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！
Alas！ I am left alone with the grief in my heart。〃
When they had sung these lines； they fell weeping into each others' arms。
〃The Prime Minister is awaiting my report；〃 said Li Ru； 〃and you delay too long。 Think you that there is any hope of succor？〃
The Empress broke into another fit of railing； 〃The rebel forces us to death； mother and son； and Heaven has abandoned us。 But you； the tool of his crime； will assuredly perish！〃
Thereupon Li Ru grew more angry； laid hands on the Empress and threw her out of the window。 Then he bade the soldiers strangle Lady Tang and forced the lad to swallow the wine of death。
Li Ru reported the achievement to his master who bade them bury the victims without the city。 After this Dong Zhuo's behavior was more atrocious than before。 He spent his nights in the Palace； defiled the imperial concubines there； and even slept on the Dragon Couch。
Once he led his soldiers out of the city to Yangcheng when the villagers； men and women； were assembled from all sides for the annual spring festival。 His troops surrounded the place and plundered it。 They took away booty by the cart loads； and women prisoners and more than one thousand severed heads。 The procession returned to Capital Luoyang and published a story that they had obtained a great victory over some rebels。 They burned the heads beneath the walls； and the women and jewelry were shared out among the soldiers。
A general named Wu Fu was disgusted at this ferocity and sought a chance to slay Dong Zhuo。 Wu Fu constantly wore a breastplate underneath his court dress and carried in conceal a sharp dagger。 One day when Dong Zhuo came to court； Wu Fu met him on the steps and tried to stab him。 But Dong Zhuo was a very powerful man and held Wu Fu off till Lu Bu came to his help。 Lu Bu struck down the assailant。
〃Who told you to rebel？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Wu Fu glared at him and cried； 〃You are not my prince； I am not your minister： Where is the rebellion？ Your crimes fill the heavens； and every person would slay you。 I am sorry I cannot tear you asunder with chariots to appease the wrath of the world！〃
Dong Zhuo bade the guards take him out and hack him to pieces。 Wu Fu only ceased railing as he ceased to live。
That loyal servant of the latter days of Han。
His valor was high as the heavens； in all ages unequaled；
In the court itself would he slay the rebel； great is his fame！
Throughout all time will people call him a hero。
Thereafter Dong Zhuo always went well guarded。
At Bohai； Yuan Shao heard of Dong Zhuo's misuse of power and sent a secret letter to Minister of the Interior Wang Yun：
〃That rebel Dong Zhuo outrages Heaven and has deposed his ruler。 mon people dare not speak of him： That is understandable。 Yet you suffer his aggressions as if you knew naught of them。 How then are you a dutiful and loyal minister？ I have assembled an army and desire to sweep clean the royal habitation； but I dare not lightly begin the task。 If you are willing； then find an opportunity to plot against this man。 If you would use force； I am at your mand。〃
The letter arrived but Wang Yun could see no chance to plot against Dong Zhuo。
One day while among the throng in attendance； mostly people of long service； Wang Yun said to his colleagues； 〃This is my birthday； I pray you e to a little party in my humble cot this evening。〃
〃We certainly will；〃 they cried； 〃and wish you long life。〃
That night the tables were spread in an inner room； and his friends gathered there。 When the wine had made a few rounds； the host suddenly covered his face and began to weep。
The guests were aghast。
〃Sir； on your birthday too； why do you weep？〃 said they。
〃It is not my birthday；〃 replied Wang Yun。 〃But I wished to call you together； and I feared lest Dong Zhuo should suspect； so I made that the excuse。 This man insults the Emperor and does as he wishes so that the imperial prerogatives are in imminent peril。 I think of the days when our illustrious founder destroyed the Qin； annihilated Chu； and obtained the empire。 Who could have foreseen this day when that Dong Zhuo has subjugated all to his will？ That is why I weep。〃
Then they all wept with him。
Seated among the guests； however； was Cao Cao； who did not join in the weeping but clapped his hands and laughed aloud。
〃If all the officers of the government weep till dawn； and from dawn weep till dark； will that slay Dong Zhuo？〃 said Cao Cao。
Wang Yun turned on him angrily。
〃Your forbears ate the bounty of the Hans。 Do you feel no gratitude？ You can laugh？〃
〃I laughed at the absurdity of an assembly like this being unable to pass the death of one man。 Foolish and incapable as I am； I will cut off his head and hang it at the gate as an offering to the people。〃
Wang Yun left his seat and went over to Cao Cao。
〃These later days；〃 Cao Cao continued； 〃I have bowed my head to Dong Zhuo with the sole desire of finding a chance to destroy him。 Now he begins to trust me； and so I can approach him sometimes。 You have a sword with seven precious jewels which I would borrow； and I will go into his palace and kill him。 I care not if I die for it。〃
〃What good fortune for the world that this is so！〃 said Wang Yun。
With this Wang Yun himself poured out a goblet for Cao Cao who drained it and swore an oath。 After this the treasured sword was brought out and given to Cao Cao who hid it under his dress。 He finished his wine； took leave of the guests； and left the hall。 Before long the others dispersed。
The next day Cao Cao； with this short sword girded on； came to the palace of the Prime Minister。
〃Where is the Prime Minister？〃 asked he。
〃In the small guest room；〃 replied the attendants。
So Cao Cao went in and found his host seated on a couch。 Lu Bu was at his side。
〃Why so late； Cao Cao？〃 said Dong Zhuo。
〃My horse is out of condition and slow；〃 replied Cao Cao。
Dong Zhuo turned to his henchman Lu Bu。
〃Some good horses have e in from the west。 You go and pick out a good one as a present for him。〃
And Lu Bu left。
〃This traitor is doomed！〃 thought Cao Cao。 He ought to have struck then； but Cao Cao knew Dong Zhuo was very powerful； and he was afraid to act。 He wanted to make sure of his blow。
Now Dong Zhuo's corpulence was such that he could not remain long sitting； so he rolled over couch and lay face inwards。
〃Now is the time；〃 thought the assassin； and he gripped the good sword firmly。
But just as Cao Cao was going to strike； Dong Zhuo happened to look up and in a mirror he saw the reflection of Cao Cao behind him with a sword in the hand。
〃What are you doing； Cao Cao？〃 said Dong Zhuo turning suddenly。 And at that moment Lu Bu came along leading a horse。
Cao Cao in a flurry dropped on his knees and said； 〃I have a precious sword here which I wish to present to Your Benevolence。〃
Dong Zhuo took it。 It was a fine blade； over a foot in length； inlaid with the seven precious signs and very keen………a fine sword in very truth。 Dong Zhuo handed the weapon to Lu Bu while Cao Cao took off the sheath which he also gave to Lu Bu。
Then they went out to look at the horse。 Cao Cao was profuse in his thanks and said he would like to try the horse。 So Dong Zhuo bade the guards bring saddle and bridle。 Cao Cao led the creature outside； leapt into the saddle； laid on his whip vigorously； and galloped away eastward。
Lu Bu said； 〃Just as I was ing up； it seemed to me as if that fellow was going to stab you； only a sudden panic seized him and he presented the weapon instead。〃
〃I suspected him too！〃 said Dong Zhuo。
Just then Li Ru came in and they told him。
〃Cao Cao has no family here in the capital but lodges quite alone and not far away；〃 said Li Ru。 〃Send for him。 If he es forthwith； the sword was meant as a gift。 But if he makes any excuses； he had bad intentions。 And you can arrest him。〃
They sent four prison warders to call Cao Cao。
They were absent a long time and then came back； saying； 〃Cao Cao had not returned to his lodging but rode in hot haste out of the eastern gate。 To the gate mander's questions he replied that he was on a special message for the Prime Minister。 He went off at full speed。〃
〃His conscience pricked him and so he fled。 There is no doubt that he meant assassination！〃 said Li Ru。
〃And I trusted him so well！〃 said Dong Zhuo in a rage。
〃There must be a conspiracy afoot。 When we catch him； we shall know all about it；〃 said Li Ru。
Letters and pictures of the fugitive Cao Cao were sent everywhere with orders to catch him。 A large reward in money was offered and a patent of nobility； while those who sheltered him would be held to share his guilt。
Cao Cao traveled in hot haste toward Qiao； his home county。 On the road at Zhongmou； he was recognized by the guards at the gate and made prisoner。 They took him to the Magistrate。 Cao Cao declared he was a merchant； named Huang Fu。 The Magistrate scanned his face most closely and remained in deep thought。
Presently the Magistrate said； 〃When I was at the capital seeking a post； I knew you as Cao Cao。 Why do you try to conceal your identity？〃
The Magistrate ordered Cao Cao to the prison till the morrow when he could send Cao Cao to the capital and claim the reward。 He gave the soldiers wine and food as a reward。
About midnight the Magistrate sent a trusty servant to bring