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第275部分（第2页）

Alas！　Quite　like　myself　in　fact。〃

The　recital　of　the　poem　annoyed　Sima　Zhao。

〃This　fellow　is　very　like　Cao　Fang；　and　if　I　do　not　remove　him　he　will　hurt　me；〃　said　he。

〃I　will　see　to　it　for　you；〃　said　Jia　Chong。

In　the　fifth　year　of　Sweet　Dew；　in　Wei　calendar　（AD　261）；　during　the　fourth　month；　in　summer；　Sima　Zhao　had　the　effrontery　to　go　to　court　armed。　However；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　received　him　with　exaggerated　courtesy。

The　courtiers　said；　〃The　services　of　the　Regent　Marshal　are　so　magnificent；　and　his　virtue　so　high　that　he　should　be　rewarded　with　the　title　Duke　of　Jin　and　the　Nine　Dignities。〃

Cao　Mao　hung　his　head　and　kept　silent。

And　Sima　Zhao　himself　said　discontentedly；　〃My　father　and　my　brother　have　all　given　great　services　to　Wei；　and　yet　I　deserves　not　being　a　mere　Duke　of　Jin？〃

〃Should　I　dare　not　do　what　you　requested？〃　said　Cao　Mao。

〃That　poem　about　the　Lurking　Dragon　called　us　slimy　creatures。　What　sort　of　politeness　is　that？〃　said　Sima　Zhao。

The　Ruler　of　Wei　had　nothing　to　say；　and　the　haughty　minister　left　the　chamber；　smiling　cruelly。

Cao　Mao　retired；　taking　with　him　Minister　Wang　Jing；　Adviser　Wang　Shen；　and　General　of　the　Cavalry　Wang　Ye；　and　they　went　to　a　privy　chamber　to　consult。　Cao　Mao　was　very　sad。

He　said；　〃There　is　no　doubt　that　Sima　Zhao　intends　to　usurp　the　throne………everybody　knows　that。　But　I　will　not　sit　thereon　patiently　awaiting　the　indignity　of　being　pushed　off。　Cannot　you　gentlemen　help　me　to　kill　him？〃

〃He　may　not　be　slain；〃　said　Wang　Jing。　〃That　will　not　do。　In　the　old　state　of　Lu；　King　Zhao　could　not　bear　with　the　Ji　family；　and　ran　away；　thus　losing　his　country。　But　this　Sima　Zhao　and　his　family　have　been　in　power　very　long　and　have　innumerable　supporters；　many　of　whom　are　quite　independent　of　any　act　of　his　whether　loyal　or　disloyal。　They　support　him　under　any　conditions。　Your　Majestys　guards　are　few　and　weak　and　incapable………not　the　ones　for　any　desperate　effort。　It　would　be　most　lamentable　if　Your　Majesty　could　not　bear　this　trial。　The　correct　course　is　to　wait　and　not　act　hastily。〃

〃If　I　can　bear　this；　what　cannot　I　bear？〃　said　Cao　Mao。　〃But　I　will　do　something；　and　if　I　die；　what　matters？〃

He　went　into　the　private　apartments　and　spoke　to　the　Empress　Dowager。

Wang　Shen；　Wang　Jing；　and　Wang　Ye　sat　outside　talking。

〃This　matter　is　ing　to　a　head；　and　unless　we　want　to　be　put　to　death　and　all　our　loved　ones　with　us；　we　had　better　go　and　warn　Sima　Zhao；〃　said　Wang　Shen。

This　advice　angered　Wang　Jing；　and　he　said；　〃The　princes　sorrow　is　the　ministers　shame；　and　a　shamed　minister　dies。　Dare　you　contemplate　treachery？〃

Wang　Jing　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　this　visit　to　Sima　Zhao；　but　the　other　two　went　to　the　Prime　Ministers　palace　to　betray　their　prince。

Shortly　after；　Cao　Mao　appeared；　called　the　officer　of　the　guard；　Jiao　Bo；　and　bade　him　muster　his　force；　as　many　as　he　could。　Jiao　Bo　got　together　about　three　hundred；　and　this　little　force　marched　out　to　the　beating　of　a　drum　as　escort　to　a　small　carriage；　in　which　sat　the　Ruler　of　Wei　gripping　his　sword。　They　proceeded　south。

Wang　Jing　stepped　to　the　front　and　prayed　Cao　Mao　to　stay　his　steps　and　not　go。

〃To　go　against　Sima　Zhao　with　such　a　force　is　driving　the　sheep　into　the　tigers　jaws。　To　die　such　a　death　is　a　vain　sacrifice。　Not　that　I　want　to　live；　but　this　can　do　nothing；〃　said　Wang　Jing。

〃Do　not　hinder　me。　I　have　made　up　my　mind；〃　replied　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　heading　toward　the　Dragon　Gate。

Presently　Jia　Chong　came　in　sight。　He　was　armed　and　mounted　on　a　fine　horse。　Beside　him　rode　two　generals；　Cheng　Zu　and　Cheng　Ji；　and　behind　him　followed　a　body　of　mail…clad　guards；　who　shouted　one　to　another　as　they　rode。

Then　Cao　Mao　held　up　his　sword　and　cried；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　God。　Who　are　you　thus　breaking　into　the　Forbidden　City？　Are　you　e　to　murder　your　lawful　ruler？〃

The　soldiers　suddenly　stopped；　for　they　were　Palace　guards。

Then　Jia　Chong　shouted　to　Cheng　Ji；　saying；　〃What　did　Duke　Sima　Zhao　train　you　for　if　not　for　this　days　work？〃

Cheng　Ji　took　his　halberd　and　turned　to　Jia　Chong；　saying；　〃Death　or　capture？〃

〃Duke　Sima　Zhao　said　the　man　had　to　die；〃　replied　Jia　Chong。

Cheng　Ji　rushed　toward　the　carriage。

〃Fool！　How　dare　you？〃　cried　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

But　the　shout　was　cut　short　by　a　thrust　from　the　halberd　full　in　the　breast；　another　thrust；　and　the　point　came　out　at　the　back；　so　that　Cao　Mao　lay　there　dead　beside　his　carriage。　Jiao　Bo　ing　up　to　strike　a　blow　in　defense　was　also　slain；　and　the　little　escort　scattered。

Wang　Jing；　who　had　followed；　upbraided　Jia　Chong；　shouting；　〃Rebel　and　traitor！　How　dare　you　kill　the　Emperor？〃