小说园

第169部分（第2页）

But　when　Cao　Cao　asked　whether　good　or　bad　fortune　was　to　be　his；　the　soothsayer　would　not　give　a　clear　and　full　reply。

A　poem　says：

Guan　Lu　was　a　seer　of　old。

Stars　to　him　their　secrets　told。

Mysteries；　occult　and　dim；

Were　as　daylight　unto　him。

His　so　subtle　intellect

Could　the　shade　of　death　detect；

But　the　secrets　of　his　skill

Died　with　him；………are　secrets　still。

Again　Cao　Cao　asked　him　to　divine　concerning　his　rivals　Wu　and　Shu。

Guan　Lu　said；　〃The　south　just　lost　a　famous　leader；　and　the　west　is　encroaching　on　your　territory。〃

Cao　Caos　doubts　as　to　the　accuracy　of　one　of　these　events　were　soon　set　at　rest；　for　a　messenger　came　from　Hefei　to　report：　〃Lu　Su；　the　Supreme　mander　of　the　South　Land；　has　died　in　Lukou。〃

Then　Cao　Cao　sent　hurriedly　into　Hanzhong；　and　the　scout　returned　to　report：　〃Zhang　Fei　and　Ma　Chao　have　taken　the　Xiabian　Pass　and　are　threatening　Hanzhong。〃

Cao　Cao　was　angry　and　inclined　to　march　at　once　against　the　invaders。　But　he　consulted　the　great　soothsayer；　who　advised　him　not　to　move。

〃Do　not　act　in　haste。　In　the　ing　spring　there　will　be　a　conflagration　in　Xuchang；〃　said　Guan　Lu。

Having　been　witness　of　the　verification　of　Guan　Lus　words；　Cao　Cao　was　in　no　mood　to　neglect　the　warning。　He　stayed　on　in　his　palace；　but　he　sent　Cao　Hong　with　fifty　thousand　troops　to　assist　in　the　defense　of　East　River　Land；　while　Xiahou　Dun；　with　thirty　thousand　troops；　went　to　Xuchang　to　keep　careful　watch　and　be　ready　against　any　surprises。　He　placed　High　Minister　Wang　Bi　in　mand　of　the　Imperial　Guard。

Sima　Yi　warned　Cao　Cao　against　this　Wang　Bi；　saying；　〃The　man　is　given　to　wine；　and　slack。　He　is　not　a　fit　person　for　such　a　post。〃

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃He　is　very　fit。　He　has　followed　me　through　all　difficulties　and　dangers。　He　is　loyal　and　diligent；　solid　as　stone　or　iron。〃

Wang　Bi　was　appointed　and　led　the　guard　into　camp　at　the　capital；　outside　the　East　Gate　of　the　Imperial　Palace。

Now　there　was　a　certain　Geng　Ji；　a　Luoyang　man；　who　had　long　been　employed　in　the　Prime　Ministers　palace　in　a　subordinate　capacity　and　afterward　had　been　promoted　to　a　post　of　Minister。　He　and　Minister　Wei　Huang　were　close　friends。

These　two　were　greatly　distressed　at　Cao　Caos　advance　to　princely　rank；　and　more　especially　at　his　use　of　the　imperial　chariots。　In　the　early　months　of　the　twenty…third　year　（AD　218）；　Geng　Ji　and　Wei　Huang　came　to　a　secret　exchange　of　views　on　Cao　Caos　conduct。

Geng　Ji　said；　〃The　man　is　rebellious　and　wicked；　every　day　behaving　worse。　He　intends　to　go　farther；　and　how　can　we；　as　servants　of　the　dynasty；　help　him　in　his　wickedness？〃

＇e＇　Jin　Midi　was　a　High　Minister　of　Emperor　Wu。　Jin　Midis　descendants　had　held　high　offices　for　several　generations。　。。。。。

Wei　Huang　said；　〃I　have　a　friend　named　Jin　Yi；　who　also　is　a　servant　of　Han　and　an　enemy　of　Cao　Caos。　He　is　a　descendant　of　the　old　Great　Minister　Jin　Midi*。　Beside；　he　is　friendly　with　Wang　Bi。　If　we　all　tried　our　best；　we　ought　to　succeed。〃

〃But　if　he　is　friendly　Wang　Bi；　he　will　not　assist　us！〃　said　Geng　Ji。

〃Let　us　go　and　sound　him；〃　said　Wei　Huang。

So　the　two　went　to　see　Jin　Yi；　who　received　them　in　his　private　rooms。　There　they　talked。

Said　Wei　Huang；　〃O　virtuous　Jin　Yi；　we　know　you　are　on　most　friendly　terms　with　mander　Wang　Bi；　and　so　have　e　to　beg　a　favor。〃