三国演义英文版-第232章

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med　into　two　cranes　that　rose　into　the　sky　and　flew　away。　Zhao　Yang　came　back　home　and　told　what　he　had　seen。　Guan　Lu　told　him　the　red…robed　man　was　the　Southern　Dipper　Constellation；　and　the　white…robed；　the　Northern　Dipper。
〃'But　the　Northern　Dipper　consists　of　nine　stars；　and　there　was　only　one　man；'　objected　the　lad。
〃'Separately　they　are　nine；　but　they　bine　to　form　one。　The　Northern　Dipper　records　deaths；　the　Southern　Dipper；　births。　Now　the　extra　figure　has　been　added；　you　need　have　no　anxiety。　You　will　live　long。
〃Father　and　son　both　thanked　him　most　sincerely；　but　thereafter　Guan　Lu　was　very　careful　how　he　divined　for　people　lest　he　should　betray　celestial　secrets。
〃Now；　this　man　is　at　Pingyuan；　and　you；　O　Prince；　can　seek　your　fate　of　him。　Why　not　call　him？〃
Cao　Cao　was　greatly　glad。　Guan　Lu　was　sent　for　and　came。　As　soon　as　the　salutations　were　over；　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　cast　lots　for　him。
Guan　Lu　at　once　found　the　cause　and　said；　〃Your　illness　is　only　due　to　magical　machinations。　It　should　not　create　anxiety。〃
Cao　Cao　was　much　relieved　in　his　mind；　and　his　health　began　to　improve。　Next　Cao　Cao　wished　to　know　about　the　conditions　in　the　empire's　affairs。
After　the　necessary　calculations　the　prophet　said：

〃Three　and　eight　cross；
Where　the　army　halt；
The　yellow　boar　meets　the　tiger；
It　causes　the　loss　of　one　limb。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　inquire　whether　his　life　should　be　long　or　not。
Guan　Lu　replied：

〃In　the　Lion　Palace
The　talents　of　ancestors　are　preserved。
The　Prince's　way　is　securely　renewed；
And　his　son　and　grandson　shall　e　to　high　honor。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　asked　concerning　himself。
〃Divination　concerning　the　fate　of　the　universe　may　not　be　foreknown。　Wait　a　time　and　I　will　look　into　it。〃
Cao　Cao　was　pleased　and　would　like　to　keep　such　a　man　near　him；　so　he　offered　him　the　post　of　Historiographer　（who　was　also　soothsayer）　at　his　court；　but　it　was　declined。
〃My　destiny　is　mean；　my　luck　despicable。　I　am　not　equal　to　such　an　office　and　dare　not　undertake　it；〃　said　Guan　Lu。
〃Why　not？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃My　forehead　has　no　lofty　fullness；　my　eyes　no　steady　expression；　my　nose　no　bridge；　my　feet　no　round；　solid　heels；　my　back　lacks　the　triple　armor　（of　shoulder　blades　and　intervening　muscles）；　and　my　breast　the　three　marks　（like　the　character　indicating　wealth）。　I　can　only　control　evil　spirits　securely；　I　cannot　rule　living　humans。〃
〃What　think　you　of　my　physiognomy？〃
〃What　can　a　minister　of　extremely　exalted　rank　like　yourself　desire　further？〃　said　Guan　Lu。
Cao　Cao　pressed　him　to　say。　The　soothsayer　only　laughed。　Then　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　look　at　the　many　officers　of　all　kinds　standing　around。
〃Everyone　of　them　is　a　servant　equal　to　the　administration　of　the　empire；〃　said　Guan　Lu。
But　when　Cao　Cao　asked　whether　good　or　bad　fortune　was　to　be　his；　the　soothsayer　would　not　give　a　clear　and　full　reply。
A　poem　says：

Guan　Lu　was　a　seer　of　old。
Stars　to　him　their　secrets　told。
Mysteries；　occult　and　dim；
Were　as　daylight　unto　him。
His　so　subtle　intellect
Could　the　shade　of　death　detect；
But　the　secrets　of　his　skill
Died　with　him；………are　secrets　still。

Again　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　divine　concerning　his　rivals　Wu　and　Shu。
Guan　Lu　said；　〃The　south　just　lost　a　famous　leader；　and　the　west　is　encroaching　on　your　territory。〃
Cao　Cao's　doubts　as　to　the　accuracy　of　one　of　these　events　were　soon　set　at　rest；　for　a　messenger　came　from　Hefei　to　report：　〃Lu　Su；　the　Supreme　mander　of　the　South　Land；　has　died　in　Lukou。〃
Then　Cao　Cao　sent　hurriedly　into　Hanzhong；　and　the　scout　returned　to　report：　〃Zhang　Fei　and　Ma　Chao　have　taken　the　Xiabian　Pass　and　are　threatening　Hanzhong。〃
Cao　Cao　was　angry　and　inclined　to　march　at　once　against　the　invaders。　But　he　consulted　the　great　soothsayer；　who　advised　him　not　to　move。
〃Do　not　act　in　haste。　In　the　ing　spring　there　will　be　a　conflagration　in　Xuchang；〃　said　Guan　Lu。
Having　been　witness　of　the　verification　of　Guan　Lu's　words；　Cao　Cao　was　in　no　mood　to　neglect　the　warning。　He　stayed　on　in　his　palace；　but　he　sent　Cao　Hong　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　assist　in　the　defense　of　East　River　Land；　while　Xiahou　Dun；　with　thirty　thousand　troops；　went　to　Xuchang　to　keep　careful　watch　and　be　ready　against　any　surprises。　He　placed　High　Minister　Wang　Bi　in　mand　of　the　Imperial　Guard。
Sima　Yi　warned　Cao　Cao　against　this　Wang　Bi；　saying；　〃The　man　is　given　to　wine；　and　slack。　He　is　not　a　fit　person　for　such　a　post。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃He　is　very　fit。　He　has　followed　me　through　all　difficulties　and　dangers。　He　is　loyal　and　diligent；　solid　as　stone　or　iron。〃
Wang　Bi　was　appointed　and　led　the　guard　into　camp　at　the　capital；　outside　the　East　Gate　of　the　Imperial　Palace。
Now　there　was　a　certain　Geng　Ji；　a　Luoyang　man；　who　had　long　been　employed　in　the　Prime　Minister's　palace　in　a　subordinate　capacity　and　afterward　had　been　promoted　to　a　post　of　Minister。　He　and　Minister　Wei　Huang　were　close　friends。
These　two　were　greatly　distressed　at　Cao　Cao's　advance　to　princely　rank；　and　more　especially　at　his　use　of　the　imperial　chariots。　In　the　early　months　of　the　twenty…third　year　（AD　218）；　Geng　Ji　and　Wei　Huang　came　to　a　secret　exchange　of　views　on　Cao　Cao's　conduct。
Geng　Ji　said；　〃The　man　is　rebellious　and　wicked；　every　day　behaving　worse。　He　intends　to　go　farther；　and　how　can　we；　as　servants　of　the　dynasty；　help　him　in　his　wickedness？〃

＇e＇　Jin　Midi　was　a　High　Minister　of　Emperor　Wu。　Jin　Midi's　descendants　had　held　high　offices　for　several　generations。　。。。。。
Wei　Huang　said；　〃I　have　a　friend　named　Jin　Yi；　who　also　is　a　servant　of　Han　and　an　enemy　of　Cao　Cao's。　He　is　a　descendant　of　the　old　Great　Minister　Jin　Midi*。　Beside；　he　is　friendly　with　Wang　Bi。　If　we　all　tried　our　best；　we　ought　to　succeed。〃
〃But　if　he　is　friendly　Wang　Bi；　he　will　not　assist　us！〃　said　Geng　Ji。
〃Let　us　go　and　sound　him；〃　said　Wei　Huang。
So　the　two　went　to　see　Jin　Yi；　who　received　them　in　his　private　rooms。　There　they　talked。
Said　Wei　Huang；　〃O　virtuous　Jin　Yi；　we　know　you　are　on　most　friendly　terms　with　mander　Wang　Bi；　and　so　have　e　to　beg　a　favor。〃
〃What　is　it　you　ask？〃
〃The　Prince　of　Wei　will　soon　receive　the　abdication　of　the　Emperor　and　himself　ascend　to　the　seat　of　the　mighty。　Then　you　and　your　friend　Wang　Bi　will　advance　to　places　of　great　honor。　When　that　day　es；　we　pray　you　not　forget　us；　but　remend　us　for　employment。　We　should　feel　no　shallow　gratitude　for　your　kindness。〃
Jin　Yi　flicked　down　his　sleeves　and　arose　looking　very　angry。　At　that　instant　arrived　the　tea　for　the　visitors。　He　snatched　it　away　from　the　serving　man　and　emptied　it　on　the　floor。
Wei　Huang　started　up　in　feigned　alarm。
〃How　have　I　offended　you；　my　good　friend？〃　cried　he。
〃I　have　been　friends　with　you　because　you　are　descendants　of　people　who　have　served　the　Hans　faithfully。　Now；　instead　of　trying　to　repay　the　debt　of　gratitude　you　ought　to　feel；　you　turn　aside　to　assist　one　who　is　their　enemy；　think　you　that　I　can　regard　you　as　friends？　How　could　I　look　the　world　in　the　face？〃
〃But　if　it　be　destiny；　one　cannot　help　it；〃　said　Geng　Ji。　〃One　must　accept　it。〃
Jin　Yi　grew　still　more　angry；　so　that　the　two　visitors　were　convinced　that　at　heart　he　was　loyal　to　the　dynasty。　Then　they　began　to　tell　him　the　true　state　of　the　case。
Said　they；　〃Our　real　desire　is　to　destroy　this　rebel；　and　we　have　e　to　ask　your　help　in　that。　What　we　said　at　first　was　only　a　test　to　find　out　what　you　thought。〃
〃Think　you；　with　my　ancestry；　generation　after　generation　in　the　confidence　and　service　of　the　Hans；　that　I　would　willingly　follow　a　rebel？　If　you；　Sirs；　really　think　of　restoring　the　dynasty；　pray　tell　me　your　plans。〃
〃Though　we　have　the　desire　to　prove　our　gratitude；　yet　we　lack　the　means　to　destroy　the　enemy；〃　said　Wei　Huang。
Said　Jin　Yi；　〃We　desire　helpers　within　and　supporters　without。　If　we　could　slay　Wang　Bi；　we　could　use　his　name　and　troops　to　help　the　Emperor。　With　the　help　of　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　we　should　be　able　to　destroy　the　rebel　Cao　Cao。〃
Hearing　Jin　Yi's　plan；　the　others　clapped　their　hands　in　approval。
〃And　I　have　two　friends　outside　of　the　city　who　will　go　with　us；〃　said　Jin　Yi。　〃Both　of　them　have　the　murder　of　a　father　to　avenge。　We　can　get　their　helps。〃
〃Who　are　they？〃
〃They　are　sons　of　the　great　physician