point over Shoushan Mountain and travel over toward Xiangping； where it fell。 The soldiers were rather frightened at this apparition； but the leader rejoiced。
〃Five days from now Gongsun Yuan will be slain where that star fell；〃 said he。 〃Therefore attack with vigor。〃
They opened the attack the next morning at dawn； throwing up banks and sapping the walls； setting up stone…throwing machines and rearing ladders。 When night came the attack did not cease。 Arrows fell in the city like pelting rain。
Within the city； grain began to run short； and soon there was none。 They slaughtered bullocks and horses for food。 The soldiers began to be mutinous and no longer fought with any spirit。 There was talk of slaying Gongsun Yuan and yielding the city。
Gongsun Yuan was disheartened and frightened； and decided to sue for peace。 He sent his Prime Minister Wang Jian and Imperial Censor Liu Fei out of the city to beg Sima Yi to allow him to submit。 These two had to be let down from the walls by ropes； as no other means of exit were possible。
Wang Jian and Liu Fei found their way to Sima Yi and said； 〃We pray you； O mander； retire seven miles and allow the officers to e forth and surrender。〃
〃Why did not Gongsun Yuan himself e？〃 said Sima Yi。 〃He is rude。〃
He put the two envoys to death and sent their heads back into the city。
Gongsun Yuan was still more alarmed； but he resolved to make one more attempt。 This time he sent High Counselor Wei Yin as his envoy。 Sima Yi received this messenger sitting in state in his tent with his officers standing right and left。 Wei Yin approached on his knees； and when he reached the door of the tent recited his petition。
〃I pray you； O mander； turn your thunderous wrath from us。 We will send the son of our leader； Gongsun Xiu； the Heir Apparent； as hostage and all the officers shall appear before you bound with cords。〃
Sima Yi replied； 〃There are five possible operations for any army。 If you can fight； fight； if you cannot fight； defend； if you cannot defend； flee； if you cannot flee； surrender； if you cannot surrender； die。 These five courses are open to you； and a hostage would be useless。 Now return and tell your master。〃
Wei Yin put his hands over his head and fled like a rat。 He went into the city and related what had happened to him。
The Gongsuns； father and son； resolved to flee。 They chose a thousand of mounted troops； and in the dead of night opened the south gate and got out。 They took the road to the east and were rejoiced to find it clear。
All went well for a distance of three miles； when a bomb exploded。 This was followed by a roll of drums and the blare of trumpets； and a cohort stood in the way。 The leader was Sima Yi； supported by his two sons………Sima Shi and Sima Zhao。
〃Stop； O rebel！〃 cried the sons。
But Gongsun Yuan lashed his steed to a gallop。 Then Hu Zun； Xiahou Ba； Xiahou Wei； Zhang Hu； and Yue Chen； with their troops； came up and quickly surrounded them so that they were helpless。 Gongsun Yuan saw that escape was impossible； so he came with his son； dismounted； and offered surrender。
Sima Yi hardly looked at the two men； but he turned to his officers and said； 〃That night the star fell to this land； and today； five days later； the omen bees true。〃
They all felicitated him； saying； 〃The mander is superhuman！〃
Gongsun Yuan and Gongsun Xiu were slain where they stood。 Then Sima Yi turned to resume the siege of Xiangping； but before he had reached the walls； Hu Zun's army had entered。 Sima Yi went in and was received with great respect； the people burning incense as he passed。 He went to the residence； and then the whole of the Gongsun Yuan's clan； and all who had assisted in his rising； were beheaded。 They counted heads to the number of seventy。
The city taken and the rebels destroyed； Sima Yi issued a proclamation in order to restore confidence among the people。
Certain persons told him； 〃Jia Fan and Lun Zhi had been against the revolt and had therefore suffered death。〃
So Sima Yi honored their tombs and conferred ranks upon their children。 The contents of the treasury were distributed among the soldiers as rewards； and then the army marched back to Luoyang。
One night the Ruler of Wei was suddenly awakened by a chill blast that extinguished all the lights； but he saw the form of the late Empress Mao； with a score or two of other Palace attendants； ing toward the bed whereon he lay； and as they approached they demanded his life。 He was very frightened and fell ill so that he was like to die。
So the two officers； Liu Fang and Sun Zu； were set over the privy council； and he summoned his brother Cao Yu； the Prince of Yan； to the capital to make him Regent Marshal to assist the Heir Apparent； Cao Fang。 However； Cao Yu being modest and retiring by nature； declined these high offices and their responsibilities。
The Ruler of Wei then turned to his two confidants； Liu Fang and Sun Zu； inquired of them； saying； 〃Who of the family is a suitable person to support the Heir Apparent？〃
As Liu Fang and Sun Zu had both received many favors from Cao Zhen； they replied； 〃None is so fit as Cao Shuang； the son of Cao Zhen。〃
The Ruler of Wei approved their choice； and thus Cao Shuang became a great person。
Then Liu Fang and Sun Zu memorialized； saying； 〃As Cao Shuang has been chosen； Cao Yu； the Prince of Yan； should be ordered to leave the capital and return to Yan； his own place。〃
The Ruler of Wei consented and issued an edict； which these two bore to Cao Yu； saying； 〃The edict in the Emperor's own hand bids you return to your own domain at once； and you are not to return to court without a special mand。〃
Cao Yu wept； but he left forthwith。
Thereupon Cao Shuang was created Regent Marshal and Court Administrator。
But the Ruler of Wei's illness advanced rapidly； and he sent messenger with authority ensign to call Sima Yi into the Palace。 As soon as he arrived； he was led to the Emperor's chamber。
〃I feared lest I should not see you again；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。 〃But now I can die content。〃
The general bowed and said； 〃On the road they told me the sacred person was not perfectly well。 I grieved that I had not wings to hasten hither。 But I am happy in that I now behold the dragon countenance。〃
The heir； Cao Fang； was summoned to the Emperor's bedside and also Cao Shuang； Liu Fang； Sun Zu； and certain others。
Taking Sima Yi by the hand； the dying Emperor said； 〃When Liu Bei lay dying at Baidicheng； he confided his son； so soon to be an orphan； to the care of Zhuge Liang； who labored in this task to the very end and whose devotion only ceased with death。 If such conduct is possible in the mere remnant of a dying dynasty continued in a small state； how much more may I hope for it in a great country！ My son is only eight years of age； and incapable of sustaining the burden of rulership。 Happily for him he has ample merit and experience around him in the persons of yourself and his relatives。 He will never lack friends for my sake。〃
Turning to the young prince； he continued； 〃My friend Sima Yi is as myself； and you are to treat him with the same respect and deference。〃
Cao Rui bade Sima Yi lead the young prince forward。 The boy threw his arms around Sima Yi's neck and clung to him。
〃Never forget the affection he has just shown；〃 said Cao Rui； weeping。 And Sima Yi wept also。
The dying man swooned； although he could not speak； his hand still pointed to his son； and soon after he died。 Cao Rui had reigned thirteen years and was thirty…six years of age。 His death took place in the first month of the third year of Spectacular Beginning （AD 239）。
No time was lost in enthroning the new Emperor； the supporters being Sima Yi and Cao Shuang。 The new ruler's name was Cao Fang。 However； he was Cao Rui's son only by adoption。 He had been brought up in the Palace secretly； and no one knew his real origin。
The posthumous title of Emperor Rui the Knowledgeable was conferred upon the late ruler； and he was buried in the Gaoping Tombs。 Empress Guo was given the title of Empress Dowager。
The new reign was styled Right Beginning Era； the first year （AD 239）。 Sima Yi and Cao Shuang conducted the government； and in all matters Cao Shuang treated Sima Yi with deference and took no steps without his knowledge。
＇e＇ Deng Yu was mander…in…chief of Liu Xiu； the founder of Latter Han。 。。。。。
Cao Shuang was no stranger at court。 Cao Rui had respected him for his diligence and care and had been very fond of him； He had had the freedom of the Palace all his life。 He had a host of five hundred clients and retainers。 Among them were five wholly light and foppish。 Their names were He Yan； Deng Yang； Li Sheng； Ding Mi； and Bi Gui。 Deng Yang was a descendant of mander Deng Yu of Han*。 Beside these five there was another named Huan Fan； Minister of Agriculture； a man of good parts； who had the sobriquet of 〃Bag of Wisdom〃。 These six were Cao Shuang's most trusted panions and confidants。
One day He Yan said； 〃My lord； you should not let your great powers slip into the hands of any other； or you will repent it。〃
Cao Shuang replied； 〃Sima Yi as well as I received the late Emperor's sacred trust； and I mean to be true。〃
He Yan said； 〃When your father and this Sima Yi were winning their victories in the west； your father suffered much from this man's temper； which ultimately brought about his death。 Why do you not look into that？〃
Cao Shuang seemed suddenly to wake up。
Having entered into an intrigue with the majority of the officers about the court； then one day he presented to the Ruler of Wei a memorial； saying； 〃Sima Yi should be promoted to the rank of Guardian of the Throne for his great merits and services。〃
The promotion was made； and consequently Sima Yi； now a civil officer； let the whole military authority fall into the hands of Cao Shuang。
Having thus far succeeded； Cao Shuang next appointed his brothers to high military posts： Cao Xi as mander of the Center Army； Cao Xun； mander of the Imperial Guards； Cao Yan； mander of the Cavalry。 Each manded three thousand of the Palace guards； with right to go in and out of the Palace at will。 Moreover； three of his friends………He Yan； Deng Yang； and Ding Mi………were created Chairs of three boards； Bi Gui； mander of Capital District； and Li Sheng； Governor of Henan。 These five and their patron were close associates in all concerns of state。
Cao Shuang gathered about him larger and still larger numbers of supporters； till Sima Yi gave out that he was ill and remained in seclusion。 His two sons also resigned their offices。
Cao Shuang and his friends now gave themselves up to dissipation； spending days and nights in drinking and music。 In their dress and the furniture of their table they copied the Palace patterns。 Tribute in the shape of jewels and curios went to the residence of Cao Shuang before it entered the Emperor's palace； and his plex swarmed with beautiful damsels。 Minister Zhang Dang of the Inner Bureau toadied to Cao Shuang so far as to select eighteen of the late Emperor's handmaids and send them to the now powerful minister。 Cao Shuang also chose for him a chorus of two score well…born ladies who were skilled in music and dancing。 Cao Shuang also built for himself beautiful towers and pavilions and made to himself vessels of gold and silver； the work of the most expert