三国演义英文版-第60部分

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i　Ping　bit　off　one　of　his　fingers　as　a　pledge　of　fidelity。　I　saw　that。〃
Quin　Quington　was　kept　in　a　secret　part　of　the　palace；　while　his　late　master；　Dong　Cheng；　only　knowing　that　he　had　run　away；　took　no　special　means　to　find　him。
Soon　after　this　Cao　Cao　feigned　a　headache　and　sent　for　Ji　Ping　as　usual。
〃The　rebel　is　done　for；〃　thought　Ji　Ping；　and　he　made　a　secret　package　of　poison　which　he　took　with　him　to　the　palace　of　the　Prime　Minister。　He　found　Cao　Cao　in　bed。　The　patient　bade　the　doctor　prepare　a　potion　for　him。
〃One　draught　will　cure　this　disease；〃　said　Ji　Ping。
He　bade　them　bring　him　a　pot；　and　he　prepared　the　potion　in　the　room。　When　it　had　simmered　for　some　time　and　was　half　finished；　the　poison　was　added；　and　soon　after　the　physician　presented　the　draught。　Cao　Cao；　knowing　it　was　poisoned；　made　excuses　and　would　not　swallow　it。
〃You　should　take　it　hot；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Then　there　will　be　a　gentle　perspiration；　and　you　will　be　better。〃
〃You　are　a　scholar；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　sitting　up；　〃and　know　what　is　the　correct　thing　to　do。　When　the　master　is　ill　and　takes　drugs；　the　attendant　first　tastes　them；　when　a　man　is　ill；　his　son　first　tastes　the　medicine。　You　are　my　confidant　and　should　drink　first。　Then　I　will　swallow　the　remainder。〃
〃Medicine　is　to　treat　disease。　What　is　the　use　of　anyone's　tasting　it？〃　said　Ji　Ping。
But　he　guessed　now　the　conspiracy　had　been　discovered；　so　he　dashed　forward；　seized　Cao　Cao　by　the　ear；　and　tried　to　pour　the　potion　down　his　throat。　Cao　Cao　pushed　it　away；　and　it　spilt。　The　bricks　upon　which　it　fell　were　split　asunder。　Before　Cao　Cao　could　speak；　his　servants　had　already　seized　the　assailant。
Said　Cao　Cao；　〃I　am　not　ill。　I　only　wanted　to　test　you。　So　you　really　thought　to　poison　me！〃
He　sent　for　a　score　of　sturdy　gaolers　who　carried　off　the　prisoner　to　the　inner　apartments　to　be　interrogated。　Cao　Cao　took　his　seat　in　a　pavilion；　and　the　hapless　physician；　tightly　bound；　was　thrown　to　the　ground　before　him。　The　prisoner　maintained　a　bold　front。
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　thought　you　were　a　physician。　How　dared　you　try　to　poison　me？　Someone　incited　you　to　this　crime。　If　you　tell　me；　I　will　pardon　you。〃
〃You　are　a　rebel。　You　flout　your　Prince　and　injure　your　betters。　The　whole　empire　wishes　to　kill　you。　Do　you　think　I　am　the　only　one？〃
Cao　Cao　again　and　again　pressed　the　prisoner　to　tell　what　he　knew；　but　he　only　replied　that　no　one　had　sent　him　and　it　was　his　own　desire。
〃I　have　failed；　and　I　can　but　die；〃　added　Ji　Ping。
Cao　Cao　angrily　bade　the　gaolers　give　him　a　severe　beating；　and　they　dogged　him　for　two　watches。　His　skin　hung　in　tatters；　the　flesh　was　battered；　and　the　blood　from　his　wounds　ran　down　the　steps。　Then　fearing　he　might　die　and　his　evidence　be　lost；　Cao　Cao　bade　them　cease　and　remove　him。　They　took　him　off　to　a　quiet　place　where　he　might　recover　somewhat。
Having　issued　orders　to　prepare　a　banquet　for　next　day；　Cao　Cao　invited　all　the　courtiers　thereto。　Dong　Cheng　was　the　only　one　who　excused　himself；　saying　he　was　unwell。　The　other　conspirators　dared　not　stay　away　as　they　felt　they　would　be　suspected。
Tables　were　laid　in　the　private　apartments；　and　after　several　courses　the　host　said；　〃There　is　not　much　to　amuse　us　today；　but　I　have　a　man　to　show　you　that　will　sober　you。〃
〃Bring　him　in！〃　Cao　Cao　said；　turning　to　the　gaolers；　and　the　hapless　Ji　Ping　appeared；　securely　fastened　in　a　wooden　collar。　He　was　placed　where　all　could　see　him。
〃You　officials　do　not　know　that　this　man　is　connected　with　a　gang　of　evil　doers　who　desire　to　overturn　the　government　and　even　injure　me。　However；　Heaven　has　defeated　their　plans；　but　I　desire　that　you　should　hear　his　evidence。〃
Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　gaolers　to　beat　their　prisoner。　They　did　so　till　Ji　Ping　lay　unconscious；　when　they　revived　him　by　spraying　water　over　his　face。　As　soon　as　he　came　to；　he　glared　at　his　oppressor　and　ground　his　teeth。
〃Cao　Cao；　you　rebel！　What　are　you　waiting　for？　Why　not　kill　me？〃　cried　Ji　Ping。
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃The　conspirators　were　only　six　at　first；　you　made　the　seventh。　Is　that　true？〃
Here　the　prisoner　broke　in　with　more　abuse；　while　Wang　Zifu　and　the　other　three　conspirators　exchanged　glances；　looking　as　though　they　were　sitting　on　a　rug　full　of　needles。　Cao　Cao　continued　his　torture　of　the　prisoner；　beating　him　into　unconsciousness　and　reviving　him　with　cold　water；　the　victim　disdaining　to　ask　mercy。　Finally　Cao　Cao　realized　he　would　incriminate　none　of　his　acplices；　and　so　he　told　the　gaolers　to　remove　Ji　Ping。
At　the　close　of　the　banquet；　when　the　guests　were　dispersing；　four　of　them；　the　four　conspirators；　were　invited　to　remain　behind　to　supper。　They　were　terrified　so　that　their　souls　seemed　no　longer　to　inhabit　their　bodies；　but　there　was　no　saying　nay　to　the　invitation。
Presently　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Still　there　is　something　I　want　to　speak　about；　so　I　have　asked　you　to　stay　for　a　time　longer。　I　do　not　know　what　you　four　have　been　arranging　with　Dong　Cheng。〃
〃Nothing　at　all；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。
〃And　what　is　written　on　the　white　silk？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
They　all　said　they　knew　nothing　about　it。
Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　runaway　servant　to　be　brought　in。　As　soon　as　Quin　Quington　came；　Wang　Zifu　said；　〃Well；　what　have　you　seen　and　where？〃
Quin　Quington　replied；　〃You　five　very　carefully　chose　retired　places　to　talk　in；　and　you　secretly　signed　a　white　roll。　You　cannot　deny　that。〃
Wang　Zifu　replied；　〃This　miserable　creature　was　punished　for　misbehavior　with　one　of　Uncle　Dong　Cheng's　maids；　and　now　because　of　that　he　slanders　his　master。　You　must　not　listen　to　him。〃
〃Ji　Ping　tried　to　pour　poison　down　my　throat。　Who　told　him　to　do　that　if　it　was　not　Dong　Cheng？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
They　all　said　they　knew　nothing　about　who　it　was。
〃So　far；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　〃matters　are　only　beginning；　and　there　is　a　chance　of　forgiveness。　But　if　the　thing　grows；　it　will　be　difficult　not　to　take　notice　of　it。〃
The　whole　four　vigorously　denied　that　any　plot　existed。　However　Cao　Cao　called　up　his　henchmen；　and　the　four　men　were　put　into　confinement。
Next　day　Cao　Cao　with　a　large　following　went　to　the　State　Uncle's　palace　to　ask　after　his　health。
Dong　Cheng　came　out　to　receive　his　visitor；　who　at　once　said；　〃Why　did　you　not　e　last　night？〃
〃I　am　not　quite　well　yet　and　have　to　be　very　careful　about　going　out；〃　replied　Dong　Cheng。
〃One　might　say　you　were　suffering　from　national　sorrow；　eh？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Dong　Cheng　started。　Cao　Cao　continued；　〃Have　you　heard　of　the　Ji　Ping　affair？〃
〃No；　what　is　it？〃
Cao　Cao　smiled　coldly；　saying；　〃How　can　it　be　you　do　not　know？〃
He　turned　to　his　attendants　and　told　them　to　bring　in　the　prisoner；　while　he　went　on　talking　to　his　host　about　national　illness。
Dong　Cheng　was　much　put　about　and　knew　not　what　to　do。　Soon　the　gaolers　led　in　the　physician　to　the　steps　of　the　hall。　At　once　the　bound　man　began　to　rail　at　Cao　Cao　as　rebel　and　traitor。
〃This　man；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　pointing　to　Ji　Ping；　〃has　implicated　Wang　Zifu　and　three　others；　all　of　whom　are　now　under　arrest。　There　is　one　more　whom　I　have　not　caught　yet。〃
〃Who　sent　you　to　poison　me？〃　continued　Cao　Cao；　turning　toward　the　physician。　〃Quick；　tell　me！〃
〃Heaven　sent　me　to　slay　a　traitor！〃
Cao　Cao　angrily　ordered　them　to　beat　Ji　Ping　again；　but　there　was　no　part　of　his　body　that　could　be　beaten。　Dong　Cheng　sat　looking　at　him；　his　heart　feeling　as　if　transfixed　with　a　dagger。
〃You　were　born　with　ten　fingers。　How　is　it　you　have　now　only　nine？〃
Ji　Ping　replied；　〃I　bit　off　one　as　a　pledge　when　I　swore　to　slay　a　traitor。〃
Cao　Cao　told　them　to　bring　a　knife；　and　they　lopped　off　his　other　nine　fingers。
〃Now　they　are　all　off。　That　will　teach　you　to　make　pledges。〃
〃Still　I　have　a　mouth　that　can　swallow　a　traitor　and　a　tongue　that　can　curse　him；〃　said　Ji　Ping。
Cao　Cao　told　them　to　cut　out　his　tongue。
Ji　Ping　said；　〃Do　not。　I　cannot　endure　any　more　punishment；　I　shall　have　to　speak　out。　Loosen　my　bonds。〃
〃Loose　them。　There　is　no　reason　why　not；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
They　loosed　him。　As　soon　as　he　was　free；　Ji　Ping　stood　up；　turned　his　face　toward　the　Emperor's　palace　and　bowed；　saying；　〃It　is　Heaven's　will　that　thy　servant　has　been　unable　to　remove　the　evil。〃
Then　he　turned　and　smashed　his　head　into　the　steps　and　died。
His　body　was　quartered　and　exposed。　This　happened　in　the　first　month　of　the　fifth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　200）；　and　a　certain　historian　wrote　a　poem：

There　lived　in　Han　a　simple　physician。
No　warrior；　yet　brave
Enough　to　risk　his　very　life
His　Emperor　to　save。
Alas！　He　failed；　but　lasting　fame
Is　his；　he　feared　not　death；
He　cursed　the　traitorous　Prime　Minister
Unto　his　latest　breath。

Seeing　his　victim　had　passed　beyond　the　realm　of　punishment；　Cao　Cao　had　Quin　Quington　led　in。
〃Do　you　know　this　man；　Uncle？〃
〃Yes；〃　cried　Dong　Cheng。　〃So　the　runaway　servant　is　here。　He　ought　to　be　put　to　death！〃
〃He　just　told　me　of　your　treachery。　He　is　my　witness；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃Who　would　dare　kill　him？〃
〃How　can　you；　the　First　Minister　of　State；　heed　the　unsupported　tale　of　an　absconding　servant？〃
〃But　I　have　Wang　Zifu　and　the　others　in　prison；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃And　how　can　you　rebut　their　evidence？〃
He　then　called　in　the　remainder　of　his　followers　and　ordered　them　to　search　Dong　Cheng's　bedroom。　They　did　so　and　found　the　decree　that　had　been　given　him　in　the　girdle　and　the　pledge　signed　by　the　conspirators。
〃You　mean　rat！〃　cried　Cao　Cao。　〃You　dared　do　this？〃
He　gave　orders　to　arrest　the　whole　household　without　exception。　Then　he　returned　to　his　palace　with　the　incriminating　documents　and　called　all　his　advisers　together　to　discuss　the　dethronement　of　the　Emperor　and　the　setting　up　of　a　successor。

Many　decrees；　blood　written；　have　issued；　acplishing　nothing；
One　inscribed　pledge　was　fraught　with　mountains　of　sorrow。

The　reader　who　wishes　to　how　the　fate　of　the　Emperor　must　read　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　24　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　24
　Chapter　24
Cao　Cao　Murdered　The　Consort　Dong；
Liu　Bei　Flees　To　Yuan　Shao。
The　last　chapter　closed　with　the　discovery　of　the　〃girdle〃　decree　and　the　assembly　of　Cao　Cao's　advisers　to　consider　the　deposition　of　Emperor　Xian。
Cheng　Yu　spoke　strongly　against　this；　saying；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　the　means　by　which　you　impress　the　world　and　direct　the　government　is　the　mand　of　the　House　of　Han。　In　these　times　of　turmoil　and　rivalry　among　the　nobles；　such　a　step　as　the　deposition　of　the　ruler　will　certainly　bring　about　civil　war　and　is　much　to　be　deprecated。〃
After　reflection　Cao　Cao　abandoned　the　project。　But　Dong　Cheng's　plot　was　not　to　go　unpunished。　All　five　of　the　conspirators　with　every　member　of　their　households；　seven　hundred　at　least；　were　taken　and　put　to　death　at　one　or　another　of　the　gates　of　the　city。　The　people　wept　at　such　merciless　and　wholesale　slaughter。

A　secret　decree　in　a　girdle　sewn；
In　red　blood　written；　the　Emperor's　own；
To　the　staunch　and　faithful　Dong　Cheng　addressed；
Who　had　saved　him　once　when　enemies　pressed。
And　who；　sore　grieved　at　his　Sovereign's　fate；
Expressed　in　dreams　his　ceaseless　hate；
Carried　misfortune　and　death　in　its　train；
But　glory　to　him　who　died　in　vain。

Another　poet　wrote　of　the　sad　fate　of　Wang　Zifu　and　his　friends：

Greatheartedly　these　signed　the　silken　roll；
And　pledged　themsel