三国演义英文版-第325章

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History　repeats　itself；　time's　instrument；
Sima　Shi　avenges　this　on　Cao　Cao's　heirs。
＇e＇　Huo　Guang　（BC　？…68）　a　general　and　regent　of　Han。　After　Emperor　Wu　died；　Huo　Guang　became　regent　to　three　successive　emperors；　and　the　second　one　had　been　the　Prince　of　Changyi；　who　was　on　the　throne　for　only　twenty…seven　days。　Huo　Guang　had　the　Prince　of　Changyi　declared　unfit　to　rule　and　deposed　him。　Even　though　Huo　Guang　contributed　much　to　the　empire's　stabilization；　after　he　died；　he　was　distanced　by　the　emperor　and　most　of　his　family　were　executed　for　conspiracy　charges。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tang's　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tang's　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Qi　was　an　ancient　state　on　the　extreme　eastern　edge　of　the　North　China　Plain　in　what　is　now　Shandong　and　Hebei　provinces。　Became　prominent　under　the　leadership　of　Duke　Huan　and　his　adviser　Guan　Zhong　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　It　nearly　won　the　empire　in　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。
The　day　after　these　events；　Sima　Shi　assembled　all　the　officers　and　addressed　them　thus：　〃Our　present　lord　is　profligate　and　devoid　of　principle；　familiar　with　the　vile　and　friendly　with　the　impure。　He　lends　a　ready　ear　to　slander　and　keeps　good　people　at　a　distance。　His　faults　exceed　those　of　the　Prince　of　Changyi*　of　old；　and　he　has　proved　himself　unfit　to　rule。　Wherefore；　following　the　precedents　of　Yi　Yin*　and　Huo　Guang*；　I　have　decided　to　put　him　aside　and　to　set　up　another；　thereby　to　maintain　the　sanctity　of　the　ruler　and　ensure　tranquillity。　What　think　you；　Sirs？〃
They　all　agreed；　saying；　〃General；　you　are　right　to　play　the　same　part　as　Yi　Yin　and　Huo　Guang；　thereby　acting　in　accordance　with　Heaven　and　fulfilling　the　desire　of　humankind。　Who　dares　dispute　it？〃
Then　Sima　Shi；　followed　by　the　whole　of　the　officials；　went　to　the　Palace　of　Everlasting　Peace　and　informed　the　Empress　Dowager　of　his　intention。
〃Whom　do　you　propose　to　place　on　the　throne；　General？〃　she　asked。
〃I　have　observed　that　Cao　Ju；　Prince　of　Pengcheng；　is　intelligent；　benevolent；　and　filial。　He　is　fit　to　rule　the　empire。〃
She　replied；　〃He　is　my　uncle；　and　it　is　not　convenient。　However；　there　is　Cao　Mao；　Duke　of　Gaogui；　and　grandson　of　Emperor　Pi。　He　is　of　mild　temperament；　respectful；　and　deferential；　and　may　be　set　up。　You；　Sir；　and　the　high　officers　of　state　might　favorably　consider　this。〃
Then　spoke　one；　saying；　〃Her　Majesty　speaks　well：　Cao　Mao　should　be　raised　to　the　throne。〃
All　eyes　turned　toward　the　speaker；　who　was　Sima　Fu；　uncle　of　Sima　Shi。
The　Duke　of　Gaogui　was　summoned　to　the　capital。
The　Empress　called　Cao　Fang　into　her　presence　in　the　Hall　of　Principles　and　blamed　him；　saying；　〃You　are　vicious　beyond　measure；　a　panion　of　lewd　men　and　a　friend　of　vile　women。　You　are　unfitted　to　rule。　Therefore　resign　the　imperial　seal　and　revert　to　your　status　of　Prince　of　Qi*。　You　are　forbidden　to　present　yourself　at　court　without　special　mand。〃
Cao　Fang；　weeping；　threw　himself　at　her　feet。　He　gave　up　the　seal；　got　into　his　carriage　and　went　away。　Only　a　few　faithful　ministers　restrained　their　tears　and　bade　him　farewell。

Cao　Cao；　the　mighty　minister　of　Han；
Oppressed　the　helpless；　little　then　thought　he
That　only　two　score　swiftly　passing　years
Would　bring　like　fate　to　his　posterity。

The　Emperor…elect　Cao　Mao　was　the　grandson　of　Emperor　Pi；　and　son　of　Cao　Lin；　Prince　of　Donghai。　When　Cao　Mao　was　nearing　the　capital；　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　famili