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第52部分（第2页）

〃Say　I　am　indisposed；〃　said　the　host；　〃and　cannot　receive　visitors。〃

The　doorkeeper　took　the　message；　whereat　Ma　Teng　angrily　said；　〃Last　night　at　the　Donghua　Gate；　I　saw　him　e　out　in　robe　and　girdle。　How　can　he　pretend　illness　today？　I　am　not　e　from　mere　idleness；　why　does　he　refuse　to　see　me？〃

The　doorkeeper　went　in　again　and　told　his　master　what　the　visitor　had　said　and　that　he　was　very　angry。　Then　Dong　Cheng　rose；　excused　himself　saying　he　would　soon　return；　and　went　to　receive　Ma　Teng。

After　the　visitor　had　saluted　and　they　were　both　seated；　Ma　Teng　said；　〃I　have　just　e　from　a　farewell　audience　and　wished　to　bid　you　good　bye。　Why　did　you　want　to　put　me　off？〃

〃My　poor　body　was　taken　suddenly　ill。　That　is　why　I　was　not　waiting　to　wele　you；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。

〃You　do　not　look　as　if　you　were　ill。　Your　face　wears　the　very　bloom　of　health；〃　said　Ma　Teng　bluntly。

His　host　could　say　no　more　and　was　silent。　The　visitor　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　rose　to　depart。

He　sighed　deeply　as　he　walked　down　the　steps；　saying　to　himself；　〃Not　one　of　them　is　any　good。　There　is　no　one　to　save　the　country。〃

This　speech　sank　deeply　into　Dong　Chengs　heart。　He　stopped　his　guest；　saying；　〃Who　is　no　good　to　save　the　country？　Whom　do　you　mean？〃

〃That　incident　at　the　hunt　the　other　day；　the　shooting　of　the　stag；　filled　my　breast　with　anger。　But　if　you；　a　near　relative　of　the　Emperor；　can　pass　your　time　in　wine　and　idle　dalliance　without　a　thought　of　doing　away　with　rebellion；　where　can　anyone　be　found　who　will　save　the　dynasty？〃

However；　Dong　Cheng　doubts　were　not　set　at　rest。　Pretending　great　surprise；　he　replied；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　of　high　rank　and　has　the　confidence　of　the　court。　Why　then　do　you　utter　such　things？〃

〃So　you　find　that　wretch　Cao　Cao　a　good　man；　eh？〃

〃Pray　speak　lower：　There　are　eyes　and　ears　very　near　us。〃

〃The　sort　of　people　who　covet　life　and　fear　death　are　not　those　to　discuss　any　great　undertaking。〃

So　saying；　Ma　Teng　rose　to　go　sway。　By　this　time　his　hosts　doubts　were　set　at　rest。　He　felt　that　Ma　Teng　was　loyal。

So　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃Do　not　be　angry　any　more。　I　will　show　you　something。〃

Whereupon　he　invited　Ma　Teng　to　go　into　the　room　where　the　others　were　seated　and　then　showed　him　the　decree。　As　Ma　Teng　read　it；　his　hair　stood　on　end；　he　ground　his　teeth　and　bit　his　lips　till　the　blood　came。

〃When　you　move；　remember　the　whole　force　of　my　army　is　ready　to　help；〃　said　Ma　Teng。

Dong　Cheng　introduced　him　to　the　other　conspirators；　and　then　the　pledge　was　produced；　and　Ma　Teng　was　told　to　sign　his　name。　He　did　so；　at　the　same　time　smearing　the　blood　as　a　sign　of　the　oath　and　saying；　〃I　swear　to　die　rather　than　betray　this　pledge！〃

Pointing　to　the　five　he　said；　〃We　require　ten　for　this　business；　and　we　can　acplish　our　design。〃

〃We　cannot　get　many　true　and　loyal　people。　One　of　the　wrong　sort　will　spoil　all；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。

Ma　Teng　told　them　to　bring　in　the　list　of　officials。　He　read　on　till　he　came　to　the　name　Liu；　of　the　imperial　clan；　when　clapping　his　hands　he　cried；　〃Why　not　consult　him？〃

〃Whom？〃　cried　they　altogether。

Ma　Teng　very　slowly　and　deliberately　spoke　his　name。

To　a　very　trusty　servant　es　an　Emperors　decree；

And　a　scion　of　the　ruling　house　can　prove　his　loyalty。

If　the　readers　turns　to　the　next　chapter；　they　will　see　whom　Ma　Teng　talked　about。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　21　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　21

Chapter　21

In　A　Plum　Garden；　Cao　Cao　Discusses　Heroes；