第275部分(第4/7 页)

under　any　conditions。　Your　Majesty's　guards　are　few　and　weak　and　incapable………not　the　ones　for　any　desperate　effort。　It　would　be　most　lamentable　if　Your　Majesty　could　not　bear　this　trial。　The　correct　course　is　to　wait　and　not　act　hastily。〃

〃If　I　can　bear　this；　what　cannot　I　bear？〃　said　Cao　Mao。　〃But　I　will　do　something；　and　if　I　die；　what　matters？〃

He　went　into　the　private　apartments　and　spoke　to　the　Empress　Dowager。

Wang　Shen；　Wang　Jing；　and　Wang　Ye　sat　outside　talking。

〃This　matter　is　ing　to　a　head；　and　unless　we　want　to　be　put　to　death　and　all　our　loved　ones　with　us；　we　had　better　go　and　warn　Sima　Zhao；〃　said　Wang　Shen。

This　advice　angered　Wang　Jing；　and　he　said；　〃The　prince's　sorrow　is　the　minister's　shame；　and　a　shamed　minister　dies。　Dare　you　contemplate　treachery？〃

Wang　Jing　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　this　visit　to　Sima　Zhao；　but　the　other　two　went　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace　to　betray　their　prince。

Shortly　after；　Cao　Mao　appeared；　called　the　officer　of　the　guard；　Jiao　Bo；　and　bade　him　muster　his　force；　as　many　as　he　could。　Jiao　Bo　got　together　about　three　hundred；　and　this　little　force　marched　out　to　the　beating　of　a　drum　as　escort　to　a　small　carriage；　in　which　sat　the　Ruler　of　Wei　gripping　his　sword。　They　proceeded　south。

Wang　Jing　stepped　to　the　front　and　prayed　Cao　Mao　to　stay　his　steps　and　not　go。

〃To　go　against　Sima　Zhao　with　such　a　force　is　driving　the　sheep　into　the　tiger's　jaws。　To　die　such　a　death　is　a　vain　sacrifice。　Not　that　I　want　to　live；　but　this　can　do　nothing；〃　said　Wang　Jing。

〃Do　not　hinder　me。　I　have　made　up　my　mind；〃　replied　the　Ruler　of　Wei；　heading　toward　the　Dragon　Gate。

Presently　Jia　Chong　came　in　sight。　He　was　armed　and　mounted　on　a　fine　horse。　Beside　him　rod