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； beheaded them； and sent their heads to Cao Cao*。 For this service Gongsun Kang received the title of Lord of Xiangping。 After Gongsun Kang's death； as his two sons………Gongsun Huang and Gongsun Yuan………were young； his brother Gongsun Gong took the chiefship； and Cao Pi； beside confirming the lordship； gave him the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry。
In the second year of Calm Peace （AD 228）； the second son； Gongsun Yuan； being now grown up； well…educated and trained in military exercises； obstinate and fond of fighting； took away his uncle's power and ruled the heritage of his father。 Cao Rui conferred upon him the title of General Who Wields Ferocity； and made him Governor of Liaodong。
Then the Ruler of Wu； Sun Quan； anxious to secure Gongsun Yuan's support； sent two envoys； Zhang Mi and Xu Yan； with gifts of gold and gems and pearls and offered Gongsun Yuan the title of Prince of Yan。 Fearing that the Middle Land would resent any dallying with Wu； Gongsun Yuan slew the Wu envoys and sent the heads to the Ruler of Wei。 For this proof of fealty； Cao Rui gave him the title of Grand General and the Dukedom of Yuelang。
However； Gongsun Yuan was dissatisfied； and his thoughts turned toward independence。 He took council with his officers and proposed to style himself Prince of Yan and to adopt a reign…title of Extending Han； the first year。
One general； Jia Fan； opposed this and said； 〃My lord； the central authorities have treated you well and honored you。 I fear that Sima Yi is too skillful a leader for rebellion to succeed。 You see even Zhuge Liang cannot defeat him。 How much less can you？〃
Gongsun Yuan's reply was to condemn Jia Fan to death。 However； Adviser Lun Zhi ventured upon further remonstrance。
〃Jia Fan spoke well。 The Sacred One says that extraordinary phenomena presage the destruction of a state。 Now this time portents are not wanting； and wonders have been seen。 A dog； dressed in red and wearing a turban； went up to the roof and walking like a man。 Moreover； while a certain person living in a village south of the city was cooking his food； he saw a child in the pan； boiled to death。 A great cave opened near the market place and threw out a large； fleshy body pletely human save that it lacked limbs。 Swords could not cut it； arrows could not penetrate it。 No one knew what to call it； and when they consulted the soothsayers； they obtained the reply； 'Inplete shape； silent mouth： A state is near destruction。' These prodigies are all inauspicious。 Flee from evil and strive to walk in fair fortune's way。 Make no move without most careful thought。〃
This second remonstrance enraged Gongsun Yuan still more； and he sent Lun Zhi to death with Jia Fan。 Both were executed in the public place。
Gongsun Yuan then prepared to make a bid for empire。 He raised an army of one hundred fifty thousand； appointed Bei Yan as mander； and Yang Zuo as Leader of the Van。 This army set out for the Middle Land。
Ruler of Wei was alarmed at the report of this rising； and sent for S