第43部分(第2/7 页)

e　dynasty　has　endured　four　centuries；　and　its　measure　of　fortune　has　run　out。　It　no　longer　possesses　authority；　the　cauldron　is　on　the　point　of　boiling　over。　My　family　has　held　the　highest　offices　of　state　for　four　generations　and　is　universally　respected。　Wherefore　I　wish；　in　response　to　the　will　of　Heaven　and　the　desire　of　the　people；　to　assume　the　Imperial　Dignity。　What　think　ye　of　the　proposal；　my　officers？〃

Secretary　Yan　Xiang　rose　in　opposition　at　once；　saying；　〃You　may　not　do　this。　King　Wen；　the　Ancestor　of　the　Zhou*；　was　of　distinguished　virtue　and　held　many　offices。　Till　the　last　years　of　Shang　Dynasty；　he　had　two　thirds　of　the　empire。　Still　he　served　and　was　loyal　to　the　ruling　house。　Your　house　is　honorable；　but　it　is　not　so　glorious　as　that　of　Zhou。　The　Hans　may　be　reduced；　but　they　are　not　so　abominably　cruel　as　those　of　the　Shang　Dynasty　that　they　are　to　be　overthrown。　Indeed　this　should　not　be　done。〃

Yuan　Shu　did　not　hear　this　with　pleasure。

Said　he；　〃We　Yuans　came　from　the　Chen　family；　the　same　ancestry　with　King　Shun*。　By　the　rule　of　interpreting　the　signs　of　fate；　the　day　has　e　when　earth　（Chen）　receives　fire　（Liu）。　Beside　there　is　an　oracle　saying；　'One　who　replaces　the　Hans　must　wade　through　deep　mire。'　My　name　means　'the　high　road。'　It　fits　exactly。　Further　than　this；　I　possess　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　and　must　bee　lord　of　all；　or　I　turn　from　Heaven's　own　way。　Finally；　I　have　made　up　my　mind；　so　if　anyone　says　too　much；　that　person　will　simply　suffer　death。〃

Yuan　Shu　arrogated　himself　the　insignia　of　royalty　and　assigned　Second　Glory　the　reign　title。　He　set　up　officials　with　titles　only　given　by　an　emperor；　and　rode　in　a　chariot　decorated　with　the　dragon　and　phoenix；　and　offered　sacrifices　after　the　manner　of　an　emper