小说园

第19部分（第2页）

Some　few　days　later　when　Wang　Yun　was　at　court　and　Lu　Bu　was　absent；　Wang　Yun　bowed　low　before　Dong　Zhuo　and　said；　〃I　wish　that　you　would　deign　to　e　to　dine　at　my　lowly　cottage：　Could　your　noble　thought　bend　that　way？〃

〃Should　you　invite　me；　I　would　certainly　hasten；〃　was　the　reply。

Wang　Yun　thanked　him。　Then　Wang　Yun　went　home　and　prepared　in　the　reception　hall　a　feast　in　which　figured　every　delicacy　from　land　and　sea。　Beautiful　embroideries　surrounded　the　chief　seat　in　the　center；　and　elegant　curtains　were　hung　within　and　without。　At　noon　next　day；　when　the　Prime　Minister　arrived；　Wang　Yun　met　him　at　the　gate　in　full　court　costume。　Wang　Yun　stood　by　while　Dong　Zhuo　stepped　out　of　his　chariot；　and　Dong　Zhuo　and　a　host　of　one　hundred　armed　guards　crowded　into　the　hall。　Dong　Zhuo　took　his　seat　at　the　top；　his　suite　fell　into　two　lines　right　and　left；　while　Wang　Yun　stood　humbly　at　the　lower　end。　Dong　Zhuo　bade　his　people　conduct　Wang　Yun　to　a　place　beside　himself。

＇e＇　Yi　Yin　was　was　helper　and　prime　minister　of　King　Tang；　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty。　After　King　Tangs　death；　Yi　Yin　served　his　sons　and　grandson。　Soon　after　Tai　Jia；　King　Tangs　grandson；　ascended　the　throne；　he　mitted　many　faults；　and　Yi　Yin；　acting　as　regent；　exiled　Tai　Jia　to　Tong　Palace………the　burial　place　of　King　Tang。　After　three　years　Yi　Yin　returned　him　the　throne。　Tai　Jia　eventually　became　an　enlightened　emperor。　Shang　Dynasty　lasted　for　650　years　（BC　1700…1050）。　It　was　this　act　of　Yi　Yin　rather　than　his　services　in　building　up　an　empire　that　has　made　him　immortal。　Whether　he　did　right　in　temporarily　dethroning　the　king　was　open　to　question；　until　a　final　verdict　was　rendered　by　Mencius　who　thought　that　his　ends　amply　justified　his　means。　This　historical　event　attests　the　extent　of　the　power　exercised　by　a　prime　minister　in　those　days。　。。。。。

＇e＇　Duke　of　Zhou　was　brother　of　King　Wu；　who　was　the　founder　of　Zhou　Dynasty。　After　King　Wus　death；　the　Duke　of　Zhou　served　his　young　son　as　regent。　The　Duke　of　Zhou　pletely　ended　the　Shang　domination；　and　he　helped　establish　the　Zhou　administrative　framework；　which　served　as　a　model　for　future　Chinese　dynasties。　Zhou　Dynasty　lasted　for　800　years　（BC　1050…221）。　。。。。。

＇e＇　King　Yao；　King　Shun；　and　King　Yu　（BC　2400…2200）　were　the　three　ideal　rulers　in　ancient　China。　They　ascended　the　throne　by　their　virtues　and　merits；　and　not　by　heritage。　King　Yu　was　also　the　founder　of　the　Xia　Dynasty。　。。。。。

Said　Wang　Yun；　〃The　great　Prime　Ministers　abundant　virtue　is　as　the　high　mountains。　Neither　the　ancient　sages………Yi　Yin*　and　the　Duke　of　Zhou*………could　attain　thereto。〃

Dong　Zhuo　smiled。　They　bore　in　the　dishes　and　the　wine；　and　the　music　began。　Wang　Yun　plied　his　guest　with　assiduous　flattery　and　studied　deference。　When　it　grew　late　and　the　wine　had　done　its　work；　Dong　Zhuo　was　invited　to　the　inner　chamber。　So　he　sent　away　his　guards　and　went。

Here　the　host　raised　a　goblet　and　drank　to　his　guest；　saying；　〃From　my　youth　up　I　have　understood　something　of　astrology　and　have　been　studying　the　aspect　of　the　heavens。　I　read　that　the　days　of　Han　are　numbered；　and　that　the　great　Prime　Ministers　merits　mand　the　regard　of　all　the　world；　as　when　King　Shun　succeeded　King　Yao；　and　King　Yu　continued　the　work　of　King　Shun*；　all　by　the　strength　of　their　own　merits；　conforming　to　the　mind　of　Heaven　and　the　desire　of　people。〃

〃How　dare　I　expect　this？〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

〃From　the　days　of　old；　those　who　walk　in　the　way　have　replaced　those　who　deviate　therefrom；　those　who　lack　virtue　have　fallen　before　those　who　possess　it。　Can　one　escape　fate？〃

〃If　indeed　the　decree　of　Heaven　devolves　on　me；　you　shall　be　held　the　first　in　merit！〃　said　Dong　Zhuo。

Wang　Yun　bowed。　Then　lights　were　brought　in　and　all　the　attendants　were　dismissed；　save　the　serving　maids　to　hand　the　wine。　So　the　evening　went　on。

Presently　Wang　Yun　said；　〃The　music　of　these　everyday　musicians　is　too　monplace　for　your　ear；　but　there　happens　to　be　in　the　house　a　little　maid　that　might　please　you。〃

〃Excellent！〃　said　the　guest。

Then　a　curtain　was　lowered。　The　shrill　tones　of　reed　instruments　rang　through　the　room；　and　presently　some　attendants　led　forward　Diao　Chan；　who　then　danced　on　the　outside　of　the　curtain。

A　poem　praises　her：

For　a　palace　this　maiden　was　born；

So　timid；　so　graceful；　so　slender；

Like　a　tiny　bird　flitting　at　morn

Over　the　dew…laden　lily　buds　tender。

Were　this　exquisite　maid　only　mine；

For　never　a　mansion　Id　pine。

Another　poem　runs　thus：

The　music　falls；　the　dancer　es；　a　swallow　gliding　in；

A　dainty　little　damsel；　soft　as　silk；

Her　beauty　captivates　the　guest　yet　saddens　him　within；

For　he　must　soon　depart　and　leave　her　there。

She　smiles；　no　gold　could　buy　that　smile；　no　other　smiled　so；

No　need　to　deck　her　form　with　jewels　rare。

But　when　the　dance　is　over　and　coy　glances　e　and　go；