三国演义英文版-第293部分

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apital；　all　the　officers　attended　to　receive　him　at　the　Nanye　Gate；　where　an　imperial　carriage　awaited　him。　He　hastily　returned　their　salutations。
〃The　ruler　ought　not　to　return　these　salutations；〃　said　Grand　mander　Wang　Su。
〃I　also　am　a　minister　and　must　respond；〃　replied　he。
They　conducted　him　to　the　carriage　to　ride　into　the　Palace；　but　he　refused　to　mount　it；　saying；　〃Her　Majesty　has　manded　my　presence；　I　know　not　for　what　reason。　How　dare　I　enter　the　Palace　in　such　a　carriage？〃
He　went　on　foot　to　the　Hall；　where　Sima　Shi　awaited　him。　He　prostrated　himself　before　Sima　Shi。　Sima　Shi　hastily　raised　him　and　led　him　into　the　presence。
The　Empress　Dowager　said；　〃In　your　youth　I　noticed　that　you　bore　the　impress　of　majesty。　Now　you　are　to　be　the　Ruler　of　the　Empire。　You　must　be　respectful　and　moderate；　diffusing　virtue　and　benevolence。　You　must　do　honor　to　your　ancestors………the　former　emperors。〃
Cao　Mao　modestly　declined　the　proposed　honor；　but　he　was　pelled　to　accept　it。　He　was　led　out　of　the　presence　of　the　Empress　Dowager　and　placed　in　the　seat　of　empire　in　the　Hall　of　Principles。
The　style　of　the　reign　was　changed　from　Domestic　Calm；　the　sixth　year；　to　Right　Origin；　the　first　year　（AD　254）。　An　amnesty　was　granted。　Honors　were　heaped　upon　Sima　Shi；　who　also　received　the　golden　axes；　with　the　right　to　proceed　leisurely　within　the　precincts；　to　address　the　Throne　without　using　his　name；　and　to　wear　arms　at　court。　Many　other　officers　also　received　promotions。
But　in　the　spring　of　the　second　year　of　Right　Origin；　it　was　reported　at　court　that　Guanqiu　Jian；　General　Who　Guards　the　East；　and　Wen　Qin；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　were　raising　armies　with　the　declared　design　of　restoring　the　deposed　emperor。
Sima　Shi　disconcerted。

If　ministers　of　Han　have　always　faithful　been；
Wei　leaders；　too；　prove　their　loyalty　are　keen。

How　this　new　menace　was　met　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　110　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　110
　Chapter　110
Riding　Alone；　Wen　Yang　Repulses　A　Brave　Force；
Following　The　River；　Jiang　Wei　Defeats　The　Enemy。
It　has　been　said　that　in　the　second　year　of　Right　Origin　（AD　256）　Guanqiu　Jian；　of　the　South　of　River　Huai；　General　Who　Guards　the　East；　was　manding　the　forces　in　River　Huai　when　he　heard　the　news　Sima　Shi　deposed　Cao　Fang。
He　was　moved　to　great　anger；　and　his　eldest　son；　Guanqiu　Dian；　fomented　his　father's　wrath；　saying；　〃Father；　you　are　chief　of　all　this　region。　With　this　Sima　Shi　in　such　a　position；　the　country　is　in　danger；　and　you　cannot　sit　still　and　look　on。〃
〃My　son；　you　speak　well！〃　replied　Guanqiu　Jian。
Whereupon　he　requested　Wen　Qin；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yangzhou；　to　e　and　consult　with　him。　This　Wen　Qin　had　been　a　client　of　Cao　Shuang's；　and　he　hastened　at　the　call　of　the　general。　When　he　arrived；　he　was　led　into　the　private　apartments；　and；　the　salutations　at　an　end；　the　two　began　to　talk　over　the　situation。　Presently　the　host　began　to　weep；　and　his　visitor　asked　the　cause　of　his　tears。
〃Think　you　that　this　conduct　of　Sima　Shi　does　not　tear　my　heart？　He　has　deposed　the　Emperor　and　now　holds　in　his　grip　all　authority　of　the　state。　Things　are　all　upside　down。〃
Wen　Qin　replied；　〃You　are　the　chief　of　this　region。　If　you　are　willing　to　play　the　part；　you　ought　to　take　arms　and　slay　this　rebel。　I　will　help　you；　regardless　of　consequences。　My　second　son；　Wen　Yang；　is　a　good　warrior　and　a　man　of　great　valor。　Moreover；　he　hates　Sima　Shi　and　wishes　to　avenge　on　the　Sima　brothers　the　death　of　Cao　Shuang。　He　would　make　an　excellent　Leader　of　the　Van。〃
Guanqiu　Jian　was　delighted　to　get　such　ready　and　willing　support；　and　the　two　poured　a　libation　in　pledge　of　mutual　good　faith。　Then；　pretending　that　they　held　an　edict　from　the　Empress　Dowager；　they　summoned　all　the　officers　to　Shouchun；　where　they　built　an　altar　on　the　west　side　and　sacrificed　a　white　horse；　smearing　their　lips　with　its　blood　in　token　of　their　oath。
They　made　this　declaration：
〃Sima　Shi　is　a　rebel　and　devoid　of　rectitude。　We　have　a　secret　edict　manding　us　to　muster　the　forces　of　the　South　of　River　Huai　and　put　down　this　rebellion。〃
Thus　supported；　Guanqiu　Jian　led　sixty　thousand　troops　to　Xiangcheng；　where　he　camped；　while　his　fellow…conspirator　Wen　Qin　took　twenty　thousand　troops　to　the　front　to　go　to　and　fro　lending　help　where　it　was　needed。　Letters　were　sent　all　through　the　counties　and　territories　calling　for　assistance。
Now　that　mole　below　the　left　eye　of　Sima　Shi　used　to　pain　at　times；　and　he　decided　to　have　it　removed。　The　surgeon　excised　it；　closed　and　dressed　the　wound；　and　the　patient　rested　quietly　in　his　palace　till　it　should　heal。
It　was　at　this　time　that　he　received　the　disquieting　news　of　opposition　to　his　authority。　Whereupon　he　called　in　Grand　mander　Wang　Su　to　discuss　the　matter。
Said　Wang　Su；　〃When　Guan　Yu　was　most　famous；　Sun　Quan　sent　Lu　Meng　to　capture　Jingzhou　by　surprise。　What　did　Lu　Meng　do？　He　first　won　over　the　officers　of　Guan　Yu　by　taking　care　of　their　families　and　thus　broke　the　power　of　his　enemy　like　a　tile。　Now　the　families　of　all　the　officers　in　the　South　of　River　Huai　are　here　in　the　Middle　Land。　Treat　them　well；　at　the　same　time　taking　care　that　they　do　not　get　away；　and　you　will　be　irresistible。〃
〃Your　words　are　good；〃　said　Sima　Shi。　〃However；　I　cannot　go　out　to　war　till　I　have　recovered。　Yet；　to　send　another　is　to　take　great　risks；　and　I　shall　feel　insecure。〃

＇e＇　Chu　was　one　of　the　most　important　of　states　contending　for　power　in　both　Spring　and　Autumn　and　Warring　States　periods。　If　other　states　wanted　to　be　dominant；　they　had　to　fight　and　defeat　Chu。　Located　in　the　fertile　valley　of　the　Great　River　（Yangtze）　in　the　south；　corresponding　to　the　surrounding　territory　of　Jingzhou。
There　was　also　present　Secretary　Zhong　Hui；　who　here　interposed；　saying；　〃The　forces　of　the　South　of　River　Huai　and　Chu*　are　very　formidable。　If　you　send　another；　there　is　danger　whatever　happens；　and　if　your　leader　makes　a　serious　mistake；　your　whole　policy　will　fail。〃
〃No　one　but　myself　can　succeed；〃　cried　Sima　Shi；　starting　from　his　couch。　〃I　must　go。〃
So；　in　spite　of　illness；　he　resolved　to　lead　in　person。　He　left　his　brother　in　charge　of　affairs　at　Luoyang　and　set　out；　traveling　in　a　padded　carriage。
Zhuge　Dan；　General　Who　Guards　the　East；　was　given　mand　over　all　the　forces　of　Yuzhou　and　ordered　to　march　from　Anfeng　and　to　take　possession　of　Shouchun。　Hu　Zun；　General　Who　Conquers　the　East；　with　the　Qingzhou　forces；　was　sent　to　bar　any　retreat　at　Qiaosong。　Wang　Ji；　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou　and　Army　Inspector；　was　sent　to　capture　Chennan。
To　his　camp　at　Xiangyang；　Sima　Shi　summoned　all　his　officers　to　a　council。

＇e＇　Zhou　Yafu　was　son　of　Zhou　Bo；　the　prime　minister　of　Emperor　Wen　（BC　179…156）。　After　the　death　of　Emperor　Wen；　Duke　Wu　started　a　rebellion　of　Seven　Kingdoms。　Zhou　Yafu　as　a　general　put　down　this　rebellion。　。。。。。
Minister　Zheng　Mao　spoke　first；　saying；　〃Guanqiu　Jian　is　fond　of　laying　plans；　but　slow　to　e　to　any　decision。　His　fellow…conspirator　Wen　Qin　is　bold；　but　imprudent。　Now　this　scheme　of　theirs　is　too　large　for　their　minds。　But　as　their　soldiers　are　full　of　spirit；　they　should　not　be　engaged　lightly。　We　should　remain　on　the　defensive　till　their　ardor　has　burned　out。　This　is　what　Zhou　Yafu*　of　old　time　did。〃
But　Army　Inspector　Wang　Ji　objected；　saying；　〃This　is　not　a　rising　of　the　people；　nor　of　the　soldiers；　but　is　the　work　of　Guanqiu　Jian。　The　people　are　merely　his　tools　and　cannot　help　themselves。　The　rebellion　will　go　to　pieces　as　soon　as　an　army　approaches　the　region。〃
〃I　agree　with　you；〃　replied　Sima　Shi。
Then　he　advanced　upon　River　Ying　and　camped　by　the　bridge。
Wang　Ji　said；　〃The　city　of　Nandun　is　an　excellent　camping　ground。　Occupy　it　at　once；　for　if　not　the　enemy　will　do　so。〃
Sima　Shi　sent　Wang　Ji　to　carry　out　his　own　plan。
Reports　of　these　movements　of　the　enemy　came　to　Guanqiu　Jian　in　Xiangcheng；　and　an　assembly　of　officers　was　called。
The　Leader　of　the　Van；　Ge　Yong；　said；　〃Nandun　is　an　excellent　site　for　a　camp；　with　a　river　beside　it　and　hills　at　the　rear。　If　the　Wei　armies　camp　there；　we　shall　be　unable　to　dislodge　them。　Let　us　occupy　it。〃
So　the　army　set　out。　But　before　they　drew　near；　the　scouts　reported　a　camp　already　there。　It　was　incredible；　and　Guanqiu　Jian　rode　to　the　front　to　reconnoiter。　He　was　convinced　by　the　sight　of　flags　and　banners　over　all　the　plain；　fluttering　above　an　orderly　array　of　tents　and　huts。　The　sight　disconcerted　him；　and　he　rode　back　to　the　main　body　not　knowing　what　to　do。
Just　then　a　scout　came　in　to　say：　〃Sun　Jun　of　Wu　has　crossed　the　river　to　attack　Shouchun。〃
〃If　we　lose　that　city；　we　shall　have　no　base；〃　cried　Guanqiu　Jian。
That　same　night　he　retreated　upon　Xiangcheng。
Seeing　the　enemy　retreat；　Sima　Shi　called　together　his　officers　to　talk　it　over。
Chair　of　the　Secretariat　Fu　Gu；　who　was　of　the　expedition；　said；　〃The　retirement　to　Xiangcheng　was　obviously　due　to　Wu's　threatened　attack　upon　Shouchun。　General；　you　should　send　three　armies　to　attack　upon　Xiangcheng；　Lojia；　and　Shouchun。　The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou；　Deng　Ai；　is　a　man　of　tactics；　he　should　be　sent　against　Lojia。　Our　main　army　will　reinforce　them。〃
His　plan　was　acceptable　to　Sima　Shi；　who　sent　letters　to　Yanzhou　telling　Deng　Ai　to　march　against　Lojia；　where　Sima　Shi　himself　would　soon　meet　him。
Camped　at　Xiangcheng；　Guanqiu　Jian　sent　spies　to　Lojia　to　see　what　might　be　happening　there；　for　he　feared　it　would　be　attacked。
When　he　spoke　of　his　fears　to　Wen　Qin；　the　latter　said；　〃General；　you　need　not　be　anxious。　My　son　Wen　Yang　and　I　will　answer　for　its　safety。　Give　us　but　five　thousand　troops。〃
Father　and　son；　with　the　five　thousand　troops；　went　to　Lojia。
Before　the　main　body　arrived；　the　scouts　reported：　〃Wei　banners　are　flying　on　the　west　of　the　city。　There　are　about　ten　thousand　troops。　In　their　midst　are　seen　authority　ensigns　such　as　white　yaks'　tails；　golden　axes；　purple　umbrellas；　and　a　flag　bearing　the　word　mander　。　Perhaps　Sima　Shi　himself　is　at　this　camp。　The　troops　are　pitching　the　camp　rapidly；　but　it　is　not　yet　plete。〃
When　this　was　reported　to　Wen　Qin；　his　son　Wen　Yang；　bearing　his　famous　whip　of　steel；　was　by　his　father's　side。
〃We　should　attack　before　they　have　settled　down