第56部分(第1/7 页)

uction　and　restored　him　to　a　position　of　authority。　Wherein　I　must　confess　to　showing　no　kindness　to　the　people　of　Yanzhou；　although　it　was　a　great　matter　for　Cao　Cao。

〃Later　it　happened　that　the　imperial　cortege　moved　east；　and　a　horde　of　rebels　of　Dong　Zhuo's　faction　rose　and　attacked。　The　course　of　government　was　hindered。　At　that　moment　my　territory　was　threatened　from　the　north；　and　I　could　not　leave　it。　Wherefore　I　sent　one　of　my　officers；　Xu　Xun；　to　Cao　Cao　to　see　to　the　repair　of　the　dynastic　temples　and　the　protection　of　the　youthful　sovereign。　Thereupon　Cao　Cao　gave　the　rein　to　his　inclinations。　He　arbitrarily　ordered　the　removal　of　the　court　to　Xuchang。　He　brought　shame　upon　the　Ruling　House　and　subverted　the　laws。　He　engrossed　the　chairmanship　of　the　three　highest　offices　and　monopolized　the　control　of　the　administration。　Offices　and　rewards　were　conferred　according　to　his　will；　punishment　was　at　his　word。　He　glorified　whole　families　of　those　he　loved；　he　exterminated　whole　clans　of　those　he　hated。　Open　critics　were　executed；　secret　opponents　were　assassinated。　Officials　locked　their　lips；　wayfarers　only　exchanged　glances。　Chairs　of　boards　recorded　levies；　and　every　government　official　held　a　sinecure。

〃The　late　Yang　Biao；　a　man　who　had　filled　two　of　the　highest　offices　of　state　as　Chairs　of　two　boards；　because　of　some　petty　grudge　was；　though　guiltless；　charged　with　a　crime。　He　was　beaten　and　suffered　every　form　of　cruelty。　This　arbitrary　and　impulsive　act　was　a　flagrant　disregard　of　constitutional　rules。

〃Another　victim　was　the　Counselor　Zhao　Yan。　He　was　faithful　in　remonstrance；　honest　in　speech；　endowed　with　the　highest　principles　of　rectitude。　He　was　listened　to　at　court。　His　words　carried　enough　weight　with　the　Emperor　to　cause