第一小说网

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第190部分（第3页）

The　mighty　dead　will　smile　at　what　you　say。

As　Cao　Cao　breathed　his　last；　the　whole　of　those　present　raised　a　great　wailing　and　lamentation。　The　news　was　sent　to　the　members　of　the　family；　the　Heir　Cao　Pi；　Lord　of　Yanling　Cao　Zhang；　Lord　of　Linzi　Cao　Zhi；　and　Lord　of　Xiaohuai　Cao　Xiong。　They　wrapped　the　body　in　its　shroud；　enclosed　it　in　a　silver　shell；　and　laid　it　in　a　golden　coffin；　which　was　sent　at　once　home　to　Yejun。

The　eldest　son　wept　aloud　at　the　tidings　and　went　out　with　all　his　following　to　meet　the　procession　and　escort　the　body　of　his　father　into　his　home。　The　coffin　was　laid　in　a　great　hall　beside　the　main　building；　and　all　the　officials　in　deep　mourning　wailed　in　the　hall。

Suddenly　one　stood　out　from　the　ranks　of　the　mourners　and　said；　〃I　would　request　the　heir　to　cease　lamentation　for　the　dead　and　devote　himself　to　the　present　needs　of　state。〃

It　was　Sima　Fu；　and　he　continued；　〃The　death　of　the　Prince　will　cause　an　upheaval　in　the　empire；　and　it　is　essential　that　the　heir　should　assume　his　dignity　without　loss　of　time。　There　is　not　mourning　alone　to　be　seen　to。〃

The　others　replied。　〃The　succession　is　settled；　but　the　investiture　can　hardly　proceed　without　the　necessary　edict　from　the　Emperor。　That　must　be　secured。〃

Said　Chen　Jiao；　who　was　Minister　of　War；　〃As　the　Prince　died　away　from　home；　it　may　be　that　disputes　will　ensue；　and　the　country　will　be　in　danger。〃

Then　Chen　Jiao　slashed　off　the　sleeves　of　his　robe　with　a　sword　and　shouted　fiercely；　〃We　will　invest　the　prince　forthwith；　and　anyone　who　does　not　agree；　let　him　be　treated　as　this　robe。〃

Still　fear　held　most　of　the　assembly。　Then　arrived　Hua　Xin　most　haste　from　the　capital。　They　wondered　what　his　sudden　arrival　meant。

Soon　he　entered　the　hall　and　said；　〃The　Prince　of　Wei　is　dead　and　the　world　is　in　motion。　Why　do　you　not　invest　his　successor　quickly？〃

〃We　await　the　mand；〃　cried　they　in　chorus；　〃and　also　the　order　of　Princess…Mother　Bian　concerning　the　heirship。〃

〃I　have　procured　the　imperial　edict　here；〃　cried　he；　pulling　it　out　from　his　breast。

They　all　jumped　up　and　down　to　shout　their　congratulations。　And　Hua　Xin　read　the　edict。

Hua　Xin　had　always　been　devoted　to　Wei。　As　soon　as　he　knew　of　Cao　Caos　death；　he　drafted　this　edict　and　got　it　sealed　by　Emperor　Xian　almost　by　force。　However；　there　it　was：　Therein　Cao　Pi　was　named　as　Prince　of　Wei；　First　Minister；　and　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou。〃

Cao　Pi　thereupon　took　his　seat　in　the　princely　place　and　received　the　exultant　congratulations　of　all　the　officers。　This　was　followed　by　a　great　banquet。

However；　all　was　not　to　pass　too　smoothly。　While　the　banquet　was　in　progress；　the　news　came：　〃Cao　Zhang；　Lord　of　Yanling；　with　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　troops；　is　approaching　from　Changan。〃

In　a　state　of　consternation；　the　new　Prince　turned　to　his　courtiers；　saying；　〃What　shall　I　do？　This　young；　golden…bearded　brother　of　mine；　always　obstinate　and　determined　and　with　no　little　military　skill；　is　marching　hither　with　an　army　to　contest　my　inheritance。〃

〃Let　me　go　to　see　the　Marquis。　I　can　make　him　desist；〃　said　one　of　the　guests。

The　others　cried；　〃Only　yourself；　O　Exalted　One；　can　save　us　in　this　peril！〃

Quarrel　between　two　sons　of　Cao　Cao

Just　as　in　the　House　of　Yuan　Shao。

If　you　would　know　who　proposed　himself　as　envoy；　read　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　79　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　79

Chapter　79

Brother　Oppressing　Brother：　Cao　Zhi　poses　Poems；

Nephew　Harming　Uncle：　Liu　Feng　Receives　Punishment。

All　eyes　turned　toward　the　speaker；　High　Minister　Jia　Kui；　and　the　young　prince　manded　him　to　undertake　the　mission。　So　he　went　out　of　the　city　and　sought　to　speak　with　Cao　Zhang。　Cao　Zhang　came　quickly　to　the　point。

〃Who　has　the　late　Princes　seal？〃　asked　he。

Jia　Kui　replied　seriously；　〃There　is　an　eldest　son　to　a　house；　and　an　heir…apparent　to　a　state。　Such　a　question　from　your　lordship　is