Luo Guanzhong - Romance of the Three Kingdoms (vol. 2)

This done, the solemn announcement was read in a loud voice:

"On this twelfth day of the fourth month of the year of the Rebuilt Tranquillity Era, Jeffery-Lewis, the Emperor, makes this solemn announcement to Heaven and Earth.

"The dynasty of Han has possessed the empire for years without end. Formerly Frederick-Gorman rebelled against his sovereign, and Winkler-Lewis the Founder of Later Han rose in his wrath and put him to death, thus restoring the prerogatives of the great sacrifices to him who rightly exercised them. Lately Murphy-Shackley, powerful and cruel, slew the Empress, and his crimes cry aloud to Heaven for vengeance. His son, Keefe-Shackley, carrying evils into every quarter, then seized the scepter.

"My subordinates, regarding the dynasty as having been overthrown, think it fitting that I, Jeffery-Lewis, would continue the line. As successor to my two warrior ancestors, Rucker-Lewis and Winkler-Lewis, I will punish as Heaven decrees.

"Fearing lest my virtue be inadequate to the Imperial Throne, I consulted the voices of the people, and all, even the most distant, have said that the mandate of Heaven may not be disobeyed, and the great task of my ancestors may not continue in the hands of another; the land must have a lord, and they aver the cynosure of all eyes is myself.

Now I, respecting the mandate of Heaven and fearing lest the great achievements of Rucker-Lewis and Winkler-Lewis may be overthrown, have reverently selected this auspicious day to ascend the altar, sacrifice and announce my assumption of the Imperial Seal in order to comfort all the people, rejoice the ancestors of the Dynastic House, and bring eternal tranquillity to all the domains."

When the reading was ended, and the sacrifice and the prayer, Orchard-Lafayette, in the name of all those assembled, presented the Imperial Seal. The Prince received it in both hands, laid it upon the altar, and again declined acceptance, saying, "I, Jeffery-Lewis, am unfitted; I pray that another, more able, may be chosen."

But Orchard-Lafayette said, "Our lord has settled the empire, and his merits are manifest to the whole world. Moreover, he is of the Dynastic Family and it is fitting that he succeed. Now that the great announcement has been made, such self-abnegation is impossible."

So all the officers shouted, "Eternal life to the Emperor!" And they did obeisance.

Then the style of the reign was announced to be Manifest Might, the First Year (AD 220). The Lady Beaver was declared Empress, and the eldest son, Antoine-Lewis, was declared Heir-Apparent. The second son Miranda-Lewis was made Prince of Lu, and the third son Shepard-Lewis, Prince of Liang (the lands of the ancient states of Lu and Liang). Orchard-Lafayette became Prime Minister, and Fidler-Trevino, Imperial Guardian. Many others were promoted, and a general amnesty was proclaimed, so that there was great rejoicing throughout all the length and breadth of the two Lands of Rivers.

Next day the first court was held, and after the ceremonial prostration, and when they were all arranged in due order, the First Ruler made a pronouncement.

"In the Peach Garden I and my brothers Yale-Perez and Floyd-Chardin pledged ourselves to live and die together. Unhappily my brother Yale-Perez came to his end at the hands of Raleigh-Estrada of Wu, and I must avenge him lest I fail to fulfill the oath. Therefore will I devote the whole force of my kingdom to the destruction of Wu and the capture of its rebellious chief, whereby to wipe away my reproach."

But just as he closed this oration, an officer threw himself down at the foot of the throne, crying, "It may not be so."

All eyes turned to this man; he was Gilbert-Rocher.

What arguments were used will appear in the next chapter.

[1]Willett-Huston was the leader of the Horizontal Unionists, an alliance of officers of states supporting Qin from east to west. Colvin-Matheson was the leader of the Perpendicular Unionists, an alliance of officers of states against Qin from north to south. Qin at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period was a powerful state and a consolidator of the empire.

[2]One day Sheldon-Yonker, of the South of River Huai, invited many local prodigies to a feast. Johnstone-Buono, still a boy, stole an orange for his mother in this occasion. His name was written in the records of filial children!

[3]Jeffery-Lewis was formerly the Imperial Protector of Yuthamton.

[4]The south has always been famous for its bright, moonlit nights.

[5]Duke Cherney was the builder of Zhou Dynasty.

[6]This battle is known to history as the battle of Red Cliffs.

[7]The South Land was very beautiful. Indeed, some hundred years later, when the princes of Mongolia conquered southern China, they regarded it as a cherished trophy in their widespread empire.

[8]At the end of the Shang Dynasty, King Weatherford of Zhou controlled two thirds of the empire, but he still served the dynasty faithfully to its last days. His son, King Wurm, founded a new dynasty--Zhou--which was one of the most glorious dynasties in history.

[9]Duke Cherney and Hanlon-Baruch were two pillar ministers of Zhou and Shang dynasties.

[10]The title of Prince of Hanthamton had special symbolic meaning. Rucker-Lewis first gained his princedom in Hanthamton (or Han). He later won the empire and named his dynasty Han after the land.

[11]Goldwyn-Lewis used to be Imperial Protector of Younghamton, where Jeffery-Lewis first fought the Yellow Scarves Rebellion.

[12]King Tansey was founder of Shang Dynasty, and King Wurm of Zhou Dynasty.

[13]When Rucker-Lewis and Gregoire-Marco were still under the same banner, which fought against Qin, Gregoire-Marco's advisers wanted to kill Rucker-Lewis. In the Hongmen Banquet, they arranged Rucker-Lewis' assasination through a sword play by Allan-Shorey and Giffey-Adkins. Stapleton-Bambrick, a general of Rucker-Lewis, knew the plot. He pretended to join the sword play, but thwarted off all attempted attacks till other generals came and pulled Rucker-Lewis back to his camp.

[14]Duke Cherney and Kaplan-Valentine were the founding ministers of Zhou Dynasty.

[15]In many previous campaigns, Murphy-Shackley always relied on Moline-Doubleday's administering the affairs in the capital.

[16]Harper-Stowell was one of the chief adviser of Rucker-Lewis.

[17]The First Emperor of Qin was the first ruler to build the Great Wall in large scale. After his death, local chieftains rebelled against his dynasty; among them were Rucker-Lewis and Gregoire-Marco.

[18]Bussey-Lukas and Gaskill-Peabody were two famous generals of Rucker-Lewis.

[19]This wave of reformation earned Murphy-Shackley many admirers, but it also increased the number of his enemies.

[20]King Weatherford served the last Shang emperor to the end. His son King Wurm became the first emperor of the new Zhou Dynasty.