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第265部分（第2页）

〃His　Majesty　was　reading；　and　we　stayed　with　him；〃　said　Li　Feng。

〃What　was　he　reading？〃

〃The　histories　of　the　Xia；　Shang；　and　Zhou　dynasties。〃

〃What　questions　did　the　Emperor　ask　as　he　read　those　books？〃

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tangs　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tangs　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother　of　King　Wu；　who　was　the　founder　of　Zhou　Dynasty。　After　King　Wus　death；　the　Duke　of　Zhou　served　his　young　son　as　regent。　The　Duke　of　Zhou　pletely　ended　the　Shang　domination；　and　he　helped　establish　the　Zhou　administrative　framework；　which　served　as　a　model　for　future　Chinese　dynasties。　Zhou　Dynasty　lasted　for　800　years　（BC　1050…221）。　。。。。。

〃He　asked　about　Yi　Yin*　and　how　he　upheld　the　Shang；　and　the　Duke　of　Zhou*；　how　he　acted　when　he　was　regent。　And　we　told　His　Majesty　that　you　were　both　Yi　Yin　and　the　Duke　Zhou　to　him。〃

Sima　Shi　smiled　grimly　and　said；　〃Why　did　you　pare　me　with　those　two　when　in　your　hearts　you　think　me　a　rebel　like　Wang　Mang　and　Dong　Zhuo？〃

〃How　should　we　dare　when　we　are　your　subordinates？〃　said　the　three　ministers。

〃You　are　a　lot　of　flatterers；〃　said　Sima　Shi；　angrily。　〃And　what　were　you　crying　about　in　that　private　chamber　with　the　Emperor？〃

〃We　did　no　such　thing。〃

〃Your　eyes　are　still　red：　You　cannot　deny　that。〃

Xiahou　Xuan　then　knew　that　the　secrecy　had　been　showed；　so　he　broke　out　into　a　volley　of　abuse；　crying；　〃Well；　we　were　crying　because　of　your　conduct；　because　you　terrorize　over　the　Emperor　and　are　scheming　to　usurp　the　Throne！〃

〃Seize　him！〃　roared　Sima　Shi。

Xiahou　Xuan　threw　back　his　sleeves　and　struck　at　Sima　Shi　with　his　fists；　but　the　lictors　pulled　him　back。　Then　the　three　were　searched；　and　on　Zhang　Qi　was　found　the　blood…stained　garment　of　the　Emperor。　They　handed　it　to　their　chief；　who　recognized　the　object　of　his　search；　the　secret　edict。　It　said：

〃The　two　Sima　brothers　have　stolen　away　all　my　authority　and　are　plotting　to　take　the　Throne。　The　edicts　I　have　been　forced　to　issue　do　not　represent　my　wishes；　and　hereby　all　officers；　civil　and　military；　may　unite　to　destroy　these　two　and　restore　the　authority　of　the　Throne。　These　ends　achieved；　I　will　reward　those　who　help　to　acplish　them。〃

Sima　Shi；　more　angry　than　ever；　said；　〃So　you　wish　to　destroy　me　and　my　brother。　This　is　too　much！〃

He　ordered　his　followers　to　execute　the　three　on　the　public　ground　by　waist…bisection　and　to　destroy　their　whole　clans。

The　three　reviled　without　ceasing。　On　the　way　to　the　place　of　execution；　they　ground　their　teeth　with　rage；　spitting　out　the　pieces　they　broke　off。　They　died　muttering　curses。

Sima　Shi　then　went　to　the　rear　apartments　of　the　Palace；　where　he　found　the　Emperor　talking　with　his　Consort。

Just　as　he　entered；　she　was　saying　to　the　Emperor；　〃The　Palace　is　full　of　spies；　and　if　this　es　out；　it　will　mean　trouble　for　me。〃

Sima　Shi　strode　in；　sword　in　hand。

〃My　father　placed　Your　Majesty　on　the　throne；　a　service　no　less　worthy　than　that　of　Duke　Zhou；　I　have　served　Your　Majesty　as　Yi　Yin　served　his　master。　Now　is　kindness　met　by　enmity　and　service　regarded　as　a　fault。　Your　Majesty　has　plotted　with　two　or　three　insignificant　officials　to　slay　me　and　my　brother。　Why　is　this？〃

〃I　had　no　such　intention；〃　said　Cao　Fang。

In　reply　Sima　Shi　drew　the　garment　from　his　sleeve　and　threw　it　on　the　ground。

〃Who　did　this？〃

Cao　F