第5部分(第4/7 頁)

rs　nothing。　The　pity　is　that　Han　Dynasty；　after　four　centuries　of　reign；　is　falling　fast！〃

The　guards　hustled　him　away　and　were　just　about　to　carry　out　the　Emperor's　order　when　a　minister　stopped　them；　shouting；　〃Strike　not！　Wait　till　I　have　spoken　with　His　Majesty。〃

It　was　the　Minister　of　the　Interior；　Chen　Dan。　He　went　in　to　the　Emperor；　to　whom　he　said；　〃For　what　fault　is　Counselor　Liu　Tao　to　be　put　to　death？〃

〃He　has　vilified　my　servants　and　has　insulted　me；〃　said　the　Emperor。

〃All　the　empire　would　eat　the　flesh　of　the　eunuchs　if　they　could；　and　yet；　Sire；　you　respect　them　as　if　they　were　your　parents。　They　have　no　merit；　but　they　are　created　nobles。　Moreover；　Feng　Xu　was　in　league　with　the　Yellow　Scarves。　Unless　Your　Majesty　looks　to　it；　the　state　will　crumble！〃

〃There　was　no　proof　against　Feng　Xu；〃　replied　the　Emperor。　〃About　the　Ten　Eunuchs；　are　there　none　faithful　among　them？〃

Chen　Dan　beat　his　forehead　on　the　steps　of　the　throne　and　did　not　desist　from　remonstrance。　Then　the　Emperor　grew　angry　and　manded　his　removal　and　imprisonment　with　Liu　Tao。　That　night　Liu　Tao　and　Chen　Dan　were　murdered。

Then　the　eunuchs　sent　a　forged　edict　to　Sun　Jian　making　him　Governor　of　Changsha；　with　orders　to　suppress　the　rebellion　of　Ou　Xing。　In　less　than　two　months　Sun　Jian　reported　the　county　all　tranquil。　For　this　he　was　created　Lord　of　Wucheng。

Further；　Liu　Yu　was　made　Imperial　Protector　of　Youzhou　to　move　against　Yuyang　and　suppress　Zhang　Ju　and　Zhang　Chun。　Liu　Hu　of　Daizhou　remended　Liu　Bei　to　Liu　Yu。　Liu　Yu　weled　Liu　Bei　and　gave　him　rank　of　mander　and　sent　him　against　the　rebels。　He　fought　with　and　worsted　them　and　entirely　broke　their　spirit。　Zhang　Chun　was　cruel；　and　his　leaders　turned　against　him。　One　of　his　officer