brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi； who lived in Shangyong。
〃My friend Peng Yang and I did much for the Prince of Hanzhong。 But now Peng Yang is dead； and I am forgotten。 More than that； the Prince wishes to put me to death。 What can I do？〃 said Meng Da。
Shen Dan replied； 〃I think I can find a plan that will secure your safety。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Meng Da； feeling happier。
〃Desertion。 My brother Shen Yi and I have long desired to go over to Wei。 You just write the Prince of Hanzhong a memorial resigning your service and betake yourself to the Prince of Wei； who will certainly employ you in some honorable way。 Then we two will follow。〃
Meng Da saw that this was his best course； so he wrote a memorandum； which he gave to the messenger who had brought the recent dispatches to take back with him。 That night Meng Da left his post and went to Wei。
The messenger returned to Chengdu； handed in Meng Da's memorial； and told the story of his desertion。 The Prince was angry。 He tore open the letter and read：
＇e＇ Yi Yin was was helper and prime minister of King Tang； the founder of Shang Dynasty。 After King Tang's death； Yi Yin served his sons and grandson。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Lu Wang was a master strategist； founding minister of Zhou Dynasty； counselor to King Wen。 Before joining King Wen； Lu Wang had been a fisher； who mediated on the river bank on political events。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Duke Wen of Jin （reigned 636…628 BC） was ruler of the western state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period。 He and his successors made Jin a dominant state for nearly 200 years。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Duke Huan of Qi （reigned BC 685…643）； in the name of serving the Zhou emperor； became the leader of a league of small states in northeast China during the Spring and Autumn period。 His prime minister was the famed Guan Zhong。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Wu was the South Land； while Chu was the area of Jingzhou。
＇e＇ Fan Li was adviser of Gou Jian； the king of Yue。 Fan Li helped Gou Jian plot the 〃Beauty Ruse〃 in order to destroy Fu Zha； the king of Wu。 After Yue triumphed over Wu； Fan Li resigned from politics。 His collegue Wen Zhong stayed to serve Gou Jian； but Wen Zhong got executed due to slanders。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zi Fan was uncle to Duke Wen of Jin。 In his early days； Duke Wen spent nineteen years in exile； and Zi Fan acpanied him。 When Duke Wen set to return to Jin； Zi Fan took leave； believing that Duke Wen would remember only Zi Fan's faults。
＇e＇ Shen Sheng was the eldest son of Duke Xiao of Jin in the Spring and Autumn period。 But Duke Xiao wanted the son of his favorite concubine； Li Ji； to succeed him as the ruler of Jin。 So Duke Xiao falsely accused Shen Sheng of trying to murder him。 Shen Sheng mitted suidcide rather than flee。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Wu Zixu was a native of Chu but sought refuge in Wu； and achieved great acplishments for Wu。 However； the younger king of Wu later believed rumors spread by some people； and ordered Wu Zixu to be put to death。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Meng Tian a mander of the First Emperor； engineer of the Great Wall； inventor of the brush。 He was executed； together with the First Emperor's eldest son； by Zhao Gao； who supported the second son for succession。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Yue Yi was a great general of Yan。 Yue Yi helped Yan overe Qi； which was a dominant state during the Warring States period。 。。。。。
〃In the humble opinion of thy servant； O Prince； you have set out to acplish a task parable with that of Yi Yin*； and to walk in the meritorious footsteps of Lu Wang* in building the fame of Dukes Wen* and Huan*。 When the great design was rough…hewn； you had the support of the lands of the states of Wu* and Chu*； wherefore many people of ability incontinently joined you。 Since I entered your service； I have mitted many faults； and if I recognize them； how much more do you see them！ Now； O Prince； you are surrounded by famous people； while I； useless as a helper at home and inept as a leader abroad； should be shamed were I to take a place among them。
〃It is well known that when Fan Li* saw certain eventualities； he went sailing on the lakes； and Zi Fan* acknowledged his faults and stayed by the rivers。 Inasmuch as one cannot take means of safeguarding one's self at the critical and dangerous moment； I desire………as is my duty………to go away as I came； untainted。 Moreover； I am stupid and without use or merit； merely born in these days as the sport of circumstances。
〃In the days of old； Shen Sheng*； though perfectly filial； incurred the suspicions of his father and died； Wu Zixu*； though perfectly loyal； was put to death。 Meng Tian*； though he extended the borders of Qin； suffered the extreme penalty； and Yue Yi*； though he destroyed the might of Qi； was the victim of calumny。 Whenever I have read of these men； I have been moved to tears； and now I am in like case and the more mortified。
〃Lately Jingzhou was overwhelmed； and I； an officer of rank； failed in my duty； not one in a hundred behaving as I should。 Only I return Fangling and Shangyong and seek service abroad。 Now I desire you； O Prince； graciously to understand； to sympathize with thy servant and to condone the step he is about to take。 Really I am but a mean man； incapable of great deeds。 I know what I am doing； and I dare to say it is no small fault。
〃They say that dissolution of bonds should not occasion recrimination； and the dismissed servant should take leave without heart…burning。 I have taken your orders many times； and now； O Prince； you must act yourself。 I write this with extreme trepidation。〃
But the reading gave rise to great anger in the breast of the Prince。
〃The unmerited fellow！〃 said he。 〃He turns traitor and dares to insult me by sending a letter of farewell。〃
Liu Bei was just giving orders to send a force to seize the deserter； when Zhuge Liang interposed； saying； 〃You had better send Liu Feng to capture him and let the two tigers worry each other to weakness。 Whether Liu Feng succeeds or fails； he will have to e to the capital； and you can kill him。 Thus will you cut off two evils。〃
Liu Bei took his advice。 Orders were sent to Mianzhu； and Liu Feng obediently led out his troops。
Now Meng Da arrived when Cao Pi was holding a great council。 When the attendants told him that General Meng Da of Shu had e； Cao Pi summoned him to enter。
Said Cao Pi to him； 〃Is this a sincere surrender？〃
Meng Da replied； 〃I was in fear of death for not having relieved Guan Yu。 That is my only reason for ing。〃
However； Cao Pi did not trust him。 Then they reported that Liu Feng was ing to arrest him； with a large army； and had attacked Xiangyang and was challenging Meng Da to battle。
Cao Pi said； 〃You seem to be true。 Go then to Xiangyang and take Liu Feng。 If you bring me his head； I shall no longer doubt。〃
Meng Da replied； 〃I will convince him by argument。 No soldiers will be needed。 I will bring him to surrender too。〃
So Meng Da was made General Who Establishes Strong Arms； Lord of Pingyang； and Governor of Xincheng； and sent to guard Xiangyang and Fancheng。
Now there were two generals there already； Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang； who engaged in reducing the surrounding territories。 Meng Da arrived； met his two colleagues； and was told that Liu Feng was fifteen miles from the city。 Whereupon Meng Da wrote him a letter urging him to surrender。 But Liu Feng was in no mood to surrender。 Instead he tore up the letter and put the messenger to death。
〃The renegade has already made me offend against my duty to my uncle； and now would sever me from my father so that I shall be reproached as disloyal and unfilial；〃 said Liu Feng。
Meng Da went out with his army to give battle。 Liu Feng rode to the front； pointed with his sword at his opponent； and railed against him。
〃Death is very near you！〃 replied Meng Da。 〃Yet you continue obstinately in the way of foolishness and will not understand。〃
Liu Feng rode out flourishing his sword。 He engaged Meng Da； who ran away before the conflict had well begun。 Liu Feng pursued hotly to seven miles。 Then he fell into an ambush and found himself attacked on two sides by Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang。 Also Meng Da returned to the attack。 Liu Feng was forced to fly。 He made straight for Shangyong； pursued all the way。 When he reached the city and hailed the gate； he was met by a volley of arrows。
〃I have surrendered to Wei！〃 cried Shen Dan from the city tower。
Liu Feng got furious and prepared to attack the wall； but the army of Wei was close behind； and having no resting place； he set off for Fangling。 He arrived there to find the banners of Wei set out along the walls。 Then he saw Shen Yi wave a signal from the tower； and at once there appeared from the shelter of the wall a body of soldiers； and the leading banner displayed General of the Right Army Xu Huang 。
Liu Feng was worsted by the ambush。 Then he made for home。 But he was pursued； and only a hundred riders of his remained to him when he regained Chengdu。
Seeking an interview with his father； he found but scant sympathy。
In response to his petition； made prostrate； and weeping； Liu Bei said； 〃Shameful son！ How are you e to see me at all？〃
〃My uncle's mishap was not due to my refusal of help； but because Meng Da thwarted me。〃
〃You eat as a man； you dress as a man； but you have no more the instincts of a man than an image of clay or wood。 What mean you by saying another wretch thwarted you？〃
Liu Bei bade the executioners expel Liu Feng and put him to death。 But the Prince felt some punction later when he heard of Liu Feng's treatment to the messenger who had brought Meng Da's letter inviting him to bee a traitor。 And he gave way to grief for the death of Guan Yu until he fell ill。 So no military movements were made。
After he had succeeded to the princedom； Cao Pi raised all his officers to high rank and had an army prepared of three hundred thousand； and maneuvered them over the southern territories and made great feasts in the county of Qiao in the old state of Pei； which was the land of his ancestors。 As the grand army passed by； the aged villagers lined the roads offering gifts of wine； just as when the Founder of the Hans returned home to Pei。
When it was announced that the Regent Marshal Xiahou Dun was near death； Cao Pi hastened back to Yejun； but arrived too late to see him。 He put on mourning for the great leader and instituted magnificent funeral ceremonies。
In the eighth month of that same year （AD 220）； it was reported that a phoenix had been seen to bow at Shiyi； and a jilin had appeared at Linzi； while a yellow dragon was observed in Yejun。
Whereupon Imperial mander Li Qu and Minister Xu Zhi discussed these appearances； and putting them all together they concluded； saying； 〃Those splendid signs presage that Wei is about to supplant Han； and the altar of abdication should be set up。〃
Presently a deputation of forty high officers； both military and civil； led by Hua Xin； Wang Lang； Xin Pi； Jia Xu； Liu Ye； Liu Zi； Chen Jiao； Chen Qun； and Huan Jie went into the Forbidden City and proposed to Emperor Xian that he should abdicate and yield to the Prince of Wei； Cao Pi。
It is time to set up the throne of Wei；
And steal the land from the Hans。
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 T