按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃I do not think so。 He only means to slay Cao Shuang； his rival；〃 replied she。
〃What will be the oute of this？〃 asked her brother。
〃Cao Shuang is no match for Sima Yi；〃 replied she。
〃If Sima Yi asks us to join him； should we？〃 asked Xin Chang。
Xin Xianying replied； 〃You know what a true man should do。 When a man is in danger； there is the greater need for sympathy。 To be of Cao Shuang's people and desert him in an emergency is the greatest of evils。〃
This speech decided Xin Chang； who went with Lu Zhu。 At the head of a some twenty horsemen； they forced the gate and got out of the city。
When their escape was reported to Sima Yi； he thought that Huan Fan would surely try to follow their example； so he sent to call him。 However； on the advice of his son； Huan Fan did not answer the summons； but decided to flee。 He got into his carriage and drove hastily to the South Gate。 But the gate was barred。 The mander of the Gate； Si Fan； was an old dependant of Huan Fan。
Huan Fan pulled out from his sleeve a slip of bamboo and said； 〃The Empress's mand： Open the gate for me。〃
〃Let me look；〃 said Si Fan。
〃What！ How dare you； an old servant of mine； behave thus？〃
Si Fan let Huan Fan pass。
As soon as he had got outside； Huan Fan shouted to Si Fan； 〃Sima Yi has raised a revolt； and you had better follow me！〃
Si Fan realized that he had made a mistake； and chase after Huan Fan； but failed to e up with him。
〃So the 'Bag of Wisdom' has got away too。 That is a pity； but what can we do？〃 said Sima Yi； when they reported the escape。
〃The poor horse always hankers after the old stable and manger。 Cao Shuang would not know how to use Huan Fan；〃 replied Jiang Ji。
Then Sima Yi called to him Xu Yun and Chen Tai and said； 〃Go you to Cao Shuang and say that I have no other intention than to take away the military power from him and his brothers。〃
As soon as they had left； he called Yin Damu and ordered Jiang Ji prepare a letter to be taken to Cao Shuang by Yin Damu。
Said Sima Yi； 〃You are on good terms with the man and are the fittest person for this mission。 Tell him that Jiang Ji and I are concerned solely with the military powers in the hands of himself and his brothers； as we have sworn pointing to River Luo。〃
So Yin Damu went his way。
Out in the country Cao Shuang was enjoying the hunting； flying his falcons and coursing his hounds。 Suddenly came the news of the rising in the city and the memorial against him。 He almost fell out of the saddle when they told him。 The eunuch handed in the memorial to the Ruler of Wei in the presence of Cao Shuang； who took it and opened it。 A minister in attendance was ordered to read it。 It said：
〃Sima Yi； General Who Conquers the West and Imperial Guardian； with bowed head and trepidation； presents this memorial。 On my return from the expedition into Liaodong； His late Majesty summoned Your Majesty； Cao Shuang； myself and certain others to his bedside； took me by the arm and impressed upon us all our duty in the years to be。
〃Now Cao Shuang has betrayed the trust placed in him； has disordered the kingdom； usurped power at court； and seized upon power in the regions。 He has appointed Zhang Dang； Administrator of the City； to control the court and spy upon Your Majesty。 He is surely lying in wait to seize the empire。 He has sown dissension in the royal family and injured his own flesh and blood。 The whole land is in confusion； and people's hearts are full of fear。 All this is opposed to the injunctions of His Late Majesty and his mands to me。
〃Stupid and worthless as I am； yet I dare not forget the words of His Late Majesty。 My colleagues； Jiang Ji and Sima Fu； agree that Cao Shuang is disloyal at heart； and great military powers should not be entrusted to him or his brothers。
〃I have memorialized Her Majesty and obtained her authority to act。
〃All military powers have been wrested from the hands of Cao Shuang； Cao Xi； and Cao Xun； leaving them only the simple title of lordships； so that hereafter they may be unable to hinder or control Your Majesty's actions。 If there be any obstruction； the matter shall be summarily dealt with。
〃Although in ill health； as a precautionary measure I have camped at the Floating Bridge； whence I write this。〃
When they had made an end of reading； the Ruler of Wei turned to Cao Shuang and said； 〃In the face of such words what mean you to do？〃
Cao Shuang was at a loss and turned to his younger brother； saying； 〃What now？〃
Cao Xi replied； 〃I remonstrated with you； but you were obstinate and listened not。 So it has e to this。 Sima Yi is false and cunning beyond measure。 If Zhuge Liang could not get the better of him； could we hope to do so？ I see nothing but to yield that haply we may live。〃
Just at this moment arrived Adviser Xin Chang and mander Lu Zhu。 Cao Shuang asked what tidings they brought。
They replied； 〃The city is pletely and closely surrounded； Sima Yi is camped on the river at the Floating Bridge； and you cannot return。 You must decide how to act at once。〃
Then galloped up Huan Fan； who said； 〃This is really rebellion。 Why not request His Majesty to proceed to Xuchang till regional troops can arrive and deal with Sima Yi？〃
Cao Shuang replied； 〃How can we go to another place when all our families are in the city？〃
Said Huan Fan； 〃Even a fool in this crisis would think only of life。 You have the Son of Heaven with you here and mand all the forces of the empire。 None would dare disobey you； and yet you march quietly to death。〃
Cao Shuang could not decide to strike a blow for safety； he did nothing but snivel。
Huan Fan continued； 〃We can reach Xuchang tonight。 The stay in Xuchang would be but brief； and there are ample supplies for years。 You have forces at your call at the South Pass。 You hold the seal of Minister of War； and I have brought it with me。 Everything is in your favor。 Act！ Act at once！ Delay is death。〃
〃Do not hurry me；〃 said Cao Shuang。 〃Let me think it over carefully。〃
Then came Xu Yun and Chen Tai； the two messengers of Sima Yi； and said； 〃The Imperial Guardian desires only to strip the military power of the Regent Marshal。 If the Regent Marshal yields； he may return peacefully to the city。〃
Still Cao Shuang hesitated。
Next arrived Yin Damu； saying； 〃The Imperial Guardian had sworn by River Luo to the singleness of his aim。 Here is letter of Minister Jiang Ji。 The Regent Marshal should relinquish the military power and return to the Palace in peace。〃
When Cao Shuang seemed disposed to accept the assurance of Sima Yi； Huan Fan inveighed against it； saying； 〃You are a dead man if you listen to the voice of these people！〃
Night found Cao Shuang still vacillating。 As twilight faded into darkness he stood； sword in hand； sad； sighing and weeping。 And morning found him still trying to make up his mind。
Huan Fan again urged him to decide upon some course。
〃You have had a whole day and a whole night for reflection and must decide；〃 said he。
〃I will not fight； I will yield all； being a wealthy man is enough；〃 said Cao Shuang； throwing down his sword。
Huan Fan left the tent wailing。
〃Cao Zhen might boast of his abilities； but his sons are mere cattle；〃 said he； weeping copiously。
The two messengers； Xu Yun and Chen Tai； bade Cao Shuang offer his seal of office to Sima Yi； and it was brought。
But First Secretary Yang Zong clung to it and would not give it up； saying； 〃Alas！ That you； my lord； should resign your powers and make such a pitiful surrender。 For surely you will not escape death in the eastern market place。〃
〃The Imperial Guardian will surely keep faith with me；〃 said Cao Shuang。
The seal was borne away； and Cao Shuang's generals and soldiers； thus released from the bonds of discipline； dispersed and the hosts melted away。 When the Cao brothers reached the Floating Bridge； they were ordered to go to their dwellings； and they went。 Their supporters were imprisoned to await the edicts of the Emperor。
Cao Shuang and his friends； so lately all…powerful； entered the city alone； without even a servant following。
As Huan Fan approached the bridge； Sima Yi； from horseback； pointed his whip disdainfully at him and said； 〃What brought you to this？〃
Huan Fan made no reply； but with head bent followed the others。
It was decided to requ