三国演义英文版-第214部分

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you　may　avenge　the　death　of　the　late　Emperor；　and　the　people　will　be　disappointed　if　you　do　not　accede　to　their　wishes。〃
The　Prince　replied；　〃Although　I　am　descended　from　the　grandson　of　Emperor　Jing；　I　have　not　been　of　the　least　advantage。　If　I　assumed　the　title　of　'Emperor'；　how　would　that　act　differ　from　usurpation？〃
Zhuge　Liang　pleaded　with　him　again　and　again；　but　the　Prince　remained　obdurate。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　bethought　that　where　argument　failed　a　ruse　might　succeed。　So　having　arranged　the　parts　his　several　colleagues　were　to　play；　he　pleaded　illness　and　remained　at　home。　Presently　it　was　told　the　Prince　that　his　adviser's　condition　was　being　serious；　wherefore　Liu　Bei　went　to　see　him　as　he　lay　on　his　couch。
〃What　illness　affects　you；　my　mander…in…Chief？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃My　heart　is　sad　like　unto　burning；　and　I　shall　soon　die。〃
〃What　is　it　that　causes　you　such　grief？〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　did　not　reply。　And　when　the　question　was　repeated　again　and　again　he　said　nothing；　but　just　lay　with　his　eyes　closed　as　if　he　was　too　ill　to　speak。
The　Prince；　however；　pressed　him　to　reply；　and　then　with　a　deep　sigh　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Great　Prince；　from　the　day　I　left　my　humble　cottage　to　follow　you；　you　have　always　listened　to　my　words　and　accepted　my　advice；　and　now　this　western　domain；　the　whole　of　the　two　River　Lands　is　yours　just　as　I　said　it　would　be。　But　this　usurpation　of　Cao　Pi　means　the　annihilation　of　the　Hans　and　the　cessation　of　their　sacrifices；　wherefore　my　colleagues　and　I　desired　you　to　bee　Emperor　in　order　to　crush　this　upstart　Wei　and　restore　the　Hans。　We　all　worked　for　this　end；　never　thinking　that　you　would　refuse　so　obstinately　to　accede　to　our　wishes。　Now　the　officers　are　all　annoyed；　and　they　will　drift　away　before　very　long。　If　you　are　left　alone　and　Wu　and　Wei　e　to　attack；　it　will　be　difficult　for　you　to　hold　on　to　what　you　have。　Do　you　not　think　this　sufficient　reason　for　me　to　feel　grieved？〃
〃Unless　I　refused；　the　whole　world　would　blame　me。　I　am　afraid；〃　replied　the　Prince。
Quoting　Confucius　the　Teacher；　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃'If　names　be　not　correct；　language　is　not　in　accordance　with　the　truth　of　things。'　In　other　words；　if　one　be　not　really　straight；　people　will　not　speak　of　one　favorably。　O　Prince；　you　are　straight；　and　people　speak　of　you　favorably。　What　more　is　there　to　say？　You　know　when　Heaven　offers　and　you　refuse；　you　are　certainly　to　blame。〃
〃When　you　have　recovered；　it　shall　be　done；〃　said　the　Prince。
Up　leapt　Zhuge　Liang　from　his　bed；　tapped　at　the　screen　in　front　of　a　doorway　and　in　rushed　a　number　of　high　officers；　who　prostrated　themselves；　crying；　〃So　you　have　consented；　O　Prince！　Then　choose　the　day　for　the　ceremony。〃
They　were　all　the　most　trusted　of　his　court：　Imperial　Guardian　Xu　Jing；　General　Who　Brings　Peace　to　Han　Mi　Zhu；　Lord　of　Qingyi　Xiang　Ju；　Lord　of　Yangquan　Liu　Bao；　Deputy　Governor　Zhao　Zuo；　First　Secretary　Yang　Hong；　Counselor　Du　Qiong；　Secretary　Zhang　Shuang；　Minister　Lai　Gong；　Minister　Huang　Quan；　Minister　He　Zong；　Doctorate　Scholar　Yin　Mo；　Minister　Qiao　Zhou；　Grand　mander　Yin　Chun；　Imperial　mander　Zhang　Si；　Treasurer　Wang　Mou；　Doctorate　Scholar　Yi　Ji；　Counselor　Qin　Mi；　and　many　others。
The　Prince　was　greatly　startled；　and　said；　〃You　are　mitting　me　to　doing　what　is　dishonorable！〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Since　consent　has　been　given；　let　a　terrace　be　built　and　a　day　chosen　for　the　great　ceremony。〃
The　Prince　was　escorted　back　to　his　palace；　and　Academician　Xu　Ci　and　High　Counselor　Meng　Guang　were　told　off　to　see　to　the　building　of　the　terrace　at　Mount　Wudan　south　of　Chengdu。　And　when　all　was　ready；　a　great　concourse　of　officers　solemnly　escorted　the　Prince；　seated　in　a　carriage　of　the　imperial　pattern；　to　the　ground　prepared；　and　he　went　up　to　the　altar　and　performed　the　appointed　sacrifice。
This　done；　the　solemn　announcement　was　read　in　a　loud　voice　by　Qiao　Zhou：
〃On　this　twelfth　day　of　the　fourth　month　of　the　twenty…fifth　year　of　the　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　Era；　Liu　Bei；　the　Emperor；　makes　this　solemn　announcement　to　Heaven　and　Earth。
〃The　dynasty　of　Han　has　possessed　the　empire　for　years　without　end。　Formerly　Wang　Mang　rebelled　against　his　sovereign；　and　Liu　Xiu　the　Founder　of　Latter　Han　rose　in　his　wrath　and　put　Wang　Mang　to　death；　thus　restoring　the　prerogatives　of　the　great　sacrifices　to　him　who　rightly　exercised　them。　Lately　Cao　Cao；　powerful　and　cruel；　slew　the　Empress；　and　his　crimes　cry　aloud　to　Heaven　for　vengeance。　His　son；　Cao　Pi；　carrying　evils　into　every　quarter；　then　seized　the　scepter。
〃My　officials　and　leaders；　regarding　the　dynasty　as　having　been　overthrown；　think　it　fitting　that　I；　Liu　Bei；　would　continue　the　line。　As　successor　to　my　two　warrior　ancestors；　Liu　Bang　and　Liu　Xiu；　I　will　punish　as　Heaven　decrees。
〃Fearing　lest　my　virtue　be　inadequate　to　the　Imperial　Throne；　I　consulted　the　voices　of　the　people；　and　all；　even　the　most　distant；　have　said　that　the　mandate　of　Heaven　may　not　be　disobeyed；　the　great　task　of　my　ancestors　may　not　discontinue；　the　land　must　have　a　lord；　and　they　aver　the　cynosure　of　all　eyes　is　myself。
〃Now　I；　respecting　the　mandate　of　Heaven　and　fearing　lest　the　great　achievements　of　Liu　Bang　and　Liu　Xiu　may　be　overthrown；　have　reverently　selected　this　auspicious　day　to　ascend　the　altar；　sacrifice；　and　announce　my　assumption　of　the　Imperial　Seal　in　order　to　fort　all　the　people；　rejoice　the　ancestors　of　the　Dynastic　House；　and　bring　eternal　tranquillity　to　all　domains。〃
When　the　reading　was　ended；　and　the　sacrifice　and　the　prayer；　Zhuge　Liang；　in　the　name　of　all　those　assembled；　presented　the　Imperial　Seal。
The　Prince　received　it　in　both　hands；　laid　it　upon　the　altar；　and　again　declined　acceptance；　saying；　〃I；　Liu　Bei；　am　unfitted。　I　pray　that　another；　more　able；　may　be　chosen。〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Our　lord　has　settled　the　empire；　and　his　merits　are　manifest　to　the　whole　world。　Moreover；　he　is　of　the　Dynastic　Family；　and　it　is　fitting　that　he　succeed。　Now　that　the　great　announcement　has　been　made；　such　self…abnegation　is　impossible。〃
So　all　the　officers　shouted；　〃Eternal　life　to　the　Emperor！〃　And　they　did　obeisance。
Then　the　style　of　the　reign　was　announced　to　be　Manifest　Might；　the　first　year　（AD　220）。　The　Lady　Wu　was　declared　Empress；　and　the　eldest　son；　Liu　Shan；　was　declared　Heir…Apparent。　The　second　son　Liu　Yung　was　made　Prince　of　Lu；　and　the　third　son　Liu　Li；　Prince　of　Liang　（the　ancient　states　of　Lu　and　Liang）。　Zhuge　Liang　became　Prime　Minister；　and　Xu　Jing；　Minister　of　the　Interior。　Many　others　were　promoted；　and　a　general　amnesty　was　proclaimed；　so　that　there　was　great　rejoicing　throughout　all　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　two　River　Lands。
Next　day　the　first　court　was　held；　and　after　the　ceremonial　prostration；　and　when　they　were　all　arranged　in　due　order；　the　First　Ruler　made　a　pronouncement。
〃In　the　Peach　Garden　I　and　my　brothers　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　pledged　ourselves　to　live　and　die　together。　Unhappily　my　brother　Guan　Yu　came　to　his　end　at　the　hands　of　Sun　Quan　of　Wu；　and　I　must　avenge　him　lest　I　fail　to　fulfill　the　oath。　Therefore　will　I　devote　the　whole　force　of　my　kingdom　to　the　destruction　of　Wu　and　the　capture　of　its　rebellious　chief；　whereby　to　wipe　away　my　reproach。〃
But　just　as　he　closed　this　oration；　an　officer　threw　himself　down　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　crying；　〃It　may　not　be　so！〃
All　eyes　turned　to　this　man。　He　was　Tiger　General　Zhao　Yun。

〃Dire　vengeance　will　I　wreak！〃　so　cried　the　King；
His　minister　replied；　〃Do　no　such　thing。〃

What　arguments　were　used　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　81　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　81
　Chapter　81
Eager　For　Vengeance；　Zhang　Fei　Is　Assassinated；
Athirst　Of　Retribution；　The　First　Ruler　Goes　To　War。
Zhao　Yun　was　opposed　to　the　attempt　to　fight　Wu；　and　spoke　against　the　plan。
〃The　real　rebel　was　not　Sun　Quan；　but　Cao　Cao。　Now　it　is　his　son　who　has　usurped　the　Imperial　Throne　and　called　forth　the　anger　of　gods　and　humans。　You　should　first　aim　at　the　Land　Within　the　Passes　by　camping　on　the　River　Wei；　from　which　to　attack　the　rebel。　After　that　the　loyal　people　in　the　East　of　the　Pass　will　cart　their　grains　and　herd　their　horses　to　wele　your　army。　If　you　leave　River　Wei　out　of　consideration　in　order　to　fight　Wu；　your　military　force　will　be　engaged；　and　could　you　disengage　it　quickly　in　case　of　necessity？　It　is　worth　reflection。〃
The　First　Ruler　replied；　〃Sun　Quan　slew　my　brother。　Furthermore；　Fu　Shiren；　Mi　Fang；　Pan　Zhang；　and　Ma　Zhong　are　on　his　side；　all　of　whom　I　hate　so　much　that　I　could　eat　their　flesh　with　gusto　and　devour　their　relatives；　whereby　I　should　have　my　vengeance。　Why；　Noble　Sir；　do　you　obstruct　me？〃
〃Because　the　enmity　against　Cao　Cao　is　a　public　matter；　vengeance　for　the　manner　of　your　brother's　end　is　private。　The　empire　should　be　placed　first。〃
〃What　care　I　for　myriads　of　square　miles　of　territory　as　long　as　my　brother　is　unavenged？〃
So　Zhao　Yun's　remonstrance　was　disregarded；　and　orders　went　forth　to　prepare　an　army　against　Wu。　The　First　Ruler　also　sent　into　the　Five　Valleys　to　borrow　the　aid　of　fifty　thousand　of　tribesmen。　He　sent　a　messenger　to　Langzhong　conferring　on　Zhang　Fei　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　and　the　title　of　Lord　of　Xixiang。　Zhang　Fei　became　also　Governor　of　Langzhong。
When　Zhang　Fei　heard　the　tidings　of　Guan　Yu's　death　at　the　hands　of　Sun　Quan；　he　wept　very　bitterly　day　and　night；　so　that　his　raiment　was　soaked　with　his　tears。　His　subordinates　tried　to　cheer　him　with　wine；　but　he　over…drank；　and　this　increased　his　ill…humor；　which　he　vented　on　any　offender　in　his　camp。　Some　of　his　people　even　died　under　the　lash。　Every　day　he　gazed　southward；　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage　and　glaring。　He　wept　and　groaned　without　ceasing。
Then　a　messenger　was　announced。　He　was　summoned　immediately；　and　Zhang　Fei　at　once　tore　open　and　read　his　dispatches。　When　Zhang　Fei　read　the　edict；　he　accepted　his　new　rank　in　all　humility；　bowing　northward　toward　the　imperial　mandate。　Then　he　gave　a　banquet　to　the　messenger。
He　said；　〃My　enmity　for　the　death　of　my　brother　is　deep　as　the　sea。　Why　do　not　the　officers　at　the　court　propose　an　avenging　expedition？〃
The　messenger　replied；　〃Most　of　them　favor　first　the　destruction　of　Wei。　Wu　is　to　follow。〃
〃What　sort　of　talk　is　this？