三国演义英文版-第71章

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　of　the　mon。　He　was　puzzled。　He　laid　the　belt　on　the　table。　Presently　he　picked　it　up　and　looked　at　it　again。　He　spent　long　hours　over　it　but　in　vain。　He　leaned　over　on　the　small　table；　his　head　resting　on　his　hands　and　was　almost　asleep；　when　a　candle　snuff　fell　down　upon　the　girdle　and　burned　a　hole　in　the　lining。　He　hastily　shook　it　off；　but　the　mischief　was　done：　A　small　hole　had　been　burned　in　the　silken　lining；　and　through　this　there　appeared　something　white　with　blood　red　marks。　He　hastily　ripped　it　open　and　drew　out　the　decree　written　by　the　hand　of　the　Emperor　himself　in　characters　of　blood。　It　read：
〃Of　human　relationships；　that　between　parents　and　children　stands　first。　Of　the　various　social　ties　that　between　prince　and　minister　stands　highest。　Today　Cao　Cao；　the　wicked；　is　a　real　tyrant；　treating　even　his　Prince　with　indignity。　With　the　support　of　his　faction　and　his　army；　he　has　destroyed　the　principles　of　government。　By　conferring　rewards　and　inflicting　punishments；　he　has　reduced　the　Emperor　to　a　nonentity。　I　have　grieved　over　this　day　and　night。　I　have　feared　the　empire　would　be　ruined。
〃You　are　a　high　minister　of　state　and　my　own　relative。　You　must　recall　the　difficulties　of　the　Great　Founder's　early　days　and　draw　together　the　loyal　and　right…minded　to　destroy　this　evil　faction　and　restore　the　prerogatives　of　the　Throne。　Such　a　deed　would　be　indeed　an　extreme　joy　to　the　spirits　of　my　ancestors。
〃This　decree；　written　in　blood　drawn　from　my　own　veins；　is　confided　to　a　noble　who　is　to　be　most　careful　not　to　fail　in　executing　his　Emperor's　design。
〃Given　in　the　era　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity；　fourth　year　and　the　third　month　of　spring。〃　（AD　199）
So　ran　the　decree；　and　Dong　Cheng　read　it　with　streaming　eyes。　There　was　no　sleep　for　him　that　night。　Early　in　the　morning　he　returned　to　his　library　and　reread　it。　No　plan　suggested　itself。　He　laid　the　decree　down　on　the　table　and　sought　in　the　depths　of　his　mind　for　some　scheme　to　destroy　Cao　Cao；　but　could　not　decide　upon　any。　And　he　fell　asleep　leaning　over　his　table。
It　happened　that　Minister　Wang　Zifu；　with　whom　Dong　Cheng　was　on　terms　of　great　intimacy；　came　to　visit　him　and；　as　usual；　walked　into　the　house　unannounced　and　went　straight　to　the　library。　His　host　did　not　wake；　and　Wang　Zifu　noticed；　hardly　hidden　by　his　sleeve；　the　Emperor's　writing。
Wondering　what　this　might　be；　Wang　Zifu　drew　it　out；　read　it；　and　put　it　in　his　own　sleeve。
Then　he　called　out　loud；　〃Uncle　Dong　Cheng；　are　you　not　well？　Why　are　you　asleep　at　this　time　of　day？〃
Dong　Cheng　started　up　and　at　once　missed　the　decree。　He　was　aghast；　he　almost　fell　to　the　ground。
〃So　you　want　to　make　away　with　Cao　Cao？　I　shall　have　to　tell　him；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。
〃Then；　brother；　that　is　the　end　of　the　Hans；〃　said　his　host；　with　tears。
〃I　was　joking；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。　〃My　forefathers　also　served　the　Hans　and　ate　of　their　bounty。　Am　I　devoid　of　loyalty？　I　would　help　you；　brother；　as　far　as　lies　in　my　power。〃
〃It　is　well　for　the　country　that　you　think　like　this；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
〃But　we　ought　to　have　a　more　private　place　than　this　to　talk　over　such　plans　and　pledge　ourselves　to　sacrifice　all　in　the　cause　of　Han。〃
Dong　Cheng　began　to　feel　very　satisfied。　He　produced　a　roll　of　white　silk　and　wrote　his　own　name　at　the　top　and　signed　it；　and　Wang　Zifu　followed　suit。
Then　the　visitor　said；　〃General　Wu　Zilan　is　one　of　my　best　friends。　He　ought　to　be　allowed　to　e　in。〃
Dong　Cheng　replied；　〃Of　all　the　officials　of　the　court；　mander　Chong　Ji　and　Court　Counselor　Wu　Shi　are　my　best　friends。　Certainly　they　would　back　me　up。〃
So　the　discussion　proceeded。　Presently　a　servant　announced　no　other　than　these　very　two　men　Dong　Cheng　just　mentioned。
〃This　is　providential；〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　and　he　told　Wang　Zifu　to　hide　behind　a　screen。
The　two　guests　were　led　into　the　library；　and　after　the　exchange　of　the　ordinary　civilities　and　a　cup　of　tea；　Chong　Ji　referred　to　the　incident　at　the　hunt　and　the　shooting　of　the　stag。
〃Were　you　not　angry　at　that？〃　said　Chong　Ji。
Dong　Cheng　answered；　〃Though　we　be　angry；　what　can　we　do？〃
Wu　Shi　struck　in；　saying；　〃I　would　slay　this　fellow；　I　swear；　but　I　cannot　get　anyone　to　back　me　up。〃
〃One　should　perish　for　one's　country；　one　should　not　mind；〃　said　Chong　Ji。
At　this　moment　Wang　Zifu　appeared　from　behind　the　screen；　saying；　〃You　two　want　to　kill　Cao　Cao！　I　shall　have　to　let　him　know　this。　And　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　is　my　witness。〃
〃A　loyal　minister　does　not　mind　death。　If　we　are　killed；　we　will　be　Han　ghosts；　which　is　better　than　being　sycophants　of　a　traitor；〃　said　Chong　Ji；　angrily。
Dong　Cheng　said；　〃We　were　just　saying　we　wanted　to　see　you　two　on　this　matter。　Wang　Zifu　is　only　joking。〃
Then　he　drew　forth　the　decree　and　showed　it　to　the　two　newers；　who　also　wept　as　they　read　it。　They　were　asked　to　add　their　names　to　the　silk　roll。
Wang　Zifu　said；　〃Wait　here　a　few　moments　till　I　get　Wu　Zilan　to　e。〃
He　left　the　room　and　very　soon　returned　with　his　friend；　who　also　wrote　his　name　in　the　presence　of　all　the　others。
After　this　they　went　into　one　of　the　inner　chambers　to　drink　success　to　the　new　plot。　While　there；　a　new　visitor；　Ma　Teng；　Governor　of　Xiliang；　was　announced。
〃Say　I　am　indisposed；〃　said　the　host；　〃and　cannot　receive　visitors。〃
The　doorkeeper　took　the　message；　whereat　Ma　Teng　angrily　said；　〃Last　night　at　the　Donghua　Gate；　I　saw　him　e　out　in　robe　and　girdle。　How　can　he　pretend　illness　today？　I　am　not　e　from　mere　idleness；　why　does　he　refuse　to　see　me？〃
The　doorkeeper　went　in　again　and　told　his　master　what　the　visitor　had　said　and　that　he　was　very　angry。　Then　Dong　Cheng　rose；　excused　himself　saying　he　would　soon　return；　and　went　to　receive　Ma　Teng。
After　the　visitor　had　saluted　and　they　were　both　seated；　Ma　Teng　said；　〃I　have　just　e　from　a　farewell　audience　and　wished　to　bid　you　good　bye。　Why　did　you　want　to　put　me　off？〃
〃My　poor　body　was　taken　suddenly　ill。　That　is　why　I　was　not　waiting　to　wele　you；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
〃You　do　not　look　as　if　you　were　ill。　Your　face　wears　the　very　bloom　of　health；〃　said　Ma　Teng　bluntly。
His　host　could　say　no　more　and　was　silent。　The　visitor　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　rose　to　depart。
He　sighed　deeply　as　he　walked　down　the　steps；　saying　to　himself；　〃Not　one　of　them　is　any　good。　There　is　no　one　to　save　the　country。〃
This　speech　sank　deeply　into　Dong　Cheng's　heart。　He　stopped　his　guest；　saying；　〃Who　is　no　good　to　save　the　country？　Whom　do　you　mean？〃
〃That　incident　at　the　hunt　the　other　day；　the　shooting　of　the　stag；　filled　my　breast　with　anger。　But　if　you；　a　near　relative　of　the　Emperor；　can　pass　your　time　in　wine　and　idle　dalliance　without　a　thought　of　doing　away　with　rebellion；　where　can　anyone　be　found　who　will　save　the　dynasty？〃
However；　Dong　Cheng　doubts　were　not　set　at　rest。　Pretending　great　surprise；　he　replied；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　of　high　rank　and　has　the　confidence　of　the　court。　Why　then　do　you　utter　such　things？〃
〃So　you　find　that　wretch　Cao　Cao　a　good　man；　eh？〃
〃Pray　speak　lower：　There　are　eyes　and　ears　very　near　us。〃
〃The　sort　of　people　who　covet　life　and　fear　death　are　not　those　to　discuss　any　great　undertaking。〃
So　saying；　Ma　Teng　rose　to　go　sway。　By　this　time　his　host's　doubts　were　set　at　rest。　He　felt　that　Ma　Teng　was　loyal。
So　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃Do　not　be　angry　any　more。　I　will　show　you　something。〃
Whereupon　he　invited　Ma　Teng　to　go　into　the　room　where　the　others　were　seated　and　then　showed　him　the　decree。　As　Ma　Teng　read　it；　his　hair　stood　on　end；　he　ground　his　teeth　and　bit　his　lips　till　the　blood　came。
〃When　you　move；　remember　the　whole　force　of　my　army　is　ready　to　help；〃　said　Ma　Teng。
Dong　Cheng　introduced　him　to　the　other　conspirators；　and　then　the　pledge　was　produced；　and　Ma　Teng　was　told　to　sign　his　name。　He　did　so；　at　the　same　time　smearing　the　blood　as　a　sign　of　the　oath　and　saying；　〃I　swear　to　die　rather　than　betray　this　pledge！〃
Pointing　to　the　five　he　said；　〃We　require　ten　for　this　business；　and　we　can　acplish　our　design。〃
〃We　cannot　get　many　true　and　loyal　people。　One　of　the　wrong　sort　will　spoil　all；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
Ma　Teng　told　them　to　bring　in　the　list　of　officials。　He　read　on　till　he　came　to　the　name　Liu；　of　the　imperial　clan；　when　clapping　his　hands　he　cried；　〃Why　not　consult　him？〃
〃Whom？〃　crie