三国演义英文版-第286部分

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Said　Sima　Yi；　〃You　are　on　good　terms　with　the　man　and　are　the　fittest　person　for　this　mission。　Tell　him　that　Jiang　Ji　and　I　are　concerned　solely　with　the　military　powers　in　the　hands　of　himself　and　his　brothers；　as　we　have　sworn　pointing　to　River　Luo。〃
So　Yin　Damu　went　his　way。
Out　in　the　country　Cao　Shuang　was　enjoying　the　hunting；　flying　his　falcons　and　coursing　his　hounds。　Suddenly　came　the　news　of　the　rising　in　the　city　and　the　memorial　against　him。　He　almost　fell　out　of　the　saddle　when　they　told　him。　The　eunuch　handed　in　the　memorial　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei　in　the　presence　of　Cao　Shuang；　who　took　it　and　opened　it。　A　minister　in　attendance　was　ordered　to　read　it。　It　said：
〃Sima　Yi；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West　and　Imperial　Guardian；　with　bowed　head　and　trepidation；　presents　this　memorial。　On　my　return　from　the　expedition　into　Liaodong；　His　late　Majesty　summoned　Your　Majesty；　Cao　Shuang；　myself　and　certain　others　to　his　bedside；　took　me　by　the　arm　and　impressed　upon　us　all　our　duty　in　the　years　to　be。
〃Now　Cao　Shuang　has　betrayed　the　trust　placed　in　him；　has　disordered　the　kingdom；　usurped　power　at　court；　and　seized　upon　power　in　the　regions。　He　has　appointed　Zhang　Dang；　Administrator　of　the　City；　to　control　the　court　and　spy　upon　Your　Majesty。　He　is　surely　lying　in　wait　to　seize　the　empire。　He　has　sown　dissension　in　the　royal　family　and　injured　his　own　flesh　and　blood。　The　whole　land　is　in　confusion；　and　people's　hearts　are　full　of　fear。　All　this　is　opposed　to　the　injunctions　of　His　Late　Majesty　and　his　mands　to　me。
〃Stupid　and　worthless　as　I　am；　yet　I　dare　not　forget　the　words　of　His　Late　Majesty。　My　colleagues；　Jiang　Ji　and　Sima　Fu；　agree　that　Cao　Shuang　is　disloyal　at　heart；　and　great　military　powers　should　not　be　entrusted　to　him　or　his　brothers。
〃I　have　memorialized　Her　Majesty　and　obtained　her　authority　to　act。
〃All　military　powers　have　been　wrested　from　the　hands　of　Cao　Shuang；　Cao　Xi；　and　Cao　Xun；　leaving　them　only　the　simple　title　of　lordships；　so　that　hereafter　they　may　be　unable　to　hinder　or　control　Your　Majesty's　actions。　If　there　be　any　obstruction；　the　matter　shall　be　summarily　dealt　with。
〃Although　in　ill　health；　as　a　precautionary　measure　I　have　camped　at　the　Floating　Bridge；　whence　I　write　this。〃
When　they　had　made　an　end　of　reading；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　turned　to　Cao　Shuang　and　said；　〃In　the　face　of　such　words　what　mean　you　to　do？〃
Cao　Shuang　was　at　a　loss　and　turned　to　his　younger　brother；　saying；　〃What　now？〃
Cao　Xi　replied；　〃I　remonstrated　with　you；　but　you　were　obstinate　and　listened　not。　So　it　has　e　to　this。　Sima　Yi　is　false　and　cunning　beyond　measure。　If　Zhuge　Liang　could　not　get　the　better　of　him；　could　we　hope　to　do　so？　I　see　nothing　but　to　yield　that　haply　we　may　live。〃
Just　at　this　moment　arrived　Adviser　Xin　Chang　and　mander　Lu　Zhu。　Cao　Shuang　asked　what　tidings　they　brought。
They　replied；　〃The　city　is　pletely　and　closely　surrounded；　Sima　Yi　is　camped　on　the　river　at　the　Floating　Bridge；　and　you　cannot　return。　You　must　decide　how　to　act　at　once。〃
Then　galloped　up　Huan　Fan；　who　said；　〃This　is　really　rebellion。　Why　not　request　His　Majesty　to　proceed　to　Xuchang　till　regional　troops　can　arrive　and　deal　with　Sima　Yi？〃
Cao　Shuang　replied；　〃How　can　we　go　to　another　place　when　all　our　families　are　in　the　city？〃
Said　Huan　Fan；　〃Even　a　fool　in　this　crisis　would　think　only　of　life。　You　have　the　Son　of　Heaven　with　you　here　and　mand　all　the　forces　of　the　empire。　None　would　dare　disobey　you；　and　yet　you　march　quietly　to　death。〃
Cao　Shuang　could　not　decide　to　strike　a　blow　for　safety；　he　did　nothing　but　snivel。
Huan　Fan　continued；　〃We　can　reach　Xuchang　tonight。　The　stay　in　Xuchang　would　be　but　brief；　and　there　are　ample　supplies　for　years。　You　have　forces　at　your　call　at　the　South　Pass。　You　hold　the　seal　of　Minister　of　War；　and　I　have　brought　it　with　me。　Everything　is　in　your　favor。　Act！　Act　at　once！　Delay　is　death。〃
〃Do　not　hurry　me；〃　said　Cao　Shuang。　〃Let　me　think　it　over　carefully。〃
Then　came　Xu　Yun　and　Chen　Tai；　the　two　messengers　of　Sima　Yi；　and　said；　〃The　Imperial　Guardian　desires　only　to　strip　the　military　power　of　the　Regent　Marshal。　If　the　Regent　Marshal　yields；　he　may　return　peacefully　to　the　city。〃
Still　Cao　Shuang　hesitated。
Next　arrived　Yin　Damu；　saying；　〃The　Imperial　Guardian　had　sworn　by　River　Luo　to　the　singleness　of　his　aim。　Here　is　letter　of　Minister　Jiang　Ji。　The　Regent　Marshal　should　relinquish　the　military　power　and　return　to　the　Palace　in　peace。〃
When　Cao　Shuang　seemed　disposed　to　accept　the　assurance　of　Sima　Yi；　Huan　Fan　inveighed　against　it；　saying；　〃You　are　a　dead　man　if　you　listen　to　the　voice　of　these　people！〃
Night　found　Cao　Shuang　still　vacillating。　As　twilight　faded　into　darkness　he　stood；　sword　in　hand；　sad；　sighing　and　weeping。　And　morning　found　him　still　trying　to　make　up　his　mind。
Huan　Fan　again　urged　him　to　decide　upon　some　course。
〃You　have　had　a　whole　day　and　a　whole　night　for　reflection　and　must　decide；〃　said　he。
〃I　will　not　fight；　I　will　yield　all；　being　a　wealthy　man　is　enough；〃　said　Cao　Shuang；　throwing　down　his　sword。
Huan　Fan　left　the　tent　wailing。
〃Cao　Zhen　might　boast　of　his　abilities；　but　his　sons　are　mere　cattle；〃　said　he；　weeping　copiously。
The　two　messengers；　Xu　Yun　and　Chen　Tai；　bade　Cao　Shuang　offer　his　seal　of　office　to　Sima　Yi；　and　it　was　brought。
But　First　Secretary　Yang　Zong　clung　to　it　and　would　not　give　it　up；　saying；　〃Alas！　That　you；　my　lord；　should　resign　your　powers　and　make　such　a　pitiful　surrender。　For　surely　you　will　not　escape　death　in　the　eastern　market　place。〃
〃The　Imperial　Guardian　will　surely　keep　faith　with　me；〃　said　Cao　Shuang。
The　seal　was　borne　away；　and　Cao　Shuang's　generals　and　soldiers；　thus　released　from　the　bonds　of　discipline；　dispersed　and　the　hosts　melted　away。　When　the　Cao　brothers　reached　the　Floating　Bridge；　they　were　ordered　to　go　to　their　dwellings；　and　they　went。　Their　supporters　were　imprisoned　to　await　the　edicts　of　the　Emperor。
Cao　Shuang　and　his　friends；　so　lately　all…powerful；　entered　the　city　alone；　without　even　a　servant　following。
As　Huan　Fan　approached　the　bridge；　Sima　Yi；　from　horseback；　pointed　his　whip　disdainfully　at　him　and　said；　〃What　brought　you　to　this？〃
Huan　Fan　made　no　reply；　but　with　head　bent　followed　the　others。
It　was　decided　to　request　the　Emperor　to　declare　the　hunt　at　an　end　and　order　a　return　to　the　city。　Cao　Shuang；　Cao　Xi；　and　Cao　Xun　were　confined　in　their　own　house；　the　gate　whereof　was　fastened　with　a　huge　lock；　and　soldiers　were　set　to　guard　it　round　about。　They　were　sad　and　anxious；　not　knowing　what　would　be　their　fate。
Then　Cao　Xi　said；　〃We　have　but　little　food　left。　Let　us　write　and　ask　for　supplies。　If　Sima　Yi　sends　us　food；　we　may　be　sure　he　does　not　intend　harm。〃
They　wrote；　and　a　hundred　carts　of　supplies　were　sent。
This　cheered　them；　and　Cao　Shuang　said；　〃Our　lives　are　safe　in　the　hands　of　Sima　Yi！〃
Sima　Yi　had　Zhang　Dang　arrested　and　put　to　the　question。
Zhang　Dang　said。　〃I　am　not　the　only　one　who　has　tried　to　subvert　the　government。　He　Yan；　Deng　Yang；　Li　Sheng；　Ding　Mi；　and　Bi　Gui　are　all　involved　in　the　plot。〃
So　they　were　arrested　and；　when　interrogated；　confessed　that　a　revolt　had　been　arranged　for　the　third　month。　Sima　Yi　had　them　locked　in　one　long　wooden　collar。
The　mander　of　the　Gates；　Si　Fan；　testified：　〃Huan　Fan　has　imposed　upon　me　with　a　pretended　mand　from　Her　Majesty　and　so　has　escaped　out　of　the　city。　Beside　he　has　said　the　Imperial　Guardian　was　a　rebel。〃
Then　said　Sima　Yi；　〃When　a　person　maligns　another　and　is　false；　the　punishment　for　such　a　crime　as　he　imputes　falls　upon　his　own　head。〃
Huan　Fan　and　those　with　him　were　thrown　into　prison。
Presently　Cao　Shuang　and　his　brothers；　all　persons　connected　with　them；　and　their　clans　were　put　to　death　in　the　market　place。　All　the　treasures　of　their　houses　was　sent　to　the　public　treasury。
Now　there　was　a　certain　woman　of　the　Xiahou　family　who　had　been　wife　to　Wen　Shu；　a　second　cousin　of　Cao　Shuang。　Early　left　a　childless　widow；　her　father　wished　her　to　marry　again。　Lady　Xiahou　refused　and　cut　off　her　ears　as　a　pledge　of　constancy。　However；　when　the　Caos　were　all　put　to　death；　her　father　arranged　another　marriage　for　her；　whereupon　she　cut　off　her　nose。　Her　own　people　were　chagrined　at　her　obstinate　determination。
〃For　whom　are　you　keeping　your　vow？〃　said　they。　〃Man　is　but　as　the　light　dust　upon　the　tender　grass；　and　what　is　the　good　of　mutilating　your　body？〃
The　woman　replied；　weeping；　〃I　have　heard　that　honorable　persons　do　not　break　a　vow　of　chastity　for　the　sake　of　wealth；　and　the　hearts　of　righteous　persons　are　constant　unto　death　regardless　of　all　losses。　While　the　house　of　Cao　enjoyed　prosperity；　I　remained　faithful；　how　much　more　should　I　be　true　now　that　it　has　fallen　upon　evil　days？　Can　I　act　like　a　mere　beast　of　the　field？〃
The　story　of　her　devotion　came　to　the　ears　of　Sima　Yi；　who　praised　her　conduct　and　allowed　her　to　adopt　a　son　to　rear　as　her　own　and　so　continue　the　family。
A　poem　says：

What　is　a　man　to　be　mindful　of？
A　grain　of　dust　on　a　blade　of　grass；
Such　virtue　as　Lady　Xiahou　had
Stands　out　sublime　as　the　ages　pass。
This　fair　young　wife　of　gentle　mien
Dared　all　to　maintain　her　purpose　high。
What　people　though　strong　in　the　flush　of　life
Have　equaled　her　in　constancy？

After　Cao　Shuang　had　suffered　death；　Jiang　Ji　said　to　Sima　Yi；　〃Xin　Chang　and　Lu　Zhu　and　others　who　had　been　of　his　party　had　forced　the　gate　and　joined　the　rebels。　Yang　Zong　had　opposed　the　surrender　of　the　seal　of　the　late　minister。　They　deserve　punishment。〃
However；　no　action　was　taken　against　them。
〃They　are　righteous　people　who　serves　their　master　faithfully；〃　said　Sima　Yi；　and　he　even　confirmed　these　men　in　their　offices。
Xin　Chang　sighed；　〃Had　I　not　listened　to　the　advice　of　my　sister；　I　would　have　walked　in　the　way　of　unrighteousness。〃
A　poet　has　praised　his　sister；　Xin　Xianying。

〃You　call　him　lord　and　take　his　pay；
Then　stand　by　him　when　danger　nears。〃
Thus　to　her　brother　spoke　Xin　Xianying；
And　won　fair　fame　though　endless　years。

A　general　amnesty　was　extended　to　all　Cao　Shuang's　partisans；　and　no　officer　was　removed　or　dismissed　for　having　supported　the　late　order　of　things。　All　were　left　in　possession　of　their　property；　and　soon　all　was　tranquillity。
However；　it　is　to　be　noted　that