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第169部分（第3页）

〃What　is　it　you　ask？〃

〃The　Prince　of　Wei　will　soon　receive　the　abdication　of　the　Emperor　and　himself　ascend　to　the　seat　of　the　mighty。　Then　you　and　your　friend　Wang　Bi　will　advance　to　places　of　great　honor。　When　that　day　es；　we　pray　you　not　forget　us；　but　remend　us　for　employment。　We　should　feel　no　shallow　gratitude　for　your　kindness。〃

Jin　Yi　flicked　down　his　sleeves　and　arose　looking　very　angry。　At　that　instant　arrived　the　tea　for　the　visitors。　He　snatched　it　away　from　the　serving　man　and　emptied　it　on　the　floor。

Wei　Huang　started　up　in　feigned　alarm。

〃How　have　I　offended　you；　my　good　friend？〃　cried　he。

〃I　have　been　friends　with　you　because　you　are　descendants　of　people　who　have　served　the　Hans　faithfully。　Now；　instead　of　trying　to　repay　the　debt　of　gratitude　you　ought　to　feel；　you　turn　aside　to　assist　one　who　is　their　enemy；　think　you　that　I　can　regard　you　as　friends？　How　could　I　look　the　world　in　the　face？〃

〃But　if　it　be　destiny；　one　cannot　help　it；〃　said　Geng　Ji。　〃One　must　accept　it。〃

Jin　Yi　grew　still　more　angry；　so　that　the　two　visitors　were　convinced　that　at　heart　he　was　loyal　to　the　dynasty。　Then　they　began　to　tell　him　the　true　state　of　the　case。

Said　they；　〃Our　real　desire　is　to　destroy　this　rebel；　and　we　have　e　to　ask　your　help　in　that。　What　we　said　at　first　was　only　a　test　to　find　out　what　you　thought。〃

〃Think　you；　with　my　ancestry；　generation　after　generation　in　the　confidence　and　service　of　the　Hans；　that　I　would　willingly　follow　a　rebel？　If　you；　Sirs；　really　think　of　restoring　the　dynasty；　pray　tell　me　your　plans。〃

〃Though　we　have　the　desire　to　prove　our　gratitude；　yet　we　lack　the　means　to　destroy　the　enemy；〃　said　Wei　Huang。

Said　Jin　Yi；　〃We　desire　helpers　within　and　supporters　without。　If　we　could　slay　Wang　Bi；　we　could　use　his　name　and　troops　to　help　the　Emperor。　With　the　help　of　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　we　should　be　able　to　destroy　the　rebel　Cao　Cao。〃

Hearing　Jin　Yis　plan；　the　others　clapped　their　hands　in　approval。

〃And　I　have　two　friends　outside　of　the　city　who　will　go　with　us；〃　said　Jin　Yi。　〃Both　of　them　have　the　murder　of　a　father　to　avenge。　We　can　get　their　helps。〃

〃Who　are　they？〃

〃They　are　sons　of　the　great　physician　Ji　Ping　and　are　called　Ji　Mao　and　Ji　Mu。　Cao　Cao　put　their　father　to　death　for　his　connection　with　the　plot　organized　by　Dong　Cheng；　when　Dong　Cheng　received　the　secret　edict　conveyed　in　the　robe　and　girdle；　which　was　conferred　upon　him　by　the　Emperor。　The　two　sons　escaped　that　time　by　flight；　but　they　have　since　secretly　returned　to　the　capital。　With　their　help　all　will　go　well。〃

Geng　Ji　and　Wei　Huang　rejoiced　at　the　prospect　of　further　help；　and　a　messenger　was　sent　to　call　in　the　two　Ji　brothers。　Soon　they　arrived；　and　the　plot　was　laid　before　them。　They　were　deeply　affected　and　shed　copious　tears。　Their　wrath　rose　to　the　sky；　and　they　swore　to　aid　in　the　destruction　of　the　rebel。

〃On　the　fifteenth　day　of　the　first　month　there　will　be　grand　illuminations　in　the　city；〃　said　Jin　Yi；　〃and　felicitations　will　continue　on　every　side。　Geng　Ji　and　Wei　Huang　will　each　lead　out　their　retainers　and　make　their　way　quickly　to　Wang　Bis　camp　to　wait　till　they　see　the　fire　begin。　Then　they　will　dash　in；　slay　Wang　Bi；　and　follow　me　inside　the　Palace。　We　will　then　request　the　Emperor　to　ascend　the　Tower　of　the　Five　Phoenixes；　assemble　his　officers；　and　issue　orders　to　destroy　the　rebels。　The　two　Ji　brothers　will　make　their　way　into　the　city　and　set　fires　going。　Then　all　will　raise　their　voices　and　summon　the　populace　to　their　aid。　They　are　to　hold　up　any　rescue　force　in　the　city　till　the　Emperor　has　issued　the　edict　and　disturbance　is　allayed；　when　they　will　rush　toward　Yejun　and　seize　Cao　Cao。　Then　a　messenger　will　be　dispatched　with　a　summons　for　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle。　We　will　begin　our　work　that　night　at　the　second　watch；　and　we　will　escape　the　ill　success　that　attended　Dong　Chengs　attempt。〃

All　five　swore　before　Heaven　to　be　true；　and　they　smeared　their　lips　with　blood　in　earnest　of　their　oath。　After　this；　each　returned　to　his　own　home　to　prepare　arms　and　call　up　their　people。

Geng　Ji　and　Wei　Huang　each　had　four　or　five　hundred　retainers；　whom　they　armed。　Ji　Mao　and　Ji　Mu　also　got　together　three　hundred　men。　They　gave　out　a　story　of　a　hunting　party　to　explain　the　gathering。

When　the　preparations　were　plete；　and　before　the　time　fixed　for　the　rising；　Jin　Yi　went　to　see　Wang　Bi。

Said　Jin　Yi；　〃Everything　in　the　world　seems　now　tranquil；　and　the　power　of　the　Prince　of　Wei　extends　over　all　the　land。　It　is　a　season　of　joy　and　felicitation；　and　you　can　organize　a　lantern　festivity；　and　people　shall　hang　out　lanterns　and　put　up　decorations　for　the　occasion。〃

So　Wang　Bi　issued　guidelines　for　a　Feast　of　Lanterns　in　the　city。　The　night　of　full　moon　was　very　clear；　moon　and　stars　most　brilliant。　The　people　of　the　capital　took　advantage　of　the　night　and　thronged　the　streets　and　the　market　places。　The　lanterns　were　hung　out　in　profusion；　and　all　went　merrily。

No　official　interfered　with　the　crowd；

No　one　thought　of　the　flight　of　time；

All　was　simple　gaiety。

That　night　the　mander　of　the　Imperial　Guards；　Wang　Bi；　and　his　officers　had　a　feast　in　their　camp。　Just　after　the　second　watch　had　begun；　they　heard　a　great　shouting