第162部分(第2/7 页)

tter　in　reply　asking　for　a　secret　edict；　so　that　we　may　send　to　the　south　and　the　west　to　join　in　the　attack。〃

So　Fu　Wan　posed　a　reply；　which　he　gave　to　Mu　Shun　to　take　into　the　Palace。　This　time　also　the　letter　was　concealed　in　his　hair。

But　there　was　a　traitor；　and　Cao　Cao　heard　of　the　letters。　So　he　waited　at　a　Palace　gate　for　Mu　Shun　to　e　out。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　asked　Cao　Cao；　when　Mu　Shun　appeared。

〃The　Empress　is　indisposed　and　has　bidden　me　call　a　physician。〃

〃Where　is　the　summon　for　the　physician？〃

〃There　is　no　summon。〃

Cao　Cao　bade　his　guards　search　Mu　Shun；　but　they　did　not　find　the　letter。

So　he　was　allowed　to　go。　But　just　then　a　gust　of　wind　blew　off　his　hat；　and　it　struck　Cao　Cao　that　that　had　not　been　examined。　So　Mu　Shun　was　called　back。　Nothing　was　found　in　the　hat；　but　when　it　was　given　back　Mu　Shun　put　it　on　with　both　hands。　There　was　something　suspicious　about　the　movement；　and　Cao　Cao　bade　the　searchers　examine　his　hair。

Therein　the　letter　of　Fu　Wan　was　found。　Cao　Cao　read　it；　which　said　that　Sun　Quan　and　Liu　Bei　were　to　be　induced　to　help。　The　unhappy　Mu　Shun　was　taken　away　into　a　secret　place　and　interrogated；　but　he　would　confess　nothing。

That　night　three　thousand　soldiers　surrounded　the　dwelling　of　Fu　Wan；　who　was　arrested　with　all　his　family。　Searching　the　house；　they　found　the　first　letter　in　the　handwriting　of　the　Empress。　Fu　Wan　and　his　family　were　then　consigned　to　a　gaol。

At　dawn；　a　party　of　Imperial　Guards；　under　Chi　Lu；　bearing　ensigns　of　authority；　entered　the　Forbidden　City　with　orders　to　take　away　the　seal　of　the　Empress。　On　the　way　they　met　the　Emperor；　who　asked　the　reason　for　a　pany　of　armed　guards　being　in　the　Palace。

〃I　have　orders　from　the　Duk