三国演义英文版-第258部分

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　point　over　Shoushan　Mountain　and　travel　over　toward　Xiangping；　where　it　fell。　The　soldiers　were　rather　frightened　at　this　apparition；　but　the　leader　rejoiced。
〃Five　days　from　now　Gongsun　Yuan　will　be　slain　where　that　star　fell；〃　said　he。　〃Therefore　attack　with　vigor。〃
They　opened　the　attack　the　next　morning　at　dawn；　throwing　up　banks　and　sapping　the　walls；　setting　up　stone…throwing　machines　and　rearing　ladders。　When　night　came　the　attack　did　not　cease。　Arrows　fell　in　the　city　like　pelting　rain。
Within　the　city；　grain　began　to　run　short；　and　soon　there　was　none。　They　slaughtered　bullocks　and　horses　for　food。　The　soldiers　began　to　be　mutinous　and　no　longer　fought　with　any　spirit。　There　was　talk　of　slaying　Gongsun　Yuan　and　yielding　the　city。
Gongsun　Yuan　was　disheartened　and　frightened；　and　decided　to　sue　for　peace。　He　sent　his　Prime　Minister　Wang　Jian　and　Imperial　Censor　Liu　Fei　out　of　the　city　to　beg　Sima　Yi　to　allow　him　to　submit。　These　two　had　to　be　let　down　from　the　walls　by　ropes；　as　no　other　means　of　exit　were　possible。
Wang　Jian　and　Liu　Fei　found　their　way　to　Sima　Yi　and　said；　〃We　pray　you；　O　mander；　retire　seven　miles　and　allow　the　officers　to　e　forth　and　surrender。〃
〃Why　did　not　Gongsun　Yuan　himself　e？〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃He　is　rude。〃
He　put　the　two　envoys　to　death　and　sent　their　heads　back　into　the　city。
Gongsun　Yuan　was　still　more　alarmed；　but　he　resolved　to　make　one　more　attempt。　This　time　he　sent　High　Counselor　Wei　Yin　as　his　envoy。　Sima　Yi　received　this　messenger　sitting　in　state　in　his　tent　with　his　officers　standing　right　and　left。　Wei　Yin　approached　on　his　knees；　and　when　he　reached　the　door　of　the　tent　recited　his　petition。
〃I　pray　you；　O　mander；　turn　your　thunderous　wrath　from　us。　We　will　send　the　son　of　our　leader；　Gongsun　Xiu；　the　Heir　Apparent；　as　hostage　and　all　the　officers　shall　appear　before　you　bound　with　cords。〃
Sima　Yi　replied；　〃There　are　five　possible　operations　for　any　army。　If　you　can　fight；　fight；　if　you　cannot　fight；　defend；　if　you　cannot　defend；　flee；　if　you　cannot　flee；　surrender；　if　you　cannot　surrender；　die。　These　five　courses　are　open　to　you；　and　a　hostage　would　be　useless。　Now　return　and　tell　your　master。〃
Wei　Yin　put　his　hands　over　his　head　and　fled　like　a　rat。　He　went　into　the　city　and　related　what　had　happened　to　him。
The　Gongsuns；　father　and　son；　resolved　to　flee。　They　chose　a　thousand　of　mounted　troops；　and　in　the　dead　of　night　opened　the　south　gate　and　got　out。　They　took　the　road　to　the　east　and　were　rejoiced　to　find　it　clear。
All　went　well　for　a　distance　of　three　miles；　when　a　bomb　exploded。　This　was　followed　by　a　roll　of　drums　and　the　blare　of　trumpets；　and　a　cohort　stood　in　the　way。　The　leader　was　Sima　Yi；　supported　by　his　two　sons………Sima　Shi　and　Sima　Zhao。
〃Stop；　O　rebel！〃　cried　the　sons。
But　Gongsun　Yuan　lashed　his　steed　to　a　gallop。　Then　Hu　Zun；　Xiahou　Ba；　Xiahou　Wei；　Zhang　Hu；　and　Yue　Chen；　with　their　troops；　came　up　and　quickly　surrounded　them　so　that　they　were　helpless。　Gongsun　Yuan　saw　that　escape　was　impossible；　so　he　came　with　his　son；　dismounted；　and　offered　surrender。
Sima　Yi　hardly　looked　at　the　two　men；　but　he　turned　to　his　officers　and　said；　〃That　night　the　star　fell　to　this　land；　and　today；　five　days　later；　the　omen　bees　true。〃
They　all　felicitated　him；　saying；　〃The　mander　is　superhuman！〃
Gongsun　Yuan　and　Gongsun　Xiu　were　slain　where　they　stood。　Then　Sima　Yi　turned　to　resume　the　siege　of　Xiangping；　but　before　he　had　reached　the　walls；　Hu　Zun's　army　had　entered。　Sima　Yi　went　in　and　was　received　with　great　respect；　the　people　burning　incense　as　he　passed。　He　went　to　the　residence；　and　then　the　whole　of　the　Gongsun　Yuan's　clan；　and　all　who　had　assisted　in　his　rising；　were　beheaded。　They　counted　heads　to　the　number　of　seventy。
The　city　taken　and　the　rebels　destroyed；　Sima　Yi　issued　a　proclamation　in　order　to　restore　confidence　among　the　people。
Certain　persons　told　him；　〃Jia　Fan　and　Lun　Zhi　had　been　against　the　revolt　and　had　therefore　suffered　death。〃
So　Sima　Yi　honored　their　tombs　and　conferred　ranks　upon　their　children。　The　contents　of　the　treasury　were　distributed　among　the　soldiers　as　rewards；　and　then　the　army　marched　back　to　Luoyang。
One　night　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　suddenly　awakened　by　a　chill　blast　that　extinguished　all　the　lights；　but　he　saw　the　form　of　the　late　Empress　Mao；　with　a　score　or　two　of　other　Palace　attendants；　ing　toward　the　bed　whereon　he　lay；　and　as　they　approached　they　demanded　his　life。　He　was　very　frightened　and　fell　ill　so　that　he　was　like　to　die。
So　the　two　officers；　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu；　were　set　over　the　privy　council；　and　he　summoned　his　brother　Cao　Yu；　the　Prince　of　Yan；　to　the　capital　to　make　him　Regent　Marshal　to　assist　the　Heir　Apparent；　Cao　Fang。　However；　Cao　Yu　being　modest　and　retiring　by　nature；　declined　these　high　offices　and　their　responsibilities。
The　Ruler　of　Wei　then　turned　to　his　two　confidants；　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu；　inquired　of　them；　saying；　〃Who　of　the　family　is　a　suitable　person　to　support　the　Heir　Apparent？〃
As　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu　had　both　received　many　favors　from　Cao　Zhen；　they　replied；　〃None　is　so　fit　as　Cao　Shuang；　the　son　of　Cao　Zhen。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　approved　their　choice；　and　thus　Cao　Shuang　became　a　great　person。
Then　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu　memorialized；　saying；　〃As　Cao　Shuang　has　been　chosen；　Cao　Yu；　the　Prince　of　Yan；　should　be　ordered　to　leave　the　capital　and　return　to　Yan；　his　own　place。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　consented　and　issued　an　edict；　which　these　two　bore　to　Cao　Yu；　saying；　〃The　edict　in　the　Emperor's　own　hand　bids　you　return　to　your　own　domain　at　once；　and　you　are　not　to　return　to　court　without　a　special　mand。〃
Cao　Yu　wept；　but　he　left　forthwith。
Thereupon　Cao　Shuang　was　created　Regent　Marshal　and　Court　Administrator。
But　the　Ruler　of　Wei's　illness　advanced　rapidly；　and　he　sent　messenger　with　authority　ensign　to　call　Sima　Yi　into　the　Palace。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　he　was　led　to　the　Emperor's　chamber。
〃I　feared　lest　I　should　not　see　you　again；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。　〃But　now　I　can　die　content。〃
The　general　bowed　and　said；　〃On　the　road　they　told　me　the　sacred　person　was　not　perfectly　well。　I　grieved　that　I　had　not　wings　to　hasten　hither。　But　I　am　happy　in　that　I　now　behold　the　dragon　countenance。〃
The　heir；　Cao　Fang；　was　summoned　to　the　Emperor's　bedside　and　also　Cao　Shuang；　Liu　Fang；　Sun　Zu；　and　certain　others。
Taking　Sima　Yi　by　the　hand；　the　dying　Emperor　said；　〃When　Liu　Bei　lay　dying　at　Baidicheng；　he　confided　his　son；　so　soon　to　be　an　orphan；　to　the　care　of　Zhuge　Liang；　who　labored　in　this　task　to　the　very　end　and　whose　devotion　only　ceased　with　death。　If　such　conduct　is　possible　in　the　mere　remnant　of　a　dying　dynasty　continued　in　a　small　state；　how　much　more　may　I　hope　for　it　in　a　great　country！　My　son　is　only　eight　years　of　age；　and　incapable　of　sustaining　the　burden　of　rulership。　Happily　for　him　he　has　ample　merit　and　experience　around　him　in　the　persons　of　yourself　and　his　relatives。　He　will　never　lack　friends　for　my　sake。〃
Turning　to　the　young　prince；　he　continued；　〃My　friend　Sima　Yi　is　as　myself；　and　you　are　to　treat　him　with　the　same　respect　and　deference。〃
Cao　Rui　bade　Sima　Yi　lead　the　young　prince　forward。　The　boy　threw　his　arms　around　Sima　Yi's　neck　and　clung　to　him。
〃Never　forget　the　affection　he　has　just　shown；〃　said　Cao　Rui；　weeping。　And　Sima　Yi　wept　also。
The　dying　man　swooned；　although　he　could　not　speak；　his　hand　still　pointed　to　his　son；　and　soon　after　he　died。　Cao　Rui　had　reigned　thirteen　years　and　was　thirty…six　years　of　age。　His　death　took　place　in　the　first　month　of　the　third　year　of　Spectacular　Beginning　（AD　239）。
No　time　was　lost　in　enthroning　the　new　Emperor；　the　supporters　being　Sima　Yi　and　Cao　Shuang。　The　new　ruler's　name　was　Cao　Fang。　However；　he　was　Cao　Rui's　son　only　by　adoption。　He　had　been　brought　up　in　the　Palace　secretly；　and　no　one　knew　his　real　origin。
The　posthumous　title　of　Emperor　Rui　the　Knowledgeable　was　conferred　upon　the　late　ruler；　and　he　was　buried　in　the　Gaoping　Tombs。　Empress　Guo　was　given　the　title　of　Empress　Dowager。
The　new　reign　was　styled　Right　Beginning　Era；　the　first　year　（AD　239）。　Sima　Yi　and　Cao　Shuang　conducted　the　government；　and　in　all　matters　Cao　Shuang　treated　Sima　Yi　with　deference　and　took　no　steps　without　his　knowledge。

＇e＇　Deng　Yu　was　mander…in…chief　of　Liu　Xiu；　the　founder　of　Latter　Han。　。。。。。
Cao　Shuang　was　no　stranger　at　court。　Cao　Rui　had　respected　him　for　his　diligence　and　care　and　had　been　very　fond　of　him；　He　had　had　the　freedom　of　the　Palace　all　his　life。　He　had　a　host　of　five　hundred　clients　and　retainers。　Among　them　were　five　wholly　light　and　foppish。　Their　names　were　He　Yan；　Deng　Yang；　Li　Sheng；　Ding　Mi；　and　Bi　Gui。　Deng　Yang　was　a　descendant　of　mander　Deng　Yu　of　Han*。　Beside　these　five　there　was　another　named　Huan　Fan；　Minister　of　Agriculture；　a　man　of　good　parts；　who　had　the　sobriquet　of　〃Bag　of　Wisdom〃。　These　six　were　Cao　Shuang's　most　trusted　panions　and　confidants。
One　day　He　Yan　said；　〃My　lord；　you　should　not　let　your　great　powers　slip　into　the　hands　of　any　other；　or　you　will　repent　it。〃
Cao　Shuang　replied；　〃Sima　Yi　as　well　as　I　received　the　late　Emperor's　sacred　trust；　and　I　mean　to　be　true。〃
He　Yan　said；　〃When　your　father　and　this　Sima　Yi　were　winning　their　victories　in　the　west；　your　father　suffered　much　from　this　man's　temper；　which　ultimately　brought　about　his　death。　Why　do　you　not　look　into　that？〃
Cao　Shuang　seemed　suddenly　to　wake　up。
Having　entered　into　an　intrigue　with　the　majority　of　the　officers　about　the　court；　then　one　day　he　presented　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei　a　memorial；　saying；　〃Sima　Yi　should　be　promoted　to　the　rank　of　Guardian　of　the　Throne　for　his　great　merits　and　services。〃
The　promotion　was　made；　and　consequently　Sima　Yi；　now　a　civil　officer；　let　the　whole　military　authority　fall　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Shuang。
Having　thus　far　succeeded；　Cao　Shuang　next　appointed　his　brothers　to　high　military　posts：　Cao　Xi　as　mander　of　the　Center　Army；　Cao　Xun；　mander　of　the　Imperial　Guards；　Cao　Yan；　mander　of　the　Cavalry。　Each　manded　three　thousand　of　the　Palace　guards；　with　right　to　go　in　and　out　of　the　Palace　at　will。　Moreover；　three　of　his　friends………He　Yan；　Deng　Yang；　and　Ding　Mi………were　created　Chairs　of　three　boards；　Bi　Gui；　mander　of　Capital　District；　and　Li　Sheng；　Governor　of　Henan。　These　five　and　their　patron　were　close　associates　in　all　concerns　of　state。
Cao　Shuang　gathered　about　him　larger　and　still　larger　numbers　of　supporters；　till　Sima　Yi　gave　out　that　he　was　ill　and　remained　in　seclusion。　His　two　sons　also　resigned　their　offices。
Cao　Shuang　and　his　friends　now　gave　themselves　up　to　dissipation；　spending　days　and　nights　in　drinking　and　music。　In　their　dress　and　the　furniture　of　their　table　they　copied　the　Palace　patterns。　Tribute　in　the　shape　of　jewels　and　curios　went　to　the　residence　of　Cao　Shuang　before　it　entered　the　Emperor's　palace；　and　his　plex　swarmed　with　beautiful　damsels。　Minister　Zhang　Dang　of　the　Inner　Bureau　toadied　to　Cao　Shuang　so　far　as　to　select　eighteen　of　the　late　Emperor's　handmaids　and　send　them　to　the　now　powerful　minister。　Cao　Shuang　also　chose　for　him　a　chorus　of　two　score　well…born　ladies　who　were　skilled　in　music　and　dancing。　Cao　Shuang　also　built　for　himself　beautiful　towers　and　pavilions　and　made　to　himself　vessels　of　gold　and　silver；　the　work　of　the　most　expert