第266部分(第3/7 页)

kind。　Who　dares　dispute　it？〃

Then　Sima　Shi；　followed　by　the　whole　of　the　officials；　went　to　the　Palace　of　Everlasting　Peace　and　informed　the　Empress　Dowager　of　his　intention。

〃Whom　do　you　propose　to　place　on　the　throne；　General？〃　she　asked。

〃I　have　observed　that　Cao　Ju；　Prince　of　Pengcheng；　is　intelligent；　benevolent；　and　filial。　He　is　fit　to　rule　the　empire。〃

She　replied；　〃He　is　my　uncle；　and　it　is　not　convenient。　However；　there　is　Cao　Mao；　Duke　of　Gaogui；　and　grandson　of　Emperor　Pi。　He　is　of　mild　temperament；　respectful；　and　deferential；　and　may　be　set　up。　You；　Sir；　and　the　high　officers　of　state　might　favorably　consider　this。〃

Then　spoke　one；　saying；　〃Her　Majesty　speaks　well：　Cao　Mao　should　be　raised　to　the　throne。〃

All　eyes　turned　toward　the　speaker；　who　was　Sima　Fu；　uncle　of　Sima　Shi。

The　Duke　of　Gaogui　was　summoned　to　the　capital。

The　Empress　called　Cao　Fang　into　her　presence　in　the　Hall　of　Principles　and　blamed　him；　saying；　〃You　are　vicious　beyond　measure；　a　panion　of　lewd　men　and　a　friend　of　vile　women。　You　are　unfitted　to　rule。　Therefore　resign　the　imperial　seal　and　revert　to　your　status　of　Prince　of　Qi*。　You　are　forbidden　to　present　yourself　at　court　without　special　mand。〃

Cao　Fang；　weeping；　threw　himself　at　her　feet。　He　gave　up　the　seal；　got　into　his　carriage　and　went　away。　Only　a　few　faithful　ministers　restrained　their　tears　and　bade　him　farewell。

Cao　Cao；　the　mighty　minister　of　Han；

Oppressed　the　helpless；　little　then　thought　he

That　only　two　score　swiftly　passing　years

Would　bring　like　fate　to　his　posterity。

The　Emperor…elect　Cao　Mao　was　the　grandson　of　Emperor　Pi；　and　son　of　Cao　Lin；　Prince　of　Donghai。　When　Cao　Mao　was　nearing　the　capital；　all　the　officers　at