第5部分(第3/7 页)

　Zhong*　who　was　added　to　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　Zhang　Rang*　possessed　most　of　the　prize　farms　around　the　capital。　The　government　grew　worse　and　worse；　and　everyone　was　irritated。

Rebellions　broke　out　in　Changsha　led　by　Ou　Xing；　and　in　Yuyang　led　by　Zhang　Ju　and　Zhang　Chun。　Memorials　were　sent　up　in　number　as　snow　flakes　in　winter；　but　the　Ten　suppressed　them　all。　One　day　the　Emperor　was　at　a　feast　in　one　of　the　gardens　with　the　Ten；　when　Court　Counselor　Liu　Tao　suddenly　appeared　showing　very　great　distress。　The　Emperor　asked　what　the　matter　was。

〃Sire；　how　can　you　be　feasting　with　these　when　the　empire　is　at　the　last　gasp？〃　said　Liu　Tao。

〃All　is　well；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃Where　is　anything　wrong？〃

Said　Liu　Tao；　〃Robbers　swarm　on　all　sides　and　plunder　the　cities。　And　all　is　the　fault　of　the　Ten　Eunuchs　who　sell　offices　and　injure　the　people；　oppress　loyal　officials　and　deceive　their　superiors。　All　virtuous　ones　have　left　the　services　and　returned　to　their　places；　and　are　building　and　guarding　their　positions。　More　regional　offices　have　been　sought　than　imperial　appointments。　Central　authority　is　being　undermined　by　local　interests。　Misfortune　is　before　our　very　eyes！〃

At　this　the　eunuchs　pulled　off　their　hats　and　threw　themselves　at　their　master's　feet。

〃If　Minister　Liu　Tao　disapproves　of　us；〃　they　said；　〃we　are　in　danger。　We　pray　that　our　lives　be　spared　and　we　may　go　to　our　farms。　We　yield　our　property　to　help　defray　military　expenses。〃

And　they　wept　bitterly。

The　Emperor　turned　angrily　to　Liu　Tao；　saying；　〃You　also　have　servants：　Why　can't　you　bear　with　mine？〃

And　thereupon　the　Emperor　called　to　the　guards　to　eject　Liu　Tao　and　put　him　to　death。

Liu　Tao　cried　aloud；　〃My　death　matte