小小说丨死亡之约

2016-10-01 14:18:48 [来源:新湖南客户端] [责编:吴名慧]
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死 亡 之 约

A Life-concerning Agreement

戴 希

Dai Xi

 

贞观七年腊月初八,迎着漫天飞舞的大雪,唐太宗李世民忽然驾临朝廷大狱。

On 8th December in the seventh year during the Zhenguan regnal period (633 AD), the Taizong Emperor Li Shimin (599 – 649) suddenly bestowed honour upon the Imperial Prison by paying it an unexpected visit against the snowflakes flying throughout the sky.

大狱里关押着已判死刑、只等批准执行的390名囚犯。

Incarcerated in there were 390 prisoners, all sentenced to capital punishment and waiting to be executed.

“我是李世民,问你们两个问题,如实回答!”唐太宗目光炯炯地扫视着囚犯, “第一,对朝廷大狱给你们所定的罪行和罪责,你们可有异议?”

“This is Li Shimin. The royal ‘we’ has two questions for you. Answer them truthfully!” The emperor’s brilliant eyes scanned around. “First of all, about the crimes you’ve been convicted of by the Royal Court and the corresponding punishments, does anyone beg to differ?”

“皇上,我们一点不冤,我们认罪伏法!”

“We have not been wronged at all, Your Majesty. We acknowledge our crimes and should be executed!”

“那好!第二,”唐太宗声如洪钟,“说说临死前,你们最后的心愿?”

“Fine! Secondly.” The emperor’s voice was as sonorous as a chiming bell. “Tell me your last wishes?”

跪在最前面、家住京畿扶风的囚犯徐福林,赶紧连磕三个响头,抬起头哽咽着说:“皇上,我想回家,看看我的父母妻儿,与他们做最后的话别!”

Blessed Forest Xu, who lived in Fufeng, a suburb of the capital city and who knelt down nearest, kowtowed thrice hurriedly and then raised his head. “Your Majesty,” he sobbed, “I want to go back home to see my parents, wife and children to say farewell for the last time!”

“……!”唐太宗仔细打量一眼他,把目光转向其他囚犯,“你们呢?”

“Huh …!” The emperor turned his eyes to the other prisoners after a questioning glance at Blessed Forest Xu. “What about you?”

“皇上,我们也一样!”囚犯们迫不及待地叩头、高喊。

“Your Majesty, our wish is the same as his!” The other prisoners all couldn’t wait to kowtow and beseech him.

“既然这样,我和你们订个‘死亡之约’,愿意吗?”

“Since this is the case, the royal ‘we’ will sign a humanitarian agreement with you. What do you say?”

“愿意!皇上。”

“With all ears, Your Majesty.”

“好!”唐太宗点头,“第一,准许你们不受任何约束地回家,看望你们的父母妻儿!”

“Good!” The emperor nodded his head. “First of all, you’re allowed to go back home to see your family without any restraint!”

囚犯们颤抖了,他们的眼里都有泪光闪烁。

The prisoners shivered, their eyes sparkling with tears.

唐太宗威严地审视着他们,又说:“第二,你们必须保证:来年九月初四晌午之前,一个不少,自行、准时地返回朝廷大狱,伏法受罪,主动送死!”

The emperor’s august eyes examined them. “Secondly, you should promise: before the noon of the next 4th September, each and every one of you must return to the Imperial Prison for the death penalty.”

囚犯们一惊,随即点头示意,高喊:“皇上,我们保证!”

The prisoners’ jaws dropped. But they nodded their heads immediately. “Your Majesty, we promise!” they chanted in unison.

户部尚书兼大理寺卿戴胄额上沁出豆大的汗珠,立即小心翼翼地靠近唐太宗:“皇上,这些囚犯可是杀人越货、罪大恶极之徒!你放他们出狱,万一他们凶相毕露或者逃之夭夭,怎么办?”

Bean-sized drops of sweat oozed out of the forehead of Dai Zhou (? – 633), the Minister placed in charge of the Board of Finance and the Supreme Court. He edged close immediately. “Your Majesty, these are all murderers or robbers who cannot be pardoned! What are we to do if Your Highness sets them free today, but they turn nasty again or get clean away?”

唐太宗轻轻拍拍戴胄的肩膀:“爱卿,用诚心才能换忠心!我肯定他们不会辜负我!”

The emperor slapped Dai Zhou’s shoulder gently. “My dear minister, only sincerity can be given in exchange for loyalty! The royal ‘we’ stands as surety they will not betray us!”

“这……”戴胄摇头。“别说了!”唐太宗对他摆了摆手,然后毅然转向囚犯们:“此事已定!你们,都起来吧!”

“Huh …” Dai Zhou couldn’t help shaking his head. “Stop here!” The emperor waved his hand at him and then turned to the prisoners. “That’s final! Get up, all of you!”

霎时,囚犯们泪如泉涌,欢呼雀跃。

In an instant all the prisoners kicked up their heels with tears streaming down.

牢门一开,囚犯们就撒开双腿,没命地向家中奔跑。他们担心唐太宗变卦。

As soon as the door of each cell was opened, the prisoners all stretched their legs to run back home like hell – they were afraid that the emperor might change his mind.

秋高气爽,惠风和畅。都城长安。从四面八方赶来的民众潮水般地涌向朝廷大狱所在的朱雀大街,一时间,150米宽的朱雀大街上人头攒动。人们踮起脚尖张望、等待。

It was a breezy autumn day with clear crisp air in Chang’an the capital city. People from the four sides and eight directions flooded to Rosefinch Street where the Royal Prison stood. At once, it was a sea of heads on the 150-metre-wide street. Standing on tiptoe, they looked about and waited.

这是贞观八年九月初四。

It was 4th September of the eighth year during the Zhenguan regnal period (644 AD).

没人相信囚犯们会守信用!他们来是想亲眼目睹唐太宗怎样应对突然的变故。

No one believed that a prisoner would keep his promise! They were there only to prove their surmise and to see how the emperor handled an unexpected event.

然而出人意料:那些囚犯很快就接踵而至,他们个个昂首挺胸、精神抖擞。

However, against all their expectations, all the prisoners went back one after another, each with his chin up and his chest sticking out and each alive and kicking.

人们目瞪口呆。

The crowd was stunned and dumbfounded.

晌午到了。清点人数,已返狱389名!还差1名?戴胄急了:“怎么办呢?皇上!”

It was noon. A head-count said 389 prisoners had come back! But still one short? Dai Zhou became like a cat on hot bricks. “What shall we do next? Your Majesty!”

唐太宗浓眉一皱:“再清点一次,查查有谁未到?”

The emperor knitted his bushy eyebrows. “Count again and see who hasn’t arrived?”

又清点,依然是389名,未到者正是徐福林!消息传开,不仅看热闹的民众七嘴八舌,已返狱的囚犯们也咆哮了:狗日的徐福林,怎么出尔反尔?混蛋!孬种!……

The prisoners were roll-called again. There were still 389 and the defaulter was none other than Blessed Forest Xu! After the word spread out, not only the farce-watching crowd loosened their tongues, but the returned prisoners also roared: Blessed Forest Xu, you son of a bitch! How couldyou not keep your promise? Arsehole! Coward! …

“怎么办呢?皇上!”戴胄诚惶诚恐地靠近唐太宗。人们也不约而同,把目光投过来。

“What should we do? Your Majesty!” Dai Zhou, in fear and trembling, edged close. People also cast their eyes this way unanimously as if in tacit agreement.

“等等吧!”唐太宗把右手一挥。

“Wait a moment!” The emperor waved his right hand.

半个时辰过去,还不见徐福林的踪影。人们急得如热锅上的蚂蚁。囚犯们则怒目圆睁、咬牙切齿。

One hour went past, but Blessed Forest Xu’s soul was still not to be seen. People became ants on a hot wok while the prisoners glared and gnashed their teeth.

“怎么办呢?皇上!”戴胄又小心地问唐太宗。

“What next? Your Majesty!” Dai Zhou again enquired cautiously.

“再等等吧!”唐太宗拍了拍戴胄的肩膀。

“Wait for another moment!” The emperor slapped Dai Zhou’s shoulder.

又半个时辰过去,依然不闻徐福林的声息。人们忧心如焚。囚犯们暴跳如雷。

Another hour went by, but Blessed Forest Xu’s soul was still not to be seen. People felt their hearts were being burned with anxiety and the prisoners fell into a howling rage.

忽然有人高喊:“来了、来了!”

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, “He is coming! Coming!”

人们循着吱嘎吱嘎的车轮声望去,还真有一辆牛车由远及近,向这边匆匆赶来。

The crowd shifted their eyes towards the squeaking wheels. Indeed an ox-drawn cart was hurrying their way from afar.

很快,从牛车的车篷里探出一张消瘦、腊黄、病恹恹的脸。狱吏定睛细看,不错,此人正是徐福林!

Soon a bony, sallow, sickly face stuck out of the awning of the cart. The prison guards fixed him with a stare. Yeah, it was none other than Blessed Forest Xu!

人们长长地嘘了一口气。囚犯们的怒容也渐渐消弭。

The crowd each heaved a long sigh of relief and the wrath on the prisoners’ faces gradually faded.

“怎么来晚啦?”唐太宗端详着徐福林。

“Now tell me why you are late?” The emperor eyed Blessed Forest Xu.

“路上,我突然病倒了。幸亏中途拦了一辆牛车,就雇了它继续赶路。”徐福林喘着粗气, “我起了个大早,本想早点返狱伏法,哪料事与愿违。唉,罪孽深重啊,皇上!”

“A disease caught me on the wrong foot when I was on my way back. Luckily, I stopped an ox-drawn cart and hired it to resume my journey.” Blessed Forest Xu panted heavily. “Getting up early in the morning, I originally wanted to come back early to get what I deserve. Who could have known that things would have gone against my wishes. Ah, I’m as guilty as hell, Your Majesty!”

“不,你能抱病返狱,精神可嘉!”唐太宗向徐福林投出赞许的目光。

“No, since you still dragged your diseased body back to the prison, your spirit is great!” The emperor shot Blessed Forest Xu a praising glance.

徐福林挣扎了一下,要奔出牛车给唐太宗下跪。唐太宗走过去扶住他:“别动,就在车上待着。”

Blessed Forest Xu struggled and meant to go out of the cart to kowtow. The emperor stepped close to stop him. “Don’t stir. Just stay there.”

“现在怎么办,皇上?”戴胄毕恭毕敬地问。

“Now what? Your Majesty!” Dai Zhou enquired in all obedience.

囚犯们无奈地低下头。他们明白,死期已到。

The prisoners all ducked helplessly, knowing that their time was up.

“怎么办?”唐太宗把囚犯们一一打量过,突然朗声宣布:“大赦所有囚犯,让他们自由回家!”

“What?” The emperor’s eyes scanned the prisoners one by one. “A special pardon is granted to all the prisoners and they can go back home freely!” he announced loudly.

风云突变,西域叛乱。贞观十四年,唐太宗任命侯君集为西域远征军统帅,统领15万铁骑征西。闻讯,390名囚犯慷慨激昂,自愿请战。他们在侯君集的带领下,一路冲锋陷阵,英勇杀敌,最后全部血洒疆场,壮烈殉国……

The wind and cloud changed suddenly and the Western Regions rebelled. In the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan regnal period (640 AD), the emperor appointed the renowned general Hou Junji as the Commander-in-chief to squash the rebel forces with an expeditionary army of 150 thousand mounted warriors. After hearing the news, those 390 prisoners all heroically offered to join up. Led by Hou Junji, they always charged at the forefront to break up the enemy lines and killed the enemies heroically. Finally, they all shed their blood clean on the battlefields and died a glorious death for the country…

西域转眼收复,大唐拓土开疆就此开始!

The Western Regions was recovered in the twinkling of an eye and the Great Tang started its epic history of territorial exploration!

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