第268部分(第1/7 页)

Said　Sima　Shi；　〃The　responsibility　of　power　is　heavy；　but　we　must　bear　it：　There　is　no　possible　relief。　You　must　continue　my　plans　and　maintain　my　policy　yourself；　and　you　must　be　exceedingly　careful　how　you　entrust　any　other　with　power；　lest　you　bring　about　the　destruction　of　our　whole　clan。〃

Then　Sima　Shi　handed　the　seal　of　office　to　Sima　Zhao；　weeping　the　while。　Sima　Zhao　would　ask　some　questions　still；　but　with　a　deep　groan　as　his　eye　popped　out　Sima　Shi　died。　It　was　the　second　month　of　the　second　year　of　Right　Origin　（AD　256）。

Sima　Zhao　put　on　mourning　for　his　brother　and　informed　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　Cao　Mao；　of　the　death。　By　special　edict　Sima　Zhao　was　ordered　to　remain　at　Xuchang　so　as　to　guard　against　any　attack　from　Wu。　This　order　was　unpleasing　to　its　recipient；　but　he　felt　doubtful　what　to　do。

Sima　Zhao　took　counsel　with　Zhong　Hui；　who　said；　〃The　death　of　your　brother　has　disturbed　the　country。　If　you　remain　here；　some　shifting　of　power　at　the　capital　will　surely　work　to　your　disadvantage。　It　will　be　too　late　for　regrets　then。〃

Wherefore　Sima　Zhao　left　Xuchang　and　camped　on　River　Luo。　This　move　alarmed　Cao　Mao。

Then　Grand　mander　Wang　Su　advised；　saying；　〃Sima　Zhao　has　succeeded　the　office　of　his　late　brother。　It　is　well　that　Your　Majesty　should　placate　him　with　a　new　title。〃

So　Cao　Mao　sent　Wang　Su　with　an　edict　creating　Sima　Zhao　Regent　Marshal；　with　control　of　the　Secretariat。　Sima　Zhao　came　to　Luoyang　to　thank　the　Emperor　for　these　honors　and　stayed。　Henceforward　all　matters　and　the　whole　government　were　under　Sima　Zhao's　hand。

When　news　of　these　things　came　to　Chengdu；　Jiang　Wei　thought　the　time　had　e　to　make　another　bid　for　the　empire；　so　he　wrote　a　memorial　to　the　Latter　Ruler：

〃Sima　Shi　having　j