第60部分(第2/7 页)

ally　thought　to　poison　me！〃

He　sent　for　a　score　of　sturdy　gaolers　who　carried　off　the　prisoner　to　the　inner　apartments　to　be　interrogated。　Cao　Cao　took　his　seat　in　a　pavilion；　and　the　hapless　physician；　tightly　bound；　was　thrown　to　the　ground　before　him。　The　prisoner　maintained　a　bold　front。

Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　thought　you　were　a　physician。　How　dared　you　try　to　poison　me？　Someone　incited　you　to　this　crime。　If　you　tell　me；　I　will　pardon　you。〃

〃You　are　a　rebel。　You　flout　your　Prince　and　injure　your　betters。　The　whole　empire　wishes　to　kill　you。　Do　you　think　I　am　the　only　one？〃

Cao　Cao　again　and　again　pressed　the　prisoner　to　tell　what　he　knew；　but　he　only　replied　that　no　one　had　sent　him　and　it　was　his　own　desire。

〃I　have　failed；　and　I　can　but　die；〃　added　Ji　Ping。

Cao　Cao　angrily　bade　the　gaolers　give　him　a　severe　beating；　and　they　dogged　him　for　two　watches。　His　skin　hung　in　tatters；　the　flesh　was　battered；　and　the　blood　from　his　wounds　ran　down　the　steps。　Then　fearing　he　might　die　and　his　evidence　be　lost；　Cao　Cao　bade　them　cease　and　remove　him。　They　took　him　off　to　a　quiet　place　where　he　might　recover　somewhat。

Having　issued　orders　to　prepare　a　banquet　for　next　day；　Cao　Cao　invited　all　the　courtiers　thereto。　Dong　Cheng　was　the　only　one　who　excused　himself；　saying　he　was　unwell。　The　other　conspirators　dared　not　stay　away　as　they　felt　they　would　be　suspected。

Tables　were　laid　in　the　private　apartments；　and　after　several　courses　the　host　said；　〃There　is　not　much　to　amuse　us　today；　but　I　have　a　man　to　show　you　that　will　sober　you。〃

〃Bring　him　in！〃　Cao　Cao　said；　turning　to　the　gaolers；　and　the　hapless　Ji　Ping　appeared；　securely　fastened　in　a　wooden　collar。　He　was　placed　where　all　could　see　him。

〃You　officials