第一小说网

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第205部分（第2页）

〃What　holy　mand　has　Your　Majesty　to　give？〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

The　First　Ruler　said；　〃You　are　many　times　more　clever　than　Cao　Pi；　and　you　must　safeguard　the　kingdom　and　plete　the　great　work。　If　my　son　can　be　helped；　help　him。　But　if　he　proves　a　fool；　then　take　the　throne　yourself　and　be　a　ruler。〃

Such　a　speech　almost　startled　Zhuge　Liang　out　of　his　senses。　A　cold　sweat　broke　out　all　over　his　body；　and　his　limbs　threatened　to　cease　to　support　him。

He　fell　on　his　knees；　saying；　〃I　could　never　do　otherwise　than　wear　myself　to　the　bone　in　the　service　of　your　son；　whom　I　will　serve　till　death。〃

He　knocked　his　head　upon　the　ground　till　blood　ran　down。

The　dying　man　called　Zhuge　Liang　closer；　and　at　the　same　time　making　his　two　sons　e　near；　he　said　to　them；　〃My　sons；　remember　your　fathers　words。　After　my　death　you　are　to　treat　the　Prime　Minister　as　you　would　your　father　and　be　not　remiss；　for　thereby　you　will　fulfill　your　fathers　hopes。〃

He　made　the　two　Princes　pay　to　Zhuge　Liang　the　obeisance　due　to　a　father。

Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Were　I　destroyed　and　ground　into　the　earth；　I　should　be　unable　to　repay　the　kindness　I　have　experienced。〃

Turning　to　the　assembled　officers；　the　First　Ruler　said；　〃As　you　have　seen；　I　have　confided　my　orphan　son　to　the　care　of　the　Prime　Minister　and　bidden　my　sons　treat　him　as　a　father。　You　too；　Sirs；　are　to　treat　him　with　deference。　This　is　my　dying　request　and　charge　to　you。〃

Turning　to　Zhao　Yun；　he　said；　〃You　and　I　have　gone　together　through　many　dangers　and　difficulties。　Now　es　the　parting　of　our　ways。　You　will　not　forget　our　old　friendship；　and　you　must　see　to　it　that　my　sons　follow　my　precepts。〃

〃I　shall　never　dare　to　give　other　than　my　best；〃　said　Zhao　Yun。　〃The　fidelity　of　the　dog　and　horse　is　mine　to　give　and　shall　be　theirs。〃

Then　the　First　Ruler　turned　to　the　others；　〃Noble　Sirs；　I　am　unable　to　speak　to　you　one　by　one　and　lay　a　charge　upon　each　individual。　But　I　say　to　you：　Maintain　your　self…respect。〃

These　were　his　last　words。　He　was　sixty…three；　and　he　died　on　the　twenty…fourth　day　of　the　fourth　month　（AD　222）。　A　poem　was　written　by　Du　Fu　on　his　death：

The　Emperor　set　out　to　destroy　the　land　that　lay　through　the　Three　Gorges；

Failed　he　and　breathed　his　last　in　the　Palace　of　Eternal　Peace；

The　Palace　fair　of　his　thoughts　lay　not　this　side　the　highlands。

Beautiful　chambers　are　vainly　sought　in　his　rural　temple；

Now　are　the　pines　near　his　shrine　nesting　places　for　herons；

Through　the　courts　aged　peasants　saunter；　enjoying　their　leisure；

Nearby　often　is　found　a　shrine　to　this　famous　strategist；

Prince　and　ministers　needs　are　now　but　offerings　in　season。

Thus　died　the　First　Ruler。　All　present　lifted　up　their　voices　and　wept。

The　Prime　Minister　led　the　procession　that　escorted　the　coffin　to　the　capital；　and　the　heir；　Liu　Shan；　came　to　the　outskirts　of　the　city；　as　a　dutiful　son　should；　to　receive　the　remains　with　due　respect。　The　coffin　was　laid　in　the　Great　Hall　of　the　Palace；　wherein　they　lamented　and　performed　the　ceremonies　appointed。　At　the　end　of　these　the　testament　was　opened　and　read：

〃I　first　fell　ill　from　a　simple　ailment。　Other　disorders　followed；　and　it　became　evident　that　I　should　not　recover。

〃They　say　that　death　at　fifty　cannot　be　called　premature。　As　I　have　passed　sixty；　I　may　not　resent　the　call。　But　when　I　think　of　you　and　your　brothers；　I　regret。　Now　I　say　to　you；　strive　and　strive　again。　Do　not　do　evil　because　it　is　a　small　evil；　do　not　leave　undone　a　small　good　because　it　is　a　small　good。　Only　with　wisdom　and　virtue　people　can　be　won。　But　your　fathers　virtue　was　but　slender；　and　do　not　imitate。

〃After　my　death　you　are　to　conduct　the　affairs　of　the　state　with　the　Prime　Minister。　You　are　to　treat　him　as　a　father　and　serve　him　without　remissness。　You　and　your　brothers　are　to　seek　instructions。　This　is　my　final　and　simple　mand。〃

When　the　officials　had　read　this；　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃The　state　cannot　go　a　single　day　without　a　ruler；　wherefore　I　beg　you　to　install　the　heir　as　successor　to　the　great　line　of　Han。〃

Thereupon　the　ceremony　was　performed；　and　the　new　Emperor　took　his　place。　The　style　of　the　reign　was　changed　to　〃Beginning　Prosperity〃。　Zhuge　Liang　was　made　Lord　of　Wuxiang　and　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou。

Then　they　buried　the　late　Emperor　at　Huiling　with　the　posthumous　style　of　Liu　Bei　the　Glorious　Emperor。

The　Empress；　of　the　Wu　family；　was　formally　created　Empress　Dowager。　The　late　Consort　Gan　became　the　Glorious　Empress；　and　the　Lady　Mi　was　granted　similar；　also　posthumous；　rank。　There　were　promotions　in　rank　and　rewards　for　all；　and　a　general　amnesty　was　proclaimed。

Before　long；　knowledge　of　these　things　came　to　the　Middle　Land；　and　a　report　was　sent　to　Capital　Luoyang　and　made　known　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei