小说园

第60部分（第2页）

They　all　said　they　knew　nothing　about　who　it　was。

〃So　far；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　〃matters　are　only　beginning；　and　there　is　a　chance　of　forgiveness。　But　if　the　thing　grows；　it　will　be　difficult　not　to　take　notice　of　it。〃

The　whole　four　vigorously　denied　that　any　plot　existed。　However　Cao　Cao　called　up　his　henchmen；　and　the　four　men　were　put　into　confinement。

Next　day　Cao　Cao　with　a　large　following　went　to　the　State　Uncles　palace　to　ask　after　his　health。

Dong　Cheng　came　out　to　receive　his　visitor；　who　at　once　said；　〃Why　did　you　not　e　last　night？〃

〃I　am　not　quite　well　yet　and　have　to　be　very　careful　about　going　out；〃　replied　Dong　Cheng。

〃One　might　say　you　were　suffering　from　national　sorrow；　eh？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

Dong　Cheng　started。　Cao　Cao　continued；　〃Have　you　heard　of　the　Ji　Ping　affair？〃

〃No；　what　is　it？〃

Cao　Cao　smiled　coldly；　saying；　〃How　can　it　be　you　do　not　know？〃

He　turned　to　his　attendants　and　told　them　to　bring　in　the　prisoner；　while　he　went　on　talking　to　his　host　about　national　illness。

Dong　Cheng　was　much　put　about　and　knew　not　what　to　do。　Soon　the　gaolers　led　in　the　physician　to　the　steps　of　the　hall。　At　once　the　bound　man　began　to　rail　at　Cao　Cao　as　rebel　and　traitor。

〃This　man；〃　said　Cao　Cao；　pointing　to　Ji　Ping；　〃has　implicated　Wang　Zifu　and　three　others；　all　of　whom　are　now　under　arrest。　There　is　one　more　whom　I　have　not　caught　yet。〃

〃Who　sent　you　to　poison　me？〃　continued　Cao　Cao；　turning　toward　the　physician。　〃Quick；　tell　me！〃

〃Heaven　sent　me　to　slay　a　traitor！〃

Cao　Cao　angrily　ordered　them　to　beat　Ji　Ping　again；　but　there　was　no　part　of　his　body　that　could　be　beaten。　Dong　Cheng　sat　looking　at　him；　his　heart　feeling　as　if　transfixed　with　a　dagger。

〃You　were　born　with　ten　fingers。　How　is　it　you　have　now　only　nine？〃

Ji　Ping　replied；　〃I　bit　off　one　as　a　pledge　when　I　swore　to　slay　a　traitor。〃

Cao　Cao　told　them　to　bring　a　knife；　and　they　lopped　off　his　other　nine　fingers。

〃Now　they　are　all　off。　That　will　teach　you　to　make　pledges。〃

〃Still　I　have　a　mouth　that　can　swallow　a　traitor　and　a　tongue　that　can　curse　him；〃　said　Ji　Ping。

Cao　Cao　told　them　to　cut　out　his　tongue。

Ji　Ping　said；　〃Do　not。　I　cannot　endure　any　more　punishment；　I　shall　have　to　speak　out。　Loosen　my　bonds。〃

〃Loose　them。　There　is　no　reason　why　not；〃　said　Cao　Cao。

They　loosed　him。　As　soon　as　he　was　free；　Ji　Ping　stood　up；　turned　his　face　toward　the　Emperors　palace　and　bowed；　saying；　〃It　is　Heavens　will　that　thy　servant　has　been　unable　to　remove　the　evil。〃

Then　he　turned　and　smashed　his　head　into　the　steps　and　died。

His　body　was　quartered　and　exposed。　This　happened　in　the　first　month　of　the　fifth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　200）；　and　a　certain　historian　wrote　a　poem：

There　lived　in　Han　a　simple　physician。

No　warrior；　yet　brave

Enough　to　risk　his　very　life

His　Emperor　to　save。

Alas！　He　failed；　but　lasting　fame

Is　his；　he　feared　not　death；

He　cursed　the　traitorous　Prime　Minister