〃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 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 t