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第52部分（第1页）

o　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　Founders　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　Emperors　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　Emperors　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　ones　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。

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