第287部分(第4/7 页)

d　what　shall　I　be　if　I　avenge　the　wrongs　of　Han？〃

He　bade　the　lictors　take　Zhang　Jie　outside　and　beat　him　to　death；　while　the　Ruler　of　Wei　wept　and　besought　pardon　for　his　faithful　minister。

Sima　Yan　rose　and　left。

Cao　Huang　turned　to　Jia　Chong　and　Pei　Xiu；　saying；　〃What　should　I　do？　Some　decision　must　be　taken。〃

They　replied；　〃Truth　to　tell；　the　measure　of　your　fate　is　acplished　and　you　cannot　oppose　the　will　of　Heaven。　You　must　prepare　to　abdicate　as　did　Emperor　Xian　of　the　Hans。　Resign　the　throne　to　the　Prince　of　Jin　and　thereby　accord　with　the　design　of　Heaven　and　the　will　of　the　people。　Your　personal　safety　need　not　cause　you　anxiety。〃

Cao　Huang　could　only　accept　this　advice；　and　the　terrace　was　built。　The　〃mouse〃　day　of　the　twelfth　month　was　chosen　for　the　ceremony。　On　that　day　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　dressed　in　full　robes　of　ceremony；　and　bearing　the　seal　in　his　hand；　ascended　the　terrace　in　the　presence　of　a　great　assembly。

The　House　of　Wei　displaced　the　House　of　Han

And　Jin　succeeded　Wei；　so　turns　fate's　wheel

And　none　escape　its　grinding。　Zhang　Jie　the　true

Stood　in　the　way　and　died。　We　pity　him。

Vain　hope　with　one　hand　to　hide　Taishan　Mountains。

The　Emperor…elect　was　requested　to　ascend　the　high　place；　and　there　received　the　great　salute。　Cao　Huang　then　descended；　robed　himself　as　a　minister　and　took　his　place　as　the　first　of　subjects。

Sima　Yan　now　stood　upon　the　terrace；　supported　by　Jia　Chong　and　Pei　Xiu。　Cao　Huang　was　ordered　to　prostrate　himself；　while　the　mand　was　recited；　and　Jia　Chong　read：

〃Forty…five　years　have　elapsed　since；　in　the　twenty…fifth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity；　the　House　of　Han　gave　place　to　the　House　of　Wei。　But　after　forty…five　years；　the　favor　of　Hea