第一小说网

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第260部分（第1页）

Huan　Fan　pulled　out　from　his　sleeve　a　slip　of　bamboo　and　said；　〃The　Empresss　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　peoples　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　Majestys　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。