第一小说网

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第266部分（第1页）

〃I　had　no　such　intention；〃　said　Cao　Fang。

In　reply　Sima　Shi　drew　the　garment　from　his　sleeve　and　threw　it　on　the　ground。

〃Who　did　this？〃

Cao　Fang　was　overwhelmed：　His　soul　flew　beyond　the　skies；　his　spirit　lied　to　the　ninth　heaven。

Shaking　with　fear；　he　said；　〃I　was　forced　into　it。　How　could　I　think　of　such　a　thing？〃

〃To　slander　ministers　by　charging　them　with　rebellion　is　an　aggravated　crime；〃　said　Sima　Shi。

Cao　Fang　knelt　at　his　feet；　saying；　〃Yes；　I　am　guilty。　Forgive　me。〃

〃I　beg　Your　Majesty　to　rise：　The　laws　must　be　respected！〃

Pointing　to　Empress　Zhang；　Sima　Shi　said；　〃She　is　of　the　Zhang　house　and　must　die！〃

〃Spare　her！〃　cried　Cao　Fang；　weeping　bitterly。

But　Sima　Shi　was　obdurate。　He　bade　the　lictors　lead　her　away；　and　she　was　strangled　with　a　white　silk　cord　at　a　Palace　gate。

Now　I　recall　another　year；　and　lo！

An　empress　borne　away　to　shameful　death。

Barefooted；　weeping　bitterly　she　shrieks

〃Farewell；〃　torn　from　her　consorts　arms。

History　repeats　itself；　times　instrument；

Sima　Shi　avenges　this　on　Cao　Caos　heirs。

＇e＇　Huo　Guang　（BC　？…68）　a　general　and　regent　of　Han。　After　Emperor　Wu　died；　Huo　Guang　became　regent　to　three　successive　emperors；　and　the　second　one　had　been　the　Prince　of　Changyi；　who　was　on　the　throne　for　only　twenty…seven　days。　Huo　Guang　had　the　Prince　of　Changyi　declared　unfit　to　rule　and　deposed　him。　Even　though　Huo　Guang　contributed　much　to　the　empires　stabilization；　after　he　died；　he　was　distanced　by　the　emperor　and　most　of　his　family　were　executed　for　conspiracy　charges。　。。。。。

＇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。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Qi　was　an　ancient　state　on　the　extreme　eastern　edge　of　the　North　China　Plain　in　what　is　now　Shandong　and　Hebei　provinces。　Became　prominent　under　the　leadership　of　Duke　Huan　and　his　adviser　Guan　Zhong　during　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period。　It　nearly　won　the　empire　in　the　Warring　States　period。　。。。。。

The　day　after　these　events；　Sima　Shi　assembled　all　the　officers　and　addressed　them　thus：　〃Our　present　lord　is　profligate　and　devoid　of　principle；　familiar　with　the　vile　and　friendly　with　the　impure。　He　lends　a　ready　ear　to　slander　and　keeps　good　people　at　a　distance。　His　faults　exceed　those　of　the　Prince　of　Changyi*　of　old；　and　he　has　proved　himself　unfit　to　rule。　Wherefore；　following　the　precedents　of　Yi　Yin*　and　Huo　Guang*；　I　have　decided　to　put　him　aside　and　to　set　up　another；　thereby　to　maintain　the　sanctity　of　the　ruler　and　ensure　tranquillity。　What　think　you；　Sirs？〃

They　all　agreed；　saying；　〃General；　you　are　right　to　play　the　same　part　as　Yi　Yin　and　Huo　Guang；　thereby　acting　in　accordance　with　Heaven　and　fulfilling　the　desire　of　humankind。　Who　dares　dispute　it？〃

Then　Sima　Shi；　followed　by　the　whole　of　the　officials；　went　to　the　Palace　of　Everlasting　Peace　and　informed　the　Empress　Dowager　of　his　intention。

〃Whom　do　you　propose　to　place　on　the　throne；　General？〃　she　asked。

〃I　have　observed　that　Cao　Ju；　Prince　of　Pengcheng；　is　intelligent；　benevolent；　and　filial。　He　is　fit　to　rule　the　empire。〃

She　replied；　〃He　is　my　uncle；　and　it　is　not　convenient。　However；　there　is　Cao　Mao；　Duke　of　Gaogui；　and　grandson　of　Emperor　Pi。　He　is　of　mild　temperament；　respectful；　and　deferential；　and　may　be　set　up。　You；　Sir；　and　the　high　officers　of　state　might　favorably　consider　this。〃

Then　spoke　one；　saying；　〃Her　Majesty　speaks　well：　Cao　Mao　should　be　raised　to　the　throne。〃

All　eyes　turned　toward　the　speaker；　who　was　Sima　Fu；　uncle　of　Sima　Shi。

The　Duke　of　Gaogui　was　summoned　to　the　capital。

The　Empress　called　Cao　Fang　into　her　presence　in　the　Hall　of　Principles　and　blamed　him；　saying；　〃You　are　vicious　beyond　measure；　a　panion　of　lewd　men　and　a　friend　of　vile　women。　You　are　unfitted　to　rule。　Therefore　resign　the　imperial　seal　and　revert　to　your　status　of　Prince　of　Qi*。　You　are　forbidden　to　present　yourself　at　court　without　special　mand。〃

Cao　Fang；　weeping；　threw　himself　at　her　feet。　He　gave　up　the　seal；　got　into　his　carriage　and　went　away。　Only　a　few　faithful　ministers　restrained　their　tears　and　bade　him　farewell。

Cao　Cao；　the　mighty　minister　of　Han；

Oppressed　the　helpless；　little　then　thought　he

That　only　two　score　swiftly　passing　years

Would　bring　like　fate　to　his　posterity。

The　Emperor…elect　Cao　Mao　was　the　grandson　of　Emperor　Pi；　and　son　of　Cao　Lin；　Prince　of　Donghai。　When　Cao　Mao　was　nearing　the　capital；　all　the　officers　attended　to　receive　him　at　the　Nanye　Gate；　where　an　imperial　carriage　awaited　him。　He　hastily　returned　their　salutations。