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The　next　chapter　will　record　the　Emperor's　reply。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　80　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　80
　Chapter　80
Cao　Pi　Deposes　The　Emperor；　Taking　Away　The　Fortunes　of　Hans；
Liu　Bei　Assumes　The　Throne；　Continuing　The　Heritage。

＇e＇　King　Tang　was　the　founder　of　Shang　Dynasty　（BC　1700…1050）。　。。。。。
＇e＇　King　Yao；　King　Shun；　and　King　Yu　（BC　2400…2200）　were　the　three　ideal　rulers　in　ancient　China。　They　ascended　the　throne　by　their　virtues　and　merits；　and　not　by　heritage。　King　Yu　was　also　the　founder　of　the　Xia　Dynasty。　。。。。。
Hua　Xin　was　the　spokesman　of　the　deputation　of　officers　that　went　into　the　Forbidden　City；　and　he　spoke　thus：　〃Since　the　inauguration　of　the　Prince　of　Wei；　virtue　has　spread　to　the　four　corners　of　the　empire　and　humanity　has　permeated　all　the　earth　to　a　degree　unexcelled　in　all　the　ages；　even　in　the　days　of　the　ancient　rulers；　King　Tang*　and　King　Yu*。　We；　your　servants；　have　taken　account　of　these　things　and　have　reached　the　conclusion　that　the　fortunes　of　Han　is　worn　out；　wherefore　we　trust　Your　Majesty；　in　imitation　of　the　great　prototypes　King　Yao*　and　King　Shun*；　will　yield　the　mountains；　the　rivers；　and　the　peoples　to　a　more　able　guardian　and　high　priest　of　the　sacrifices　in　the　person　of　the　Prince　of　Wei；　thereby　pleasing　Heaven　and　satisfying　the　hearts　of　humans；　and　enabling　Your　Majesty　to　enjoy　the　happiness　of　freedom　and　repose　from　the　exacting　duties　of　the　chief　ruler。　The　happiness　of　your　ancestors　and　of　humanity　at　large　would　thereby　be　enhanced。　Having　thoroughly　debated　this　matter；　we　have　e　to　lay　it　before　you。〃
The　Emperor　listened　in　amazement；　and　for　a　time　could　not　reply。
Then；　looking　at　the　assembly；　he　said　sadly；　〃How　can　I　abandon　my　empire　for　the　sake　of　repose………the　empire　won　by　my　Great　Ancestor；　its　Founder；　when；　with　a　three…span　sword；　he　slew　the　Snake　and　restored　Right；　and　consolidated　when　he　reduced　Qin　and　overwhelmed　Chu………the　empire　which　has　been　handed　down　for　four　centuries？　Though　I　possess　not　brilliant　talents；　yet　I　have　done　no　wrong。　Go　back　and　debate　this　again　in　a　just　and　moderate　spirit。〃
Then　Hua　Xin　led　forward　Xu　Zhi　and　Li　Qu　nearer　the　throne；　saying；　〃If　Your　Majesty　thinks　we　may　be　mistaken；　pray　ask　these　two；　who　will　explain。〃
Said　Li　Qu；　〃Since　the　Prince　of　Wei　has　taken　his　seat；　the　Jilin　has　descended；　the　Phoenix　has　appeared；　the　Yellow　Dragon　has　e　forth；　the　Grain　of　Felicity　has　flourished；　and　Sweet　Dew　has　watered　the　earth。　All　these　things　augur　that　Heaven　decrees　a　change；　and　Wei　must　replace　Han。〃
Xu　Zhi　continued；　〃The　astrologers；　watching　the　aspect　of　the　skies　at　night；　have　seen　the　blazing　light　of　the　star　of　Han　gradually　fade　away　and　Your　Majesty's　own　star　bee　dim。　On　the　other　hand；　the　aspect　of　the　sky　and　the　attitude　of　the　earth　have　been　wholly　bright　in　favor　of　Wei　to　a　degree　hard　to　state　in　words。　Moreover；　the　lots　have　been　cast；　and　they　gave　the　words　'Devil；　at　the　side；　has　been　sent；　there　must　be　an　inroad　upon　Han　without　word'；　another　lot；　'Word；　in　east；　light　moves　west；　two　suns　radiating　as　the　air　blows　south'。　These　oracles　gave　two　words　which；　joined；　pose　Xu；　'two　suns；　one　on　the　other'；　which　is　Chang。　These　signs　are　unmistakeable；　for　when　put　together　the　whole　reads；　'Wei　at　Xuchang　is　to　receive　the　abdication　of　Han。'　If　you　consider；　Your　Majesty　must　admit　this。〃
〃All　empty　words　and　madness；　this　talk　of　auguries　and　lots！　Is　it　reasonable　that　I　should　suddenly　abandon　the　great　heritage　for　such　nonsense？〃
Then　Wang　Lang　said；　〃Wax　and　wane　has　been　the　law　of　all　things　from　the　beginning；　every　period　of　glory　is　followed　by　one　of　obscurity。　Has　any　rule　endured　forever　or　any　House　never　failed？　The　rule　of　Han；　handed　down　through　four　centuries　to　Yourself；　has　lost　its　vigor；　and　the　time　has　e　to　yield。　Retirement　may　not　be　delayed；　or　confusion　will　ensue。〃
The　Emperor　wept　aloud　and　retired　to　his　private　chamber；　while　the　officers　left　the　hall　laughing。
Next　morning　they　assembled　in　the　court；　but　the　Emperor　did　not　appear。　So　they　sent　the　Palace　officers　to　request　his　presence。　Still　he　feared　to　show　himself。
Empress　Cao　asked　him；　〃Why　do　Your　Majesty　not　hold　the　court　as　usual；　especially　when　you　are　requested　to　go　out？〃
〃Because　your　brother　wishes　to　depose　me　and　bee　Emperor　himself。　He　has　set　the　whole　host　of　officers　against　me　to　force　me　to　abdicate；　and　I　will　not　expose　myself　to　this　pulsion。〃
〃But　what　can　have　induced　my　brother　to　do　such　a　dreadfully　rebellious　thing？〃　said　she　angrily。
Just　as　she　spoke；　Cao　Hong　and　Cao　Xiu；　both　armed；　forced　their　way　into　the　inner　apartments　and　requested　His　Majesty　to　e　to　the　Hall　of　Audience。
The　Empress　broke　out　into　abuse：　〃So　you　are　two　of　the　disorderly　rebels　who；　for　the　sake　of　your　own　ends；　have　conspired　to　upset　all　the　good　service　of　my　father。　Though　he　overshadowed　the　whole　land；　yet　he　never　dared　to　aspire　to　the　sacred　Throne。　But　my　brother；　who　has　only　just　succeeded　him；　sets　no　bounds　to　his　ambition　and　temerity　and　would　usurp　the　Throne。　Heaven　will　surely　cut　off　his　offspring！〃
She　wept　bitterly　as　she　went　away；　and　the　attendants　sobbed　and　wept　too。　But　Cao　Xiu　and　Cao　Hong　still　urged　the　Emperor　to　go　to　the　Hall　of　Audience；　and　at　last　he　had　to　yield。　There　Hua　Xin　took　up　the　question　again。
〃Your　Majesty　should　act　as　was　advised　yesterday　and　so　avoid　any　misfortune。〃
The　Emperor　sobbed；　〃All　of　you　have　eaten　of　the　bounty　of　Han　for　years；　and　among　you　are　many　whose　fathers　and　grandfathers　were　conspicuous　for　merit。　How　can　you　bring　yourselves　to　act　thus　improperly　toward　me？〃
〃If　Your　Majesty　refuses　to　follow　advice；　I　fear　that　there　will　soon　be　trouble　in　the　family。　Really　we　are　not　disloyal。〃
〃Who　would　dare　to　murder　me？〃　cried　the　Emperor。
〃Everyone　knows　that　Your　Majesty　lacks　the　happy　attributes　of　a　successful　ruler　and　that　is　why　there　is　so　much　confusion　in　the　country。　If　it　were　not　for　the　presence　of　the　Prince　of　Wei　in　your　court；　many　people　would　murder　you。　Your　Majesty　has　never　yet　learned　how　to　treat　people；　is　your　sole　desire　to　set　people　against　you？〃
The　Emperor；　alarmed　at　the　violence　of　his　language；　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　rose　to　go　away。　Then　Wang　Lang　glanced　at　Hua　Xin；　who　rushed　forward　and　seized　the　Emperor　by　the　sleeve。
〃Is　it　consent　or　not？〃　cried　he　angrily。　〃One　word！〃
The　Emperor　was　dumb　with　terror。
〃Where　is　the　Keeper　of　the　Seal？〃　shouted　Cao　Hong　and　Cao　Xiu；　drawing　their　swords。
〃The　Keeper　of　the　Seal　is　here；〃　said　Zu　Bi；　stepping　calmly　to　the　front。
They　tried　to　force　the　seal　from　him；　but　he　cried；　〃The　Seal　belongs　to　the　Emperor；　and　I　will　not　yield　it！〃
Cao　Hong　called　up　the　executioners　and　told　them　to　behead　him；　which　they　did。　Zu　Bi　abused　the　ruffians　to　the　last　breath。

Dethroned　by　wicked　traitors　was　the　ruling　House　of　Han；
They　falsely　claimed　as　precedent　the　deeds　of　Yu　and　Tang。
The　crowd　of　officers　at　court　were　all　on　Cao　Pi's　side；
Save　one；　Zu　Bi　the　Keeper　of　the　Seal；　and　loyally　he　died。

The　Emperor　was　in　a　state　of　abject　terror；　and　when　he　saw　the　whole　court　filling　up　with　armed　guards；　all　the　soldiers　of　Wei　and　so　enemies；　he　burst　into　tears。
〃Yes；　I　will　give　up　the　throne　to　the　Prince；　if　haply　I　may　be　spared　to　live　out　the　few　years　Heaven　has　assigned　me；〃　wailed　he。
〃The　Prince　will　always　take　care　of　Your　Majesty；〃　said　Jia　Xu。　〃It　would　be　as　well　to　prepare　the　abdication　manifesto　quickly　so　as　to　preserve　tranquillity。〃
Such　a　hint　could　not　be　missed；　and　Chen　Qun　was　directed　to　draft　the　document。　As　soon　as　it　was　finished；　Hua　Xin　and　a　host　of　officers；　took　it　off　to　the　Prince　of　Wei's　palace　and　presented　it；　with　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal；　in　the　name　of　the　Emperor。　Very　joyfully；　Cao　Pi　read　this　writing：
〃During　the　whole　of　my　thirty…two　years　of　reign　the　land　has　been　in　a　state　of　turmoil；　but　the　spirits　of　my　ancestors　have　preserved　me　in　the　midst　of　danger。　Now　from　the　signs　of　the　heavens　and　the　hearts　of　the　people；　I　see　that　the　virtue　of　the　Hans　is　exhausted；　and　happy　fortune　has　devolved　upon　the　House　of　Wei；　as　may　be　seen　from　the　success　in　war　enjoyed　by　the　late　King　Cao　and　the　resplendent　virtue　of　the　present　Prince；　which　answers　to　the　times。
〃By　all　noble　principles　the　empire　is　no　private　possession；　but　a　public　trust。　Wherefore　the　great　King　Yao；　to　his　eternal　glory；　passed　over　his　own　son。　How　I　admire　this　deed！　Now　in　imitation　thereof　I　have　resolved　to　abdicate　in　favor　of　my　Chief　Minister；　the　Prince　of　Wei；　who　will　not；　I　hope；　disappoint　my　wishes。〃
Cao　Pi　heard　this　and　was　going　to　accept　it　as　final。
But　Sima　Yi　said　no：　〃Although　the　declaration　and　the　seal　have　been　sent；　yet　decorum　demands　refusal　at　first　so　as　to　silence　people's　criticism。〃
Then　Wang　Lang　drafted　a　memorial　modestly　declining　the　proposal　of　succession　on　the　ground　of　unfitness　and　asking　that　some　other　be　sought。　When　this　reached　the　Emperor；　he　was　much　perturbed　and　asked　what　was　to　be　done　next。
Replied　Hua　Xin；　〃When　his　father　was　offered　a　princedom；　he　declined　thrice；　but　he　finally　accepted。　Wherefore　Your　Majesty　should　renew　the　offer。　The　Prince　will　end　by　acceptance。〃
There　was　no　help　for　it；　and　so　Huan　Jie　was　bidden　to　draft　another　declaration　of　offer；　which　was　sent　by　the　hand　of　the　Officer　of　the　Dynastic　Temple；　Zhang　Yin；　together　with　the　emblems　and　the　seal。
This　new　declaration　read　thus：
〃To　the　Prince　of　Wei。　You　have　sent　your　modest　refusal　of　my　offer　to　abdicate。　But　I　have　long　since　seen　that　the　virtue　of　Han　is　passing；　and　I　could　only　rely　upon　the　late　Prince；　your　father；　who　virtuously　undertook　the　great　task　of　removing　the　evil　oppressors　and　purging　the　land。　Now　his　son　Cao　Pi　has　succeeded。　His　perfect　virtue　is　resplendent；　his　fame　universal　and　his　benevolence　is　wafted　to　all　parts。　The　divine　choice　rests　upon　him。
〃In　the　days　of　old；　Yao　the　Great　would　abdicate；　and　did　so　in　favor　of　Shun；　who　possessed　merit　after　his　twenty　acplishments；　and　the　God…king　Shun　in　the　same　manner　handed　the　Throne　to　Yu　after　Yu　had　labored　to　control　the　floodwaters。　The　House　of　Han　succeeded　in　the　course　of　ages　to　the　work　of　Yao　and　now　passes　on　the　sacred　trust；　to　promote　the　repose　of　the　Earth　and　manifest　the　mand　of　Heaven。
〃By　the　hand　of　the　Minister　Zhang　Yin；　this　is　sent　with　the　emblems　and　the　seal。〃
Greatly　rejoicing；　Cao　Pi　received　this。
But　he　said　to　Jia　Xu；　〃Although　I　have　received　two　such　declarations；　yet　I　fear　that　I　may　not　escape　being　branded　as　a　usurper　by　posterity。〃
〃That　is　easily　arranged；〃　replied　Jia　Xu。　〃Direct　Zhang　Yin　to　take　the　seal　back　again；　and　tell　Hua　Xin　to　cause　the　Emperor　to　set　up　a　Terrace　of　Abdication　and　select　an　auspicious　day　for　the　ceremony。　Then　assemble　all　the　officers　at　the　terrace；　and　cause　the　Emperor　to　offer　the　seal　with　his　own　hands　and　surrender　the　empire　to　you。　Thus　can　you　dissipate　all　doubts　and　prevent　any　caviling。〃
So　the　seal　was　once　more　rejected　with　a　memorial　to　say　so。　Zhang　Yin　returned；　and　the　Emperor　inquired　of　the　courtiers　how　he　was　to　understand　this　act。
Then　Hua　Xin　said；　〃Your　Majesty　can　set　up　a　Terrace　of　Abdication　and　assemble　nobles；　officers；　and　mon　people　to　witness　the　act　of　abdication。　Thereafter　the　descendants　of　your　House　shall　receive　favor　at　the　hands　of　Wei。〃
The　Emperor　consented　and　sent　officials　in　the　Office　of　Imperial　Ceremonies　to　select　a　site　at　Fanyang。　And　there　they　built　a　terrace　of　three　stories；　and　they　chose　an　auspicious　day　of　the　tenth　month　for　the　act　of　abdication。　On　the　appointed　day；　Emperor　Xian　requested　Cao　Pi　to　ascend　the　terrace　and　receive　his　abdication。　At　the　foot　of　the　terrace　stood　the　officials；　more　than　four　hundred；　and　the　Imperial　Guards　and　the　Tiger　Guards；　and　soldiers　to　the　number　of　three　hundred　thousand。　Thereupon　the　Emperor　presented　the　seal；　which　Cao　Pi　received　into　his　hands。　Then　all　those　about　the　terrace　knelt　to　listen　to　the　reading　of　the　manifesto：
〃To　the　Prince　of　Wei。　In　days　of　old；　Yao　yielded　the　empire　to　Shun；　and　Shun　in　turn　ga