in the mand as well； and we will work together to remove him。〃
〃But I am afraid we can not overe him；〃 said Cao Fang。
They wept and said； 〃We pledge ourselves to work together for the destruction of the tyrant； and to show our gratitude to Your Majesty！〃
Cao Fang them stripped himself of his innermost garment； gnawed his finger till the blood flowed； and with his finger…tip traced a mand in blood。
He gave it to his father…in…law； Zhang Qi； saying； 〃My ancestor； Emperor Cao； put to death Dong Cheng for just such a matter as this； so you must be exceedingly careful and maintain the greatest secrecy。〃
〃Oh； why use such ill…omened words？〃 cried Li Feng。 〃We are not like Dong Cheng； and Sima Shi cannot pare to the Founder。 Have no doubts。〃
The three conspirators took leave and went out carrying the edict with them。 Beside the Donghua Gate of the Palace； they saw Sima Shi ing to meet them wearing a sword。 Following him were many armed guards。 The three ministers took the side of the road to let the party go by。
〃Why are you three so late in leaving the Palace？〃 asked Sima Shi。
〃His Majesty was reading； and we stayed with him；〃 said Li Feng。
〃What was he reading？〃
〃The histories of the Xia； Shang； and Zhou dynasties。〃
〃What questions did the Emperor ask as he read those books？〃
＇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。 Soon after Tai Jia； King Tang's grandson； ascended the throne； he mitted many faults； and Yi Yin； acting as regent； exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace………the burial place of King Tang。 After three years Yi Yin returned him the throne。 Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor。 Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years （BC 1700…1050）。 It was this act of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that has made him immortal。 Whether he did right in temporarily dethroning the king was open to question； until a final verdict was rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his means。 This historical event attests the extent of the power exercised by a prime minister in those days。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Duke of Zhou was brother of King Wu； who was the founder of Zhou Dynasty。 After King Wu's death； the Duke of Zhou served his young son as regent。 The Duke of Zhou pletely ended the Shang domination； and he helped establish the Zhou administrative framework； which served as a model for future Chinese dynasties。 Zhou Dynasty lasted for 800 years （BC 1050…221）。 。。。。。
〃He asked about Yi Yin* and how he upheld the Shang； and the Duke of Zhou*； how he acted when he was regent。 And we told His Majesty that you were both Yi Yin and the Duke Zhou to him。〃
Sima Shi smiled grimly and said； 〃Why did you pare me with those two when in your hearts you think me a rebel like Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo？〃
〃How should we dare when we are your subordinates？〃 said the three ministers。
〃You are a lot of flatterers；〃 said Sima Shi； angrily。 〃And what were you crying about in that private chamber with the Emperor？〃
〃We did no such thing。〃
〃Your eyes are still red： You cannot deny that。〃
Xiahou Xuan then knew that the secrecy had been showed； so he broke out into a volley of abuse； crying； 〃Well； we were crying because of your conduct； because you terrorize over the Emperor and are scheming to usurp the Throne！〃
〃Seize him！〃 roared Sima Shi。
Xiahou Xuan threw back his sleeves and struck at Sima Shi with his fists； but the lictors pulled him back。 Then the three were searched； and on Zhang Qi was found the blood…stained garment of the Emperor。 They handed it to their chief； who recognized the object of his search； the secret edict。 It said：
〃The two Sima brothers have stolen away all my authority and are plotting to take the Throne。 The edicts I have been forced to issue do not represent my wishes； and hereby all officers； civil and military； may unite to destroy these two and restore the authority of the Throne。 These ends achieved； I will reward those who help to acplish them。〃
Sima Shi； more angry than ever； said； 〃So you wish to destroy me and my brother。 This is too much！〃
He ordered his followers to execute the three on the public ground by waist…bisection and to destroy their whole clans。
The three reviled without ceasing。 On the way to the place of execution； they ground their teeth with rage； spitting out the pieces they broke off。 They died muttering curses。
Sima Shi then went to the rear apartments of the Palace； where he found the Emperor talking with his Consort。
Just as he entered； she was saying to the Emperor； 〃The Palace is full of spies； and if this es out； it will mean trouble for me。〃
Sima Shi strode in； sword in hand。
〃My father placed Your Majesty on the throne； a service no less worthy than that of Duke Zhou； I have served Your Majesty as Yi Yin served his master。 Now is kindness met by enmity and service regarded as a fault。 Your Majesty has plotted with two or three insignificant officials to slay me and my brother。 Why is this？〃
〃I had no such intention；〃 said Cao Fang。
In reply Sima Shi drew the garment from his sleeve and threw it on the ground。
〃Who did this？〃
Cao Fang was overwhelmed： His soul flew beyond the skies； his spirit lied to the ninth heaven。
Shaking with fear； he said； 〃I was forced into it。 How could I think of such a thing？〃
〃To slander ministers by charging them with rebellion is an aggravated crime；〃 said Sima Shi。
Cao Fang knelt at his feet； saying； 〃Yes； I am guilty。 Forgive me。〃
〃I beg Your Majesty to rise： The laws must be respected！〃
Pointing to Empress Zhang； Sima Shi said； 〃She is of the Zhang house and must die！〃
〃Spare her！〃 cried Cao Fang； weeping bitterly。
But Sima Shi was obdurate。 He bade the lictors lead her away； and she was strangled with a white silk cord at a Palace gate。
Now I recall another year； and lo！
An empress borne away to shameful death。
Barefooted； weeping bitterly she shrieks
〃Farewell；〃 torn from her consort's arms。
History repeats itself； time's instrument；
Sima Shi avenges this on Cao Cao's heirs。
＇e＇ Huo Guang （BC ？…68） a general and regent of Han。 After Emperor Wu died； Huo Guang became regent to three successive emperors； and the second one had been the Prince of Changyi； who was on the throne for only twenty…seven days。 Huo Guang had the Prince of Changyi declared unfit to rule and deposed him。 Even though Huo Guang contributed much to the empire's stabilization； after he died； he was distanced by the emperor and most of his family were executed for conspiracy charges。 。。。。。
＇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。 Soon after Tai Jia； King Tang's grandson； ascended the throne； he mitted many faults； and Yi Yin； acting as regent； exiled Tai Jia to Tong Palace………the burial place of King Tang。 After three years Yi Yin returned him the throne。 Tai Jia eventually became an enlightened emperor。 Shang Dynasty lasted for 650 years （BC 1700…1050）。 It was this act of Yi Yin rather than his services in building up an empire that has made him immortal。 Whether he did right in temporarily dethroning the king was open to question； until a final verdict was rendered by Mencius who thought that his ends amply justified his means。 This historical event attests the extent of the power exercised by a prime minister in those days。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Qi was an ancient state on the extreme eastern edge of the North China Plain in what is now Shandong and Hebei provinces。 Became prominent under the leadership of Duke Huan and his adviser Guan Zhong during the Spring and Autumn period。 It nearly won the empire in the Warring States period。 。。。。。
The day after these events； Sima Shi assembled all the officers and addressed them thus： 〃Our present lord is profligate and devoid of principle； familiar with the vile and friendly with the impure。 He lends a ready ear to slander and keeps good people at a distance。 His faults exceed those of the Prince of Changyi* of old； and he has proved himself unfit to rule。 Wherefore； following the precedents of Yi Yin* and Huo Guang*； I have decided to put him aside and to set up another； thereby to maintain the sanctity of the ruler and ensure tranquillity。 What think you； Sirs？〃
They all agreed； saying； 〃General； you are right to play the same part as Yi Yin and Huo Guang； thereby acting in accordance with Heaven and fulfilling the desire of humankind。 Who dares dispute it？〃
Then Sima Shi； followed by the whole of the officials； went to the Palace of Everlasting Peace and informed the Empress Dowager of his intention。
〃Whom do you propose to place on the throne； General？〃 she asked。
〃I have observed that Cao Ju； Prince of Pengcheng； is intelligent； benevolent； and filial。 He is fit to rule the empire。〃
She replied； 〃He is my uncle； and it is not convenient。 However； there is Cao Mao； Duke of Gaogui； and grandson of Emperor Pi。 He is of mild temperament； respectful； and deferential； and may be set up。 You； Sir； and the high officers of state might favorably consider this。〃
Then spoke one； saying； 〃Her Majesty speaks well： Cao Mao should be raised to the throne。〃
All eyes turned toward the speaker； who was Sima Fu； uncle of Sima Shi。
The Duke of Gaogui was summoned to the capital。
The Empress called Cao Fang into her presence in the Hall of Principles and blamed him； saying； 〃You are vicious beyond measure； a panion of lewd men and a friend of vile women。 You are unfitted to rule。 Therefore resign the imperial seal and revert to your status of Prince of Qi*。 You are forbidden to present yourself at court without special mand。〃
Cao Fang； weeping； threw himself at her feet。 He gave up the seal； got into his carriage and went away。 Only a few faithful ministers restrained their tears and bade him farewell。
Cao Cao； the mighty minister of Han；
Oppressed the helpless； little then thought he
That only two score swiftly passing years
Would bring like fate to his posterity。
The Emperor…elect Cao Mao was the grandson of Emperor Pi； and son of Cao Lin； Prince of Donghai。 When Cao Mao was nearing the capital； all the officers attended to receive him at the Nanye Gate； where an imperial carriage await