第283部分(第1/7 页)

a　matter　concerning　the　existence　of　a　dynasty？　Has　any　emperor　ever　yielded　to　the　enemy？〃

The　Latter　Ruler　had　seven　sons　in　all………Liu　Rui；　Liu　Dao；　Liu　Zhong；　Liu　Zan；　Liu　Chan；　Liu　Xue；　and　Liu　Ju。　But　the　ablest；　and　the　only　one　above　the　mon　level　of　people；　was　this　Liu　Chan。

The　Latter　Ruler　turned　feebly　to　his　son　and　said；　〃The　ministers　have　decided　otherwise：　They　advise　surrender。　You　are　the　only　one　who　thinks　that　boldness　may　avail；　and　would　you　drench　the　city　in　blood？〃

The　Prince　said；　〃While　the　First　Ruler　lived；　this　Qiao　Zhou　had　no　voice　in　state　affairs。　Now　he　gives　this　wild　advice　and　talks　the　most　subversive　language。　There　is　no　reason　at　all　in　what　he　says；　for　we　have　in　the　city　many　legions　of　soldiers；　and　Jiang　Wei　is　undefeated　in　Saber　Pass。　He　will　e　to　our　rescue　as　soon　as　he　knows　our　straits；　and　we　can　help　him　to　fight。　We　shall　surely　succeed。　Why　listen　to　the　words　of　this　dryasdust？　Why　abandon　thus　lightly　the　work　of　our　great　forerunner？〃

The　Latter　Ruler　became　angry　at　this　harangue　and　turned　to　his　son；　saying；　〃Be　silent！　You　are　too　young　to　understand　Heaven's　will！〃

Liu　Chan　beat　his　head　upon　the　ground　and　implored　his　father　to　make　an　effort。

〃If　we　have　done　our　best　and　defeat　yet　es；　if　parents　and　children；　lords　and　ministers　have　set　their　backs　to　the　wall　and　died　in　one　final　effort　to　preserve　the　dynasty；　then　in　the　shades　of　the　Nine　Golden　Springs　we　shall　be　able　to　look　the　First　Ruler　in　the　face；　unashamed。　But　what　if　we　surrender？〃

The　appeal　left　the　Latter　Ruler　unmoved。

The　Prince　cried；　〃Is　it　not　shameful　in　one　day　to　throw　down　all　that　our　ancestors　built　up　with　so　great　labor？　I　would　rather　die。〃

The　Latt