第15部分(第3/7 页)

。　His　people　cleared　away　the　debris　and　closed　the　rifted　tombs。　The　gates　were　barred。　On　the　site　of　the　Dynastic　Temple　he　put　up　a　mat　shed　containing　three　apartments；　and　here　he　begged　the　lords　to　meet　and　replace　the　sacred　tablets；　with　solemn　sacrifices　and　prayers。

This　ceremony　over；　the　others　left　and　Sun　Jian　returned　to　his　camp。　That　night　the　stars　and　moon　vied　with　each　other　in　brightness。　As　Sun　Jian　sat　in　the　open　air　looking　up　at　the　heavens；　he　noticed　a　mist　spreading　over　the　stars　of　the　Constellation　Draco。

〃The　Emperor's　star　is　dulled；〃　said　Sun　Jian　with　a　sigh。　〃No　wonder　a　rebellious　minister　disturbs　the　state；　the　people　sit　in　dust　and　ashes；　and　the　capital　is　a　waste。〃

And　his　tears　began　to　fall。

Then　a　soldier　pointing　to　the　south　said；　〃There　is　a　beam　of　colored　light　rising　from　a　well！〃

Sun　Jian　bade　his　people　light　torches　and　descend　into　the　well。　Soon　they　brought　up　the　corpse　of　a　woman；　not　in　the　least　decayed　although　it　had　been　there　many　days。　She　was　dressed　in　Palace　clothing　and　from　her　neck　hung　an　embroidered　bag。　Opening　this　a　red　box　was　found；　with　a　golden　lock；　and　when　the　box　was　opened；　they　saw　a　jade　seal；　square　in　shape；　four　inches　each　way。　On　it　were　delicately　engraved　five　dragons　intertwined。　One　corner　had　been　broken　off　and　repaired　with　gold。　There　were　eight　characters　in　the　seal　style　of　engraving　which　interpreted　read：

I　have　received　the　mand　from　Heaven：　May　my　time　be　always　long　and　prosperous。

Sun　Jian　showed　this　to　his　adviser；　General　Cheng　Pu；　who　at　once　recognized　it　as　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　of　the　Emperor。

＇e＇　Bian　He　of　the　state　of　Chu　（circa　BC　800）　found　a　jadestone　in　Jing　Mountains　and　presented