第一小说网

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第259部分（第1页）

ful　towers　and　pavilions　and　made　to　himself　vessels　of　gold　and　silver；　the　work　of　the　most　expert　craftspeople；　whom　he　kept　constantly　employed。

Now　He　Yan　heard　of　Guan　Lus　great　skill　in　divination　and　sent　to　Pingyuan　to　invite　him　to　discuss　about　the　Book　of　Changes。

When　the　soothsayer　arrived；　Deng　Yang　was　of　the　pany　to　meet　him；　and　he　said　to　Guan　Lu；　〃You　call　yourself　a　skillful　diviner；　but　your　speech　does　not　resemble　the　language　of　the　Book　of　Changes。　How　is　that？〃

Guan　Lu　replied；　〃An　interpreter　does　not　use　the　language　of　the　original。〃

He　Yan　laughed；　saying；　〃Certainly　good　words　are　not　wearisome。　But　cast　a　lot　for　me；　and　tell　me　whether　I　shall　ever　arrive　at　the　highest　office　or　not；　for　I　have　dreamed　repeatedly　that　many　blue　flies　settled　on　my　nose。〃

Guan　Lu　replied；　〃Gao　Kai　and　Gao　Yuan　aided　King　Shun；　Duke　Zhou　assisted　the　young　Emperor　Cheng　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　all　these　were　kindly　and　modest　and　enjoyed　great　happiness。　You；　Sir；　have　e　to　high　honors　and　wield　great　powers；　but　those　who　esteem　you　are　few　and　those　who　fear　you；　many。　You　are　not　careful　to　walk　in　the　way　of　good　fortune。　Now　the　nose　is　an　eminence。　If　an　eminence　retains　its　characteristic；　thereby　it　remains　in　honor。　But　is　it　not　that　blue　flies　gather　to　foul　objects　and　the　lofty　fears　a　fall？　I　would　wish　you　to　give　of　your　abundance　for　the　good　of　the　poor　and　avoid　walking　in　the　wrong　road。　Then　indeed　may　you　reach　the　highest　dignity；　and　the　blue　flies　will　disperse。〃

〃This　is　mere　senile　gossip；〃　said　Deng　Yang。

〃The　gift　of　age　is　to　see　that　which　is　yet　to　e；　the　gift　of　gossip　is　to　perceive　what　is　not　said；〃　replied　Guan　Lu。　Thereupon　he　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　went　away。

〃He　is　very　mad；　really；〃　said　his　two　hosts。

Guan　Lu　went　home。　When　he　saw　his　uncle；　Guan　Lu　gave　him　an　account　of　the　interview。

His　uncle　was　alarmed　at　the　probable　consequences；　and　said；　〃Why　did　you　anger　them？　They　are　too　powerful　for　you　to　offend。〃

〃What　is　there　to　fear？　I　have　been　talking　to　two　dead　men。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Deng　Yangs　gait　is　that　of　one　whose　sinews　are　loosed　from　his　bones；　and　his　pulse　is　unsteady。　When　he　would　stand；　he　totters　as　a　man　without　limbs。　This　is　the　aspect　of　a　disembodied　soul。　He　Yan　looks　as　if　his　soul　was　about　to　quit　its　habitation。　He　is　bloodless；　and　what　should　be　solid　in　him　is　mere　vapor。　He　looks　like　rotten　wood。　This　is　the　aspect　of　a　soul　even　now　in　the　dark　valley。　Both　these　men　will　certainly　soon　die　a　violent　death；　and　none　need　fear　them。〃

His　uncle　left；　cursing　him　for　a　madman。

Cao　Shuang　and　his　five　friends　were　devoted　to　hunting　and　were　often　out　of　the　city。　Cao　Xi；　a　brother　of　Cao　Shuang；　remonstrated　with　him　about　this　and　pointed　out　the　dangers　of　such　frequent　absence　on　these　excursions。

〃You　are　in　an　exalted　position　and　yet　you　are　constantly　being　out　hunting。　If　anyone　took　advantage　of　this　to　work　you　evil；　you　might　have　to　be　exceedingly　regretful。〃

Cao　Shuang　only　showed　anger　and　replied；　〃The　whole　military　authority　is　in　my　hands；　and　what　is　there　to　fear？〃

Huan　Fan；　Minister　of　Agriculture；　also　reasoned　with　him；　but　Cao　Shuang　would　not　listen。

About　this　time　the　style　of　the　reign　was　changed　from　Right　Beginning；　the　tenth　year；　to　Domestic　Calm；　the　first　year　（AD　249）。

Now　ever　since　Cao　Shuang　had　enjoyed　the　monopoly　of　military　authority；　he　had　never　heard　the　truth　about　the　state　of　health　of　the　man　he　had　maneuvered　out　of　power。　But　when　the　Ruler　of　Wei　appointed　Li　Sheng　to　the　Imperial　Protectorship　of　Qingzhou；　Cao　Shuang　bade　Li　Sheng　go　to　take　leave　of　Sima　Yi；　at　the　same　time　to　find　out　the　true　state　of　his　health。

So　Li　Sheng　proceeded　to　the　residence　of　the　High　Minister　and　was　announced。

Sima　Yi　saw　through　the　device　at　once　and　told　his　sons；　saying；　〃This　is　Cao　Shuangs　wish　to　find　out　my　real　condition。〃

And　he　bade　them　play　their　parts　in　the　scene　he　arranged；　before　the　visitor　was　admitted。

Sima　Yi　threw　aside　his　headdress；　so　letting　his　hair　fall　in　disorder；　stretched　himself　upon　his　couch；　tumbled　the　bed　ding　into　confusion；　got　a　couple　of　servant　girls　to　support　him；　and　then　told　his　servants　to　lead　in　the　visitor。

Li　Sheng　came　in　and　went　up　to　the　sick　man；　saying；　〃It　is　a　long　time　since　I　have　seen　you；　and　I　did　not　know　you　were　so　seriously　ill。　His　Majesty　is　sending　me　to　Qingzhou；　and　I　have　e　to　pay　my　respects　to　you　and　bid　you　farewell。〃

〃Ah；　Bingzhou　is　in　the　north；　you　will　have　to　be　very　careful　there；〃　said　Sima　Yi　feigning　that　he　had　not　heard。

〃I　am　going　as　Imperial　Protector　of　Qingzhou；　not　Bingzhou；〃　said　Li　Sheng。

〃Oh；　you　have　just　e　from　Bingzhou。〃