第一小说网

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第134部分（第1页）

l　and　military　officers　took　their　places。　Civil　officers　of　repute　and　generals　of　renown　drank　one　to　another；　and　hearty　felicitations　were　exchanged。

Cao　Cao　looked　around　to　those　about　him；　saying；　〃Since　the　military　officers　have　peted　in　mounted　archery　for　our　enjoyment　and　displayed　their　boldness　and　their　skill；　you；　Gentlemen　Scholars；　stuffed　full　of　learning　as　you　are；　can　surely　mount　the　terrace　and　present　some　plimentary　odes　to　make　the　occasion　a　perfect　success。〃

〃We　are　most　willing　to　obey　your　mands；〃　they　replied；　all　bowing　low。

At　that　time　there　was　a　band　of　four　scholars　named　Wang　Lang；　Zhong　Yao；　Wang　Can；　and　Chen　Lin；　and　each　of　them　presented　a　poem。　Every　poem　sang　the　praises　of　Cao　Caos　valuable　services　and　great　merits　and　said　he　was　worthy　to　receive　the　highest　trust　of　all。

When　Cao　Cao　had　read　them；　he　laughed；　saying；　〃You　gentlemen　are　really　too　flattering。　As　a　fact　I　am　but　an　ignoramus　who　began　life　with　a　simple　bachelors　degree　and　remendations　for　filial　devotion。　And　when　the　troubles　began；　I　built　for　myself　a　little　cottage　in　the　country　near　Qiao；　where　I　could　study　in　spring　and　summer　and　spend　the　rest　of　the　year　in　hunting　till　the　empire　was　once　more　tranquil　and　I　could　emerge　and　take　office。

〃To　my　surprise；　I　was　chosen　for　a　small　military　office　which　changed　my　intentions；　and　I　determined　to　repress　the　rebellion　and　so　make　a　name　for　myself。　I　thought　that　I　might　win　an　inscription　on　my　tomb　to　the　effect　that　it　covered　the　remains　of　the　Lord　Cao　Cao　Who　Restores　Order　in　the　West。　That　would　have　been　ample　for　a　lifes　work。　I　recall　now　how　I　destroyed　Dong　Zhuo　and　smote　the　Yellow　Scarves；　then　I　made　away　with　Yuan　Shu　and　broke　the　power　of　Lu　Bu；　next　I　exterminated　Yuan　Shao；　and　at　the　death　of　Liu　Biao；　I　had　subdued　the　whole　empire。

＇e＇　King　Wen；　aka　the　Scholar　King；　founder　of　the　Zhou　Dynasty；　father　of　King　Wu。　King　Wen　did　not　actually　founded　the　dynasty；　but　he　laid　the　foundation　for　Zhou。　At　the　end　of　Shang　Dynasty；　the　state　Zhou　of　King　Wen　had　already　possessed　two…thirds　of　the　empire；　but　King　Wen　still　faithfully　served　the　last　emperor　of　Shang。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother　of　King　Wu；　who　was　the　founder　of　Zhou　Dynasty。　After　King　Wus　death；　the　Duke　of　Zhou　served　his　young　son　as　regent。　The　Duke　of　Zhou　pletely　ended　the　Shang　domination；　and　he　helped　establish　the　Zhou　administrative　framework；　which　served　as　a　model　for　future　Chinese　dynasties。　Zhou　Dynasty　lasted　for　800　years　（BC　1050…221）。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tangs　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tangs　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。

〃As　a　minister　of　state　I　have　attained　the　topmost　pinnacle　of　honor；　and　I　have　no　more　to　hope　for。　Were　it　not　for　poor　me；　I　know　not　how　many　there　would　be　styling　themselves　emperors　and　dubbing　themselves　princes。　Certain　there　be　who；　seeing　my　great　authority；　think　I　have　some　ulterior　aim。　But　they　are　quite　wrong。　I　ever　bear　in　mind　what　Confucius　said　of　King　Wen　of　Zhou*；　that　he　was　perfectly　virtuous；　and　this　saying　is　ever　engraved　on　my　mind。　If　I　could；　I　would　do　away　with　my　armies　and　retire　to　my　fief　with　my　simple　title　of　Lord　of　Wuping。　Alas！　I　cannot。　I　am　afraid　to　lay　down　my　military　powers　lest　I　should　e　to　harm。　Should　I　be　defeated；　the　state　would　totter；　and　so　I　may　not　risk　real　misfortune　for　the　sake　of　an　empty　reputation　for　kindness。　There　be　some　of　you　who　do　not　know　my　heart。〃

As　he　closed；　they　all　rose　and　bowed　their　heads；　saying；　〃None　are　your　equals；　O　Prime　Minister；　not　even　Duke　of　Zhou*　or　the　great　Minister　Yi　Yin*。〃

A　poem　has　been　written　referring　to　this：

Had　Duke　Zhou；　the　virtuous；　died；　while　foul…mouthed　slander

was　spreading　vile　rumors；

Or　Wang　Mang；　the　treacherous；　while　he　was　noted　for　the

deference　paid　to　learned　men；

None　would　have　known　their　real　characters。

After　this　oration　Cao　Cao　drank　many　cups　of　wine　in　quick　succession　till　he　became　very　intoxicated。　He　bade　his　servants　bring　him　brush　and　inkstone　so　that　he　might　pose　a　poem。

But　as　he　was　beginning　to　write；　they　announced；　〃The　Marquis　of　Wu　has　sent　Hua　Xin　as　an　envoy　and　presented　a　memorial　to　appoint　Liu　Bei　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou。　Sun　Quans　sister　is　now　Liu　Beis　wife；　while　on　the　River　Han；　the　greater　part　of　the　nine　territories　is　under　Liu　Beis　rule。〃

Cao　Cao　was　seized　with　quaking　fear　at　the　news　and　threw　the　pen　on　the　floor。

Cheng　Yu　said　to　him；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　you　have　been　among　fighting　soldiers　by　myriads　and　in　danger　from　stones　and　arrows　many　a　time　and　never　quailed。　Now　the　news　that　Liu　Bei　has　got　possession　of　a　small　tract　of　country　throws　you　into　a　panic。　Why　is　it　thus？〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　is　a　dragon　among　humans。　All　his　life　hitherto　he　has　never　found　his　element；　but　now　that　he　has　obtained　Jingzhou：　It　is　as　if　the　dragon；　once　captive；　had　escaped　to　the　mighty　deep。　There　is　good　reason　for　me　to　quake　with　fear。〃

〃Do　you　know　the　reason　of　the　ing　of　Hua　Xin？〃　said　Cheng　Yu。

〃No；　I　know　not；〃　said　the　Prime　Minister。

〃Liu　Bei　is　Sun　Quans　one　terror；　and　Sun　Quan　would　attack　Liu　Bei　were　it　not　for　you；　O　Prime　Minister。　Sun　Quan　feels　you　would　fall　upon　him　while　he　was　smiting　his　enemy。　Wherefore　he　has　taken　this　means　of　calming　Liu　Beis　suspicions　and　fears　and　at　the　same　time　directing　your　enmity　toward　Liu　Bei　and　from　himself。〃

Cao　Cao　nodded。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。

Cheng　Yu　continued；　〃Now　this　is　my　plan　to　set　Sun　Quan　and　Liu　Bei　at　one　another　and　give　you　the　opportunity　to　destroy　both。　It　can　be　done　easily。〃

〃What　is　your　plan？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

〃The　one　prop　of　the　South　Land　is　Zhou　Yu。　Remove　it　by　memorializing　that　Zhou　Yu　be　appointed　Governor　of　Nanjun。　Then　get　Cheng　Pu　made　Governor　of　Jiangxia；　and　cause　the　Emperor　to　retain　this　Hua　Xin　in　the　capital　to　await　some　important　post。　Zhou　Yu　will　assuredly　attack　Liu　Bei；　and　that　will　be　our　chance。　Is　not　the　scheme　good？〃