小说园

第5部分（第1页）

〃I　have　never　wronged　the　people　to　the　value　of　a　single　coin：　Then　where　is　a　bribe　to　e　from？〃

Next　day　the　inspector　had　the　minor　officials　before　him　and　forced　them　to　bear　witness　that　their　master　had　oppressed　the　people。　Liu　Bei　time　after　time　went　to　rebut　this　charge；　but　the　doorkeepers　drove　him　away　and　he　could　not　enter。

Now　Zhang　Fei　had　been　all　day　drowning　his　sorrow　in　wine　and　had　drunk　far　too　much。　Calling　for　his　horse　he　rode　out　past　the　lodging　of　the　inspector；　and　at　the　gate　saw　a　small　crowd　of　white…haired　people　weeping　bitterly。　He　asked　why。

They　said；　〃The　inspector　has　pelled　the　underlings　to　bear　false　witness　against　our　magistrate；　with　the　desire　to　injure　the　virtuous　Liu　Bei。　We　came　to　beg　mercy　for　him　but　are　not　permitted　to　enter。　Moreover；　we　have　been　beaten　by　the　doorkeepers。〃

This　provoked　the　irascible　and　half　intoxicated　Zhang　Fei　to　fury。　His　eyes　opened　wide　until　they　became　circles；　he　ground　his　teeth；　in　a　moment　he　was　off　his　steed；　had　forced　his　way　past　the　scared　doorkeepers　into　the　building；　and　was　in　the　rear　apartments。　There　he　saw　Imperial　Inspector　Du　Biao　sitting　on　high　with　the　official　underlings　in　bonds　at　his　feet。

〃Oppressor　of　the　people；　robber！〃　cried　Zhang　Fei。　〃Do　you　know　me？〃

But　before　the　inspector　could　reply；　Zhang　Fei　had　had　him　by　the　hair　and　had　dragged　him　down。　Another　moment　he　was　outside　and　firmly　lashed　to　the　hitching　post　in　front　of　the　building。　Then　breaking　off　a　switch　from　a　willow　tree；　Zhang　Fei　gave　his　victim　a　severe　thrashing；　only　staying　his　hand　when　the　tenth　switch　was　too　short　to　strike　with。

Liu　Bei　was　sitting　alone；　muning　with　his　sorrow；　when　he　heard　a　shouting　before　his　door。　He　asked　what　the　matter　was。

They　told　him；　〃General　Zhang　Fei　had　bound　somebody　to　a　post　and　was　thrashing　him！〃

Hastily　going　outside；　Liu　Bei　saw　who　the　unhappy　victim　was　and　asked　Zhang　Fei　the　reason。

〃If　we　do　not　beat　this　sort　of　wretch　to　death；　what　may　we　expect？〃　said　Zhang　Fei。

〃Noble　Sir；　save　me！〃　cried　the　inspector。

Now　Liu　Bei　had　always　been　kindly　and　gracious；　wherefore　he　bade　his　brother　release　the　officer　and　go　his　way。

Then　Guan　Yu　came　up；　saying；　〃Brother；　after　your　magnificent　services　you　only　got　this　petty　post；　and　even　here　you　have　been　insulted　by　this　fellow。　A　thorn　bush　is　no　place　for　a　phoenix。　Let　us　slay　this　fellow；　leave　here；　and　go　home　till　we　can　evolve　a　bigger　scheme。〃

Liu　Bei　contented　himself　with　hanging　the　official　seal　about　the　inspectors　neck；　saying；　〃If　I　hear　that　you　injure　the　people；　I　will　assuredly　kill　you。　I　now　spare　your　life；　and　I　return　to　you　the　seal。　We　are　going。〃

The　inspector　went　to　the　governor　of　Dingzhou　and　plained；　and　orders　were　issued　for　the　arrest　of　the　brothers；　but　they　got　away　to　Daizhou　and　sought　refuge　with　Liu　Hu；　who　sheltered　them　because　of　Liu　Beis　noble　birth。

＇e＇　Two　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants

By　this　time　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants　had　everything　in　their　hands；　and　they　put　to　death　all　who　did　not　stand　in　with　them。　From　every　officer　who　had　helped　to　put　down　the　rebels　they　demanded　presents；　and　if　these　were　not　forthing；　he　was　removed　from　office。　Imperial　manders　Huangfu　Song　and　Zhu　Jun　both　fell　victims　to　these　intrigues　and　were　deprived　from　offices；　while　on　the　other　hand　the　eunuchs　received　the　highest　honors　and　rewards。　Thirteen　eunuchs　were　ennobled；　including　Zhao　Zhong*　who　was　added　to　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　Zhang　Rang*　possessed　most　of　the　prize　farms　around　the　capital。　The　government　grew　worse　and　worse；　and　everyone　was　irritated。

Rebellions　broke　out　in　Changsha　led　by　Ou　Xing；　and　in　Yuyang　led　by　Zhang　Ju　and　Zhang　Chun。　Memorials　were　sent　up　in　number　as　snow　flakes　in　winter；　but　the　Ten　suppressed　them　all。　One　day　the　Emperor　was　at　a　feast　in　one　of　the　gardens　with　the　Ten；　when　Court　Counselor　Liu　Tao　suddenly　appeared　showing　very　great　distress。　The　Emperor　asked　what　the　matter　was。

〃Sire；　how　can　you　be　feasting　with　these　when　the　empire　is　at　the　last　gasp？〃　said　Liu　Tao。

〃All　is　well；〃　said　the　Emperor。　〃Where　is　anything　wrong？〃

Said　Liu　Tao；　〃Robbers　swarm　on　all　sides　and　plunder　the　cities。　And　all　is　the　fault　of　the　Ten　Eunuchs　who　sell　offices　and　injure　the　people；　oppress　loyal　officials　and　deceive　their　superiors。　All　virtuous　ones　have　left　the　services　and　returned　to　their　places；　and　are　building　and　guarding　their　positions。　More　regional　offices　have　been　sought　than　imperial　appointments。　Central　authority　is　being　undermined　by　local　interests。　Misfortune　is　before　our　very　eyes！〃

At　this　the　eunuchs　pulled　off　their　hats　and　threw　themselves　at　their　masters　feet。

〃If　Minister　Liu　Tao　disapproves　of　us；〃　they　said；　〃we　are　in　danger。　We　pray　that　our　lives　be　spared　and　we　may　go　to　our　farms。　We　yield　our　property　to　help　defray　military　expenses。〃

And　they　wept　bitterly。

The　Emperor　turned　angrily　to　Liu　Tao；　saying；　〃You　also　have　servants：　Why　cant　you　bear　with　mine？〃

And　thereupon　the　Emperor　called　to　the　guards　to　eject　Liu　Tao　and　put　him　to　death。