精校书屋

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第50部分(第3页)

The Emperor bade them bring forth the Books of the Genealogies; and therefrom a secretary read:

〃Liu Jing the Filial Emperor begot fourteen sons of whom the seventh was Liu Sheng; Prince of Zhongshan。 Sheng begot Liu Zhen; Lord of Luchang。 Zhen begot Liu Ang; Lord of Pei。 Ang begot Liu Lu; Lord of Zhang。 Lu begot Liu Lian; Lord of Yishui。 Lian begot Liu Ying; Lord of Qinyang。 Ying begot Liu Jian; Lord of Anguo。 Jian begot Liu Ai; Lord of Guangling。 Ai begot Liu Xia; Lord of Jiaoshui。 Xia begot Liu Shu; Lord of Zuyi。 Shu begot Liu Yi; Lord of Qiyang。 Yi begot Liu Bi; Lord of Yuanze。 Bi begot Liu Da; Lord of Yingchuan。 Da begot Liu Buyi; Lord of Fengling。 Buyi begot Liu Hui; Lord of Jichuan。 Hui begot Liu Xiong; Governor of Zhuo。 Xiong begot Liu Hong; who held no office or rank; and Liu Bei is his son。〃

The Emperor pared this with the registers of the Imperial House and found by them that Liu Bei was his uncle by descent。 The Emperor seemed greatly pleased and requested Liu Bei to go into one of the side chambers where he might perform the ceremonial obeisance prescribed for a nephew to his uncle。 In his heart he rejoiced to have this heroic warrior uncle as a powerful supporter against Cao Cao who really held all the power in his own hands。 The Emperor knew himself to be a mere puppet。 He conferred upon his uncle the rank of General of the Left Army and the title of Lord of Yicheng。

When the banquet was concluded; Liu Bei thanked the Emperor and went out of the Palace。 And from this time he was very generally styled the 〃Imperial Uncle。〃

When Cao Cao returned to his palace; Xun Yu and his fellow advisers went in to see him。

Xun Yu said; 〃It is no advantage to you; Illustrious Sir; that the Emperor recognizes Liu Bei as an uncle。〃

〃Liu Bei may be recognized as uncle; but he is under my orders since I control the decrees of the Throne。 He will be all the more ready to obey。 Beside I will keep him here under the pretense of having him near his sovereign; and he will be entirely in my hands。 I have nothing to fear。 The man I fear is Yang Biao; who is a relative of the two Yuan brothers。 Should Yang Biao conspire with them; he is an enemy within and might do much harm。 He will have to be removed。〃

Hence Cao Cao sent a secret emissary to say that Imperial Guardian Yang Biao was intriguing with Yuan Shu; and on this charge Yang Biao was arrested and imprisoned。 And his death would have been passed had his enemy dared。

But just then the Governor of Beihai; Kong Rong; was at the capital; and he remonstrated with Cao Cao; saying; 〃Yang Biao es from a family famed for virtue for at least four generations。 You cannot trump up so foolish a charge as that against him。〃

〃It is the wish of His Majesty!〃 retorted Cao Cao。

〃If the child Emperor Cheng of Zhou Dynasty had put Duke Chao to death; could the people have believed Duke Zhou; the Regent Marshal; had nothing to do with it?〃

So Cao Cao had to relinquish the attempt; but he took away Yang Biaos offices and banished him to his family estate in the country。

Court Counselor Zhao Yan; an opponent of the Prime Minister; sent up a memorial impeaching Cao Cao for having removed a minister of state from office without a decree。 Cao Caos reply to this was the arrest of Zhao Yan and his execution; a bold stroke which terrified the bulk of officers and reduced them to silence。

Cheng Yu advised Cao Cao to assume a more definite position。 He said; 〃Illustrious Sir; your prestige grows daily。 Why not seize the opportunity to take the position of Chief of the Feudatory Princes?〃

〃There are still too many supporters of the court;〃 was the reply。 〃I must be careful。 I am going to propose a royal hunt to try to find out the best line to follow。〃

This expedition being decided upon they got together fleet horses; famous falcons; and pedigree hounds; and prepared bows and arrows in readiness。 They mustered a strong force of guards outside the city。

When the Prime Minister proposed the hunting expedition; the Emperor said he feared it was an improper thing to do。

Cao Cao replied; 〃In ancient times rulers made four expeditions yearly at each of the four seasons in order to show their strength。 They were called Sou; Miao; Xien; and Shou; in the order of spring; summer; autumn; and winter。 Now that the whole country is in confusion; it would be wise to inaugurate a hunt in order to train the army。 I am sure Your Majesty will approve。〃

So the Emperor with the full paraphernalia for an imperial hunt joined the expedition。 He rode a saddled horse; carried an inlaid bow; and his quiver was filled with gold…tipped arrows。 His chariot followed behind。 Liu Bei and his brothers were in the imperial train; each with his bow and quiver。 Each party member wore a breastplate under the outer robe and held his especial weapon; while their escort followed them。 Cao Cao rode a dun horse called 〃Flying…Lightning;〃 and the army was one hundred thousand strong。

The hunt took place in Xutian; and the legions spread out as guards round the hunting arena which extended over some one hundred square miles。 Cao Cao rode even with the Emperor; the horses heads alternating in the lead。 The imperial attendants immediately following were all in Cao Caos confidence。 The other officers; civil and military; lagged behind; for they dared not press forward into the midst of Cao Caos partisans。

One day the Emperor was riding toward the hunting grounds and noticed his newly found uncle respectfully standing by the roadside。

〃I should like to see my uncle display his hunting skill;〃 said the Emperor。

Liu Bei mounted his steed at once。 Just then a hare started from its form。 Liu Bei shot and hit it with the first arrow。

The Emperor; much struck by this display; rode away over a slope。 Suddenly a deer broke out of the thicket。 He shot three arrows at it but all missed。

〃You try;〃 said the Emperor turning to Cao Cao。

〃Lend me Your Majestys bow;〃 Cao Cao replied。

Taking the inlaid bow and the golden…tipped arrows; Cao Cao pulled the bow and hit the deer in the shoulder at the first shot。 It fell in the grass and could not run。

Now the crowd of officers seeing the golden…barbed arrow sticking in the wound con

审计风雨:豆豆升职记  我和一个妓女的纯情故事  爱上酷蛇王  七号簿  血夜爱上猫  官场春秋  契约内婚姻 作者:沐声  南方·爱  幻想乡游戏  美女总裁爱上我  地球online  冷酷太子  欲之海  野人凶猛  大唐乘风录之洛阳天擂  都市危情  重金属外壳  重生之为我而狂  悬疑志·合刊  炒股就是炒心态  

热门小说推荐
快穿:我只想种田

快穿:我只想种田

别被书名骗了,取名废,其实就是女强无CP,村姑背景系统逆袭流,也俗称慢穿泥石流,凶杀末世武侠仙侠魔法啥都有,还有,新书820不见不散。官方群满一千粉丝值进(五九零六五三四八三)后援群,满一万粉丝值进VIP群。PS本文无CP...

逍遥潜龙(龙游艳界)

逍遥潜龙(龙游艳界)

一个无父无母的孤儿,一个被最有钱的女人领养的孤儿可是自卑彷徨的他却喜欢上了跟自己身份截然不同的人。可惜他却在跟最有钱的女董事长发生不能说的秘密之后一切都变了。各色各样的大小美人纷扰而至,围绕在他的身边!成熟美艳,清纯可爱,性感妩媚,柔情万千最后的最后,他凭借着自己的能力,在那多少美人美妇的陪伴之下,在这一片弱肉强食的世界之中创下了一个伟大的奇迹!...

我夺舍了魔皇

我夺舍了魔皇

陈洛阳感觉自己穿越的姿势不对。  穿越过来,居然把世间最顶尖强者,尊号魔皇的魔教教主给夺舍了。  一般不都是有大能强者出意外,剩下顽强的一缕神魂不散,然后...

医流武神

医流武神

一代魔君,逆天重生!为复血海深仇,重回都市,掀起血雨腥风!当其锋芒展露的刹那,美女院长,萌呆萝莉,清纯校花,冷艳总裁纷至沓来!...

都市超级医仙

都市超级医仙

左手惊天医术右手至强武功,携带百年记忆,重生回归都市,这一世,定要纵横无敌执掌一切,登临苍穹之巅!...

华娱特效大亨

华娱特效大亨

落魄功夫小生陆麟,拥有一台能做出炫酷特效的超级电脑。从此华语影片不在是低成本小制作的代名词。奇幻瑰丽的仙侠世界登上银幕,沉迷华夏网文的外国小哥,不再期待漫威!...

每日热搜小说推荐