d upon the House of Wei； as may be seen from the success in war enjoyed by the late King Cao and the resplendent virtue of the present Prince； which answers to the times。
〃By all noble principles the empire is no private possession； but a public trust。 Wherefore the great King Yao； to his eternal glory； passed over his own son。 How I admire this deed！ Now in imitation thereof I have resolved to abdicate in favor of my Chief Minister； the Prince of Wei； who will not； I hope； disappoint my wishes。〃
Cao Pi heard this and was going to accept it as final。
But Sima Yi said no： 〃Although the declaration and the seal have been sent； yet decorum demands refusal at first so as to silence people's criticism。〃
Then Wang Lang drafted a memorial modestly declining the proposal of succession on the ground of unfitness and asking that some other be sought。 When this reached the Emperor； he was much perturbed and asked what was to be done next。
Replied Hua Xin； 〃When his father was offered a princedom； he declined thrice； but he finally accepted。 Wherefore Your Majesty should renew the offer。 The Prince will end by acceptance。〃
There was no help for it； and so Huan Jie was bidden to draft another declaration of offer； which was sent by the hand of the Officer of the Dynastic Temple； Zhang Yin； together with the emblems and the seal。
This new declaration read thus：
〃To the Prince of Wei。 You have sent your modest refusal of my offer to abdicate。 But I have long since seen that the virtue of Han is passing； and I could only rely upon the late Prince； your father； who virtuously undertook the great task of removing the evil oppressors and purging the land。 Now his son Cao Pi has succeeded。 His perfect virtue is resplendent； his fame universal and his benevolence is wafted to all parts。 The divine choice rests upon him。
〃In the days of old； Yao the Great would abdicate； and did so in favor of Shun； who possessed merit after his twenty acplishments； and the God…king Shun in the same manner handed the Throne to Yu after Yu had labored to control the floodwaters。 The House of Han succeeded in the course of ages to the work of Yao and now passes on the sacred trust； to promote the repose of the Earth and manifest the mand of Heaven。
〃By the hand of the Minister Zhang Yin； this is sent with the emblems and the seal。〃
Greatly rejoicing； Cao Pi received this。
But he said to Jia Xu； 〃Although I have received two such declarations； yet I fear that I may not escape being branded as a usurper by posterity。〃
〃That is easily arranged；〃 replied Jia Xu。 〃Direct Zhang Yin to take the seal back again； and tell Hua Xin to cause the Emperor to set up a Terrace of Abdication and select an auspicious day for the ceremony。 Then assemble all the officers at the terrace； and cause the Emperor to offer the seal with his own hands and surrender the empire to you。 Thus can you dissipate all doubts and prevent any caviling。〃
So the seal was once more rejected with a memorial to say so。 Zhang Yin returned； and the Emperor inquired of the courtiers how he was to understand this act。
Then Hua Xin said； 〃Your Majesty can set up a Terrace of Abdication and assemble nobles； officers； and mon people to witness the act of abdication。 Thereafter the descendants of your House shall receive favor at the hands of Wei。〃
The Emperor consented and sent officials in the Office of Imperial Ceremonies to select a site at Fanyang。 And there they built a terrace of three stories； and they chose an auspicious day of the tenth month for the act of abdication。 On the appointed day； Emperor Xian requested Cao Pi to ascend the terrace and receive his abdication。 At the foot of the terrace stood the officials； more than four hundred； and the Imperial Guards and the Tiger Guards； and soldiers to the number of three hundred thousand。 Thereupon the Emperor presented the seal； which Cao Pi received into his hands。 Then all those about the terrace knelt to listen to the reading of the manifesto：
〃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 acce