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These　were　his　last　words。　A　flood　of　tears　gushed　forth；　and　Cao　Pi　sank　back　on　the　couch　dead。　He　was　forty　years　of　age　and　had　reigned　seven　years　（AD　229）。
The　four　ministers　raised　the　wailing　for　the　dead　and　forthwith　busied　themselves　with　setting　up　Cao　Rui　as　the　Emperor　of　Great　Wei。　The　late　Emperor　received　the　posthumous　style　of　〃Emperor　Pi〃。　The　late　Empress；　the　consort　who　had　suffered　death；　was　styled　〃Empress　Zhen〃。
Honors　were　distributed　freely　in　celebration　of　the　new　reign。　Zhong　Yao　was　made　Imperial　Guardian；　Cao　Zhen；　Regent　Marshal；　Cao　Xiu；　Minister　of　War；　Hua　Xin；　Grand　mander；　Wang　Lang；　Minister　of　the　Interior；　Chen　Qun；　Minister　of　Works；　Sima　Yi；　Imperial　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　and　many　others；　conspicuous　and　obscure；　were　promoted。　A　general　amnesty　was　declared　throughout　all　the　land。
About　this　time　a　vacancy　existed　in　the　mandership　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou。　Sima　Yi　asked　for　the　post　and　got　it。　He　left　for　his　new　office　as　soon　as　he　had　received　the　appointment。　All　military　affairs　of　the　west　were　now　under　his　mand。
In　due　time　the　news　of　all　these　doings　reached　Zhuge　Liang　and　perturbed　him　not　a　little。
He　was　anxious；　saying；　〃Cao　Pi　is　dead；　and　his　son　Cao　Rui　has　succeeded　him。　But　that　is　not　my　concern。　Only　I　am　worried　about　Sima　Yi；　who　is　very　crafty　and　skillful　in　the　art　of　war；　and　who；　in　mand　of　all　western　forces　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou；　may　prove　a　serious　danger　to　Shu。　This　Sima　Yi　ought　to　be　attacked　at　once。〃
Counselor　Ma　Su　spoke　of　this　matter。　〃You；　O　Prime　Minister；　have　just　returned　from　an　arduous　and　exhausting　expedition；　and　you　should　take　time　to　recuperate　before　you　undertake　such　another。　However；　I　have　a　scheme　by　which　Cao　Rui　may　be　brought　to　work　the　destruction　of　Sima　Yi。　May　I　lay　it　before　you？〃
〃What　plan　have　you？〃　said　he。
〃The　young　emperor　has　no　confidence　in　Sima　Yi　although　Sima　Yi　is　a　high　minister　of　state。　Now　send　someone　secretly　to　Luoyang　and　Yejun　to　disseminate　reports　that　Sima　Yi　is　about　to　rebel。　Further；　prepare　a　proclamation　in　his　name　and　post　it　up　so　as　to　cause　Cao　Rui　to　mistrust　him　and　put　him　to　death。〃
Zhuge　Liang　adopted　the　suggestion。
Whence　it　came　about　that　many　notices　suddenly　appeared；　and　one　found　its　way　to　the　city　gate　of　Yejun。　The　wardens　of　the　gate　took　it　down　and　sent　it　to　Cao　Rui。　This　is　what　it　said：
〃I；　Sima　Yi；　Imperial　mander　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　mander　of　the　Forces　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou；　confident　in　the　universal　principles　of　right；　now　inform　the　empire；　saying：
〃The　Founder　of　this　Dynasty；　Emperor　Cao；　established　himself　with　the　design　of　recurring　the　empire　to　the　Lord　of　Linzi；　Cao　Zhi。　Unfortunately；　calumny　spread　abroad；　and　the　Dragon　Ruler　could　not　manifest　himself　for　many　years。　Emperor　Cao's　grandson；　Cao　Rui；　does　not　follow　a　virtuous　course；　though　sitting　in　the　high　place；　and　has　not　fulfilled　the　great　intention　of　his　ancestor。　Now　I；　in　accordance　with　the　will　of　Heaven　and　favoring　the　desires　of　the　people；　have　decided　upon　a　day　to　set　my　army　in　motion　in　order　to　secure　the　wish　of　the　people。　When　that　day　arrives；　I　call　upon　each　one　to　gather　to　his　lord；　and　I　will　destroy　utterly　the　family　of　any　who　shall　disobey。　You　are　hereby　informed　that　you　may　all　know。〃
This　document　frightened　the　young　Emperor；　and　he　turned　pale。　At　once　he　called　a　council　of　his　officials　to　consider　it。
Hua　Xin　said；　〃That　was　the　reason　for　his　having　requested　the　mandership　of　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou。　Now　Emperor　Cao；　the　Founder　of　Great　Wei；　frequently　said　to　me　that　Sima　Yi　was　ambitious　and　hungry；　and　should　not　be　entrusted　with　military　authority　lest　he　harm　the　state。　This　is　the　first　beginning　of　rebellion；　and　the　author　should　be　put　to　death。〃
Wang　Lang　said；　〃Sima　Yi　is　a　master　of　strategy　and　skilled　in　tactics。　Moreover；　he　is　ambitious　and　will　cause　mischief　if　he　be　allowed　to　live。〃
Wherefore　Cao　Rui　wrote　a　mand　to　raise　an　army；　which　he　would　lead　to　punish　the　minister。
Suddenly　Cao　Zhen　stood　forth　from　the　rank　of　military　officers　and　said；　〃What　you　advise　is　impossible。　His　Late　Majesty；　Emperor　Pi；　confided　his　son　to　the　care　of　certain　officers　of　state；　of　whom　Sima　Yi　is　one；　wherefore　it　is　certain　that　he　felt　sure　of　Sima　Yi's　probity。　So　far　nothing　is　known　certainly。　If　you　hastily　send　an　army　to　repress　him；　you　may　force　him　into　rebellion。　This　may　be　but　one　of　the　base　tricks　of　Shu　or　Wu　to　cause　dissension　in　our　midst　so　that　occasion　be　found　to　further　their　own　aims。　As　no　one　knows；　I　pray　Your　Majesty　reflect　before　you　do　anything。〃
〃Supposing　Sima　Yi　really　contemplates　a　revolt。　What　then？〃　said　Cao　Rui。
Cao　Zhen　replied；　〃If　Your　Majesty　suspects　him；　then　do　as　did　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor　of　Han　when；　under　pretense　of　taking　a　trip　on　the　Lake　Yunmeng；　he　summoned　his　vassals………and　seized　Han　Xin；　who　had　been　denounced。　Go　to　Anyi；　Sima　Yi　will　assuredly　e　out　to　meet　you；　and　his　actions　and　demeanor　may　be　watched　closely。　He　can　be　arrested　if　needed。〃
Cao　Rui　changed　his　mind。　Leaving　Cao　Zhen　to　regulate　the　affairs　of　state；　the　young　Emperor　went　out　with　the　Imperial　Guards；　to　the　number　of　one　hundred　thousand；　and　traveled　to　Anyi。
Ignorant　of　the　reason　of　the　Emperor's　ing；　and　anxious　to　show　off　his　dignity；　Sima　Yi　went　to　wele　his　ruler　in　all　the　pomp　of　a　mander　of　a　great　army　of　one　hundred　thousand。
As　Sima　Yi　approached；　the　courtiers　told　the　Emperor；　saying；　〃Sima　Yi's　defection　is　certain　since　such　a　large　army　can　only　mean　that　he　is　prepared　to　resist。〃
Whereupon　Cao　Xiu；　with　a　large　force；　was　sent　in　front　to　meet　him。　Sima　Yi　thought　the　Imperial　Chariot　was　ing；　and　he　advanced　alone　and　stood　humbly　by　the　roadside　till　Cao　Xiu　came　up。
Cao　Xiu　advanced　and　said；　〃Friend；　His　Late　Majesty　entrusted　you　with　the　heavy　responsibility　of　caring　for　his　son。　Why　are　you　in　revolt？〃
Sima　Yi　turned　pale；　and　a　cold　sweat　broke　out　all　over　him　as　he　asked　the　reason　for　such　a　charge。　Cao　Xiu　told　him　what　had　occurred。
〃This　is　a　vile　plot　on　the　part　of　our　rivals；　Shu　and　Wu；　to　cause　dissension；〃　said　Sima　Yi。　〃It　is　a　design　to　make　the　Emperor　work　evil　upon　his　ministers　that　thereby　another　may　profit。　I　must　see　the　Son　of　Heaven　and　explain。〃
Ordering　his　army　to　retire；　Sima　Yi　went　forward　alone　to　the　Emperor's　chariot。
Sima　Yi　bowed　low　and　said；　weeping；　〃His　Late　Majesty　gave　me　charge　of　his　son。　Could　I　betray　him？　This　is　a　wile　of　the　enemy。　I　crave　permission　to　lead　an　army；　first　to　destroy　Shu　and　then　to　attack　Wu；　whereby　to　show　my　gratitude　to　the　late　Emperor　and　Your　Majesty　and　manifest　my　own　true　heart。〃
However；　Cao　Rui　did　not　feel　quite　convinced；　and　Hua　Xin　said；　〃In　any　case　withdraw　his　military　powers　and　let　him　go　into　retirement。〃
And　thus　it　was　decided。　Sima　Yi　was　forced　to　retire　to　his　native　village。　Cao　Xiu　succeeded　to　his　mand；　and　Cao　Rui　returned　to　Luoyang。
The　news　was　soon　reported　to　Shu。　Zhuge　Liang　rejoiced　when　they　told　him　of　the　success　that　had　attended　the　ruse。
〃Sima　Yi　and　the　forces　he　manded　in　Yongzhou　and　Liangzhou　have　been　the　obstacles　in　my　long…wished…for　attack　on　Wei。　Now　he　has　fallen；　I　have　no　more　anxiety。〃
At　the　first　great　assembly　of　officers　at　court；　Zhuge　Liang　stepped　forth　and　presented　to　the　Ruler　of　Shu　a　memorial　on　the　expedition　he　contemplated。
〃The　First　Ruler　had　acplished　but　half　his　great　task　at　his　death。　At　this　moment　the　empire　is　in　three　parts；　and　our　country　is　weak；　it　is　a　most　critical　moment　for　us。　Still；　ministers　are　not　remiss　in　the　capital；　and　loyal　and　devoted　soldiers　sacrifice　their　lives　abroad；　for　they　still　remember　the　special　kindness　of　the　First　Ruler　and　wish　to　show　their　gratitude　to　him　by　service　to　Your　Majesty。　Therefore　it　would　be　indeed　fitting　that　you　should　extend　your　holy　virtue　to　glorify　his　virtuous　memory　in　the　stimulation　of　the　will　of　your　purposeful　officers。　Your　Majesty　should　not　lose　yourself　in　the　pursuit　of　mean　things；　quoting　phrases　to　confound　the　eternal　principles　of　rectitude；　and　so　preventing　remonstrance　from　honest　people。　One　rule　applies　to　the　palace　of　the　Emperor　and　the　residence　of　a　courtier；　there　must　be　one　law　rewarding　the　good　and　punishing　the　evil。　Evil…doers　and　law…breakers；　as　also　true　and　good　people；　should　be　dealt　with　according　to　their　deserts　by　the　officers　concerned　in　order　to　manifest　Your　Majesty's　impartial　and　enlightened　administration。　Partiality　is　wrong；　as　is　one　law　for　the　court　and　another　for　the　regions。
〃The　High　Ministers　Fei　Yi；　Guo　Youzhi；　and　Dong　Yun　are　honest　men；　devotedly　anxious　to　be　loyal　to　the　last　degree；　wherefore　His　Late　Majesty　chose　them　in　his　testament。　My　advice　is　to　consult　them　in　all　Palace　matters；　great　or　small；　before　taking　action。　Your　Majesty　will　reap　the　enormous　advantage　of　having　any　failings　corrected。
〃General　Xiang　Chong　is　a　man　of　well…balanced　temperament；　versed　in　military　matters；　to　whom；　after　testing　him；　the　late　Emperor　applied　the　epithet　'capable'。　The　consensus　of　opinion　is　that　Xiang　Chong　should　be　Grand　mander。　My　advice　is　to　consult　him　in　all　military　matters；　great　or　small；　whereby　your　military　forces　will　yield　their　maximum；　each　one　being　employed　to　the　best　advantage。
〃Attract　worthy　people；　repel　mean　ones。　This　policy　achieved　the　glory　of　the　Former　Hans；　while　its　reversal　ruined　the　Latter　Hans。　When　the　late　Emperor　was　with　us；　he　often　discussed　this　with　your　servant；　and　he　took　much　to　heart　the　story　of　Emperors　Huan　and　Ling。
〃The　Chair　of　the　Secretariat　Chen　Zhen；　mander　Zhang　Si；　and　Minister　Jiang　Wan　are　both　incorruptible　and　enlightened　people；　honest　to　the　death。　I　wish　that　Your　Majesty　should　have　them　near　and　hold　them　in　confidence。　If　this　be　done；　then　the　glory　of　the　House　of　Han　will　be　quickly　consummated。
〃I　was　originally　a　private　person；　a　farmer　in　Nanyang；　concerned　only　to　secure　personal　safety　in　a　troubled　age　and　not　seeking　conversation　with　the　contending　nobles。　His　Late　Majesty；　the　First　Ruler；　overlooking　the　monness　of　my　origin；　condescended　to　seek　me　thrice　in　my　humble　cot　and　consult　me　on　the　trend　of　events。　His　magnanimity　affected　me　deeply；　and　I　consented　to　do　my　utmost　for　him。　Then　came　defeat；　and　I　took　office　at　a　moment　of　darkest　outlook　and　at　a　most　difficult　crisis。　This　is　twenty…one　years　ago。　The　First　Ruler　recognized　my　diligent　care；　and　when　dying　he　confided　the　great　task　to　me。　From　that　day　I　have　lived　a　life　of　anxiety　lest　I　should　fail　in　my　trust　and　so　dim　his　glory。
〃That　is　why　I　undertook　the　expedition　to　the　lands　beyond　the　River　Lu。　Now　the　Southern　Mangs　has　been　quelled；　and　our　army　is　in　good　condition。　I　ought　to　lead　it　against　the　north；　where　I　may　meet　with　a　measure　of　success　in　the　removal　of　the　wicked　ones；　the　restoration　of　Han；　and　a　return　to　the　old　capital。　This　is　my　duty　out　of　gratitude　to　the　late　Emperor　and　loyalty　to　Your　Majesty。　As　to　a　discussion　of　the　pros　and　cons　and　giving　a　true　version　of　the　whole　matter；　that　belongs　to　Guo　Youzhi　and　Fei　Yi　and　Dong　Yun。　I　desire　Your　Majesty　to　confide　to　me　the　task　of　slaying　the　rebels　and　restoring　the　Hans。　If　I　fail；　then　punish　me　by　telling　the　spirit　of　the　late　Emperor。　If　you　know　not　what　restoration　implies；　that　is　the　fault　of　your　advisers。
〃Your　Majesty　should　take　pains　to　be　guided　into　the　right　path　and　examine　carefully　what　is　laid　before　you；　carefully　remembering　the　late　Emperor's　testament。
〃I　cannot　express　what　would　be　my　delight　if　you　had　the　goodness　to　accept　and　act　on　my　advice。
〃Now　I　am　about　to　depart　on　a　distant　expedition；　I　write　this　with　tears　and　clearly　know　what　I　have　said。〃
The　Emperor　read　it　through　and　said；　〃My　Father　Minister；　you　have　only　just　returned　from　a　distant　and　fatiguing　expedition　against　the　Southern　Mangs。　You　are　not　yet　refreshed；　and　I　fear　this　march　to　the　north　will　be　almost　too　much　even　for　you。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃The　heaviest　responsibility　lies　upon　me；　the　well…being　of　Your　Majesty　confided　to　me　by　the　First　Ruler。　My　efforts　may　not　be　relaxed　night　or