左叶小说网

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第60部分（第2页）

　The　whole　empire　wishes　to　kill　you。

　Do　you　think　I　am　the　only　one？〃

Cao　Cao　again　and　again　pressed　the　prisoner　to　tell　what　he　knew；　but　he　only　replied　that　no　one　had　sent　him　and　it　was　his　own　desire。

〃I　have　failed；　and　I　can　but　die；〃　added　Ji　Ping。

Cao　Cao　angrily　bade　the　gaolers　give　him　a　severe　beating；　and　they　dogged　him　for　two　watches。

　His　skin　hung　in　tatters；　the　flesh　was　battered；　and　the　blood　from　his　wounds　ran　down　the　steps。

　Then　fearing　he　might　die　and　his　evidence　be　lost；　Cao　Cao　bade　them　cease　and　remove　him。

　They　took　him　off　to　a　quiet　place　where　he　might　recover　somewhat。

Having　issued　orders　to　prepare　a　banquet　for　next　day；　Cao　Cao　invited　all　the　courtiers　thereto。

　Dong　Cheng　was　the　only　one　who　excused　himself；　saying　he　was　unwell。

　The　other　conspirators　dared　not　stay　away　as　they　felt　they　would　be　suspected。

Tables　were　laid　in　the　private　apartments；　and　after　several　courses　the　host　said；　〃There　is　not　much　to　amuse　us　today；　but　I　have　a　man　to　show　you　that　will　sober　you。

〃

〃Bring　him　in！

〃　Cao　Cao　said；　turning　to　the　gaolers；　and　the　hapless　Ji　Ping　appeared；　securely　fastened　in　a　wooden　collar。

　He　was　placed　where　all　could　see　him。

〃You　officials　do　not　know　that　this　man　is　connected　with　a　gang　of　evil　doers　who　desire　to　overturn　the　government　and　even　injure　me。

　However；　Heaven　has　defeated　their　plans；　but　I　desire　that　you　should　hear　his　evidence。

〃

Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　gaolers　to　beat　their　prisoner。

　They　did　so　till　Ji　Ping　lay　unconscious；　when　they　revived　him　by　spraying　water　over　his　face。

　As　soon　as　he　came　to；　he　glared　at　his　oppressor　and　ground　his　teeth。

〃Cao　Cao；　you　rebel！

　What　are　you　waiting　for？　Why　not　kill　me？〃　cried　Ji　Ping。

Cao　Cao　replied；　〃The　conspirators　were　only　six　at　first；　you　made　the　seventh。

　Is　that　true？〃

Here　the　prisoner　broke　in　with　more　abuse；　while　Wang　Zifu　and　the　other　three　conspirators　exchanged　glances；　looking　as　though　they　were　sitting　on　a　rug　full　of　needles。

　Cao　Cao　continued　his　torture　of　the　prisoner；　beating　him　into　unconsciousness　and　reviving　him　with　cold　water；　the　victim　disdaining　to　ask　mercy。

　Finally　Cao　Cao　realized　he　would　incriminate　none　of　his　acplices；　and　so　he　told　the　gaolers　to　remove　Ji　Ping。

At　the　close　of　the　banquet；　when　the　guests　were　dispersing；　four　of　them；　the　four　conspirators；　were　invited　to　remain　behind　to　supper。

　They　were　terrified　so　that　their　souls　seemed　no　longer　to　inhabit　their　bodies；　but　there　was　no　saying　nay　to　the　invitation。

Presently　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Still　there　is　something　I　want　to　speak　about；　so　I　have　asked　you　to　stay　for　a　time　longer。

　I　do　not　know　what　you　four　have　been　arranging　with　Dong　Cheng。

〃

〃Nothing　at　all；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。

〃And　what　is　written　on　the　white　silk？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。

They　all　said　they　knew　nothing　about　it。

Then　Cao　Cao　ordered　the　runaway　servant　to　be　brought　in。

　As　soon　as　Quin　Quington　came；　Wang　Zifu　said；　〃Well；　what　have　you　seen　and　where？〃