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第221部分（第1页）

Zhuge　Liang　quickly　descended　from　his　chariot；　prostrated　himself　and　said；　〃Thy　servant　has　offended　in　causing　his　master　anxiety。　But　the　conquest　of　the　south　was　long。〃

The　Emperor　took　Zhuge　Liang　kindly　by　the　hand　and　raised　him。　Then　the　chariots　of　the　Son　of　God　and　his　minister　returned　to　Chengdu　side　by　side。　In　the　capital　were　great　rejoicings　with　banquets　and　rewards　for　the　army。　Henceforward　distant　nations　sent　tribute　to　the　Imperial　Court　to　the　number　of　two　hundred。

As　proposed　in　a　memorial；　the　Emperor　provided　for　the　families　of　the　soldiers　who　had　lost　their　lives　in　the　expedition；　and　they　were　made　happy。　And　the　whole　land　enjoyed　tranquillity。

＇e＇　Lady　Zhen；　a　famous　lady　in　the　North　of　Yellow　River　（Hebei）；　wife　to　Yuan　Xi；　son　of　Yuan　Shao。　When　Yuan　Shao　was　defeated　by　Cao　Cao；　both　Cao　Caos　sons　Cao　Pi　and　Cao　Zhi　claimed　her；　not　to　mention　Cao　Cao　himself。　Cao　Pi　eventually　won　her　hand；　wedded　her；　and　made　her　an　empress。　She　later　became　the　Goddess　of　River　Luo；　according　to　folktales。　。。。。。

Meanwhile　in　the　Middle　Land；　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Pi；　had　now　ruled　seven　years；　and　it　was　the　fourth　year　of　Beginning　Prosperity　in　Shu…Han　calendar。　Cao　Pi　had　taken　to　wife　a　lady　of　the　Zhen　family；　formerly　the　wife　of　the　second　son　of　Yuan　Shao。　He　had　discovered　Lady　Zhen*　at　the　sack　of　Yejun　and　had　married　her。　She　bore　him　a　son；　Cao　Rui；　who　was　very　clever　and　a　great　favorite　with　his　father。

Later　Cao　Pi　took　as　Beloved　Consort　a　daughter　of　Guo　Yong　in　Guangzong。　Lady　Guo　was　a　woman　of　exceeding　beauty；　whom　her　father　said；　〃She　is　the　king　among　women！〃　And　the　name　〃Lady　King〃　stuck　to　her。

But　with　Lady　Guos　arrival　at　court；　Lady　Zhen　fell　from　her　lords　favor；　and　the　Beloved　Consorts　ambition　led　her　to　intrigue　to　replace　the　Empress。　She　took　Zhang　Tao；　a　minister　at　the　court；　into　her　confidence。

At　that　time　the　Emperor　was　indisposed；　and　Zhang　Tao　alleged；　saying；　〃In　the　palace　of　the　Empress　has　been　dug　up　a　wooden　image　with　Your　Majestys　date　of　birth　written　thereon。　It　is　meant　to　exercise　a　maleficent　influence。〃

Cao　Pi　in　his　anger　forced　his　Empress　to　mit　suicide；　and　he　set　up　the　Beloved　Consort　in　her　place。

But　Lady　Guo　had　no　issue。　Wherefore　she　nourished　Cao　Rui　as　her　own。　However；　loved　as　Cao　Rui　was；　he　was　not　then　named　heir　by　the　Empress。

When　he　was　about　fifteen；　Cao　Rui；　who　was　an　expert　archer　and　a　daring　rider；　acpanied　his　father　to　the　hunt。　In　a　gully　they　started　a　doe　and　its　fawn。　Cao　Pi　shot　the　doe；　while　the　fawn　fled。　Seeing　that　the　fawns　course　led　past　his　sons　horse；　Cao　Pi　called　out　to　him　to　shoot　it。　Instead　the　youth　bursts　into　tears。

〃Your　Majesty　has　slain　the　mother。　How　can　one　kill　the　child　as　well？〃

The　words　struck　the　Emperor　with　remorse。　He　threw　aside　his　bow；　saying；　〃My　son；　you　would　make　a　benevolent　and　virtuous　ruler。〃

From　this　circumstance　Cao　Pi　decided　that　Cao　Rui　should　succeed；　and　conferred　upon　him　the　princedom　of　Pingyuan。

In　the　fifth　month　the　Emperor　fell　ill；　and　medical　treatment　was　of　no　avail。　So　the　chief　officers　were　summoned　to　the　bedside　of　the　Emperor。　They　were　mander　of　the　Center　Army　Cao　Zhen；　General　Who　Guards　the　West　Chen　Qun；　and　Grand　mander　Sima　Yi。

When　they　had　e；　the　Emperors　son　was　called；　and　the　dying　Emperor　spoke　thus：　〃I　am　grievously　ill；　and　my　end　is　near。　I　confide　to　your　care　and　guidance　this　son　of　mine。　You　must　support　him　out　of　good　feeling　for　me。〃

〃Why　does　Your　Majesty　talk　thus？〃　said　they。　〃We　will　do　our　utmost　to　serve　you　for　a　thousand　autumns　and　a　myriad　years。〃

〃No；　I　know　that　I　am　about　to　die；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃The　sudden　fall　of　the　gates　of　Xuchang　this　year　was　the　omen；　as　I　well　knew。〃

Just　then　the　attendants　said　that　General　Who　Conquers　the　East　Cao　Xiu　had　e　to　ask　after　the　Emperors　health。　They　were　told　to　call　Cao　Xiu　into　the　chamber。

When　he　had　entered；　Cao　Pi　said　to　him；　〃You　and　these　three　are　the　pillars　and　cornerstones　of　the　state。　If　you　will　only　uphold　my　son；　I　can　close　my　eyes　in　peace。〃

These　were　his　last　words。　A　flood　of　tears　gushed　forth；　and　Cao　Pi　sank　back　on　the　couch　dead。　He　was　forty　years　of　age　and　had　reigned　seven　years　（AD　229）。

The　four　ministers　raised　the　wailing　for　the　dead　and　forthwith　busied　themselves　with　setting　up　Cao　Rui　as　the　Emperor　of　Great　Wei。　The　late　Emperor　received　the　posthumous　style　of　〃Emperor　Pi〃。　The　late　Empress；　the　consort　who　had　suffered　death；　was　styled　〃Empress　Zhen〃。

Honors　were　distributed　freely　in　celebration　of　the　new　reign。　Zhong　Yao　was　made　Imperial　Guardian；　Cao　Zhen；　Regent　Marshal；　Cao　Xiu；　Minister　of　War；　Hua　Xin；　Grand　mander；　Wang　Lang；　Minister　of　the　Interior；　Chen　Qun；　Minister　of　Works；　Sima　Yi；　Imperial　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　and　many　others；　conspicuous　and　obscure；　were　promoted。　A　general　amnesty　was　declared　throughout　all　the　land。

About　this　time　a　vacancy　existed　in　the　mandership　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou。　Sima　Yi　asked　for　the　post　and　got　it。　He　left　for　his　new　office　as　soon　as　he　had　received　the　appointment。　All　military　affairs　of　the　west　were　now　under　his　mand。

In　due　time　the　news　of　all　these　doings　reached　Zhuge　Liang　and　perturbed　him　not　a　little。

He　was　anxious；　saying；　〃Cao　Pi　is　dead；　and　his　son　Cao　Rui　has　succeeded　him。　But　that　is　not　my　concern。　Only　I　am　worried　about　Sima　Yi；　who　is　very　crafty　and　skillful　in　the　art　of　war；　and　who；　in　mand　of　all　western　forces　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou；　may　prove　a　serious　danger　to　Shu。　This　Sima　Yi　ought　to　be　attacked　at　once。〃

Counselor　Ma　Su　spoke　of　this　matter。　〃You；　O　Prime　Minister；　have　just　returned　from　an　arduous　and　exhausting　expedition；　and　you　should　take　time　to　recuperate　before　you　undertake　such　another。　However；　I　have　a　scheme　by　which　Cao　Rui　may　be　brought　to　work　the　destruction　of　Sima　Yi。　May　I　lay　it　before　you？〃