第275部分(第5/7 页)

e　two　generals；　Cheng　Zu　and　Cheng　Ji；　and　behind　him　followed　a　body　of　mail…clad　guards；　who　shouted　one　to　another　as　they　rode。

Then　Cao　Mao　held　up　his　sword　and　cried；　〃I　am　the　Son　of　God。　Who　are　you　thus　breaking　into　the　Forbidden　City？　Are　you　e　to　murder　your　lawful　ruler？〃

The　soldiers　suddenly　stopped；　for　they　were　Palace　guards。

Then　Jia　Chong　shouted　to　Cheng　Ji；　saying；　〃What　did　Duke　Sima　Zhao　train　you　for　if　not　for　this　day's　work？〃

Cheng　Ji　took　his　halberd　and　turned　to　Jia　Chong；　saying；　〃Death　or　capture？〃

〃Duke　Sima　Zhao　said　the　man　had　to　die；〃　replied　Jia　Chong。

Cheng　Ji　rushed　toward　the　carriage。

〃Fool！　How　dare　you？〃　cried　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

But　the　shout　was　cut　short　by　a　thrust　from　the　halberd　full　in　the　breast；　another　thrust；　and　the　point　came　out　at　the　back；　so　that　Cao　Mao　lay　there　dead　beside　his　carriage。　Jiao　Bo　ing　up　to　strike　a　blow　in　defense　was　also　slain；　and　the　little　escort　scattered。

Wang　Jing；　who　had　followed；　upbraided　Jia　Chong；　shouting；　〃Rebel　and　traitor！　How　dare　you　kill　the　Emperor？〃

Jia　Chong　got　angry　and　bade　his　lictors　arrest　Wang　Jing　and　stop　his　tongue。

When　they　told　Sima　Zhao；　he　went　into　the　Palace；　but　the　Emperor　was　dead。　He　assumed　an　air　of　being　greatly　shocked　and　beat　his　head　against　the　carriage；　weeping　and　lamenting　the　while。　He　sent　to　tell　all　the　officials　of　high　rank。

When　Imperial　Guardian　Sima　Fu　saw　the　dead　body　of　the　Emperor；　he　threw　himself　beside　it；　his　head　resting　thereon；　and　wept；　saying；　〃It　is　my　fault　that　they　slew　Your　Majesty！〃

Sima　Fu　had　a　coffin　brought；　and　the　remains　were　laid　therein　and　borne　to　the　West　Hall。　Therein　Sima　Zhao　entered　and　summoned　the　chie