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〃To　the　Prince　of　Wei。　In　days　of　old；　Yao　yielded　the　empire　to　Shun；　and　Shun　in　turn　gave　it　to　Yu。　The　will　of　Heaven　does　not　follow　the　way　of　mortals；　but　seeks　the　virtuous。　The　rule　of　Han　has　lost　its　virility　and　the　times　are　out　of　joint。　When　my　turn　came　to　rule；　great　disorder　arose；　and　evils　stalked　abroad　till　the　empire　was　in　danger　of　subversion。　I　trusted　to　the　military　genius　of　the　late　Prince　of　Wei　to　restore　order　and　purge　away　the　evil；　whereby　to　ensure　tranquillity　to　my　House。　What　could　my　single　hand　do　to　correct　this　and　ensure　peace　for　my　Nine　Domains？
〃The　present　Prince　has　succeeded　to　his　father。　He　is　also　resplendent　in　virtue；　capable　as　Wu　the　Military　King　and　Wen　the　Scholar　King　of　the　great　task；　brilliant　in　the　glory　of　his　father。　The　spirit　of　the　empire　is　upon　him；　gods　and　humans　declare　his　worth。　To　him　be　the　bright　reward；　and　let　him　accept　this　mandate。　For　all　say　his　capabilities　fit　him　to　stand　beside　Yu。
〃As　did　my　great　predecessor；　I　respectfully　retire　that　he　may　be　set　up。　The　revolution　of　Heaven　brings　the　glory　upon　his　person；　and　he　will　accept　the　high　office　and　fort　all　people　by　reverently　obeying　the　decree　of　Heaven。〃
The　reading　finished；　the　Prince　of　Wei；　Cao　Pi；　proceeded　to　the　terrace　and　ascended　to　the　place　of　the　Emperor。　Then　Jia　Xu；　at　the　head　of　the　great　concourse　of　officers；　came　to　the　foot　of　the　terrace；　and　a　court　was　held。　The　year　of　reign　was　changed　from　Prolonged　Wealth；　the　first　year；　to　Yellow　Dawn；　the　first　year　（AD　220）；　and　the　government　became　that　of　Great　Wei。　An　edict　was　then　published　proclaiming　a　general　amnesty；　and　the　title　of　〃Founder　of　the　Dynasty〃　was　conferred　upon　the　late　Prince；　Cao　Cao。
Then　said　Hua　Xin；　〃As　heaven　has　but　one　sun；　so　the　people　can　have　but　one　ruler。　The　Hans　have　abdicated；　and　it　is　fitting　that　they　withdraw　to　a　distance。　I　pray　for　an　edict　naming　the　place　of　residence　of　the　Liu　family。〃
Taking　the　late　Emperor　by　the　arm；　Hua　Xin　led　him　forward　and　made　him　kneel　below　the　terrace　to　hear　the　mand。　Then　the　new　Emperor　Pi　conferred　upon　him　the　title　of　Duke　of　Shanyang；　bidding　him　depart　forthwith。
Thereupon　Hua　Xin　drew　his　sword　and　in　a　harsh　voice　said；　〃It　is　an　old　rule　that　the　setting　up　of　one　emperor　means　the　degradation　of　another。　Now；　through　the　gracious　kindness　of　His　Majesty；　you　are　spared　personal　injury　and　created　a　duke。　Proceed　at　once　and　return　not　to　court　without　express　mand。〃
The　late　Emperor　Xian　controlled　his　emotion；　thanked　the　Emperor　Pi　for　his　clemency　and　left　on　horseback。　But　those　who　saw　the　departure　could　not　help　a　feeling　of　pity　for　him。
Said　Cao　Pi　to　his　courtiers；　〃Now　I　understand　the　story　of　Shun　and　Yu。〃
Then　they　all　shouted：　〃O　Ruler；　may　thy　life　be　eternal！〃

The　ruling　policy　of　Han　had　failed　them；
Dangers　pressed　in　upon　the　House；
And　the　land　they　had　held　so　long
Passed　from　them　forever。
Little　thought　he；　who　then　snatched　their　scepter；
That　the　precedent　he　then　claimed
Would　be　used　in　due　time　by　another
To　justify　the　destruction　of　his　own　House。

The　officials　then　requested　Cao　Pi　to　make　a　solemn　declaration　to　Heaven　and　Earth；　which　he　did　with　humble　obeisance。
But　at　this　moment　a　sudden　storm　burst　whirling　up　the　dust　and　rolling　along　stones　till　no　one　could　see　the　face　of　his　neighbor。　All　the　lights　on　the　terrace　were　extinguished。　The　newly　enthroned　Emperor　was　terrified　and　fell　prostrate。　He　was　borne　away　unconscious。　When　he　revived；　he　was　assisted　into　the　Palace；　but　for　many　days　he　was　too　ill　to　hold　a　court。
When　he　had　somewhat　recovered；　he　met　his　courtiers　and　received　their　felicitations。　He　rewarded　Hua　Xin　with　the　post　of　Minister　of　the　Interior；　and　Wang　Lang　with　that　of　Minister　of　Works。　All　the　officers　were　advanced　in　rank。　But　as　his　recovery　was　slow；　he　began　to　think　there　was　too　much　witchcraft　about　the　palaces　at　Xuchang　and　left　it　for　Luoyang；　where　he　erected　a　large　palace　plex。

＇e＇　These　rumors　were　inaccurate；　or　they　might　have　had　some　political　purpose。　Emperor　Xian　died　fourteen　years　later；　in　AD　234。
The　tale　of　these　doings　reached　Chengdu　and　caused　great　grief　to　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong；　for　he　heard　the　rumors　that　the　late　Emperor　had　been　put　to　death*。　He　issued　an　order　for　mourning　to　be　worn　and　instituted　sacrifices；　and　he　conferred　the　posthumous　title　of　Emperor　Xian　the　Filial　on　the　late　Emperor。　This　worry　brought　on　an　illness；　so　that　he　could　not　transact　the　business　of　the　court；　which　was　left　in　the　hands　of　Zhuge　Liang。
Then　Zhuge　Liang　and　some　of　his　colleagues　took　counsel　one　with　another；　saying；　〃The　empire　cannot　be　one　single　day　without　its　ruler；　wherefore　we　desire　that　our　Prince　should　be　honored　with　the　title　of　'Emperor'。〃
Qiao　Zhou　said；　〃There　have　been　auspicious　indications。　A　yellow　vapor　has　been　seen　in　the　northwest　of　Chengdu　rising　to　the　clouds；　and　the　star　of　emperor　has　greatly　increased　in　splendor　and　shined　like　the　moon。　These　signs　mean　that　our　Prince　is　to　bee　Emperor　in　succession　to　the　House　of　Han。　There　can　be　no　doubt。〃
Whereupon　Zhuge　Liang　and　Xu　Jing；　at　the　head　of　a　large　number　of　officers；　presented　a　memorial　requesting　the　Prince　to　assume　the　title　of　Emperor。　But　Liu　Bei　objected。
〃O　Nobles；　do　you　desire　to　set　my　feet　in　the　way　of　disloyalty　and　wrong…doing？〃
〃Not　so；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃But　Cao　Pi　has　usurped　the　Throne；　while　you　are　a　scion　of　the　House。　It　is　right　and　proper　that　you　succeed　and　prolong　the　line。〃
But　the　Prince　suddenly　showed　anger；　saying；　〃Can　I　imitate　the　deeds　of　such　a　rebel？〃
He　rose　and　left　the　chamber；　going　to　his　own　apartments。　So　the　officials　dispersed。
But　three　days　later　Zhuge　Liang　again　led　a　deputation　to　the　court；　and　they　requested　that　the　Prince　should　e　forth　and　hear　them。　He　came；　and　they　all　prostrated　themselves。
Xu　Jing　spoke；　〃The　late　Emperor　of　the　Hans　has　been　slain　by　Cao　Pi。　You；　O　Prince；　will　fail　both　in　loyalty　and　rectitude　if　you　do　not　assume　the　succession　and　destroy　the　wrong…doers。　The　whole　empire　requests　you　to　rule　that　you　may　avenge　the　death　of　the　late　Emperor；　and　the　people　will　be　disappointed　if　you　do　not　accede　to　their　wishes。〃
The　Prince　replied；　〃Although　I　am　descended　from　the　grandson　of　Emperor　Jing；　I　have　not　been　of　the　least　advantage。　If　I　assumed　the　title　of　'Emperor'；　how　would　that　act　differ　from　usurpation？〃
Zhuge　Liang　pleaded　with　him　again　and　again；　but　the　Prince　remained　obdurate。　Then　Zhuge　Liang　bethought　that　where　argument　failed　a　ruse　might　succeed。　So　having　arranged　the　parts　his　several　colleagues　were　to　play；　he　pleaded　illness　and　remained　at　home。　Presently　it　was　told　the　Prince　that　his　adviser's　condition　was　being　serious；　wherefore　Liu　Bei　went　to　see　him　as　he　lay　on　his　couch。
〃What　illness　affects　you；　my　mander…in…Chief？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃My　heart　is　sad　like　unto　burning；　and　I　shall　soon　die。〃
〃What　is　it　that　causes　you　such　grief？〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　did　not　reply。　And　when　the　question　was　repeated　again　and　again　he　said　nothing；　but　just　lay　with　his　eyes　closed　as　if　he　was　too　ill　to　speak。
The　Prince；　however；　pressed　him　to　reply；　and　then　with　a　deep　sigh　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Great　Prince；　from　the　day　I　left　my　humble　cottage　to　follow　you；　you　have　always　listened　to　my　words　and　accepted　my　advice；　and　now　this　western　domain；　the　whole　of　the　two　River　Lands　is　yours　just　as　I　said　it　would　be。　But　this　usurpation　of　Cao　Pi　means　the　annihilation　of　the　Hans　and　the　cessation　of　their　sacrifices；　wherefore　my　colleagues　and　I　desired　you　to　bee　Emperor　in　order　to　crush　this　upstart　Wei　and　restore　the　Hans。　We　all　worked　for　this　end；　never　thinking　that　you　would　refuse　so　obstinately　to　accede　to　our　wishes。　Now　the　officers　are　all　annoyed；　and　they　will　drift　away　before　very　long。　If　you　are　left　alone　and　Wu　and　Wei　e　to　attack；　it　will　be　difficult　for　you　to　hold　on　to　what　you　have。　Do　you　not　think　this　sufficient　reason　for　me　to　feel　grieved？〃
〃Unless　I　refused；　the　whole　world　would　blame　me。　I　am　afraid；〃　replied　the　Prince。
Quoting　Confucius　the　Teacher；　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃'If　names　be　not　correct；　language　is　not　in　accordance　with　the　truth　of　things。'　In　other　words；　if　one　be　not　really　straight；　people　will　not　speak　of　one　favorably。　O　Prince；　you　are　straight；　and　people　speak　of　you　favorably。　What　more　is　there　to　say？　You　know　when　Heaven　offers　and　you　refuse；　you　are　certainly　to　blame。〃
〃When　you　have　recovered；　it　shall　be　done；〃　said　the　Prince。
Up　leapt　Zhuge　Liang　from　his　bed；　tapped　at　the　screen　in　front　of　a　doorway　and　in　rushed　a　number　of　high　officers；　who　prostrated　themselves；　crying；　〃So　you　have　consented；　O　Prince！　Then　choose　the　day　for　the　ceremony。〃
They　were　all　the　most　trusted　of　his　court：　Imperial　Guardian　Xu　Jing；　General　Who　Brings　Peace　to　Han　Mi　Zhu；　Lord　of　Qingyi　Xiang　Ju；　Lord　of　Yangquan　Liu　Bao；　Deputy　Governor　Zhao　Zuo；　First　Secretary　Yang　Hong；　Counselor　Du　Qiong；　Secretary　Zhang　Shuang；　Minister　Lai　Gong；　Minister　Huang　Quan；　Minister　He　Zong；　Doctorate　Scholar　Yin　Mo；　Minister　Qiao　Zhou；　Grand　mander　Yin　Chun；　Imperial　mander　Zhang　Si；　Treasurer　Wang　Mou；　Doctorate　Scholar　Yi　Ji；　Counselor　Qin　Mi；　and　many　others。
The　Prince　was　greatly　startled；　and　said；　〃You　are　mitting　me　to　doing　what　is　dishonorable！〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃Since　consent　has　been　given；　let　a　terrace　be　built　and　a　day　chosen　for　the　great　ceremony。〃
The　Prince　was　escorted　back　to　his　palace；　and　Academician　Xu　Ci　and　High　Counselor　Meng　Guang　were　told　off　to　see　to　the　building　of　the　terrace　at　Mount　Wudan　south　of　Chengdu。　And　when　all　was　ready；　a　great　concourse　of　officers　solemnly　escorted　the　Prince；　seated　in　a　carriage　of　the　imperial　pattern；　to　the　ground　prepared；　and　he　went　up　to　the　altar　and　performed　the　appointed　sacrifice。
This　done；　the　solemn　announcement　was　read　in　a　loud　voice　by　Qiao　Zhou：
〃On　this　twelfth　day　of　the　fourth　month　of　the　twenty…fifth　year　of　the　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　Era；　Liu　Bei；　the　Emperor；　makes　this　solemn　announcement　to　Heaven　and　Earth。
〃The　dynasty　of　Han　has　possessed　the　empire　for　years　without　end。　Formerly　Wang　Mang　rebelled　against　his　sovereign；　and　Liu　Xiu　the　Founder　of　Latter　Han　rose　in　his　wrath　and　put　Wang　Mang　to　death；　thus　restoring　the　prerogatives　of　the　great　sacrifices　to　him　who　rightly　exercised　them。　Lately　Cao　Cao；　powerful　and　cruel；　slew　the　Empress；　and　his　crimes　cry　aloud　to　Heaven　for　vengeance。　His　son；　Cao　Pi；　carrying　evils　into　every　quarter；　then　seized　the　scepter。
〃My　officials　and　leaders；　regarding　the　dynasty　as　having　been　overthrown；　think　it　fitting　that　I；　Liu　Bei；　would　continue　the　line。　As　successor　to　my　two　warrior　ancestors；　Liu　Bang　and　Liu　Xiu；　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；　the　great　task　of　my　ancestors　may　not　discontinue；　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　Liu　Bang　and　Liu　Xiu　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　fort　all　the　people；　rejoice　the　ancestors　of　the　Dynastic　House；　and　bring　eternal　tranquillity　to　all　domains。〃
When　the　reading　was　ended；　and　the　sacrifice　and　the　prayer；　Zhuge　Liang；　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；　Liu　Bei；　am　unfitted。　I　pray　that　another；　more　able；　may　be　chosen。〃
But　Zhuge　Liang　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　sty