三国演义英文版-第245章

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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　with　you　for　an　attack　on　Jingzhou；　while　he　goes　against　Hanzhong。　This　double　attack　being　successful；　the　conquered　regions　can　be　divided　between　us　two；　and　we　can　both　swear　to　respect　each　other's　territory。〃
Having　read　the　letter；　Sun　Quan　prepared　a　banquet　in　honor　of　Man　Chong　and　then　sent　him　to　the　guest…house　to　rest　while　he　discussed　the　matter　with　his　council　of　advisers。
Said　Gu　Yong；　〃Although　the　messenger's　speech　was　all　special　pleading；　it　was　correct　in　form。　I　propose　that　the　messenger　be　allowed　to　return　and　that　a　covenant　be　made　with　Cao　Cao　for　joint　attack。　In　addition；　let　spies　be　sent　over　the　Great　River　to　find　out　Guan　Yu's　movements；　and　then　we　may　act。〃
Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃I　hear　that　since　Guan　Yu　has　been　in　Jingzhou；　Liu　Bei　has　found　him　a　wife；　who　has　borne　him　a　son　and　a　daughter。　The　daughter　is　too　young　to　have　been　betrothed；　wherefore　let　me　go　to　ask　her　in　marriage　with　your　heir。　If　Guan　Yu　agrees；　then　we　can　arrange　with　him　to　attack　Cao　Cao。　If　Guan　Yu　refuses；　then　let　us　aid　Cao　Cao　in　an　attack　on　Jingzhou。〃
Sun　Quan　took　this　advice。　So　he　sent　Man　Chong　away　and　sent　Zhuge　Jin　to　Jingzhou　to　try　to　arrange　the　betrothal。　Zhuge　Jin　was　received。
When　the　time　came　to　state　the　reason　for　his　ing；　Guan　Yu　asked　him；　〃What　have　you　e　for；　Zhuge　Jin？〃
〃I　have　e　seeking　to　ally　the　two　houses。　My　master；　the　Marquis　of　Wu；　has　a　son　who　is　quite　clever。　Hearing　that　you　have　a　daughter；　General；　I　ask　her　in　marriage；　hereby　the　two　houses　may　join　in　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。　This　would　be　an　admirable　result；　and　I　pray　you　consider　the　proposal。〃
But　the　warrior　flared　up。
〃How　can　a　tiger's　daughter　marry　with　a　dog's　whelp？　Were　it　not　for　your　brother；　I　would　take　your　head。　Say　no　more！〃
Guan　Yu　called　his　servants　to　hustle　forth　the　hapless　messenger；　who　ran　away　with　his　hands　over　his　head；　too　astonished　to　look　anyone　in　the　face。　And　reaching　his　own　place；　he　dared　not　hide　the　manner　of　his　reception；　but　told　the　whole　truth。