d of grief soon after。*
At this time the year…style of Wei was changed from Wonderful Beginning； the fifth year； to Great Glory； the first year （AD 264）。 In the third month of this year； since nothing could be done to assist Shu to recover its independence； the troops of Wu under Ding Feng were withdrawn and returned to their own land。
Now Secretary Hua Jiao sent up a memorial to Sun Xiu； the Ruler of Wu； saying； 〃Wu and Shu were as close as are one's lips to one's teeth； and when the lips are gone the teeth are cold。 Without doubt Sima Zhao will now turn his thoughts to attacking us； and Your Majesty must realize the danger and prepare to meet it。〃
Sun Xiu knew that he spoke truly； so he set Lu Kang； son of the late leader Lu Xun； over the army of Jingzhou and the river ports with the title General Who Guards the East； Sun Yin was sent to Nanxu； and Ding Feng was ordered to set up several hundred garrisons along the river banks。
In Shu when Huo Yi； Governor of Jianning； heard that Chengdu had been taken； he dressed himself in white and wailed during three days； facing west toward the capital。
〃Now that the capital has fallen and the Ruler of Shu is a captive； it would be well to surrender；〃 said his officers。
Huo Yi replied； 〃There is a hindrance。 I know not how fares our lord； whether he is in fort or in misery。 If his captors treat him generously； then will I yield。 But perhaps they will put him to shame； and when the prince is shamed； the minister dies。〃
So certain persons were sent to Luoyang to find out how fared the Latter Ruler。
Soon after the Latter Ruler reached the capital of Wei； Sima Zhao returned。
Seeing the Latter Ruler at court； Sima Zhao upbraided him； saying； 〃You deserved death for your vicious courses………corrupt morality； unchecked self…indulgence； contempt of good people； and misgovernment………； which had brought misfortune upon yourself！〃
Hearing this； the face of the Latter Ruler turned to the color of clay with fear； and he was speechless。
But the courtiers said； 〃He has lost his kingdom； he has surrendered without a struggle； and he now deserves pardon。〃
Thus the Latter Ruler suffered no injury； but was created Duke of Anle。 Moreover； he was assigned a residence and a revenue； and he received presents of silk； and servants were sent to wait upon him； males and females in total one hundred。 His son Liu Dao and the officers of Shu………Fan Jian； Qiao Zhou； Xi Zheng； and others………were given ranks of nobility。 The Latter Ruler expressed his thanks and left。
Huang Hao； whose evil influence had brought the kingdom to nought； and who had oppressed the people； was put to death with ignominy in the public place。
When Huo Yi heard all these things； he came with his officers and yielded submission。
Next day the Latter Ruler went to the residence of Sima Zhao to thank him for his bounty； and a banquet was prepared。 At the banquet they performed the music of Wei； with the dances； and the hearts of the officers of Shu were sad。 Only the Latter Ruler appeared merry。
Half way through the feast； Sima Zhao said to Jia Chong； 〃The man lacks feeling。 That is what has ruined him。 Even if Zhuge Liang had lived； he could not have maintained such a man。 It is no wonder that Jiang Wei failed。〃
Turning to his guest； Sima Zhao said； 〃Do you never think of Shu？〃
〃With such music as this； I forget Shu；〃 replied the Latter Ruler。
Presently the Latter Ruler rose and left the table to change dress。
Xi Zheng went over to him and said； 〃Why did Your Majesty not say you missed Shu？ If Your Majesty are questioned again； weep and say that in Shu are the tombs of your forefathers and no day passes that Your Majesty do not grieve to be so far away。 The Duke of Jin may let Your Majesty return。〃
The Latter Ruler promised he would。
When the wine had gone round several more times； Sima Zhao put the same question a second time： 〃Do you never think of Shu？〃
The Latter Ruler replied as he had been told。 He also tried to weep； but failed to shed a tear。 So he shut his eyes。
〃Is not that just what Xi Zheng told you to say？〃 asked Sima Zhao。
〃It is just as you say；〃 was the reply。
They all laughed。 But really Sima Zhao was pleased with the frank answer and felt that nothing was to be feared from him。
Laughter loving； pleasure pursuing；
Rippling smiles over a merry face；
Never a thought of his former glory
In his callous heart finds place。
Childish joy in a change of dwelling；
That he feels and that alone；
Manifest now that he was never
Worthy to sit on his father's throne。
The courtiers thought that so grand an exploit as the conquest of the River Lands was worthy of high honor； so they memorialized the Ruler of Wei； Cao Huang； to confer the rank Prince of Jin on Sima Zhao。 At that time； Cao Huang ruled in name only； for he had no authority。 The whole land was under Sima Zhao； whose will the Emperor himself dared not cross。 And so； in due course； the Duke of Jin became Prince of Jin。
After being made Prince of Jin； Sima Zhao posthumously created his father； Sima Yi； the Original Prince and his late elder brother； Sima Shi； the Wonderful Prince。
The wife of Sima Zhao was the daughter of Wang Su。 She bore to him two sons； the elder of whom was named Sima Yan。 Sima Yan was huge of frame； his flowing hair reached to the ground when he stood up； and both hands hung down below his knees。 He was clever； brave； and skilled in the use of arms。
The second son； Sima You； was mild of disposition； a filial son and a dutiful brother。 His father loved him dearly。 As Sima Shi had died without leaving sons； this youth； Sima You； was regarded as his son； to continue that line of the family。
Sima Zhao used to say： 〃The empire was really my brother's。〃
Being a prince； it was necessary for Sima Zhao to choose his heir； and he wished to name his younger son Sima You。 But Shan Tao remonstrated。
〃It is improper and infelicitous to prefer the younger；〃 said Shan Tao。
And Jia Chong； He Zeng； and Pei Xiu followed in the same strain。
〃The elder is clever； able in war； one of the most talented people in the state and popular。 With such natural advantages he has a great destiny： He was not born to serve。〃
Sima Zhao hesitated； for he was still unwilling to abandon his desire。
But two other officers………Grand mander Wang Xiang and Minister of Works Xun Kai………also remonstrated； saying； 〃Certain former dynasties have preferred the younger before the elder and rebellion has generally followed。 We pray you reflect upon these cases。〃
Finally Sima Zhao yielded and named his elder son Sima Yan as his successor。
Certain officers memorialized： 〃This year a gigantic figure of a man descended from heaven in Xiangwu。 His height was twenty feet and his footprint measured over three feet。 He had white hair and a hoary beard。 He wore an unlined yellow robe and a yellow cape。 He walked leaning on a black…handled staff。 This extraordinary man preached； saying； 'I am the king of the people； and now I e to tell you of a change of ruler and the ing of peace。' He wandered about for three days and then disappeared。 Evidently this portent refers to yourself； Noble Sir； and now you should assume the imperial headdress with twelve strings of pearls； set up the imperial standard； and have the roads cleared when you make a progress。 You should ride in the golden…shafted chariot with six horses。 Your consort should be styled 'Empress' and your heir 'Apparent'。〃
Sima Zhao was greatly pleased。 He returned to his palace； but just as he was sitting down； he was suddenly seized with paralysis and lost the use of his tongue。 He quickly grew worse。 His three chief confidants； Wang Xiang； He Zeng； and Xun Kai； together with many court officials； came to inquire after his health； but he could not speak to them。 He pointed toward the heir apparent； Sima Yan； and died。 It was the eighth month of that year。
Then said He Zeng； 〃The care of the empire devolves upon the Prince of Jin： Let us induct the heir。 Then we can perform the sacrifices to the late prince。〃
Thereupon Sima Yan was set up in his father's place。 He gave He Zeng the title of Prime Minister； Sima Wang； Minister of the Interior； Shi Bao； mander of the Flying Cavalry； and conferred many other titles and ranks。 The posthumous title of the 〃Scholar Prince〃 was conferred upon his late father。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
When the obsequies were finished； Sima Yan summoned Jia Chong and Pei Xiu into the Palace； and said； 〃Cao Cao said that if the celestial mandate rested upon him； he could be no more than King Wen of Zhou*； who served as a regent only。 Is this really so？〃
Jia Chong replied； 〃Cao Cao was in the service of Han and feared lest posterity should reproach him with usurpation。 Wherefore he spoke thus。 Nevertheless he caused Cao Pi to bee Emperor。〃
〃How did my father pare with Cao Cao？〃 asked Sima Yan。
〃Although Cao Cao was universally successful； yet the people feared him and credited him with no virtue。 Cao Pi's rule was marked by strife and lack of tranquillity。 No single year was peaceful。 Later the Original Prince and Wonderful Prince of your line rendered great services and disseminated passion and virtue； so that they were beloved。 Your late father overcame Shu in the west and was universally renowned。 parison with Cao Cao is impossible。〃
〃Still Cao Pi succeeded the rule of Han。 Can I not in like manner succeed that of Wei？〃
Jia Chong and Pei Xiu bowed low and said； 〃Cao Pi's action may be taken as a precedent to succeed an older dynasty。 Wherefore prepare an abdication terrace to make the great declaration。〃
Sima Yan resolved to act promptly。 Next day he entered the Forbidden City armed with a sword。 No court had been held for many days； for Cao Huang was ill at ease and full of dread。 When Sima Yan appeared； the Ruler of Wei left his place and advanced to met him。 Sima Yan sat down。
〃By whose merits did Wei succeed t