第十二回 又闻奇士思（2） (第2/2页)

enon,Isoughtnothingbutsensualpleasuresuntiltroublesbrokeoutathome.Johnhadatightgriponpower,andstepbystep,mademehispuppet.Thewomanhesenttomewasanunrivalledbeauty,yetnothingmorethanaformofpoison;intendedtoagemewhileofferinghimultimatepower.Thewholecountry,fromthoseinthecourttothoseinthecountryside,submittedtohiminsteadoftome,whileIwentonaspreewithmyconcubinesdayandnight,livingalifeofluxuryanddebauchery.Later,Ilosteverything,askarmadictated.Heoccupiedmywife,andmychildrenweredriventosuicide.EveryretainerthatIoncefavouredturnedtohimandendeavouredtopleasehim.Nobodystayedbehind.Notone.Behold!Humanbeingsforeverfollowpowermeeklyandabandonloyaltyandintegritywithouthesitationaslongasthelureissufficient.I,yourbrother,wasforcedtoenduremiseryandextremesolitude—asharpcontrasttothosebygoneyearsofgloryandprosperity.

    Johnkeptmeincaptivity,andbythetimeIrealizedIwasunabletoresist,itwastoolate.Howironicitisformetoescapethedangeroustrapyouset,yetdieinthesweetgreenhouseheestablishedinstead.John’sruthlessnesshadlongprovokedoutragefromourpeople,butheusedmeashisshield,attributingallofhisevildeedstomyorders.IknowthatevenifIamnotkilledbyhim,Iwillonedaybetrampledtomudbythepeople.Andourarmedforces,weakenedbyyourlongenforceddisarmament,arenomatchagainstthemob.Bythen,thecountrywillnotbelongtotheroyalty,andwillnotbelongtoyou.Whatwillhappenthen

    Iamnotsurewhen,orevenif,youwillreceivethisletter.Ifsomedayyousendareliablemessengertoseeme,Iwillundoubtedlypassitonatanycost,andthenembracemydeath.WhatyoumustknowisthatIdonotresentyouanymoreafterthelastblood-soakeddecade,butIreallyhopeyoucanavengeme,andkeepeternalreignofourgreatcountryandvassalstates.

    Finally,Ipresentyoualavishgift.Johnprobablyloweredhisguardagainstme,enablingmetooverhearasecretduringoneofhisprivateconversations.Hehasbeenworriedthatyoumayrecallhim,orthattheremayberiots,sohehaskepttransferringthetreasuresandwealthhehasbuilt——legalorillegal,farbeyondyourimagination,evenmorethantherichesthatfillyourpalace,toanunknownislandbyboat,justa**allamountineachtripinordertoavoidbeingconspicuous.Heexaggeratedwithpridethattheislandwasaheavenlyplace.Fromhisdescription,Iguessthatitliestotheeastofmycountry.Itshouldbeanelongatedlandmassspanningadiagonalnorthwest-southeastaxiswithvastlowlandinterspersedwithswampsintheeastbutlushmountainsinthewest.Hesaidhecouldsetuparichkingdomforhisoffspringjustbytradingthelocalcoffee,palmoilandgold,withouteventouchingthetreasurehetookthere.Mylord,onceyougetthereyouwillbeabletoeffortlesslytakethetreasureasyourown,anduseittoestablishaninvinciblearmy.Ifyouhaveeventhetiniestslitherofmercyforme,comehereandshatterJohn’sdream.Foryoumustrealisethatonlywitharmedforcecanyougoverntheworld.Nothingelsecan.

    Iwillbesoongonewiththewind.LongliveourillustriousRoyalfamily.

    .

    Yours,

    Edward

    .

    好吧，凡是**的就是日本某知名产业……