三国演义英文版-第7部分

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　without　further　action。
Zhang　Rang　and　the　eunuchs　knew　this　move　was　directed　against　them　and　said；　〃This　is　He　Jin's　plot。　If　we　do　not　strike　first；　our　whole　clans　shall　be　exterminated。〃
So　they　hid　a　band　of　fifty　armed　ruffians　at　the　Gate　of　Grand　Virtue　in　the　Palace　of　Happiness；　where　the　Empress　lived；　then　they　went　in　to　see　her。
They　said；　〃The　General；　feigning　to　act　under　mand；　has　called　up　armies　to　the　capital　to　destroy　us。　We　pray　you；　Your　Majesty；　pity　and　save　us！〃
〃Go　to　the　General　and　confess　your　faults；〃　said　the　Empress。
〃If　we　did；　then　should　we　be　cut　to　mincemeat！　Rather　summon　the　General　into　your　presence　and　mand　him　to　cease。　If　he　will　not；　then　we　pray　but　die　in　your　presence。〃
Empress　He　issued　the　requisite　mand。
He　Jin　was　just　going　to　her　when　Secretary　Chen　Lin　advised　him　not　to　enter；　saying；　〃The　eunuchs　are　certainly　behind　the　order　and　mean　your　harm。〃
But　He　Jin　could　only　see　the　mand　of　the　Empress　and　was　oblivious　to　all　else。　Said　he；　〃Clearly；　this　is　an　edict　from　the　Empress。　What　harm？〃
〃Our　plot　is　no　longer　a　secret；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Still　you　may　go　if　you　are　ready　to　fight　your　way　in。〃
〃Get　the　eunuchs　out　first！〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Silly　children！〃　said　He　Jin。　〃What　can　they　do　against　the　man　who　holds　the　forces　of　the　empire　in　his　palm？〃
Yuan　Shao　said；　〃If　you　will　go；　then　we　will　e　as　a　guard；　just　as　a　precaution。〃
Whereupon　both　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　chose　five　hundred　best　men　under　their　mand；　at　whose　head　they　placed　Yuan　Shu；　a　brother　of　Yuan　Shao。　Yuan　Shu；　clad　in　mail；　drew　up　his　troops　outside　the　Forbidden　City's　entrance；　while　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao；　holding　swords；　went　as　escort。
When　He　Jin　neared　the　Palace　of　Happiness；　the　officers　from　the　Inner　Bureau　said；　〃The　orders　are　to　admit　the　Regent　Marshal　and　none　other。〃
So　the　escort　was　detained　outside。　He　Jin　went　in　proudly。　At　the　Gate　of　Grand　Virtue；　he　was　met　by　Zhang　Rang　and　Duan　Gui；　and　their　followers　quickly　closed　in　around　him。　He　Jin　began　to　feel　alarmed。
Then　Zhang　Rang　in　a　harsh　voice　began　to　revile　him：　〃What　crime　had　Empress　Dong　mitted　that　she　should　have　been　put　to　death？　And　when　the　Mother　of　the　Country　was　buried；　who　feigned　sickness　and　did　not　attend？　We　raised　you　and　your　paltry；　huckstering　family　to　all　the　dignity　and　wealth　you　have；　and　this　is　your　gratitude！　You　would　slay　us。　You　call　us　sordid　and　dirty：　Who　is　the　cleaner？〃
He　Jin　was　panic　stricken　and　looked　about　for　a　way　to　escape；　but　all　gates　had　been　shut。　The　eunuchs　closed　him　in；　and　then　the　assassins　appeared　and　cut　He　Jin　into　halves。

Closing　the　days　of　the　Hans；　and　the　years　of　their　rule　were　near　spent；
Stupid　and　tactless　was　He　Jin；　yet　stood　he　highest　in　office；
Many　were　they　who　advised　him；　but　he　was　deaf　as　he　heard　not；
Wherefore　fell　he　a　victim　under　the　swords　of　the　eunuchs。

So　He　Jin　died。　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　waited　long。　By　and　by；　impatient　at　the　delay；　they　called　through　the　gate；　〃Thy　carriage　awaits；　O　General！〃
For　reply　the　head　of　He　Jin　was　flung　over　the　wall。　A　decree　was　proclaimed：　〃He　Jin　has　contemplated　treachery　and　therefore　has　been　slain！　It　pardons　his　adherents。〃
Yuan　Shao　shouted；　〃The　eunuchs　have　slain　the　High　Minister。　Let　those　who　will　slay　this　wicked　party　e　and　help　me！〃
Then　one　of　He　Jin's　generals；　Wu　Kuang；　set　fire　to　the　gate。　Yuan　Shu　at　the　head　of　his　guards　burst　in　and　fell　to　slaying　the　eunuchs　without　regard　to　age　or　rank。　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　broke　into　the　inner　part　of　the　Palace。　Four　of　the　eunuchs………Zhao　Zhong；　Cheng　Kuang；　Xia　Yun；　and　Guo　Sheng………fled　to　the　Blue　Flower　Lodge　where　they　were　hacked　to　pieces。　Fire　raged；　destroying　the　buildings。
Four　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants………Zhang　Rang；　Duan　Gui；　Cao　Jie；　and　Hou　Lan………led　by　Zhang　Rang　carried　off　the　Empress；　Emperor　Bian；　and　Prince　Xian　of　Chenliu　toward　the　North　Palace。
Lu　Zhi；　since　he　had　resigned　office；　was　at　home；　but　hearing　of　the　revolution　in　the　Palace　he　donned　his　armor；　took　his　spear；　and　prepared　to　fight。
He　saw　Eunuch　Duan　Gui　hurrying　the　Empress　along　and　called　out；　〃You　rebel；　how　dare　you　abduct　the　Empress？〃
The　eunuch　fled。　The　Empress　leaped　out　of　a　window　and　was　taken　to　a　place　of　safety。
General　Wu　Kuang　burst　into　one　of　the　inner　halls　where　he　found　He　Miao；　sword　in　hand。
〃You　also　were　in　the　plot　to　slay　your　own　brother；〃　cried　Wu　Kuang。　〃You　shall　die　with　the　others！〃
〃Let　us　kill　the　plotter　against　his　elder　brother！〃　cried　many。
He　Miao　looked　around：　His　enemies　hemmed　him　in　on　every　side。　He　was　hacked　to　pieces。
Yuan　Shu　bade　his　soldiers　scatter　and　seek　out　all　the　families　of　the　eunuchs；　sparing　none。　In　that　slaughter　many　beardless　men　were　killed　in　error。
Cao　Cao　set　himself　to　extinguish　the　fires。　He　then　begged　Empress　He　to　undertake　the　direction　of　affairs；　and　soldiers　were　sent　to　pursue　Zhang　Rang　and　rescue　the　young　Emperor　and　the　young　Prince　of　Chenliu。
Meanwhile；　Zhang　Rang　and　Duan　Gui　had　hustled　away　the　Emperor　and　the　Prince。　They　burst　through　the　smoke　and　fire　and　traveled　without　stopping　till　they　reached　the　Beimang　Hills。　It　was　then　the　third　watch。　They　heard　a　great　shouting　behind　them　and　saw　soldiers　in　pursuit。　Their　leader；　Min　Gong；　a　mander　in　Henan；　was　shouting；　〃Traitors；　stop；　stop！〃
Zhang　Rang；　seeing　that　he　was　lost；　jumped　into　the　river；　where　he　was　drowned。
The　two　boys　ignorant　of　the　meaning　of　all　this　confusion　and　terrified　out　of　their　senses；　dared　not　utter　a　cry。　They　crept　in　among　the　rank　grass　on　the　river　bank　and　hid。　The　soldiers　scattered　in　all　directions　but　failed　to　find　them。　So　they　remained　till　the　fourth　watch；　shivering　with　cold　from　the　drenching　dew　and　very　hungry。　They　lay　down　in　the　thick　grass　and　wept　in　each　other's　arms；　silently；　lest　anyone　should　discover　them。
〃This　is　no　a　place　to　stay　in；〃　said　Prince　Xian。　〃We　must　find　some　way　out。〃
So　the　two　children　knotted　their　clothes　together　and　managed　to　crawl　up　the　bank。　They　were　in　a　thicket　of　thorn　bushes；　and　it　was　quite　dark。　They　could　not　see　any　path。　They　were　in　despair　when；　all　at　once；　millions　of　fireflies　sprang　up　all　about　them　and　circled　in　the　air　in　front　of　the　Emperor。
〃God　is　helping　us；〃　said　Prince　Xian。
They　followed　whither　the　fireflies　led　and　gradually　got　into　a　road。　They　walked　till　their　feet　were　too　sore　to　go　further；　when；　seeing　a　heap　of　straw　near　the　road；　they　crept　to　it　and　lay　down。
This　heap　of　straw　was　close　to　a　farm　house。　In　the　night；　as　the　farmer　was　sleeping；　he　saw　in　a　vision　two　bright　red　suns　drop　behind　his　dwelling。　Alarmed　by　the　portent；　he　hastily　dressed　and　went　forth　to　look　about　him。　Then　he　saw　a　bright　light　shooting　up　from　a　heap　of　straw。　He　hastened　thither　and　then　saw　two　youths　lying　behind　it。
〃To　what　household　do　you　belong；　young　gentlemen？〃　asked　the　farmer。
The　Emperor　was　too　frightened　to　reply；　but　his　panion　said；　〃He　is　the　Emperor。　There　was　a　revolution　in　the　Forbidden　City；　and　we　ran　away。　I　am　his　brother；　Prince　of　Chenliu。〃
The　farmer　bowed　again　and　again　and　said；　〃My　name　is　Sui　Lie。　My　brother　Sui　Yi　is　the　former　Minister　of　the　Interior。　My　brother　was　disgusted　with　the　behavior　of　the　eunuchs　and　so　resigned　and　hid　away　here。〃
The　two　lads　were　taken　into　the　farm；　and　their　host　on　his　knees　served　them　with　refreshment。
It　has　been　said　that　Min　Gong　had　gone　in　pursuit　of　Eunuch　Duan　Gui。　By　and　by　Min　Gong　overtook　Duan　Gui　and　cried；　〃Where　is　the　Emperor？〃
〃He　disappeared！　I　do　not　know　where　he　is！〃
Min　Gong　slew　Duan　Gui　and　hung　the　bleeding　head　on　his　horse's　neck。　Then　he　sent　his　troops　searching　in　all　directions；　and　he　rode　off　by　himself　on　the　same　quest。　Presently　he　came　to　the　farm。　Sui　Lie；　seeing　what　hung　on　his　horse's　neck；　questioned　him　and；　satisfied　with　his　story；　led　him　to　the　Emperor。　The　meeting　was　affecting。　All　were　moved　to　tears。
〃The　state　cannot　be　without　its　ruler；〃　said　Min　Gong。　〃I　pray　Your　Majesty　return　to　the　city。〃
At　the　farm　they　had　but　one　sorry　nag　and　this　they　saddled　for　the　Emperor。　The　young　Prince　was　taken　on　Min　Gong's　charger。　And　thus　they　left　the　farm。　Not　beyond　one　mile　from　the　farm；　they　fell　in　with　other　officials　and　several　hundred　guards　and　soldiers　made　up　an　imposing　cavalcade。　In　the　cavalcade　were　Wang　Yun；　Minister　of　the　Interior；　Yang　Biao；　Grand　mander；　Chunyu　Qiong；　mander　of　the　Left　Army；　Zhao　Meng；　mander　of　the　Right　Army；　Bao　Xin；　mander　of　the　Rear　Army；　and　Yuan　Shao；　mander　of　the　Center　Army。　Tears　were　shed　freely　as　the　ministers　met　their　Emperor。
A　man　was　sent　on　in　front　to　the　capital　there　to　expose　the　head　of　Eunuch　Duan　Gui。
As　soon　as　they　could；　they　placed　the　Emperor　on　a　better　steed　and　the　young　Prince　had　a　horse　to　himself。　Thus　the　Emperor　returned　to　Luoyang；　and　so　it　happened　after　all　as　the　street　children's　ditty　ran：

Though　the　emperor　doesn't　rule；　though　the　prince　no　office　fills；
Yet　a　brilliant　cavalcade　es　along　from　Beimang　Hills。

The　cavalcade　had　not　proceeded　far　when　they　saw　ing　towards　them　a　large　body　of　soldiers　with　fluttering　banners　hiding　the　sun　and　raising　a　huge　cloud　of　dust。　The　officials　turned　pale；　and　the　Emperor　was　greatly　alarmed。　Yuan　Shao　rode　out　in　advance。
〃Who　are　you？〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
From　under　the　shade　of　an　embroidered　banner　rode　out　a　leader；　saying；　〃Do　you　have　the　Emperor？〃
The　Emperor　was　too　panic　stricken　to　respond；　but　the　Prince　of　Chenliu　rode　to　the　front　and　cried；　〃Who　are　you？〃
〃Dong　Zhuo；　Imperial　Protector　of　Xizhou　Region。〃
〃Have　you　e　to　protect　the　Chariot　or　to　steal　it？〃　said　Prince　Xian。
〃I　have　e　to　protect；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。
〃If　that　is　so；　the　Emperor　is　here：　Why　do　you　not　dismount？〃
Dong　Zhuo　hastily　dismounted　and　made　obeisance　on　the　left　of　the　road。　Then　Prince　Xian　spoke　graciously　to　him。　From　first　to　last　the　Prince　had　carried　himself　most　perfectly　so　that　Dong　Zhuo　in　his　heart　admired　his　behavior；　and　then　arose　the　first　desire　to　set　aside　the　Emperor　in　favor　of　the　Prince　of　Chenliu。
They　reached　the　Palace　the　same　day；　and　there　was　an　affecting　interview　with　Empress　He。
But　when　they　had　restored　order　in　the　Palace；　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal；　the　special　seal　of　the　Emperor；　was　missing。
Dong　Zhuo　camped　without　the　walls；　but　every　day　he　was　to　be　seen　in　the　streets　with　an　escort　of　mailed　soldiers　so　that　the　mon　people　were　in　a　state　of　constant　trepidation。　He　also　went　in　and　out　of　the　Palace　careless　of　all　the　rules　of　propriety。
mander　of　the　Rear　Army　Bao　Xin　spoke　of　Dong　Zhuo's　behavior　to　Yuan　Shao；　saying；　〃This　man　harbors　some　evil　design　and　should　be　removed。〃
〃Nothing　can　he　done　till　the　government　is　more　settled；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。
Then　Bao　Xin　saw　Minister　of　the　Interior　Wang　Yun　and　asked　what　he　thought。
〃Let　us　talk　it　over；〃　was　the　reply。
Bao　Xin　said　no　more　but　he　left　the　capital　and　retired　to　the　Taishan　Mountains。
Dong　Zhuo　induced　the　soldiers　of　the　two　brothers　He　Jin　and　He　Miao　to　join　his　mand；　and　privately　spoke　to　his　adviser　Li　Ru　about　deposing　the　Emperor　in　favor　of　the　Prince　of　Chenliu。
〃Th