第5部分(第6/7 頁)

eir　Apparent；　and　in　fact　the　Emperor　greatly　loved　the　boy　and　was　disposed　to　do　as　his　mother　desired。　When　his　end　was　near；　one　of　the　eunuchs；　Jian　Shuo；　said；　〃If　Liu　Xian　is　to　succeed；　He　Jin　must　be　killed　to　prevent　countermoves。〃

The　Emperor　saw　this　too。　He　placed　Jian　Shuo　in　mand　of　the　eight　armies　of　the　West　Garden　in　order　to　check　Liu　Bian's　supporters。　And　he　summoned　He　Jin　to　e　to　him。

But　at　the　very　gate　of　the　Forbidden　City；　He　Jin　was　warned　of　his　danger　by　mander　Pan　Yin　who　said；　〃This　must　be　a　trap　of　Jian　Shuo　to　destroy　you！〃

He　Jin　rushed　back　to　his　quarters　and　called　many　of　the　ministers　to　his　side；　and　they　met　to　consider　how　to　put　the　eunuchs　to　death。

At　this　assembly　a　man　spoke　against　the　plot；　〃The　influence　of　the　eunuchs　dates　back　a　century　and　a　half；　during　the　reigns　of　Emperors　Chong　and　Zhi。　It　has　spread　like　a　noxious　weed　in　all　directions。　How　can　we　hope　to　destroy　it？　Above　all　keep　this　plot　secret；　or　our　whole　clans　will　be　exterminated。〃

He　Jin　eyed　down　and　saw　General　of　Military　Standards　Cao　Cao。

He　Jin　was　very　angry　at　this　speech　and　cried；　〃What　do　inferiors　like　you　know　of　the　ways　of　government？〃

And　in　the　midst　of　the　confusion　Pan　Yin　came　to　say：　〃The　Emperor　is　no　more。　The　eunuchs　have　decided　to　keep　the　death　a　secret　and　forge　a　mand　to　the　Regent　Marshal　to　e　into　the　Palace　to　settle　the　succession。　Meanwhile　to　prevent　trouble　they　have　inscribed　the　name　of　Prince　Xian　on　the　roll。〃

And　as　Pan　Yin　finished　speaking；　the　edict　arrived　summoning　He　Jin。

〃The　matter　for　the　moment　is　to　set　up　the　rightful　heir；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃We　can　deal　with　the　traitors　later。〃

〃Who　dare　to　join　me　in　supporting　the　rightful　h