第7部分(第1/7 页)

without　further　action。

Zhang　Rang　and　the　eunuchs　knew　this　move　was　directed　against　them　and　said；　〃This　is　He　Jin's　plot。　If　we　do　not　strike　first；　our　whole　clans　shall　be　exterminated。〃

So　they　hid　a　band　of　fifty　armed　ruffians　at　the　Gate　of　Grand　Virtue　in　the　Palace　of　Happiness；　where　the　Empress　lived；　then　they　went　in　to　see　her。

They　said；　〃The　General；　feigning　to　act　under　mand；　has　called　up　armies　to　the　capital　to　destroy　us。　We　pray　you；　Your　Majesty；　pity　and　save　us！〃

〃Go　to　the　General　and　confess　your　faults；〃　said　the　Empress。

〃If　we　did；　then　should　we　be　cut　to　mincemeat！　Rather　summon　the　General　into　your　presence　and　mand　him　to　cease。　If　he　will　not；　then　we　pray　but　die　in　your　presence。〃

Empress　He　issued　the　requisite　mand。

He　Jin　was　just　going　to　her　when　Secretary　Chen　Lin　advised　him　not　to　enter；　saying；　〃The　eunuchs　are　certainly　behind　the　order　and　mean　your　harm。〃

But　He　Jin　could　only　see　the　mand　of　the　Empress　and　was　oblivious　to　all　else。　Said　he；　〃Clearly；　this　is　an　edict　from　the　Empress。　What　harm？〃

〃Our　plot　is　no　longer　a　secret；〃　said　Yuan　Shao。　〃Still　you　may　go　if　you　are　ready　to　fight　your　way　in。〃

〃Get　the　eunuchs　out　first！〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃Silly　children！〃　said　He　Jin。　〃What　can　they　do　against　the　man　who　holds　the　forces　of　the　empire　in　his　palm？〃

Yuan　Shao　said；　〃If　you　will　go；　then　we　will　e　as　a　guard；　just　as　a　precaution。〃

Whereupon　both　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao　chose　five　hundred　best　men　under　their　mand；　at　whose　head　they　placed　Yuan　Shu；　a　brother　of　Yuan　Shao。　Yuan　Shu；　clad　in　mail；　drew　up　his　troops　outside　the　Forbidden　City's　entrance；　while　Yuan　Shao　and　Cao　Cao；　holding　swords；　went　as　escort。