三国演义英文版-第283部分

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　a　matter　concerning　the　existence　of　a　dynasty？　Has　any　emperor　ever　yielded　to　the　enemy？〃
The　Latter　Ruler　had　seven　sons　in　all………Liu　Rui；　Liu　Dao；　Liu　Zhong；　Liu　Zan；　Liu　Chan；　Liu　Xue；　and　Liu　Ju。　But　the　ablest；　and　the　only　one　above　the　mon　level　of　people；　was　this　Liu　Chan。
The　Latter　Ruler　turned　feebly　to　his　son　and　said；　〃The　ministers　have　decided　otherwise：　They　advise　surrender。　You　are　the　only　one　who　thinks　that　boldness　may　avail；　and　would　you　drench　the　city　in　blood？〃
The　Prince　said；　〃While　the　First　Ruler　lived；　this　Qiao　Zhou　had　no　voice　in　state　affairs。　Now　he　gives　this　wild　advice　and　talks　the　most　subversive　language。　There　is　no　reason　at　all　in　what　he　says；　for　we　have　in　the　city　many　legions　of　soldiers；　and　Jiang　Wei　is　undefeated　in　Saber　Pass。　He　will　e　to　our　rescue　as　soon　as　he　knows　our　straits；　and　we　can　help　him　to　fight。　We　shall　surely　succeed。　Why　listen　to　the　words　of　this　dryasdust？　Why　abandon　thus　lightly　the　work　of　our　great　forerunner？〃
The　Latter　Ruler　became　angry　at　this　harangue　and　turned　to　his　son；　saying；　〃Be　silent！　You　are　too　young　to　understand　Heaven's　will！〃
Liu　Chan　beat　his　head　upon　the　ground　and　implored　his　father　to　make　an　effort。
〃If　we　have　done　our　best　and　defeat　yet　es；　if　parents　and　children；　lords　and　ministers　have　set　their　backs　to　the　wall　and　died　in　one　final　effort　to　preserve　the　dynasty；　then　in　the　shades　of　the　Nine　Golden　Springs　we　shall　be　able　to　look　the　First　Ruler　in　the　face；　unashamed。　But　what　if　we　surrender？〃
The　appeal　left　the　Latter　Ruler　unmoved。
The　Prince　cried；　〃Is　it　not　shameful　in　one　day　to　throw　down　all　that　our　ancestors　built　up　with　so　great　labor？　I　would　rather　die。〃
The　Latter　Ruler；　now　very　angry；　bade　the　courtiers　thrust　the　young　man　out　of　the　Palace。　Then　he　ordered　Qiao　Zhou　to　prepare　the　formal　Act　of　Surrender。　After　it　had　been　written；　three　officers………Adviser　Zhang　Shao；　Imperial　Son…in…Law　mander　Deng　Liang；　and　Minister　Qiao　Zhou………were　sent　with　it　and　the　Hereditary　Seal　to　the　camp　of　Deng　Ai　to　offer　submission。
Every　day　Deng　Ai's　horsemen　rode　to　the　city　to　see　what　was　afoot。　It　was　a　glad　day　when　they　returned　reporting　the　hoisting　of　the　flag　of　surrender。　The　general　had　not　long　to　wait。　The　three　messengers　soon　arrived　and　presented　the　letter　announcing　surrender　and　the　seal　therewith。　Deng　Ai　read　the　letter　with　great　exultation；　and　took　possession　of　the　seal。　He　treated　the　envoys　courteously；　and　by　their　hands　sent　back　a　letter　to　allay　any　anxiety　among　the　people。　In　due　time　they　reentered　the　city　and　bore　this　missive　to　the　Latter　Ruler；　and　they　told　him　they　had　been　treated　well。　The　Latter　Ruler　read　the　letter　with　much　satisfaction。　Then　he　sent　Minister　Jiang　Xian　to　order　Jiang　Wei　to　surrender。
Then　Li　Hu；　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　carried　to　the　victorious　Deng　Ai　the　statistical　documents　of　the　resources　of　the　kingdom：
2；800；000　households；　9；140；000　souls；　102；000　active　armed　soldiers　of　all　ranks；　and　40；000　civil　employees。　Besides；　there　were　granaries　with　4；000；000　carts　of　grain；　treasuries　with　3；000　pounds　of　gold　and　silver　and　200；000　rolls　of　silks　of　many　qualities；　and　many　unenumerated　but　precious　things　in　the　various　storehouses。
Li　Hu　arranged　that　the　ceremony　of　surrender　should　take　place　on　the　first　day　of　the　twelfth　month。
The　wrath　of　Prince　Liu　Chan　swelled　high　as　heaven　when　he　heard　that　his　father　had　actually　arranged　the　date　of　his　abdication。
Girding　on　his　sword；　he　was　setting　out　for　the　Palace　when　his　Consort；　Lady　Cui；　stopped　him；　saying；　〃My　Prince；　why　does　your　face　bear　this　look　of　terrible　anger？〃
He　replied；　〃The　army　of　Wei　is　at　the　gates；　and　my　father　has　made　his　Act　of　Surrender。　Tomorrow　he　and　all　his　ministers　are　going　out　of　the　city　to　submit　formally；　and　the　dynasty　will　end。　But　rather　than　bow　the　knee　to　another；　I　will　die　and　go　into　the　presence　of　the　First　Ruler　in　the　realms　below。〃
〃How　worthy；　how　worthy！〃　replied　she。　〃And　if　my　lord　must　die；　I；　thy　handmaid；　prays　that　she　may　die　first。　Then　may　my　Prince　depart。〃
〃But　why　should　you　die？〃
〃The　Prince　dies　for　his　father　and　the　handmaid　for　her　husband。　One　eternal　principle　guides　us　all。〃
Thereupon　she　dashed　herself　against　a　pillar；　and　so　she　died。　Then　Liu　Chan　slew　his　three　sons　and　cut　off　the　head　of　his　Consort　that　he　might　sever　all　ties　to　life　lest　he　be　tempted　to　live。　Bearing　the　head　of　the　princess　in　his　hand；　he　went　to　the　Temple　of　the　First　Ruler；　where　he　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃Thy　servant　is　ashamed　at　seeing　the　kingdom　pass　to　another。　Therefore　has　he　slain　his　Consort　and　his　sons　that　nothing　should　induce　him　to　live　and　forego　death。〃
This　announcement　recited；　he　made　yet　another　to　his　ancestors。
〃My　ancestors；　if　you　have　spiritual　intelligence；　you　know　the　feelings　of　your　descendant。〃
Then　he　wept　sore　till　his　eyes　ran　blood；　and　he　mitted　suicide。　The　people　of　Shu　grieved　deeply　for　him；　and　a　poet　has　praised　his　noble　deed。

Both　king　and　courtiers；　willing；　bowed　the　knee；
One　son　alone　was　grieved　and　would　not　live。
The　western　kingdom　fell　to　rise　no　more；
A　noble　prince　stood　forth；　for　aye　renowned
As　one　who　died　to　save　his　forbears'　shame。
With　grievous　mien　and　falling　tears　he　bowed
His　head；　declaring　his　intent　to　die。
While　such　a　memory　lingers　none　may　say
That　the　Han　Dynasty　has　perished。

When　the　Latter　Ruler　knew　of　the　death　of　his　son；　he　sent　people　to　bury　him。
Soon　the　main　body　of　the　Wei　army　came。　The　Latter　Ruler　and　all　his　courtiers　to　the　number　of　sixty　went　out　three　miles　from　the　north　gate　to　bow　their　heads　in　submission；　the　Latter　Ruler　binding　himself　with　cord　and　taking　a　coffin　with　him。　But　Deng　Ai　with　his　own　hands　loosened　the　bonds　and　raised　the　Latter　Ruler　from　the　ground。　The　coffin　was　burned。　Then　the　victorious　leader　and　the　vanquished　Emperor　returned　into　the　city　side　by　side。

Wei's　legions　entered　Shu；
And　the　ruler　thereof　saved　his　life
At　the　price　of　his　honor　and　his　throne。
Huang　Hao's　vicious　counsels　had　brought　disaster
Against　which　Jiang　Wei's　efforts　were　vain。
How　bright　shone　the　loyalty　of　the　faithful　one！
How　noble　was　the　grandson　of　the　First　Ruler！
Alas！　It　led　him　into　the　way　of　sorrow。
And　the　plans　of　the　First　Ruler；
Excellent　and　far…reaching。
Whereby　he　laid　the　foundations　of　a　mighty　state；
Were　brought　to　nought　in　one　day。

The　mon　people　rejoiced　at　the　magnanimity　of　Deng　Ai；　and　met　the　returning　cavalcade　with　burning　incense　and　flowers。　The　title　of　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　was　given　to　the　Latter　Ruler　and　other　ranks　were　given　to　the　ministers　who　had　surrendered。
Deng　Ai　requested　the　Latter　Ruler　to　issue　one　more　proclamation　from　the　Palace　to　reassure　the　people；　and　then　the　conquerors　took　formal　possession　of　the　state　and　its　granaries　and　storehouses。　Two　officers………Governor　of　Yizhou　Zhang　Shao　and　Minister　Zhang　Jung………were　sent　into　the　counties　and　territories　to　explain　the　new　situation　and　pacify　malcontents；　and　another　messenger　was　sent　to　exhort　Jiang　Wei　to　yield　peaceably。　A　report　of　the　success　was　sent　to　Capital　Luoyang。
Huang　Hao；　the　eunuch　whose　evil　counsels　had　wrought　such　ruin　to　his　master；　was　looked　upon　as　a　danger；　and　Deng　Ai　decided　to　put　him　to　death。　However；　Huang　Hao　was　rich；　and　he　gave　bribes　to　Deng　Ai's　people；　and　so　he　escaped　the　death　penalty。
Thus　perished　the　House　of　Han。　Reflecting　on　its　end　a　poet　recalled　the　exploits　of　Zhuge　Liang　the　Martial　Lord；　and　he　wrote　a　poem。

The　denizens　of　tree…tops；　apes　and　birds；
Most　lawless　of　crested　things；　yet　knew
And　feared　his　mordant　pen。　The　clouds　and　winds
Conspired　to　aid　him　to　defend　his　lord。
But　nought　awaited　the　leader's　precepts；　wise
To　save；　with　base　content　the　erstwhile　king
Too　soon　surrendered；　yielding　all　but　life。
In　gifts　Zhuge　Liang　was　peer　with
Guan　Zhong　and　Yue　Yi；
His　hapless　death　pared　with
Zhang　Fei's　and　Guan　Yu's；
Sad　sight；　his　temple　on　the　river's　brink！
It　wrings　the　heart　more　than　the　tearful　verse
Of　the　Liangfu　songs　he　most　loved。

In　due　time　Minister　Jiang　Xian　reached　the　Saber　Pass；　and　gave　Jiang　Wei　the　Latter　Ruler's　mand　to　surrender　to　the　invaders。　Jiang　Wei　was　dumb　with　amazement　at　the　order；　his　officers　ground　their　teeth　with　rage　and　mortification。　Their　hair　stood　on　end　with　anger；　they　drew　their　swords　and　slashed　at　stones　in　their　wrath。
Shouted　they；　〃While　we　are　fighting　to　our　death；　the　Latter　Ruler　has　yielded！〃
The　roar　of　their　angry　lamentation　was　heard　for　miles。
But　Jiang　Wei　soothed　them　with　kindly　words；　saying；　〃Generals；　grieve　not。　Even　yet　I　can　restore　the　House　of　Han！〃
〃How？〃　cried　they。
And　he　whispered　low　in　their　ears。
The　flag　of　surrender　fluttered　over　the　ramparts　of　Saber　Pass；　and　a　messenger　went　to　Zhong　Hui's　camp。　When　Jiang　Wei　and　his　generals　drew　near；　Zhong　Hui　went　out　to　meet　them。
〃Why　have　you　been　so　long　in　ing？〃　said　Zhong　Hui。
Jiang　Wei　looked　him　straight　in　the　face　and　said；　without　a　tremor；　but　through　falling　tears；　〃The　whole　armies　of　the　state　are　under　me；　and　I　am　here　far　too　soon！〃
Zhong　Hui　wondered　about　this　firm　remark；　and　said　nothing　more。　The　two　saluted　each　other　and　took　their　seats；　Jiang　Wei　being　placed　in　the　seat　of　honor。
Jiang　Wei　said；　〃I　hear　that　every　detail　of　your　plans；　from　the　time　you　left　the　South　of　River　Huai　till　now；　has　been　acplished。　The　good　fortune　of　the　Sima　family　is　owing　to　you；　and　so　I　am　the　more　content　to　bow　my　head　and　yield　to　you。　Had　it　been　Deng　Ai；　I　should　have　fought　to　the　death；　for　I　would　not　have　surrendered　to　him！〃
Then　Zhong　Hui　broke　an　arrow　in　twain；　and　they　two　swore　close　brotherhood。　Their　friendship　became　close…knit。　Jiang　Wei　was　continued　in　mand　of　his　own　army；　at　which　he　secretly　rejoiced。　He　sent　Jiang　Xian　back　to　Chengdu。
As　conqueror；　Deng　Ai　arranged　for　the　administration　of　the　newly…gained　territory。　He　made　Shi　Zuan　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou　and　appointed　Qian　Hong；　Yang　Xin；　and　many　others　to　various　posts。　He　also　built　a　tower　in　Mianzhu　in　memoration　of　his　conquest。
At　a　great　banquet；　where　most　of　the　guests　were　people　of　the　newly…conquered　land；　Deng　Ai　drank　too　freely　and　in　his　cups　became　garrulous。
With　a　patronizing　wave　of　his　hand；　he　said　to　his　guests；　〃You　are　lucky　in　that　you　have　had　to　do　with　me。　Things　might　well　have　been　otherwise；　and　you　might　all　have　been　put　to　death；　if　you　surrender　to　other　leader！〃
The　guests　rose　in　a　body　and　expressed　their　gratitude。　Just　at　that　moment　Jiang　Xian　arrived　from　his　visit　to　Jiang　Wei　to　say　that　Jiang　Wei　and　his　army　had　surrendered　to　Zhong　Hui。　Deng　Ai　thereupon　conceived　a　great　hatred　for　Zhong　Hui；　and　soon　after　he　wrote　to　Luoyang　a　letter　something　like　this：
〃I　would　venture　to　remark　that　misleading　rumors　of　war　should　precede　actual　attack。　Now　that　Shu　has　been　overe；　the　manifest　next　move　is　against　Wu；　and　in　present　circumstances　victory　would　easily　follow　an　attack。　But　after　a　great　effort；　both　leaders　and　led　are　weary　and　unfit　for　immediate　service。　Therefore　of　this　arm