第21部分(第5/7 頁)

mself　as　bearer　of　a　decree。　He　was　conducted　into　Dong　Zhuo's　presence。　After　he　had　made　his　obeisance；　Dong　Zhuo　asked　what　the　decree　was。

〃His　Majesty　has　recovered　and　wishes　his　ministers　to　meet　him　in　the　Palace　to　consider　the　question　of　his　abdication　in　your　favor。　That　is　what　this　summons　means。〃

〃What　does　Wang　Yun　think　of　the　scheme？〃

〃Wang　Yun　has　already　begun　the　construction　of　the　Terrace　of　Abdication　and　only　awaits　my　lord's　arrival。〃

〃Last　night　I　dreamed　a　dragon　coiled　round　my　body；〃　said　Dong　Zhuo　greatly　pleased；　〃and　now　I　get　this　happy　tidings！　I　must　not　neglect　the　opportunity。〃

So　Dong　Zhuo　gave　instructions　to　his　four　trusted　generals　for　the　safekeeping　of　his　city。　Li　Jue；　Guo　Si；　Fan　Chou；　and　Zhang　Ji　were　to　guard　Meiwo　with　three　thousand　troops　of　the　Flying　Bear　Army。　Then　Dong　Zhuo　announced　his　intention　of　starting　on　the　morrow。

〃When　I　am　Emperor；　you　shall　be　mander　of　the　Capital　District；〃　said　he。

〃Your　minister　thanks　you；〃　said　Li　Su。

Dong　Zhuo　went　to　bid　farewell　to　his　ninety…year…old　mother。

〃Whither　are　you　going；　my　son？〃　asked　she。

〃I　go　to　receive　the　abdication　of　Han；　and　soon　you　will　be　the　Empress。〃

〃I　have　been　feeling　nervous　and　creepy　these　few　days。　It　is　a　bad　sign。〃

〃Anyone　about　to　bee　the　Mother　of　the　State　must　have　premonitions；〃　said　her　son。

He　left　her　with　these　words。

Just　before　starting；　he　said　to　Diao　Chan；　〃When　I　am　Emperor；　you　shall　be　Lady　of　the　Palace。〃

She　bowed　low　thanking　him；　but　she　knew　and　inwardly　rejoiced。

Dong　Zhuo　went　out；　mounted　his　carriage；　and　began　his　journey　to　Capital　Changan　with　an　imposing　escort。　Less　than　ten　miles　the　wheel　of　his　car