long　as　shall　endure　the　earth　and　sky。

Imperial　Guardian　Sima　Fu　proposed　that　the　body　of　the　late　Emperor　should　receive　a　royal　funeral；　and　Sima　Zhao　consented。　Jia　Chong　and　those　of　his　party　urged　Sima　Zhao　to　assume　the　Throne　and　replace　Wei；　but　he　refused。
〃Formerly　King　Wen　had　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　and　yet　he　supported　and　served　the　state　of　Yin　to　its　end。　Wherefore　Confucius　calle