第72部分(第1/7 页)

〃I　am　but　a　poor　priest　of　the　Langye　Mountains。　More　than　half　a　century　ago；　when　gathering　simples　in　the　woods；　I　found　near　the　Yangqu　Spring　a　book　called　'The　Way　of　Peace。'　It　contains　a　hundred　and　more　chapters　and　taught　me　how　to　cure　the　diseases　of　humans。　With　this　in　my　possession　I　had　only　one　thing　to　do：　To　devote　myself　to　spreading　its　teachings　and　saving　humankind。　I　have　never　taken　any　thing　from　the　people。　Can　you　say　I　incite　people　to　evil　deeds？〃

〃You　say　you　take　nothing：　Whence　came　your　clothes　and　your　food？　The　fact　is　you　are　one　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　and　you　will　work　mischief　if　you　are　left　alive。〃

Then　turning　to　his　attendants；　Sun　Ce　ordered；　〃Take　him　away　and　put　him　to　death。〃

Zhang　Zhao　interceded；　〃The　Taoist　Saint　has　been　here　in　the　east　these　many　years。　He　has　never　done　any　harm　and　does　not　deserve　death　or　punishment。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　will　kill　these　wizard　fellows　just　as　I　would　cattle。〃

The　officials　in　a　body　interceded；　even　the　guest　of　honor；　Chen　Zhen；　but　in　vain。　Sun　Ce　refused　to　be　placated。　He　ordered　Yu　Ji　to　be　imprisoned。

The　banquet　came　to　an　end；　and　Chen　Zhen　retired　to　his　lodging。　Sun　Ce　also　returned　to　his　palace。

His　treatment　of　the　Taoist　Holy　Man　was　theme　of　general　conversation　and　soon　reached　the　ears　of　his　mother。

Lady　Wu　sent　for　her　son　to　the　ladies'　apartments　and　said　to　him；　〃They　tell　me　you　have　put　Saint　Yu　Ji　in　bonds。　He　has　cured　many　sick　people；　and　the　mon　folk　hold　him　in　great　reverence。　Do　not　harm　him！〃

〃He　is　simply　a　wizard　who　upsets　the　multitude　with　his　spells　and　craft。　He　must　be　put　to　death；〃　replied　Sun　Ce。

Lady　Wu　entreated　him　to　stay　his　hand；　but　he　was　obstinate。

〃Do　n