三国演义英文版-第288部分

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　vice　and　chose　Eunuch　Cen　Hun　as　his　confidant　and　favorite。　When　Prime　Minister　Puyang　Xing　and　General　Zhang　Bu　ventured　upon　remonstrance；　both；　with　all　their　family；　were　put　to　death。　Thereafter　none　dared　to　speak；　the　mouth　of　every　courtier　was　shut　tight。
Another　year…style；　Treasured　Paramount；　was　adopted　the　next　year　（266）；　and　the　responsibility　of　the　Prime　Minister's　office　was　shared　by　two　officers；　Lu　Kuai　the　Left　and　Wan　Yu　the　Right。
At　this　time　the　imperial　residence　was　in　Wuchang。　The　people　of　Yangzhou　shouldered　heavy　tribute　and　suffered　exceedingly。　There　was　no　limit　to　the　Ruler's　extravagance。　The　treasury　was　swept　clean；　and　the　ine　of　the　royal　domain　exhausted。
At　length　Lu　Kuai；　Left　Prime　Minister；　ventured　a　memorial；　saying：
〃No　natural　calamity　has　fallen　upon　the　people；　yet　they　starve；　no　public　work　is　in　progress；　yet　the　treasury　is　empty。　I　am　distressed。　The　country　under　the　Hans　has　fallen　apart　and　three　states　have　arisen　therefrom。　Those　ruled　by　the　Caos　and　the　Lius；　as　the　result　of　their　own　folly；　have　been　lost　in　Jin。　Foolish　I　may　be；　but　I　would　protect　the　state　for　Your　Majesty　against　the　evils　we　have　seen　in　the　other　divisions。　This　city　of　Wuchang　is　not　safe　as　a　royal　residence。　There　is　a　rhyme　concerning　it；　the　gist　of　which　is　that　it　is　better　to　drink　the　water　of　Jianye　than　eat　the　fish　of　Wuchang；　better　to　die　in　Jianye　than　to　live　in　Wuchang。　This　shows　the　regard　of　the　people　as　well　as　the　will　of　Heaven。　Now　the　public　storehouses　are　nearly　empty；　they　contain　insufficient　for　a　year's　use。　The　officers　of　all　grades　vex　and　distress　the　people　and　none　pity　them。
〃In　former　times　the　Palace　women　numbered　less　than　a　hundred；　for　years　past　they　have　exceeded　a　thousand。　This　is　an　extravagant　waste　of　treasure。　The　courtiers　render　no　disinterested　service；　but　are　split　into　cliques　and　cabals。　The　honest　are　injured；　and　the　good　driven　away。　All　these　things　undermine　the　state　and　weaken　the　people。　I　beg　Your　Majesty　to　reduce　the　number　of　officers　and　remove　grievances；　to　dismiss　the　Palace　women　and　select　honest　officers；　to　the　joy　of　the　people　and　the　tranquillity　of　the　state。〃
But　the　Ruler　of　Wu　was　displeased；　threw　the　memorial　away；　and　showed　his　contempt　for　the　Minister's　remonstrance　by　beginning　to　collect　material　for　the　building　of　a　new　palace　plex　to　be　called　the　Reflected　Light　Palace。　He　even　made　the　officers　of　the　court　go　into　the　forest　to　fell　trees　for　the　work。
The　Ruler　of　Wu　called　in　the　soothsayer　Shang　Guang　and　bade　him　take　the　cast　and　inquire　as　to　the　attainment　of　empire。
Shang　Guang　cast　a　lot　and　replied；　〃All　is　propitious；　and　in　the　year　of　the　'mouse'　your　blue　umbrella　will　enter　Luoyang！〃
And　Sun　Hao　was　pleased。
He　said　to　Minister　Hua　Jiao；　〃The　former　Rulers　listened　to　your　words　and　sent　generals　to　various　points　and　placed　defensive　camps　along　the　rivers。　And　over　all　these　was　set　Ding　Feng。　Now　my　desire　is　to　conquer　Han　and　avenge　the　wrongs　of　my　brother；　the　Ruler　of　Shu。　What　place　should　be　first　conquered？〃
Hua　Jiao　replied；　〃Now　that　Chengdu　has　fallen　and　the　Throne　there　been　overturned；　Sima　Yan　will　assuredly　desire　to　absorb　this　southern　land。　Your　Majesty　should　display　virtue　and　restore　confidence　to　your　people。　That　would　be　the　best　plan。　If　you　engage　in　war；　it　will　be　like　throwing　on　hemp　to　put　out　a　fire………the　hemp　only　adds　to　the　blaze。　This　is　worthy　of　careful　consideration。〃
But　Sun　Hao　grew　angry　and　said；　〃I　desire　to　take　this　opportunity　to　return　to　my　real　heritage。　Why　do　you　employ　this　ill…omened　language？　Were　it　not　for　your　long　service；　now　would　I　slay　you　and　expose　your　head　as　a　warning。〃
He　bade　the　lictors　hustle　Minister　Hua　Jiao　from　his　presence；　and　Hua　Jiao　left　the　court。
〃It　is　pitiful；〃　said　Hua　Jiao。　〃Ere　long　our　silky；　beautiful　country　will　pass　to　another！〃
So　Hua　Jiao　retired。
And　the　Ruler　of　Wu　ordered　Lu　Kang；　General　Who　Guards　the　East；　to　camp　his　army　at　Jiangkou　in　order　to　attack　Xiangyang。
Spies　reported　this　in　Luoyang；　and　it　was　told　the　Ruler　of　Jin。　When　Sima　Yan　heard　that　the　army　of　Wu　threatened　to　invade　Xiangyang；　he　called　a　council。
Jia　Chong　stood　forth；　saying；　〃I　hear　the　government　of　Wu；　under　its　present　ruler；　Sun　Hao；　is　devoid　of　virtue；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wu　has　turned　aside　out　of　the　road。　Your　Majesty　should　send　mander　Yang　Hu　to　oppose　this　army。　When　internal　trouble　shall　arise；　let　him　attack；　and　victory　will　then　be　easy。〃
The　Ruler　of　Jin　issued　an　edict　ordering　Yang　Hu　to　prepare；　and　so　he　mustered　his　troops　and　set　himself　to　guard　the　county。
Yang　Hu　became　very　popular　in　Xiangyang。　Any　of　the　soldiers　of　Wu　who　desired　to　desert　to　the　other　side　were　allowed　to　e　over。　He　employed　only　the　fewest　possible　troops　on　patrol　duty。　Instead　he　set　his　soldiers　to　till　the　soil；　and　they　cultivated　an　extensive　area；　whereby　the　hundred　days　supplies　with　which　they　set　out　were　soon　increased　to　enough　for　ten　years。
Yang　Hu　maintained　great　simplicity；　wearing　the　lightest　of　garments　and　no　armor。　His　personal　escort　and　servants　numbered　only　about　ten。
One　day　his　officers　came　to　his　tent　and　said；　〃The　spies　reported　great　laxity　in　the　enemy's　camp。　It　is　time　to　make　an　attack！〃
But　Yang　Hu　replied；　〃You　must　not　despise　Lu　Kang；　for　he　is　able　and　crafty。　Formerly　his　master　sent　him　to　attack　Xiling；　and　he　slew　Bu　Chan　and　many　of　his　generals；　before　I　could　save　that　city。　So　long　as　Lu　Kang　remains　in　mand；　I　shall　remain　on　the　defensive。　I　shall　not　attack　till　there　be　trouble　and　confusion　among　our　enemies。　To　be　rash　and　not　await　the　proper　moment　to　attack　is　to　invite　defeat。〃
They　found　him　wise　and　said　no　more。　They　only　kept　the　boundaries。
One　day　Yang　Hu　and　his　officers　went　out　to　hunt；　and　it　happened　that　Lu　Kang　had　chosen　the　same　day　to　hunt。　Yang　Hu　gave　strict　orders　not　to　cross　the　boundary；　and　so　each　hunted　only　on　his　own　side。
Lu　Kang　was　astonished　at　the　enemy's　scrupulous　propriety。
He　sighed；　〃The　soldiers　of　Yang　Hu　have　so　high　a　discipline　that　I　may　not　make　any　invasion　now。〃
In　the　evening；　after　both　parties　had　returned；　Yang　Hu　ordered　an　inspection　of　the　slaughtered　game　and　sent　over　to　the　other　side　any　that　seemed　to　have　been　first　struck　by　the　soldiers　of　Wu。
Lu　Kang　was　greatly　pleased　and　sent　for　the　bearers　of　the　game。
〃Does　your　leader　drink　wine？〃　asked　he。
They　replied；　〃Only　fine　wines　does　he　drink。〃
〃I　have　some　very　old　wine；〃　replied　Lu　Kang；　smiling；　〃and　I　will　give　of　it　to　you　to　bear　to　your　general　as　a　gift。　It　is　the　wine　I　myself　brew　and　drink　on　ceremonial　occasions；　and　he　shall　have　half　in　return　for　today's　courtesy。〃
They　took　the　wine　and　left。
〃Why　do　you　give　him　wine？〃　asked　Lu　Kang's　officers。
〃Because　he　has　shown　kindness；　and　I　must　return　courtesy　for　courtesy。〃
When　the　gift　of　wine　arrived　and　the　bearers　told　Yang　Hu　the　story　of　their　reception；　he　laughed。
〃So　he　knows　I　can　drink；〃　said　Yang　Hu。
He　had　the　jar　opened；　and　the　wine　was　poured　out。　One　of　his　generals；　Chen　Yuan；　begged　him　to　drink　moderately　lest　there　should　be　some　harm　e　of　it。
〃Lu　Kang　is　no　poisoner；〃　replied　Yang　Hu。
And　he　drank。　The　friendly　intercourse　thus　continued；　and　messengers　frequently　passed　from　one　camp　to　the　other。
One　day　the　messengers　said　that　Lu　Kang　was　unwell　and　had　been　ailing　for　several　days。
〃I　think　he　suffers　from　the　same　plaint　as　I；〃　said　Yang　Hu。　〃I　have　some　remedies　ready　prepared　and　will　send　him　some。〃
The　drugs　were　taken　over　to　the　Wu　camp。
But　the　sick　man's　officers　were　suspicious　and　said；　〃This　medicine　is　surely　harmful：　It　es　from　the　enemy。〃
However；　Lu　Kang　said；　〃No；　old　Uncle　Yang　Hu　would　not　poison　a　person。　Do　not　doubt。〃
He　drank　the　decoction。　Next　day　he　was　much　better。
When　his　staff　came　to　congratulate　him；　he　said；　〃If　our　opponents　take　their　stand　upon　virtue　and　we　take　ours　upon　violence；　they　will　drag　us　after　them　without　fighting。　See　to　it　that　the　boundaries　be　well　kept　and　that　we　seek　not　to　gain　any　unfair　advantage。〃
Soon　after　came　a　special　envoy　from　the　Ruler　of　Wu　to　urge　upon　Lu　Kang　prompt　activity。
〃Our　Emperor　sends　orders　for　you　to　press　forward；〃　said　the　envoy。　〃You　are　not　to　await　a　Jin　invasion。〃
〃You　may　return；　and　I　will　send　up　a　memorial；〃　replied　Lu　Kang。
So　a　memorial　was　written　and　soon　followed　the　envoy　to　the　capital；　which　by　this　time　was　Jianye。　When　the　Ruler　of　Wu；　Sun　Hao；　read　it；　he　found　therein　many　arguments　against　attacking　Jin　and　exhortations　to　exercise　a　virtuous　rule　instead　of　engaging　in　hostilities。　It　angered　him。
〃They　say　Lu　Kang　has　e　to　an　understanding　with　the　enemy；　and　now　I　believe　it！〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wu。
Thereupon　he　deprived　Lu　Kang　of　his　mand　and　took　away　his　mission　and　degraded　him　into　Marching　General。　Sun　Ji；　General　of　the　Left　Army；　was　sent　to　supersede　Lu　Kang。　And　none　dared　to　intervene。
Sun　Hao　became　still　more　arbitrary　and　of　his　own　will　changed　the　year…style　once　more　to　the　Phoenix　（AD　269）。　Day　by　day　his　life　became　more　wanton　and　vicious。　The　soldiers　in　every　camp　murmured　with　anger　and　resentment；　and　at　last　three　high　officers………Prime　Minister　Wan　Yu；　General　Liu　Ping；　and　Minister　of　Agriculture　Lou　Xuan………boldly　and　earnestly　remonstrated　with　the　Emperor　for　his　many　irregularities。　They　suffered　death。　Within　ten　years　more　than　forty　ministers　were　put　to　death　for　doing　their　duty。
Sun　Hao　maintained　an　extravagantly　large　guard　of　fifty　thousand　heavy　cavalry；　and　these　soldiers　were　the　terror　of　everyone。
Now　when　Yang　Hu；　on　the　Jin　side　of　the　frontier；　heard　that　his　opponent　Lu　Kang　had　been　removed　from　his　mand　and　that　the　conduct　of　the　Ruler　of　Wu　had　bee　wholly　unreasonable；　he　knew　that　the　time　was　near　for　him　to　conquer　Wu。　Wherefore　he　presented　a　memorial：
〃Although　fate　is　superior　to　human；　yet　success　depends　upon　human　effort。　Now　as　the　geographic　difficulties　of　the　South　Land　are　not　as　those　of　the　River　Lands；　while　the　ferocity　of　Sun　Hao　exceeds　that　of　Liu　Shan；　the　misery　of　the　people　of　Wu　exceeds　that　of　the　dwellers　in　Shu。　Our　armies　are　stronger　than　ever　before；　and　if　we　miss　this　opportunity　to　bring　the　whole　land　under　one　rule；　but　continue　to　weary　our　army　with　continual　watching　and　cause　the　world　to　groan　under　the　burden　of　militarism；　then　our　efficiency　will　decline　and　we　shall　not　endure。〃
When　Sima　Yan　read　this；　he　gave　orders　for　the　army　to　move。　But　three　officers………Jia　Chong；　Xun　Xu；　and　Feng　Dan………opposed　it；　and　the　orders　were　withdrawn。
Yang　Hu　was　disappointed　at　the　news　and　said；　〃What　a　pity　it　is　that　of　ten　affairs　in　the　world；　one　always　meets　with　eight　or　nine　vexations！〃
In　the　fourth　year　of　Universal　Tranquillity；　in　Jin　calendar　（AD　278）；　Yang　Hu　went　to　court　and　asked　leave　to　retire　on　account　of　ill　health。
Before　granting　him　leave　to　go；　Sima　Yan　asked；　〃Do　you　have　plans　to　propose　to　settle　the　empire？〃
Yang　Hu　replied；　〃Sun　Hao　is　a　very　cruel　ruler　and　could　be　conquered　without　fighting。　If　he　were　to　die　and　a　wise　successor　sat　upon　his　throne；　Your　Majesty　would　never　b