第一小说网

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第256部分（第2页）

〃Where　is　the　pedestal？〃　asked　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

〃It　is　too　heavy　to　transport；〃　replied　the　Ma　Jun。　〃It　weighs　a　million　and　half　of　pounds。〃

Wherefore　the　Ruler　of　Wei　ordered　the　pillar　to　be　broken　up　and　the　metal　brought；　and　from　this　he　caused　to　be　cast　two　figures　which　he　named　Saints　of　Wengzhong。　They　were　placed　outside　the　gate　of　the　Board　of　War。　A　pair　of　dragons　and　a　pair　of　phoenixes　were　also　cast；　the　dragons　forty　feet　high　and　the　birds　thirty。　These　were　placed　in　front　of　the　Hall　of　Audience。

Moreover；　in　the　Fragrant　Forest　Park　the　Ruler　of　Wei　planted　wonderful　flowers　and　rare　trees；　and　he　also　established　a　menagerie　of　strange　animals。

Yang　Fu；　Assistant　Imperial　Guardian；　remonstrated　with　the　Emperor　on　these　extravagances　in　a　memorial：

〃As　is　well　known；　King　Yao　preferred　his　humble　thatched　cottage；　and　all　the　world　enjoyed　tranquillity；　King　Yu　contented　himself　with　a　small　modest　palace；　and　all　the　empire　rejoiced。　In　the　days　of　Yin　and　Zhou　Dynasties　the　hall　of　the　ruler　stood　three　feet　above　the　usual　height　and　its　area　was　nine　mats。　The　sage　emperors　and　illustrious　kings　had　no　decorated　chambers　in　lofty　palaces　built　with　the　wealth；　and　by　the　strength；　of　a　worn…out　and　despoiled　people。

〃Emperor　Jie　built　a　jade　chamber　and　elephant　stables；　Emperor　Zhou　erected　a　surpassingly　beautiful　palace　plex　and　a　Deer　Terrace。　But　these　lost　the　empire。　King　Ling　of　Chu　built　beautiful　palaces；　but　he　came　to　an　evil　end。　The　First　Emperor　of　Qin　made　the　Epang　Palace；　but　calamity　fell　upon　his　son；　for　the　empire　rebelled　and　his　house　was　exterminated　in　the　second　generation。

〃All　those　who　have　failed　to　consider　the　means　of　the　people　and　given　way　to　sensuous　pleasures　have　perished。　Your　Majesty　has　the　examples　of　Kings　Yao；　Yu；　Shun；　and　Tang　on　the　one　hand；　and　the　warnings　of　Kings　Jie；　Zhou；　Ling；　and　the　First　Emperor　on　the　other。　To　seek　only　self…indulgence　and　think　only　of　fine　palaces　will　surely　end　in　calamity。

〃The　prince　is　the　first　and　the　head；　his　ministers　are　his　limbs；　they　live　or　die　together；　they　are　involved　in　the　same　destruction。　Though　I　am　timorous；　yet　if　I　dared　forget　my　duty；　or　failed　to　speak　firmly；　I　should　be　unable　to　move　Your　Majesty。　Now　I　have　prepared　my　coffin　and　bathed　my　body　ready　for　the　most　condign　punishment。〃

But　the　Ruler　of　Wei　disregarded　this　memorial　and　only　urged　on　the　rapid　pletion　of　the　terrace。　Thereon　he　set　up　the　bronze　figure　with　the　golden　bowl。　Moreover；　he　sent　forth　a　mand　to　select　the　most　beautiful　women　in　the　empire　for　his　garden　of　delight。　Many　memorials　were　presented；　but　the　Ruler　of　Wei　heeded　them　not。

Now　the　Consort　of　the　Ruler　of　Wei　was　of　the　Mao　family　of　Henei。　In　earlier　days；　when　he　was　a　prince；　he　had　loved　her　exceedingly；　and　when　he　succeeded　to　the　throne　she　became　Empress　Mao。　Later　he　favored　Lady　Guo；　and　his　Consort　Mao　was　neglected。　Lady　Guo　was　beautiful　and　clever；　and　the　Ruler　of　Wei　delighted　in　her。　He　neglected　state　affairs　for　her　society　and　often　spent　a　month　at　a　time　in　retirement　with　her。　Every　day　there　was　some　new　gaiety。

In　the　spring；　when　the　plants　in　the　Fragrant　Forest　Park　were　in　flower；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　and　Lady　Guo　came　to　the　garden　to　enjoy　them　and　to　feast。

〃Why　not　invite　the　Empress？〃　asked　Lady　Guo。

〃If　she　came；　nothing　would　pass　my　lips；〃　replied　the　Ruler　of　Wei。

He　gave　orders　that　his　Consort　should　be　kept　in　ignorance　of　these　rejoicings。

But　when　a　month　passed　without　the　appearance　of　the　Emperor；　Empress　Mao　and　her　ladies　went　to　the　Blue　Flower　Pavilion　to　entertain　themselves。　Hearing　music；　she　asked　who　was　providing　it；　and　they　told　her　that　the　Emperor　and　Lady　Guo　were　feasting　in　the　grounds。

That　day　Empress　Mao　returned　to　her　palace　filled　with　sorrow。　Next　day　she　went　out　in　her　carriage　and　saw　the　Emperor　on　a　verandah。

〃Yesterday　Your　Majesty　was　walking　in　the　north　garden；　and　you　had　plenty　of　music　too；〃　said　she；　smiling。

Cao　Rui　was　wroth　and　sent　for　all　the　attendants。

He　upbraided　them　with　disobedience；　saying；　〃I　had　forbidden　you　to　tell　things　to　the　Empress；　and　you　disobeyed　my　mand。〃

With　this　he　put　them　all　to　death。　Empress　Mao　feared　and　returned　to　her　palace。

Then　an　edict　appeared　forcing　Empress　Mao　to　mit　suicide　and　raising　Lady　Guo　to　be　Empress　in　her　place。　And　no　officer　dared　to　utter　a　remonstrance。

＇e＇　Yan　state　a　state　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Located　in　the　northeast；　and　north　of　Qi。　。。。。。

Just　after　this　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Youzhou；　Guanqiu　Jian；　sent　in　a　memorial；　saying：　〃Gongsun　Yuan　of　Liaodong　h