按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
When Ma Su had left the chamber； the First Ruler said； 〃Do you think Ma Su is clever？〃
〃He is one of the ablest people in the empire；〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃I do not think so。 I think his words exceed his deeds。 Do not make much use of him。 Watch him carefully。〃
Having said this； he bade them summon the high officers of state to the chamber。 Taking paper and pen； the First Ruler wrote his testament。
He handed it to the Prime Minister with a sigh and said； 〃I am no great scholar； and I only know the rough outlines of what should be known。 But the Teacher has said： 'A bird's song is sad when death is near； and a dying person's words are good。' I was waiting that we might aid each other in the destruction of the Caos and the restoration of the Hans； but ere the work is plete I am called away； and this last mand of mine I confide to you as Prime Minister to be handed to my son and heir； Liu Shan。 My words are to be taken seriously。 I trust that you will instruct and guide my son。〃
Zhuge Liang and all those present wept and prostrated themselves； saying； 〃We pray Your Majesty repose yourself。 We will do our utmost whereby to prove our gratitude for the kindness we have received。〃
At the First Ruler's mand the attendants raised Zhuge Liang from the earth。 With one hand the dying man brushed away the falling tears； while with the other he grasped Zhuge Liang's hand。
And he said； 〃The end is near。 I have something more to say as to a close general。〃
〃What holy mand has Your Majesty to give？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
The First Ruler said； 〃You are many times more clever than Cao Pi； and you must safeguard the kingdom and plete the great work。 If my son can be helped； help him。 But if he proves a fool； then take the throne yourself and be a ruler。〃
Such a speech almost startled Zhuge Liang out of his senses。 A cold sweat broke out all over his body； and his limbs threatened to cease to support him。
He fell on his knees； saying； 〃I could never do otherwise than wear myself to the bone in the service of your son； whom I will serve till death。〃
He knocked his head upon the ground till blood ran down。
The dying man called Zhuge Liang closer； and at the same time making his two sons e near； he said to them； 〃My sons； remember your father's words。 After my death you are to treat the Prime Minister as you would your father and be not remiss； for thereby you will fulfill your father's hopes。〃
He made the two Princes pay to Zhuge Liang the obeisance due to a father。
Said Zhuge Liang； 〃Were I destroyed and ground into the earth； I should be unable to repay the kindness I have experienced。〃
Turning to the assembled officers； the First Ruler said； 〃As you have seen； I have confided my orphan son to the care of the Prime Minister and bidden my sons treat him as a father。 You too； Sirs； are to treat him with deference。 This is my dying request and charge to you。〃
Turning to Zhao Yun； he said； 〃You and I have gone together through many dangers and difficulties。 Now es the parting of our ways。 You will not forget our old friendship； and you must see to it that my sons follow my precepts。〃
〃I shall never dare to give other than my best；〃 said Zhao Yun。 〃The fidelity of the dog and horse is mine to give and shall be theirs。〃
Then the First Ruler turned to the others； 〃Noble Sirs； I am unable to speak to you one by one and lay a charge upon each individual。 But I say to you： Maintain your self…respect。〃
These were his last words。 He was sixty…three； and he died on the twenty…fourth day of the fourth month （AD 222）。 A poem was written by Du Fu on his death：
The Emperor set out to destroy the land that lay through the Three Gorges；
Failed he and breathed his last in the Palace of Eternal Peace；
The Palace fair of his thoughts lay not this side the highlands。
Beautiful chambers are vainly sought in his rural temple；
Now are the pines near his shrine nesting places for herons；
Through the courts aged peasants saunter； enjoying their leisure；
Nearby often is found a shrine to this famous strategist；
Prince and minister's needs are now but offerings in season。
Thus died the First Ruler。 All present lifted up their voices and wept。
The Prime Minister led the procession that escorted the coffin to the capital； and the heir； Liu Shan； came to the outskirts of the city； as a dutiful son should； to receive the remains with due respect。 The coffin was laid in the Great Hall of the Palace； wherein they lamented and performed the ceremonies appointed。 At the end of these the testament was opened and read：
〃I first fell ill from a simple ailment。 Other disorders followed； and it became evident that I should not recover。
〃They say that death at fifty cannot be called premature。 As I have passed sixty； I may not resent the call。 But when I think of you and your brothers； I regret。 Now I say to you； strive and strive again。 Do not do evil because it is a small evil； do not leave undone a small good because it is a small good。 Only with wisdom and virtue people can be won。 But your father's virtue was but slender； and do not imitate。
〃After my death you are to conduct the affairs of the state with the Prime Minister。 You are to treat him as a father and serve him without remissness。 You and your brothers are to seek instructions。 This is my final and simple mand。〃
When the officials had read this； Zhuge Liang said； 〃The state cannot go a single day without a ruler； wherefore I beg you to install the heir as successor to the great line of Han。〃
Thereupon the ceremony was performed； and the new Emperor took his place。 The style of the reign was changed to 〃Beginning Prosperity〃。 Zhuge Liang was made Lord of Wuxiang and Imperial Protector of Yizhou。
Then they buried the late Emperor at Huiling with the posthumous style of Liu Bei the Glorious Emperor。
The Empress； of the Wu family； was formally created Empress Dowager。 The late Consort Gan became the Glorious Empress； and the Lady Mi was granted similar； also posthumous； rank。 There were promotions in rank and rewards for all； and a general amnesty was proclaimed。
Before long； knowledge of these things came to the Middle Land； and a report was sent to Capital Luoyang and made known to the Ruler of Wei。
Cao Pi felt relieved and was glad of the death of his rival； saying； 〃Liu Bei is dead： I am no longer worried。 An attack during the critical moment can bring a victory over Shu。〃
But Jia Xu dissuaded him； saying； 〃Liu Bei is gone； but surely he has confided the care of the state to Zhuge Liang； who is indebted to him so deeply。 He will exhaust every effort to support his young lord。 You may not hastily attack。〃
As Jia Xu tendered this remonstrance； a man suddenly stepped out from the serried ranks of courtiers and said fiercely； 〃If you neglect this moment； can you expect a more favorable opportunity？〃
All eyes turned to the speaker。 It was Sima Yi。
The interruption greatly pleased Cao Pi； who at once asked how it was to be done。
Sima Yi propounded his plan in the following speech： 〃It would be very difficult to obtain success with our own resources。 Hence we must use five armies and attack all round at the same time； so as to divide Zhuge Liang。〃
〃Where are the five armies to e from？〃 said Cao Pi。
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
Sima Yi went on； 〃The first is to be got from Liaodong； from the Xianbi State。 You must write to King Kebi Neng and send him presents of gold and silks so that he may send one hundred thousand Qiang troops from Liaoxi to attack Xiping Pass。 Secondly； the king of the Mang Tribes； Meng Huo； must be persuaded to lead one hundred thousand troops to attack the south of Shu………Yizhou； Yongchang； Zangge； and Yuesui。 Thirdly； you must send an ambassador to Wu with fair promises of an increase of territory； and so induce Sun Quan to march one hundred thousand troops to the attack of the Three Gorges； making Fucheng his objective。 The fourth army can be got from General Meng Da in Shangyong； who can muster one hundred thousand troops to attack Hanzhong。 Lastly； our own force of one hundred thousand troops may be placed under Cao Zhen； who will attack by way of Yangping Pass。 With five hundred thousand troops making simultaneous attacks along five different directions； it would be hard for Zhuge Liang to hold his own； even if he had the talent of Lu Wang* himself。〃
The scheme delighted Cao Pi； who at once cast about for four glib…tongued messengers。 He also issued a mission to Cao Zhen as mander…in…Chief with the order to take Yangping Pass。
At this time Zhang Liao and most others of the veterans who had served Cao Cao were keeping watch in various stations and passes and fords in Jizhou； Xuzhou； Qingzhou； and Hefei。 They were not summoned for this expedition to the west。
After the accession of Liu Shan； the Latter Ruler； many of those who had served his father gradually died after the decease of their master。 The work of the administration of the country； the choice of officials； law…making； taxation； decision of legal cases； was all done by the Prime Minister。
As the Latter Ruler had no consort； the courtiers； headed by Zhuge Liang； proposed； saying； 〃The daughter of the late General of the Flying Cavalry Zhang Fei is prudent； and she is now seventeen。 Your Majesty should make her Empress。〃
So Lady Zhang was married to the Emperor and became Empress Zhang。
It was in the autumn of the first year of Beginning Prosperity （AD 223） that the Latter Ruler heard of the plans and intentions of Wei against his state。
The persons who told him gave him full details said： 〃Wei has mustered five armies of one hundred thousand each to march against the River Lands。 The first army led by mander…in…Chief Cao Zhen is heading to Yangping Pass。 The second army from Shangyong led by the rebel Meng Da is planning to attack Hanzhong。 The third army from Wu is threatening the Three Gorges。 The fourth army under King Kebi Neng of the Qiang tribes is marching to Xiping Pass。 And the fifth army by Meng Huo of the Mang nations is approaching the southern border near Yizhou； Yongchang； Zangge； and Yuesui。 The border stations have sent flying requests for help。 We have informed the Prime Minister。 But his conduct puzzles us。 We do not know why he does not take some action instead of remaining shut up in his palace all the time。〃
The Latter Ruler became really alarmed； and he sent one of his personal attendants to call the Prime Minister to court。
The servant was gone a long time； and then returned to say： 〃The servants in the residence said the Prime Minister was ill and not to be seen。〃
The young Emperor's distress increased； and he sent two High Ministers………Dong Yun and Du Qiong………to Zhuge Liang； saying they were to see him even if he was on his couch and tell him the dreadful news of invasion。 They went； but they got no farther than the gate。 The keepers of the gate refused them admission。
But Du Qiong said； 〃The First Ruler had confided his son to the Prime Minister。 It has not been long since His Majesty's accession to the Throne that Cao Pi threatens to invade our territories with five armies。 This is urgent military matter。 How can the Prime Minister make illness as an excuse not to appear？〃
The wardens of the gate went inside with what was said。
After keeping them waiting a long time； the wardens returned； saying； 〃The Prime Minister is rather better and will be at court in the morning。〃
The two ministers sighed deeply as they wended their way to the Emperor's palace。
Next morning a great crowd of officers assembled at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence to wait for him to appear。 But he did not e out。 It began to grow late； and many of them were tired of waiting； and the crowd dispersed。
Du Qiong went again to the Emperor and suggested； saying； 〃Your Majesty should go in person and try to get Zhuge Liang to say what should be done。〃
The Latter Ruler then returned to his palace with the officials and told the Empress Dowager his trouble。 She was also alarmed。
〃What can he mean？〃 said she。 〃This does not look like acting in the spirit of the charge laid upon him by the late Emperor。 Let me go myself。〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Dong Yun。 〃Your Majesty must not go。 We think all is well； and the Prime Minister certainly understands and will do something。 Beside； you must let His Majesty go first； and if the Prime Minister still shows remissness； then Your Majesty can summon him to the Temple of the Dynasty and ask him。〃
So it was left at that。 And the next day the Emperor rode in his chariot to the gate of his minister。 When the doorkeepers saw the imperial chariot appear； they fell upon their knees to wele the Emperor。
〃Where is the Prime Minister？〃 asked he。
〃We do not know。 But we have orders not to let in the crowd of officers。〃
The Emperor then descended and went on foot right in to the third gate。 Then he saw Zhuge Liang leaning on a staff beside a fishpond looking at the fish。 The Latter Ruler approached； and stood behind him for a long time。
Presently the Latter Ruler said slowly and with dignity； 〃Is the Prime Minister really enjoying himself？〃
Zhuge Liang started and looked round。 When he saw who the speaker was； he suddenly