第6部分(第2/7 页)

　'behind　the　veil'；　create　the　late　Emperor's　son　Liu　Xian　a　prince；　give　your　brother；　the　Imperial　Uncle　Dong　Chong；　a　high　rank；　and　place　him　over　the　army；　and　use　us。　That　will　do　it。〃

＇e＇　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry　was　the　second　highest　military　office；　just　below　Regent　Marshal；　and　of　the　same　rank　as　General　of　the　Flying　Chariots。

＇e＇　Empress　Lu　was　wife　of　Liu　Bang；　the　Han　Founder。　After　Liu　Bang's　death；　she　held　imperial　authority。　She　appointed　members　of　her　own　family　to　highly　important　positions　of　state　and　clearly　hoped　to　substitute　her　own　family　for　the　reigning　Liu　family。　But　these　plans　were　frustrated　on　her　death　（BC　180）。　。。。。。

Empress　Dong　approved。　Next　day　she　held　a　court　and　issued　an　edict　in　the　sense　proposed。　She　made　Liu　Xian　Prince　of　Chenliu　and　Dong　Chong　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry*；　and　she　allowed　the　eunuchs　again　to　participate　state　affairs。

When　Empress　He　saw　this；　she　prepared　a　banquet　to　which　she　invited　her　rival　Empress　Dong。

In　the　middle　of　the　feast；　when　all　were　well　warmed　with　wine；　Empress　He　rose　and　offered　a　cup　to　her　guest；　saying；　〃It　is　not　fitting　that　we　two　should　meddle　in　state　affairs。　In　the　beginning　of　the　Han　Dynasty；　when　Empress　Lu　laid　hands　upon　the　government；　all　her　clans　were　put　to　death*。　We　ought　to　remain　content；　immured　in　our　palaces；　and　leave　state　affairs　to　the　state　officials。　That　would　be　well　for　the　country；　and　I　trust　you　will　act　thus。〃

But　Empress　Dong　only　got　angry；　saying；　〃You　poisoned　Lady　Wang　out　of　jealousy。　Now；　relying　upon　the　fact　that　your　son　sits　on　the　throne　and　that　your　brother　is　powerful；　you　speak　these　wild　words。　I　will　mand　that　your　brother　be　beheaded；　and　that　can　be　done　as　easily　as　I