第285部分(第3/7 页)

　is　ours；　we　will　share　the　spoil。〃

〃The　little　I　can　do；　I　will　do　most　willingly；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃But　I　am　not　sure　of　the　support　of　all　our　subordinates。〃

〃Tomorrow　is　the　fifteenth　day　of　the　month；　a　Feast　of　Lanterns　will　be　held。　We　can　gather　in　the　Palace　for　the　congratulations。　There　will　be　grand　illuminations；　and　we　will　prepare　a　banquet　for　the　officers；　whereat　we　can　kill　all　those　who　will　not　follow　us。〃

At　this；　the　heart　of　Jiang　Wei　leapt　with　joy。　Invitations　were　sent　out　in　the　joint　names　of　the　two　conspirators；　and　the　feast　began。　After　several　courses；　suddenly　Zhong　Hui　lifted　his　cup　and　broke　into　wailing。

Everyone　asked　what　was　the　cause　of　this　grief；　and　Zhong　Hui　replied。　〃The　Empress　has　just　died；　but　before　her　death　she　gave　me　an　edict；　which　is　here；　recounting　the　crimes　of　Sima　Zhao　and　charging　him　with　aiming　at　the　Throne。　I　am　missioned　to　destroy　him；　and　you　all　must　join　me　in　the　task。〃

The　guests　stared　at　each　other　in　amazement；　but　no　one　uttered　a　word。

Then　the　host　suddenly　drew　his　sword；　crying；　〃Here　is　death　for　those　who　oppose！〃

Not　one　was　bold　enough　to　refuse；　and；　one　by　one；　they　all　signed　a　promise　to　help。　As　further　security；　they　were　all　kept　prisoners　in　the　Palace　under　careful　guard。

〃They　are　not　really　with　us；〃　said　Jiang　Wei。　〃I　venture　to　request　you　to　bury　them　all。〃

〃A　great　pit　has　been　already　dug；〃　replied　his　brother　host。　〃And　I　have　a　lot　of　clubs　ready。　We　can　easily　club　those　who　disagree　and　bury　them　in　the　pit。〃

As　Jiang　Wei　and　Zhong　Hui　discussed　the　matter；　General　Qiu　Jian；　a　man　in　the　confidence　of　Zhong　Hui；　was　present。　He　had　once　served　under　Assistant　General　Hu　Lie；　who　was　one　of　the　i