三国演义英文版-第61部分

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a　person　of　unusual　parts　precedes　an　extraordinary　situation；　and　of　such　a　person　the　achievements　will　be　extraordinary。　For　indeed　the　ordinary　person　is　quite　unequal　to　an　extraordinary　situation。

＇e＇　Zhao　Gao　a　court　eunuch　serving　the　First　Emperor。　Zhao　Gao　killed　the　eldest　son　and　supported　the　second　son　for　the　throne　after　the　First　Emperor's　death　（BC　209）。　In　the　final　days　of　Qin　Dynasty；　Zhao　Gao　killed　the　Second　Emperor　and　placed　the　First　Emperor's　grandson　on　the　throne　（BC　206）。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Zhou　Bo　was　prime　minister　of　Han　Emperor　Wen　（BC　179…156）。　After　Empress　Lu　died；　Zhou　Bo　cooperated　with　Chen　Ping　and　Liu　Zhan　to　purge　the　Lu　clan。　Ennobled　as　Lord　of　Jiang。　。。。。。
〃In　former　days；　after　having　gained　ascendancy　over　a　weakling　emperor　of　the　powerful　Qin　Dynasty；　Prime　Minister　Zhao　Gao*　wielded　the　whole　authority　of　the　Throne；　overruling　the　government。　All　dignity　and　fortune　came　through　him；　and　his　contemporaries　were　restrained　so　that　none　dared　to　speak　openly。　Slowly　but　surely　evolved　the　tragedy　of　the　Wangyi　Palace；　when　the　Emperor　was　slain　and　the　Imperial　Tablets　perished　in　the　flames。　Zhao　Gao；　the　author　of　these　crimes；　has　ever　since　been　held　up　to　obloquy　as　the　arch　example　of　an　evil　doer。
〃In　the　later　days　of　Empress　Lu　of　the　Hans；　after　the　death　of　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　the　world　saw　Lu　Chan　and　Lu　Lu；　brothers　of　the　Empress　and　fellows　in　wickedness；　monopolizing　the　powers　of　government。　Within　the　capital；　they　manded　two　armies；　and　without　they　ruled　the　feudal　states　of　Liang　and　Zhao。　They　arbitrarily　controlled　all　state　affairs　and　decided　all　questions　in　the　council　chamber　and　the　court。　This　dominance　of　the　base　and　declension　of　the　noble　continued　till　the　hearts　of　the　people　grew　cold　within　them。
〃Thereupon　Zhou　Bo*；　Lord　of　Jiang；　and　Liu　Zhan；　Lord　of　Zhuxu；　asserted　their　dignity　and　let　loose　their　wrath。　They　destroyed　the　contumacious　ministers　and　restored　their　ruler　to　his　royal　state。　Thus　they　enabled　the　kingly　way　to　be　reestablished　and　the　glory　to　be　manifested。　Here　are　two　instances　where　ministers　asserted　their　authority。
〃This　Cao　Cao；　now　Minister　of　Works；　forsooth；　had　for　ancestor　a　certain　eunuch　named　Cao　Teng；　fitting　panion　of　Xu　Huan　and　Zuo　Guan。　All　three　were　prodigies　of　wickedness　and　insatiably　avaricious　and；　let　loose　on　the　world；　they　hindered　ethical　progress　and　preyed　upon　the　populace。　This　Cao　Teng　begged　for　and　adopted　Cao　Cao's　father　who；　by　wholesale　bribery；　wagons　of　gold　and　cartloads　of　jewels　presented　at　the　gates　of　the　influential；　contrived　to　sneak　his　way　into　considerable　office　where　he　could　subvert　authority。　Thus　Cao　Cao　is　the　depraved　bantling　of　a　monstrous　excrescence；　devoid　of　all　virtue　in　himself；　ferocious　and　cunning；　delighting　in　disorder　and　reveling　in　public　calamity。
〃Now　I；　Yuan　Shao；　a　man　of　war；　have　mustered　my　armies　and　displayed　my　might　that　I　may　sweep　away　and　destroy　the　evil　opponents　of　government。　I　have　already　had　to　deal　with　Dong　Zhuo；　the　ruffian　who　invaded　the　official　circle　and　wrested　the　government。　At　that　time　I　grasped　my　sword　and　beat　the　drums　to　restore　order　in　the　east。　I　assembled　warriors；　selected　the　best；　and　took　them　into　my　service。　In　this　matter　I　came　into　relations　with　this　Cao　Cao　and　conferred　with　him　to　further　my　scheme。　I　gave　him　mand　of　a　subordinate　force　and　looked　to　him　to　render　such　petty　service　as　he　was　equal　to。　I　suffered　his　stupidities　and　condoned　his　shortings；　his　rash　attacks　and　facile　retreats；　his　losses　and　shameful　defeats；　his　repeated　destruction　of　whole　armies。　Again　and　again　I　sent　him　more　troops　and　filled　the　gaps　in　his　depleted　ranks。　I　even　addressed　a　memorial　to　the　Throne　for　him　to　be　appointed　Imperial　Protector　of　Yanzhou。　I　made　him　feel　as　he　were　a　tiger。　I　added　to　his　honors　and　increased　his　authority；　hoping　that　eventually　he　would　justify　himself　by　a　victory　against　Dong　Zhuo　such　as　Qin　used　Meng　Ming　against　Jin。
〃But　Cao　Cao　availed　himself　of　the　opportunity　to　overstep　all　bounds；　to　give　free　rein　to　violence　and　evil。　He　stripped　the　mon　people；　outraged　the　good；　and　injured　the　virtuous。　Bian　Rang；　Governor　of　Jiujiang；　was　a　man　of　conspicuous　talent　and　of　world…wide　reputation。　He　was　honest　in　speech　and　correct　in　demeanor。　He　spoke　without　flattery。　Cao　Cao　put　him　to　death　and　his　head　was　exposed；　and　his　family　utterly　destroyed。　From　that　day　to　this　scholars　have　deeply　mourned；　and　popular　resentment　has　steadily　grown。　One　person　raised　his　arm　in　anger；　and　the　whole　countryside　followed　him。　Whereupon　Cao　Cao　was　smitten　at　Xuzhou；　and　his　territory　was　snatched　by　Lu　Bu。　He　fled　eastward　without　shelter　or　refuge。
〃My　policy　is　a　strong　trunk　and　weak　branches；　a　manding　central　government　and　obedient　feudal　lords。　Also　I　am　no　partisan。　Therefore　I　again　raised　my　banners；　donned　my　armor；　and　moved　forward　to　attack。　My　drums　rolled　for　an　assault　on　Lu　Bu；　and　his　multitudes　incontinently　fled。　I　saved　Cao　Cao　from　destruction　and　restored　him　to　a　position　of　authority。　Wherein　I　must　confess　to　showing　no　kindness　to　the　people　of　Yanzhou；　although　it　was　a　great　matter　for　Cao　Cao。
〃Later　it　happened　that　the　imperial　cortege　moved　east；　and　a　horde　of　rebels　of　Dong　Zhuo's　faction　rose　and　attacked。　The　course　of　government　was　hindered。　At　that　moment　my　territory　was　threatened　from　the　north；　and　I　could　not　leave　it。　Wherefore　I　sent　one　of　my　officers；　Xu　Xun；　to　Cao　Cao　to　see　to　the　repair　of　the　dynastic　temples　and　the　protection　of　the　youthful　sovereign。　Thereupon　Cao　Cao　gave　the　rein　to　his　inclinations。　He　arbitrarily　ordered　the　removal　of　the　court　to　Xuchang。　He　brought　shame　upon　the　Ruling　House　and　subverted　the　laws。　He　engrossed　the　chairmanship　of　the　three　highest　offices　and　monopolized　the　control　of　the　administration。　Offices　and　rewards　were　conferred　according　to　his　will；　punishment　was　at　his　word。　He　glorified　whole　families　of　those　he　loved；　he　exterminated　whole　clans　of　those　he　hated。　Open　critics　were　executed；　secret　opponents　were　assassinated。　Officials　locked　their　lips；　wayfarers　only　exchanged　glances。　Chairs　of　boards　recorded　levies；　and　every　government　official　held　a　sinecure。
〃The　late　Yang　Biao；　a　man　who　had　filled　two　of　the　highest　offices　of　state　as　Chairs　of　two　boards；　because　of　some　petty　grudge　was；　though　guiltless；　charged　with　a　crime。　He　was　beaten　and　suffered　every　form　of　cruelty。　This　arbitrary　and　impulsive　act　was　a　flagrant　disregard　of　constitutional　rules。
〃Another　victim　was　the　Counselor　Zhao　Yan。　He　was　faithful　in　remonstrance；　honest　in　speech；　endowed　with　the　highest　principles　of　rectitude。　He　was　listened　to　at　court。　His　words　carried　enough　weight　with　the　Emperor　to　cause　him　to　modify　his　intention　and　confer　reward　for　outspokenness。　Desirous　of　diverting　all　power　into　his　own　hands　and　stifle　all　criticism；　Cao　Cao　presumed　to　arrest　and　put　to　death　this　censor；　in　defiance　of　all　legal　procedures。
〃Another　evil　deed　was　the　destruction　of　the　tomb　of　Prince　Xiao　of　Liang；　the　brother　of　the　late　Emperor。　His　tomb　should　certainly　have　been　respected；　even　its　mulberries　and　sweetgum　trees；　its　cypresses　and　its　pines。　Cao　Cao　led　soldiers　to　the　cemetery　and　stood　by　while　it　was　desecrated；　the　coffin　destroyed　and　the　poor　corpse　exposed。　They　stole　the　gold　and　jewels　of　the　dead。　This　deed　brought　tears　to　the　eyes　of　the　Emperor　and　rent　the　hearts　of　all　people。　Cao　Cao　also　appointed　new　offices………mander　Who　Opens　Grave　Mounds　and　General　Who　Seeks　for　Gold………whose　tracks　were　marked　by　desecrated　graves　and　exhumed　bodies。　Indeed；　while　assuming　the　position　of　the　highest　officer　of　state；　he　indulged　the　inclination　of　a　bandit；　polluting　the　empire；　oppressing　the　people；　a　bane　to　gods　and　humans。
〃He　added　to　this　by　setting　up　minute　and　vexatious　prohibitions　so　that　there　were　nets　and　snares　spread　in　every　pathway；　traps　and　pitfalls　laid　in　every　road。　A　hand　raised　was　caught　in　a　net；　a　foot　advanced　was　taken　in　an　entanglement。　Wherefore　the　people　of　his　regions；　Yanzhou　and　Yuzhou；　waxed　desperate　and　the　inhabitants　of　the　metropolis　groaned　and　murmured　in　anger。

〃Read　down　the　names　through　all　the　years；
Of　ministers　that　all　people　curse；
For　greed　and　cruelty　and　lust；
Than　Cao　Cao　you　will　not　find　a　worse。

〃I　have　investigated　the　cases　of　evil　deeds　in　the　regions；　but　I　have　been　unable　to　reform　him。　I　have　given　him　repeated　opportunities　hoping　that　he　would　repent。　But　he　has　the　heart　of　a　wolf；　the　nature　of　a　wild　beast。　He　nourishes　evil　in　his　bosom　and　desires　to　pull　down　the　pillars　of　the　state；　to　weaken　the　House　of　Han；　to　destroy　the　loyal　and　true；　and　to　stand　himself　conspicuous　as　the　chiefest　of　criminals。
〃Formerly；　when　I　attacked　the　north；　Gongsun　Zan；　that　obstinate　bandit　and　perverse　brave；　resisted　my　might　for　a　year。　Before　Gongsun　Zan　could　be　destroyed；　this　Cao　Cao　wrote　to　him　that；　under　the　pretense　of　assisting　my　loyal　armies；　he　would　covertly　lead　them　to　destruction。　The　plot　was　discovered　through　his　messengers；　and　Gongsun　Zan　also　perished。　This　blunted　Cao　Cao's　ardor；　and　his　plans　failed。
〃Now　he　is　camped　at　the　Ao　Granaries；　with　the　Yellow　River　to　strengthen　his　position。　Like　the　mantis　in　the　story；　who　threatened　the　chariot　with　its　forelegs；　he　thinks　himself　terrible。　But　with　the　dignity　and　prestige　of　Han　to　support　me；　I　confront　the　whole　world。　I　have　spearmen　by　millions；　horsemen　by　hundreds　of　thousands；　fierce　and　vigorous　warriors　strong　as　Chong　Huang　and　Wu　Huo；　those　heroes　of　antiquity。　I　have　enlisted　expert　archers　and　strong　bowmen。　In　Bingzhou　my　armies　have　crossed　the　Taihang　Range；　and　in　Qingzhou　they　have　forded　River　Ji　and　River　Ta。　They　have　coasted　down　the　Yellow　River　to　attack　his　van；　and　from　Jingzhou　the　armies　of　Liu　Biao　have　descended　to　Wancheng　and　Wangye　to　smite　his　rearguard。　Thunder…like　in　the　weight　of　their　march；　tiger…like　in　the　alertness　of　their　advance；　they　are　as　flames　let　loose　among　light　grass；　as　the　blue　ocean　poured　on　glowing　embers。　Is　there　any　hope　that　he　escape　destruc