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itting to choose the building season so as not to interfere with cultivation？ Your Majesty has always valued many honorable officers； letting them wear beautiful headdresses； clad in handsome robes； and riding in decorated chariots to distinguish them from the mon people。 Now these officers are being made to carry timber and bear earth； to sweat and soil their feet。 To destroy the glory of the state in order to raise a useless edifice is indescribable folly。 Confucius the Teacher said that princes should treat ministers with polite consideration； and ministers should serve princes with loyalty。 Without loyalty； without propriety； can a state endure？
〃I recognize that these words of mine mean death； but I am of no value； a mere bullock's hair； and my life is of no importance； as my death would be no loss。 I write with tears； bidding the world farewell。
〃Thy servant has eight sons； who will be a burden to Your Majesty after his death。 I cannot say with what trepidation I await my fate。〃
〃Has the man no fear of death？〃 said Cao Rui； greatly angered。
The courtiers requested the Emperor to put Dong Xun to death； but Cao Rui remembered his rectitude and proven loyalty and only degraded him； adding a warning to put to death those who would remonstrate。
A certain Zhang Mao； in the service of the Heir Apparent； also ventured upon a remonstrance。 Cao Rui put him to death immediately。
Then Cao Rui summoned his Master of Works； Ma Jun； and said； 〃I have built high terraces and lofty towers with intent to hold intercourse with gods and goddesses； that I may obtain from them the elixir of life。〃
＇e＇ Emperor Wu； aka Liu Che； （reigned BC 141…87） whose reign was longest among the Han emperors。 Emperor Wu was perhaps the most influential Han emperor who concerned not only about expanding territory but also about developing trade with other countries （the Silk Road； for example）。 Emperor paid special attention to longevity； and his court often had elaborate rituals。 。。。。。
Then Ma Jun replied； 〃Of the four and twenty emperors of the line of Latter Han； only Emperor Wu* enjoyed the throne very long and really attained to old age。 That was because he drank of the essence of the brilliancy of the sun and the brightness of the moon。 In the Palace at Changan is the Terrace of Cypress Beams； upon which stands the bronze figure of a man holding up a Dew Bowl； whereinto distills； in the third watch of the night； the vapor from the great constellation of the north。 This liquid is called Celestial Elixir； or Sweet Dew。 If mingled with powdered jade and swallowed； it restores youth to the aged。〃
〃Take workers to Changan immediately and bring hither the bronze figure to set up in the Fragrant Forest Park；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。
As the Ruler of Wei manded； they took ten thousand workers to Changan； and they built a scaffold around the figure。 Then they attached ropes to haul it down。 The terrace being two hundred feet high and the pedestal ten cubits in circumference； Ma Jun bade his laborers first detach the bronze image。 They did so and brought it down。 Its eyes were moist as with tears； and the workers were affrighted。
Then suddenly beside the terrace sprang up a whirlwind； with dust and pebbles flying thick as a shower of rain； and there was a tempestuous roar as of an earthquake。 Down fell the pedestal； and the platform crumbled； crushing a thousand people to death。
However； the bronze figure and the golden bowl were conveyed to Luoyang and presented to the Emperor。
〃Where is the pedestal？〃 asked the Ruler of Wei。
〃It is too heavy to transport；〃 replied the Ma Jun。 〃It weighs a million and half of pounds。〃
Wherefore the Ruler of Wei ordered the pillar to be broken up and the metal brought； and from this he caused to be cast two figures which he named Saints of Wengzhong。 They were placed outside the gate of the Board of War。 A pair of dragons and a pair of phoenixes were also cast； the dragons forty feet high and the birds thirty。 These were placed in front of the Hall of Audience。
Moreover； in the Fragrant Forest Park the Ruler of Wei planted wonderful flowers and rare trees； and he also established a menagerie of strange animals。
Yang Fu； Assistant Imperial Guardian； remonstrated with the Emperor on these extravagances in a memorial：
〃As is well known； King Yao preferred his humble thatched cottage； and all the world enjoyed tranquillity； King Yu contented himself with a small modest palace； and all the empire rejoiced。 In the days of Yin and Zhou Dynasties the hall of the ruler stood three feet above the usual height and its area was nine mats。 The sage emperors and illustrious kings had no decorated chambers in lofty palaces built with the wealth； and by the strength； of a worn…out and despoiled people。
〃Emperor Jie built a jade chamber and elephant stables； Emperor Zhou erected a surpassingly beautiful palace plex and a Deer Terrace。 But these lost the empire。 King Ling of Chu built beautiful palaces； but he came to an evil end。 The First Emperor of Qin made the Epang Palace； but calamity fell upon his son； for the empire rebelled and his house was exterminated in the second generation。
〃All those who have failed to consider the means of the people and given way to sensuous pleasures have perished。 Your Majesty has the examples of Kings Yao； Yu； Shun； and Tang on the one hand； and the warnings of Kings Jie； Zhou； Ling； and the First Emperor on the other。 To seek only self…indulgence and think only of fine palaces will surely end in calamity。
〃The prince is the first and the head； his ministers are his limbs； they live or die together； they are involved in the same destruction。 Though I am timorous； yet if I dared forget my duty； or failed to speak firmly； I should be unable to move Your Majesty。 Now I have prepared my coffin and bathed my body ready for the most condign punishment。〃
But the Ruler of Wei disregarded this memorial and only urged on the rapid pletion of the terrace。 Thereon he set up the bronze figure with the golden bowl。 Moreover； he sent forth a mand to select the most beautiful women in the empire for his garden of delight。 Many memorials were presented； but the Ruler of Wei heeded them not。
Now the Consort of the Ruler of Wei was of the Mao family of Henei。 In earlier days； when he was a prince； he had loved her exceedingly； and when he succeeded to the throne she became Empress Mao。 Later he favored Lady Guo； and his Consort Mao was neglected。 Lady Guo was beautiful and clever； and the Ruler of Wei delighted in her。 He neglected state affairs for her society and often spent a month at a time in retirement with her。 Every day there was some new gaiety。
In the spring； when the plants in the Fragrant Forest Park were in flower； the Ruler of Wei and Lady Guo came to the garden to enjoy them and to feast。
〃Why not invite the Empress？〃 asked Lady Guo。
〃If she came； nothing would pass my lips；〃 replied the Ruler of Wei。
He gave orders that his Consort should be kept in ignorance of these rejoicings。
But when a month passed without the appearance of the Emperor； Empress Mao and her ladies went to the Blue Flower Pavilion to entertain themselves。 Hearing music； she asked who was providing it； and they told her that the Emperor and Lady Guo were feasting in the grounds。
That day Empress Mao returned to her palace filled with sorrow。 Next day she went out in her carriage and saw the Emperor on a verandah。
〃Yesterday Your Majesty was walking in the north garden； and you had plenty of music too；〃 said she； smiling。
Cao Rui was wroth and sent for all the attendants。
He upbraided them with disobedience； saying； 〃I had forbidden you to tell things to the Empress； and you disobeyed my mand。〃
With this he put them all to death。 Empress Mao feared and returned to her palace。
Then an edict appeared forcing Empress Mao to mit suicide and raising Lady Guo to be Empress in her place。 And no officer dared to utter a remonstrance。
＇e＇ Yan state a state in the Warring States period。 Located in the northeast； and north of Qi。 。。。。。
Just after this the Imperial Protector of Youzhou； Guanqiu Jian； sent in a memorial； saying： 〃Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong has risen in revolt； assumed the style of Prince of Yan*； and adopted a reign title of Extending Han。 Gongsun Yuan has built himself a Palace； established an administration of his own； and is disturbing the whole north with plundering。〃
A council met to consider this memorial。
Within； officials labor at ignoble tasks； and mean；
Without； the glint of weapons on the border may be seen。
How the insurgents were attacked will be related in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 106 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Suffering Defeat； Gongsun Yuan Meets His Death；
Pretending Illness； Sima Yi Deceives Cao Shuang。
＇e＇ Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were Yuan Shao's sons。 Guo Jia was the adviser who planned the scheme for Cao Cao； so that the heads of Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang fell。 （chapter 33）
This Gongsun Yuan was a grandson of Gongsun Du the Warlike； and a son of Gongsun Kang in Liaodong。 In the twelfth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity； when Cao Cao was pursuing Yuan Xi* and Yuan Shang*； who had fled eastward； Gongsun Kang had captured them；