第6部分(第1/7 頁)

nuch　Jian　Shuo。　Jian　Shuo　in　terror　fled　into　the　Palace　garden　and　hid　among　the　shrubs；　where　he　was　discovered　and　murdered　by　Guo　Sheng；　one　of　the　Ten　Eunuchs。　The　guards　under　Jian　Shuo's　mand　all　surrendered。

Yuan　Shao　said；　〃Their　gangs　have　broken。　The　most　opportune　moment　is　now　to　slay　all　the　eunuchs！〃

But　Zhang　Rang　and　the　eunuchs　of　the　Ten　scented　the　danger　and　rushed　to　see　Empress　He。

They　said；　〃The　originator　of　the　plan　to　injure　your　brother　was　Jian　Shuo：　Only　he　was　concerned　and　no　other。　Now　the　Regent　Marshal；　on　Yuan　Shao's　advice；　wishes　to　slay　everyone　of　us。　We　implore　your　pity；　O　Your　Majesty！〃

〃Fear　not！〃　said　Empress　He；　whose　son　had　just　bee　Emperor；　〃I　will　protect　you。〃

She　sent　for　her　brother；　and　said；　〃You　and　I　are　of　lowly　origin；　and　we　owe　our　good　fortune　to　the　eunuchs。　The　misguided　Jian　Shuo　is　now　dead；　and　need　you　really　put　all　the　others　to　death　as　Yuan　Shao　advises？〃

And　He　Jin　obeyed　her　wish。　He　explained　to　his　party；　saying；　〃The　real　offender；　Jian　Shuo；　has　met　his　fate；　and　his　clan　will　be　punished。　But　we　need　not　exterminate　the　whole　party　nor　injure　his　colleagues。〃

〃Slay　them；　root　and　branch；〃　cried　Yuan　Shao；　〃or　they　will　ruin　you！〃

〃I　have　decided；〃　said　He　Jin；　coldly。　〃Say　no　more。〃

Within　a　few　days　He　Jin　became　Chair　of　the　Secretariat；　and　his　associates　received　high　offices。

Now　Empress　Dong　summoned　the　eunuch　Zhang　Rang　and　his　party　to　a　council。

Said　she；　〃It　was　I　who　first　brought　forward　the　sister　of　He　Jin。　Today　her　son　is　on　the　throne；　and　all　the　officials　are　her　friends；　and　her　influence　is　enormous。　What　can　we　do？〃

Zhang　Rang　replied；　〃Your　Highness　should　administer　the　state　from