Zhuge Liang quickly descended from his chariot； prostrated himself and said； 〃Thy servant has offended in causing his master anxiety。 But the conquest of the south was long。〃
The Emperor took Zhuge Liang kindly by the hand and raised him。 Then the chariots of the Son of God and his minister returned to Chengdu side by side。 In the capital were great rejoicings with banquets and rewards for the army。 Henceforward distant nations sent tribute to the Imperial Court to the number of two hundred。
As proposed in a memorial； the Emperor provided for the families of the soldiers who had lost their lives in the expedition； and they were made happy。 And the whole land enjoyed tranquillity。
＇e＇ Lady Zhen； a famous lady in the North of Yellow River （Hebei）； wife to Yuan Xi； son of Yuan Shao。 When Yuan Shao was defeated by Cao Cao； both Cao Cao's sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi claimed her； not to mention Cao Cao himself。 Cao Pi eventually won her hand； wedded her； and made her an empress。 She later became the Goddess of River Luo； according to folktales。 。。。。。
Meanwhile in the Middle Land； the Ruler of Wei； Cao Pi； had now ruled seven years； and it was the fourth year of Beginning Prosperity in Shu…Han calendar。 Cao Pi had taken to wife a lady of the Zhen family； formerly the wife of the second son of Yuan Shao。 He had discovered Lady Zhen* at the sack of Yejun and had married her。 She bore him a son； Cao Rui； who was very clever and a great favorite with his father。
Later Cao Pi took as Beloved Consort a daughter of Guo Yong in Guangzong。 Lady Guo was a woman of exceeding beauty； whom her father said； 〃She is the king among women！〃 And the name 〃Lady King〃 stuck to her。
But with Lady Guo's arrival at court； Lady Zhen fell from her lord's favor； and the Beloved Consort's ambition led her to intrigue to replace the Empress。 She took Zhang Tao； a minister at the court； into her confidence。
At that time the Emperor was indisposed； and Zhang Tao alleged； saying； 〃In the palace of the Empress has been dug up a wooden image with Your Majesty's date of birth written thereon。 It is meant to exercise a maleficent influence。〃
Cao Pi in his anger forced his Empress to mit suicide； and he set up the Beloved Consort in her place。
But Lady Guo had no issue。 Wherefore she nourished Cao Rui as her own。 However； loved as Cao Rui was； he was not then named heir by the Empress。
When he was about fifteen； Cao Rui； who was an expert archer and a daring rider； acpanied his father to the hunt。 In a gully they started a doe and its fawn。 Cao Pi shot the doe； while the fawn fled。 Seeing that the fawn's course led past his son's horse； Cao Pi called out to him to shoot it。 Instead the youth bursts into tears。
〃Your Majesty has slain the mother。 How can one kill the child as well？〃
The words struck the Emperor with remorse。 He threw aside his bow； saying； 〃My son； you would make a benevolent and virtuous ruler。〃
From this circumstance Cao Pi decided that Cao Rui should succeed； and conferred upon him the princedom of Pingyuan。
In the fifth month the Emperor fell ill； and medical treatment was of no avail。 So the chief officers were summoned to the bedside of the Emperor。 They were mander of the Center Army Cao Zhen； General Who Guards the West Chen Qun； and Grand mander Sima Yi。
When they had e； the Emperor's son was called； and the dying Emperor spoke thus： 〃I am grievously ill； and my end is near。 I confide to your care and guidance this son of mine。 You must support him out of good feeling for me。〃
〃Why does Your Majesty talk thus？〃 said they。 〃We will do our utmost to serve you for a thousand autumns and a myriad years。〃
〃No； I know that I am about to die；〃 said the Emperor。 〃The sudden fall of the gates of Xuchang this year was the omen； as I well knew。〃
Just then the attendants said that General Who Conquers the East Cao Xiu had e to ask after the Emperor's health。 They were told to call Cao Xiu into the chamber。
When he had entered； Cao Pi said to him； 〃You and these three are the pillars and cornerstones of the state。 If you will only uphold my son； I can close my eyes in peace。〃
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