三国演义英文版-第178部分

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s　and　hasten　Cao　Cao's　retreat。　For　this　reason　the　retreating　army　had　to　keep　on　the　move。　Beside；　Cao　Cao　was　suffering　from　his　wound；　and　he　marched　as　hurriedly　as　possible。　But　it　was　a　dejected　army；　when　the　leading　legions　encountered　fire　on　both　flanks；　which　had　been　raised　by　troops　placed　in　ambush　while　Ma　Chao's　main　force　kept　driving　the　army　before　it。　Everyone　in　the　Cao　Cao　army　was　dispirited；　and　there　was　no　more　courage　in　them。　They　pressed　forward　day　and　night　alike　without　halting　to　rest。　It　was　only　after　reaching　Jingzhao　that　they　had　some　repose。
Having　conquered　Hanzhong；　Liu　Bei　sent　Liu　Feng；　Meng　Da；　and　Wang　Ping　to　take　Shangyong。　The　mander　of　the　city；　Shen　Dan；　and　his　colleagues；　knowing　that　Cao　Cao　had　retreated；　offered　their　submission。　After　confidence　had　been　restored　among　the　people；　Liu　Bei　rewarded　his　army　generously；　and　they　were　all　joyful。
It　was　after　this　that　the　general　body　of　the　officers　decided　to　urge　Liu　Bei　to　assume　the　title　of　〃Emperor〃；　but　they　dared　not　tell　him　so。　However；　they　sent　up　a　petition　to　Zhuge　Liang。
He　replied；　〃I　have　already　decided　on　this　course。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　and　Fa　Zheng　headed　a　deputation　that　went　in　to　see　their　lord。
They　said；　〃Now　that　Cao　Cao　really　holds　the　reins　of　authority；　the　people　are　without　a　true　sovereign。　Our　lord；　your　kindness　and　sense　of　justice　have　spread　throughout　the　empire。　You　have　restored　peace　over　the　two　River　Lands；　and　your　being　an　emperor　would　be　according　to　God's　will　and　the　desire　of　the　people。　Then　by　right　and　title　you　could　destroy　rebels。　This　matter　should　not　be　delayed；　and　we　pray　you　choose　the　auspicious　day。〃
But　Liu　Bei　evinced　great　surprise；　and　replied；　〃Your　words；　O　Instructor；　are　wrong。　Although　I　am　of　the　imperial　house；　yet　I　am　but　a　minister。　And　to　do　this　thing　would　be　rebellion　against　Han。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Not　so。　Today　the　empire　is　riven；　and　many　of　the　bolder　spirits　have　seized　upon　and　claim　the　rule　of　various　portions。　The　talented　of　the　empire　and　the　virtuous　among　officers；　who　have　risked　death　and　lost　their　lives　in　serving　those　above　them；　all　desire　to　have　the　opportunity　of　serving　a　true　emperor　and　doing　service　for　a　true　throne。　Now；　if　you　insist　on　modestly　maintaining　your　righteous　way；　I　fear　that　you　will　lose　popular　support。　My　lord；　I　wish　that　you　should　reflect　upon　this。〃
〃But　you　desire　me　to　usurp　a　place　of　great　honor　in　the　state；　and　I　dare　not。　Let　there　be　more　delay　and　discussion。〃
But　with　one　voice　they　said；　〃Our　lord；　if　you　reject　this；　the　hearts　of　the　people　will　turn　from　you！〃
〃My　lord；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃you　have　made　rectitude　your　motto　all　your　life。　If　you　really　object　to　the　most　honored　title；　then；　since　you　have　Jingzhou；　Yizhou；　and　Hanzhong；　take　temporarily　the　title　of　'Prince　of　Hanzhong'。〃
〃Gentlemen；　though　you　may　desire　to　honor　me　by　the　title　of　Prince；　yet；　without　an　edict　from　the　Emperor；　such　action　would　be　usurpation。〃
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃The　time　demands　recognition　of　the　actual　state　of　authority；　and　not　a　rigid　adherence　to　all　the　rules　of　propriety。〃
And　Zhang　Fei　roared　out；　〃All　sorts　of　people　with　all　sorts　of　names　are　making　themselves　rulers：　How　much　more　ought　you；　brother；　who　are　of　the　dynastic　stock？　It　ought　not　to　be　Prince　of　Hanzhong　but　Emperor。　What　prevents　it？〃
〃Brother；　say　no　more；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　roughly。
〃My　lord；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃it　is　fitting　to　follow　political　changes　and　suit　one's　conduct　to　circumstances。　Wherefore　first　take　the　princedom；　and　then　memorialize　the　Throne。〃
Liu　Bei　declined　two　or　three　times；　but　as　there　seemed　no　other　option；　he　listened　and　plied。　In　the　twenty…fourth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　219）；　in　the　seventh　month；　an　altar　was　set　up　at　Mianyang；　half　a　square　mile；　which　was　set　around　with　the　proper　flags　and　banners　and　symbols。　In　the　presence　of　all　his　civil　and　military　officers　assembled　according　to　their　rank；　and　at　the　request　of　the　two　Ministers　Xu　Jing　and　Fa　Zheng；　Liu　Bei　received　the　headdress　and　seat　of　a　prince。　Then　he　took　his　seat；　facing　the　south　as　a　ruler　should；　and　received　the　salutes　and　felicitations　of　all　his　officers　as　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong。　And　his　son　Liu　Shan　was　nominated　his　heir…apparent。
Xu　Jing　was　given　the　title　of　Imperial　Guardian；　Fa　Zheng　that　of　Chair　of　the　Secretariat。　Zhuge　Liang　was　reappointed　Directing　Instructor　of　the　Forces；　with　the　additional　powers　of　control　over　the　whole　state　policy。　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Ma　Chao　were　the　Five　Tiger　Generals。　Wei　Yan　was　made　Governor　of　Hanzhong；　and　all　the　others　who　had　assisted　were　given　ranks　and　offices。
As　soon　as　the　investiture　was　pleted；　Liu　Bei　posed　a　memorial　and　sent　it　to　Capital　Xuchang。　This　is　the　document：
〃I；　Liu　Bei；　have　but　ordinary　talents；　yet　was　I　made　a　general　of　high　rank　and　led　a　great　army。　Though　I　received　a　mission　to　purge　the　empire　of　rebels；　I　was　unable　to　cleanse　it　and　so　renew　the　tranquillity　to　Your　Majesty's　house　and　restore　the　dynasty。　Too　long　have　I　delayed　to　spread　Your　Majesty's　sacred　governance。　The　world　is　evil　and　not　in　good　case；　and　as　I　sorrowfully　think　it　over　and　over；　I　am　distressed　as　one　in　severe　pain。
〃Rebellion　began　with　Dong　Zhuo；　and　all　kinds　of　evils　have　spread　abroad；　cruelty　and　ferocity　have　bee　rife。　Strong　in　faith　in　Your　Majesty's　sacred　virtue　and　inspiring　presence；　many　banded　together　to　help。　The　loyal　exerted　themselves　to　destroy　the　rebels；　but　others　of　them　were　smitten　of　heaven。　The　fierce　and　the　contumacious　have　been　exterminated；　and　gradually　rebellion　has　melted　away。
〃Only　Cao　Cao　now　remains；　too　long　unpunished。　He　has　arrogated　to　himself　the　authority　of　the　state。　His　wicked　heart　is　very　rebellious。　Once　I；　with　General　Dong　Cheng；　the　State　Uncle；　conspired　against　him；　but　the　plot　was　discovered　and　my　fellow　conspirator　suffered。　Thenceforward　I　was　a　wanderer　and　my　loyalty　availed　nothing。　It　only　allowed　Cao　Cao　further　license　and　liberty　to　do　evil；　till　he　dared　even　to　acplish　the　death　of　the　Empress　and　the　destruction　of　her　sons。　Although　we　might　band　together　and　form　associations；　yet；　with　all　our　energy；　we　had　to　recognize　that　we　were　too　weak　for　war。　Wherefore　the　years　passed　and　nothing　was　acplished。　In　constant　fear　of　destruction；　we　even　fear　more　lest　our　duty　to　the　state　be　forgotten。　Waking　and　sleeping　we　sighed；　and　our　nights　were　times　of　anxiety。

＇e＇　After　Liu　Bang's　death；　Empress　Lu；　Liu　Bang's　wife；　held　imperial　authority。　She　appointed　members　of　her　own　family　to　highly　important　positions　of　state　and　clearly　hoped　to　substitute　her　own　family　for　the　reigning　Liu　family。　But　these　plans　were　frustrated　on　her　death　（BC　180）。
〃Now　my　fellows　consider　that　history　has　repeated　itself。　They　attach　the　utmost　importance　to　the　family　and　would　manifest　it　with　all　their　might。　Hereditary　succession　of　rulers　is　still　a　principle。　The　rulers　of　Zhou；　taking　the　two　preceding　dynasties　as　models；　strengthened　its　clan's　position　through　all　the　states；　and　it　reinforced　itself　with　the　support　of　the　states　of　Jing　and　Zheng。　When　the　great　Founder　of　Han　came　into　his　own；　he　ennobled　his　whole　family　with　kingships　and　lordships。　Later；　the　dynasty　had　to　issue　a　general　mand　throughout　the　whole　of　the　nine　regions　in　order　to　destroy　the　widespread　Lu　Family　and　to　enhance　the　Liu　Family*。
〃Now　Cao　Cao　is　an　enemy　of　all　rectitude；　and　his　followers　are　all　evil。　His　treachery　is　manifest。　Since　the　members　of　the　imperial　clan　are　few　and　weak；　the　clan　is　not　honored。　Having　reflected　upon　the　ancient　models　and　being　desirous　of　temporary　alleviation；　my　fellows　have　made　me　assume　the　title　of　Prince　of　Hanzhong　with　the　addition　of　Regent　Marshal。
〃I　have　deeply　considered　these　things。　If　one　receives　kindness　from　the　Throne　and　accepts　the　responsibility　for　a　portion　of　the　state　and　fail；　then　such　a　fault　would　only　be　made　the　more　serious　by　holding　high　rank　and　thereby　increasing　the　burden　of　reproach。　But　my　fellows　have　urged　me；　and　they　have　convinced　me　that　it　would　be　right；　and；　should　I　refuse；　the　wicked　will　not　be　destroyed　and　the　danger　to　the　state　will　not　be　removed。　The　temple　of　our　ancestors　is　in　danger；　and　the　imperial　prerogatives　are　failing。　A　faithful　servant；　who　in　the　day　of　tribulation　can　undertake　a　suitable　policy　whereby　to　preserve　the　dynasty；　should　not　refuse　his　help　at　any　cost。　Wherefore　I　have　yielded　and　accepted　the　position　for　the　glory　of　the　state。
〃Humbly　I　think　of　such　a　title　and　its　exalted　position　and　the　favor　vouchsafed　me；　and　I　would　endeavor　to　show　true　gratitude。　My　anxiety　is　deep；　for　the　responsibility　is　heavy。　I　am　as　one　on　the　brink　of　a　great　gulf。　I　must　surely　exert　myself　to　the　utmost　and　encourage　my　armies　and　lead　all　disciples　of　rectitude；　in　accordance　with　the　will　of　Heaven　and　as　occasion　serves；　to　smite　rebellion　so　as　to　restore　the　dynasty。〃
When　this　memorial　reached　Capital　Xuchang；　Cao　Cao　was　in　the　Palace　at　Yejun；　and　it　annoyed　him　greatly。
〃How　dare　this　mean　weaver　of　straw　shoes　behave　thus？〃　said　he。　〃Now　I　swear　that　I　will　destroy　him。〃
So　he　issued　orders　for　the　whole　force　of　the　state　to　go　out　against　the　two　River　Lands　to　wage　fierce　war　with　the　new　Prince　of　Hanzhong。
But　a　remonstrance　came　from　the　mouth　of　one　man。
〃Let　not　the　great　Prince　of　Wei　trouble　himself　to　go　on　a　distant　expedition　because　of　a　temporary　annoyance。　I　can　propose　a　plan　of　which　the　execution　will　need　not　the　bending　of　a　single　bow；　and　yet　it　will　make　Liu　Bei　bring　down　disaster　upon　his　own　head。　When　his　army　shall　have　bee　exhausted；　it　will　only　be　necessary　to　send　one　single　general　against　him　and　victory　will　be　ours。〃
Cao　Cao　looked　at　the　officer。　It　was　First　Secretary　Sima　Yi。
〃What　is　your　exalted　view；　my　friend？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Sun　Quan's　sister　is　wife　to　Liu　Bei；　but　Sun　Quan　has　found　an　occasion　to　steal　away　the　bride。　Liu　Bei　is　in　possession　of　Jingzhou　still；　and　he　and　Sun　Quan　are　bitter　enemies。　Therefore　send　some　able　speaker　with　a　letter　to　Wu　to　persuade　the　Marquis　to　send　an　army　to　recover　Jingzhou。　That　will　draw　thither　all　the　armies　of　Shu；　when　you　can　send　your　army　to　Hanzhong。　Liu　Bei　will　be　helpless；　and　his　strength　will　be　wasted。〃
The　scheme　pleased　Cao　Cao。　He　at　once　drew　up　a　letter　and　sent　it　by　the　hand　of　Man　Chong；　who　soon　arrived　in　Wu。　As　soon　as　Sun　Quan　knew　of　the　mission；　he　summoned　his　advisers　to　consult。
Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Wei　and　Wu　are　primarily　enemies　because　of　the　dissension　fomented　by　the　words　of　Zhuge　Liang。　We　have　been　fighting　for　several　years；　and　many　lives　have　been　lost。　Now　this　messenger　has　surely　e　to　discuss　terms　of　friendship；　and　he　should　be　weled。〃
On　the　strength　of　this；　Man　Chong　was　well　received　and　conducted　into　the　city　and　into　the　presence　of　Sun　Quan。　He　presented　his　letters　at　the　conclusion　of　the　ceremonies　of　reception　and　declared　his　mission。
〃Wu　and　Wei　have　no　fundamental　quarrel；　and　their　dissension　has　been　brought　about　by　Liu　Bei。　My　master　sends　me　to　covenant