第34部分(第5/7 页)

rder；　〃I　have　been　studying　the　stars。　Since　last　spring　Venus　has　been　nearing　the　Guard　star　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　Measure；　and　the　Cowherd　（the　Great　Bear　and　Vega）　crossing　the　River　of　Heaven。　Mars　has　been　retrograding　and　came　into　conjunction　with　Venus　in　the　Gate　of　Heaven；　so　that　metal　（Venus）　and　fire　（Mars）　are　mingled。　Thence　must　emerge　a　new　ruler。　The　aura　of　the　Hans　is　exhausted；　and　the　ancient　states　of　Jin*　and　Wei*　must　increase。〃

A　secret　memorial　was　presented　to　the　Emperor；　saying：

〃The　Mandate　of　Heaven　has　its　course　and　the　five　elements………metal；　wood；　water；　fire；　and　earth………are　out　of　proportion。　Earth　attacking　fire　is　Wei　attacking　Han；　and　the　successor　to　the　empire　of　Han　is　in　Wei。〃

Cao　Cao　heard　of　these　sayings　and　memorials　and　sent　a　man　to　the　astrologer　to　say；　〃Your　loyalty　is　well　known；　but　the　ways　of　Heaven　are　past　finding　out。　The　less　said　the　better。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　discussed　with　Xun　Yu。

The　adviser　expounded　the　meaning　thus：　〃The　virtue　of　Han　was　fire；　your　element　is　earth。　Xuchang　is　under　the　influence　of　earth；　and　so　your　fortune　depends　on　getting　there。　Fire　can　overe　earth；　as　earth　can　multiply　wood。　Dong　Zhao　and　Wang　Li　agree；　and　you　have　only　to　hide　your　time。〃

So　Cao　Cao　made　up　his　mind。

Next　day　at　court　he　said；　〃Luoyang　is　deserted　and　cannot　be　restored；　nor　can　it　be　supplied　easily　with　food。　Xuchang　is　a　noble　city；　resourceful　and　close　to　Luyang；　which　is　a　grain　basin。　It　is　everything　that　a　capital　should　be。　I　venture　to　request　that　the　court　move　thither。〃

The　Emperor　dared　not　oppose　and　the　officials　were　too　overawed　to　have　any　independent　opinion；　so　they　chose　a　day　to　set　out。　Cao　Cao　manded　the　escort；　and　the　offic