迪文小说

第51部分（第2页）

＇e＇　Zhang　Liang；　aka　Zhang　Zifang；　the　master　strategist　for　Liu　Bang。　His　family　had　served　the　state　of　Han　as　chief　ministers　during　the　Warring　States　period。　It　is　said　that　he　received　the　strategy　book　of　Lu　Wang　from　a　mysterious　old　man。　When　he　was　young；　Zhang　Liang　plotted　to　assasinate　the　First　Emperor；　but　failed。　He　later　rebeled　against　Qin。　Joined　Liu　Bang　（BC　206）　to　fight　against　Qin　and　then　Chu。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Zhang　Liangs　insights　had　earned　him　the　name　〃The　Teacher　of　Emperor〃。　After　Liu　Bang　won　the　empire；　Zhang　Liang　was　enobled　as　Lord　of　Liu；　but　did　not　take　office；　instead　he　resigned　from　political　life　and　traveled。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Xiao　He　（BC　？…193）　a　close　adviser　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Became　Hans　prime　minister。　Enobled　as　the　Lord　of　Cuo。　。。。。。

Pointing　to　the　portraits　right　and　left；　he　continued；　〃Are　not　these　two　Zhang　Liang*；　Lord　of　Liu；　and　Xiao　He*；　Lord　of　Cuo？〃

〃Certainly。　The　Supreme　Ancestor　was　greatly　assisted　by　these　two。〃

The　Emperor　glanced　right　and　left。　His　attendants　were　rather　far　away。　Then　he　whispered　to　Dong　Cheng；　〃You；　like　these　two；　must　stand　by　me。〃

〃My　poor　services　are　of　no　worth。　I　do　not　pare　with　those　men；〃　said　the　Uncle。

〃I　remember　that　you　saved　me　at　the　western　capital；　Changan。　I　have　never　forgotten；　and　I　could　never　reward　you　properly。〃

Then　pointing　to　his　own　robe；　the　Emperor　continued；　〃You　must　wear　this　robe　of　mine；　girded　with　my　own　girdle；　and　it　will　be　as　though　you　are　always　near　your　Emperor。〃

Dong　Cheng　bowed　his　gratitude　while　the　Emperor；　taking　off　the　robe；　presented　it　to　his　faithful　minister。　At　the　same　time　he　whispered；　〃Examine　it　closely　when　you　get　home；　and　help　your　Emperor　carry　out　his　intention。〃

Dong　Cheng　understood。　He　put　on　the　robe　and　the　girdle；　took　leave　and　left　the　chamber。

The　news　of　the　audience　for　Dong　Cheng　had　been　taken　to　the　Prime　Minister；　who　at　once　went　to　the　Palace　and　arrived　as　Dong　Cheng　was　passing　out　at　the　Donghua　Gate。　They　met　face　to　face；　and　Dong　Cheng　could　in　nowise　avoid　him。　Dong　Cheng　went　to　the　side　of　the　road　and　made　his　obeisance。

〃Where　are　you　from；　State　Uncle？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃His　Majesty　summoned　me　into　the　Palace　and　has　given　me　this　robe　and　beautiful　girdle。〃

〃Why　did　he　give　you　these？〃

〃He　had　not　forgotten　that　I　saved　his　life　in　the　old　days。〃

〃Take　it　off　and　let　me　see　it。〃

Dong　Cheng　who　knew　that　a　secret　decree　was　hidden　away　somewhere　in　the　garments　was　afraid　Cao　Cao　would　notice　a　breach　somewhere　in　the　material；　so　he　hesitated　and　did　not　obey。　But　Cao　Cao　called　his　guards；　and　they　took　off　the　girdle。　Then　Cao　Cao　looked　it　over　carefully。

〃It　certainly　is　a　very　handsome　girdle；〃　said　he。　〃Now　take　off　the　robe　and　let　me　look　at　that。〃

Dong　Chengs　heart　was　melting　with　fear；　but　he　dared　not　disobey。　So　he　handed　over　the　robe。　Cao　Cao　took　it　and　held　it　up　against　the　sun　with　his　own　hand　and　minutely　examined　every　part　of　it。

When　he　had　done　this；　he　put　it　on；　girded　it　with　the　girdle　and　turning　to　his　attendants　said；　〃How　is　it　for　length？〃

〃Beautiful！〃　they　chorused。

Turning　to　Dong　Cheng；　he　said；　〃Will　you　give　these　to　me？〃

〃My　Princes　presents　to　me　I　dare　not　give　to　another。　Let　me　give　you　another　robe　in　its　stead；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。

〃Is　there　not　some　intrigue　connected　with　these　presents？　I　am　sure　there　is；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃How　could　I　dare？〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　trembling。　〃If　you　are　so　set　upon　it；　then　I　must　give　it　up。〃

〃How　could　I　take　away　what　our　Prince　has　given　you？　It　was　all　a　joke；〃　said　the　Prime　Minister。

Cao　Cao　returned　both　robe　and　girdle；　and　their　owner　made　the　best　of　his　way　home。　When　night　came　and　he　was　alone　in　his　library；　he　took　out　the　robe　and　looked　over　every　inch　of　it　most　carefully。　He　found　nothing。

〃He　gave　me　a　robe　and　a　girdle　and　bade　me　look　at　them　carefully。　That　means　there　is　something　to　be　looked　for　but　I　can　find　no　trace　of　it。　What　does　it　mean？〃　he　soliloquized。

Then　he　lifted　the　girdle　and　examined　that。　The　jade　plates　were　carved　into　the　semblance　of　small　dragons　interlaced　among　flowers。　The　lining　was　of　purple　silk。　All　was　sewn　together　most　carefully　and　neatly；　and　he　could　find　nothing　out　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。

〃Y