第1部分(第3/7 页)

abuses　of　the　eunuchs　in　the　affairs　of　the　state；　plotted　the　destruction　for　the　power…abusing　eunuchs。　But　Chief　Eunuch　Cao　Jie　was　not　to　be　disposed　of　easily。　The　plot　leaked　out；　and　the　honest　Dou　Wu　and　Chen　Fan　were　put　to　death；　leaving　the　eunuchs　stronger　than　before。

It　fell　upon　the　day　of　full　moon　of　the　fourth　month；　the　second　year；　in　the　era　of　Established　Calm　（AD　168）；　that　Emperor　Ling　went　in　state　to　the　Hall　of　Virtue。　As　he　drew　near　the　throne；　a　rushing　whirlwind　arose　in　the　corner　of　the　hall　and；　lo！　from　the　roof　beams　floated　down　a　monstrous　black　serpent　that　coiled　itself　up　on　the　very　seat　of　majesty。　The　Emperor　fell　in　a　swoon。　Those　nearest　him　hastily　raised　and　bore　him　to　his　palace；　while　the　courtiers　scattered　and　fled。　The　serpent　disappeared。

But　there　followed　a　terrific　tempest；　thunder；　hail；　and　torrents　of　rain；　lasting　till　midnight　and　working　havoc　on　all　sides。　Two　years　later　the　earth　quaked　in　Capital　Luoyang；　while　along　the　coast　a　huge　tidal　wave　rushed　in　which；　in　its　recoil；　swept　away　all　the　dwellers　by　the　sea。　Another　evil　omen　was　recorded　ten　years　later；　when　the　reign　title　was　changed　to　Radiant　Harmony　（AD　178）：　Certain　hens　suddenly　crowed。　At　the　new　moon　of　the　sixth　month；　a　long　wreath　of　murky　cloud　wound　its　way　into　the　Hall　of　Virtue；　while　in　the　following　month　a　rainbow　was　seen　in　the　Dragon　Chamber。　Away　from　the　capital；　a　part　of　the　Yuan　Mountains　collapsed；　leaving　a　mighty　rift　in　the　flank。

Such　were　some　of　various　omens。　Emperor　Ling；　greatly　moved　by　these　signs　of　the　displeasure　of　Heaven；　issued　an　edict　asking　his　ministers　for　an　explanation　of　the　calamities　and　marvels。

Court　Counselor　Cai　Yong　replied　bluntly：　〃Falling　rainbows　and　ch