第287部分(第3/7 頁)

he　west　and　was　universally　renowned。　parison　with　Cao　Cao　is　impossible。〃

〃Still　Cao　Pi　succeeded　the　rule　of　Han。　Can　I　not　in　like　manner　succeed　that　of　Wei？〃

Jia　Chong　and　Pei　Xiu　bowed　low　and　said；　〃Cao　Pi's　action　may　be　taken　as　a　precedent　to　succeed　an　older　dynasty。　Wherefore　prepare　an　abdication　terrace　to　make　the　great　declaration。〃

Sima　Yan　resolved　to　act　promptly。　Next　day　he　entered　the　Forbidden　City　armed　with　a　sword。　No　court　had　been　held　for　many　days；　for　Cao　Huang　was　ill　at　ease　and　full　of　dread。　When　Sima　Yan　appeared；　the　Ruler　of　Wei　left　his　place　and　advanced　to　met　him。　Sima　Yan　sat　down。

〃By　whose　merits　did　Wei　succeed　to　empire？〃　he　asked　suddenly。

〃Certainly　success　was　due　to　your　forefathers；〃　replied　Cao　Huang。

Sima　Yan　smiled；　saying；　〃Your　Majesty　is　unskilled　in　debate；　inept　in　war；　and　unfit　to　rule。　Why　not　give　place　to　another　more　able　and　virtuous？〃

Cao　Huang's　lips　refused　a　reply。

But　Zhang　Jie；　one　of　the　ministers；　cried；　〃You　are　wrong　to　speak　thus；　O　Prince。　His　Majesty's　ancestor　conquered　east　and　west；　north　and　south；　and　won　the　empire　by　strenuous　effort。　The　present　Emperor　is　virtuous　and　without　fault。　Why　should　he　yield　place　to　another？〃

Sima　Yan　replied　angrily；　〃The　imperial　right　lay　with　the　Hans；　and　Cao　Cao　coerced　them　as　he　did　the　nobles。　In　making　himself　the　Prince　of　Wei；　he　usurped　the　throne　of　Han。　Three　generations　of　my　forefathers　upheld　the　House　of　Wei；　so　that　their　power　is　not　the　result　of　their　own　abilities；　but　of　the　labor　of　my　house。　This　is　known　to　all　the　world；　and　am　I　not　equal　to　carrying　on　the　rule　of　Wei？〃

〃If　you　do　this　thing；　you　will　be　a　rebel　and　an　usurper；〃　said　Zhang　Jie。

〃An