第1部分(第4/7 页)

anges　of　fowls'　sexes　are　brought　about　by　the　interference　of　empresses　and　eunuchs　in　state　affairs。〃

The　Emperor　read　this　memorial　with　deep　sighs；　and　Chief　Eunuch　Cao　Jie；　from　his　place　behind　the　throne；　anxiously　noted　these　signs　of　grief。　An　opportunity　offering；　Cao　Jie　informed　his　fellows；　and　a　charge　was　trumped　up　against　Cai　Yong；　who　was　driven　from　the　court　and　forced　to　retire　to　his　country　house。

With　this　victory　the　eunuchs　grew　bolder。　Ten　of　them；　rivals　in　wickedness　and　associates　in　evil　deeds；　formed　a　powerful　party　known　as　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants………Zhang　Rang；　Zhao　Zhong；　Cheng　Kuang；　Duan　Gui；　Feng　Xu；　Guo　Sheng；　Hou　Lan；　Jian　Shuo；　Cao　Jie；　and　Xia　Yun。

One　of　them；　Zhang　Rang；　won　such　influence　that　he　became　the　Emperor's　most　honored　and　trusted　adviser。　The　Emperor　even　called　him　〃Foster　Father〃。　So　the　corrupt　state　administration　went　quickly　from　bad　to　worse；　till　the　country　was　ripe　for　rebellion　and　buzzed　with　brigandage。

At　this　time　in　the　county　of　Julu　was　a　certain　Zhang　family；　of　whom　three　brothers　bore　the　name　of　Zhang　Jue；　Zhang　Ba；　and　Zhang　Lian；　respectively。　The　eldest　Zhang　Jue　was　an　unclassed　graduate；　who　devoted　himself　to　medicine。　One　day；　while　culling　simples　in　the　woods；　Zhang　Jue　met　a　venerable　old　gentleman　with　very　bright；　emerald　eyes　and　fresh　plexion；　who　walked　with　an　oak…wood　staff。　The　old　man　beckoned　Zhang　Jue　into　a　cave　and　there　gave　him　three　volumes　of　The　Book　of　Heaven　。

〃This　book；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　〃is　the　Essential　Arts　of　Peace　。　With　the　aid　of　these　volumes；　you　can　convert　the　world　and　rescue　humankind。　But　you　must　be　single…minded；　or；　rest　assured；　you　will　greatly　suffer。〃

With　a　humble　obeisance；　Zhang　Jue　too