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As　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu　had　both　received　many　favors　from　Cao　Zhen；　they　replied；　〃None　is　so　fit　as　Cao　Shuang；　the　son　of　Cao　Zhen。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　approved　their　choice；　and　thus　Cao　Shuang　became　a　great　person。
Then　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu　memorialized；　saying；　〃As　Cao　Shuang　has　been　chosen；　Cao　Yu；　the　Prince　of　Yan；　should　be　ordered　to　leave　the　capital　and　return　to　Yan；　his　own　place。〃
The　Ruler　of　Wei　consented　and　issued　an　edict；　which　these　two　bore　to　Cao　Yu；　saying；　〃The　edict　in　the　Emperor's　own　hand　bids　you　return　to　your　own　domain　at　once；　and　you　are　not　to　return　to　court　without　a　special　mand。〃
Cao　Yu　wept；　but　he　left　forthwith。
Thereupon　Cao　Shuang　was　created　Regent　Marshal　and　Court　Administrator。
But　the　Ruler　of　Wei's　illness　advanced　rapidly；　and　he　sent　messenger　with　authority　ensign　to　call　Sima　Yi　into　the　Palace。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　he　was　led　to　the　Emperor's　chamber。
〃I　feared　lest　I　should　not　see　you　again；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。　〃But　now　I　can　die　content。〃
The　general　bowed　and　said；　〃On　the　road　they　told　me　the　sacred　person　was　not　perfectly　well。　I　grieved　that　I　had　not　wings　to　hasten　hither。　But　I　am　happy　in　that　I　now　behold　the　dragon　countenance。〃
The　heir；　Cao　Fang；　was　summoned　to　the　Emperor's　bedside　and　also　Cao　Shuang；　Liu　Fang；　Sun　Zu；　and　certain　others。
Taking　Sima　Yi　by　the　hand；　the　dying　Emperor　said；　〃When　Liu　Bei　lay　dying　at　Baidicheng；　he　confided　his　son；　so　soon　to　be　an　orphan；　to　the　care　of　Zhuge　Liang；　who　labored　in　this　task　to　the　very　end　and　whose　devotion　only　ceased　with　death。　If　such　conduct　is　possible　in　the　mere　remnant　of　a　dying　dynasty　continued　in　a　small　state；　how　much　more　may　I　hope　for　it　in　a　great　country！　My　son　is　only　eight　years　of　age；　and　incapable　of　sustaining　the　burden　of　rulership。　Happily　for　him　he　has　ample　merit　and　experience　around　him　in　the　persons　of　yourself　and　his　relatives。　He　will　never　lack　friends　for　my　sake。〃
Turning　to　the　young　prince；　he　continued；　〃My　friend　Sima　Yi　is　as　myself；　and　you　are　to　treat　him　with　the　same　respect　and　deference。〃
Cao　Rui　bade　Sima　Yi　lead　the　young　prince　forward。　The　boy　threw　his　arms　around　Sima　Yi's　neck　and　clung　to　him。
〃Never　forget　the　affection　he　has　just　shown；〃　said　Cao　Rui；　weeping。　And　Sima　Yi　wept　also。
The　dying　man　swooned；　although　he　could　not　speak；　his　hand　still　pointed　to　his　son；　and　soon　after　he　died。　Cao　Rui　had　reigned　thirteen　years　and　was　thirty…six　years　of　age。　His　death　took　place　in　the　first　month　of　the　third　year　of　Spectacular　Beginning　（AD　239）。
No　time　was　lost　in　enthroning　the　new　Emperor；　the　supporters　being　Sima　Yi　and　Cao　Shuang。　The　new　ruler's　name　was　Cao　Fang。　However；　he　was　Cao　Rui's　son　only　by　adoption。　He　had　been　brought　up　in　the　Palace　secretly；　and　no　one　knew　his　real　origin。
The　posthumous　title　of　Emperor　Rui　the　Knowledgeable　was　conferred　upon　the　late　ruler；　and　he　was　buried　in　the　Gaoping　Tombs。　Empress　Guo　was　given　the　title　of　Empress　Dowager。
The　new　reign　was　styled　Right　Beginning　Era；　the　first　year　（AD　239）。　Sima　Yi　and　Cao　Shuang　conducted　the　government；　and　in　all　matters　Cao　Shuang　treated　Sima　Yi　with　deference　and　took　no　steps　without　his　knowledge。

＇e＇　Deng　Yu　was　mander…in…chief　of　Liu　Xiu；　the　founder　of　Latter　Han。　。。。。。
Cao　Shuang　was　no　stranger　at　court。　Cao　Rui　had　respected　him　for　his　diligence　and　care　and　had　been　very　fond　of　him；　He　had　had　the　freedom　of　the　Palace　all　his　life。　He　had　a　host　of　five　hundred　clients　and　retainers。　Among　them　were　five　wholly　light　and　foppish。　Their　names　were　He　Yan；　Deng　Yang；　Li　Sheng；　Ding　Mi；　and　Bi　Gui。　Deng　Yang　was　a　descendant　of　mander　Deng　Yu　of　Han*。　Beside　these　five　there　was　another　named　Huan　Fan；　Minister　of　Agriculture；　a　man　of　good　parts；　who　had　the　sobriquet　of　〃Bag　of　Wisdom〃。　These　six　were　Cao　Shuang's　most　trusted　panions　and　confidants。
One　day　He　Yan　said；　〃My　lord；　you　should　not　let　your　great　powers　slip　into　the　hands　of　any　other；　or　you　will　repent　it。〃
Cao　Shuang　replied；　〃Sima　Yi　as　well　as　I　received　the　late　Emperor's　sacred　trust；　and　I　mean　to　be　true。〃
He　Yan　said；　〃When　your　father　and　this　Sima　Yi　were　winning　their　victories　in　the　west；　your　father　suffered　much　from　this　man's　temper；　which　ultimately　brought　about　his　death。　Why　do　you　not　look　into　that？〃
Cao　Shuang　seemed　suddenly　to　wake　up。
Having　entered　into　an　intrigue　with　the　majority　of　the　officers　about　the　court；　then　one　day　he　presented　to　the　Ruler　of　Wei　a　memorial；　saying；　〃Sima　Yi　should　be　promoted　to　the　rank　of　Guardian　of　the　Throne　for　his　great　merits　and　services。〃
The　promotion　was　made；　and　consequently　Sima　Yi；　now　a　civil　officer；　let　the　whole　military　authority　fall　into　the　hands　of　Cao　Shuang。
Having　thus　far　succeeded；　Cao　Shuang　next　appointed　his　brothers　to　high　military　posts：　Cao　Xi　as　mander　of　the　Center　Army；　Cao　Xun；　mander　of　the　Imperial　Guards；　Cao　Yan；　mander　of　the　Cavalry。　Each　manded　three　thousand　of　the　Palace　guards；　with　right　to　go　in　and　out　of　the　Palace　at　will。　Moreover；　three　of　his　friends………He　Yan；　Deng　Yang；　and　Ding　Mi………were　created　Chairs　of　three　boards；　Bi　Gui；　mander　of　Capital　District；　and　Li　Sheng；　Governor　of　Henan。　These　five　and　their　patron　were　close　associates　in　all　concerns　of　state。
Cao　Shuang　gathered　about　him　larger　and　still　larger　numbers　of　supporters；　till　Sima　Yi　gave　out　that　he　was　ill　and　remained　in　seclusion。　His　two　sons　also　resigned　their　offices。
Cao　Shuang　and　his　friends　now　gave　themselves　up　to　dissipation；　spending　days　and　nights　in　drinking　and　music。　In　their　dress　and　the　furniture　of　their　table　they　copied　the　Palace　patterns。　Tribute　in　the　shape　of　jewels　and　curios　went　to　the　residence　of　Cao　Shuang　before　it　entered　the　Emperor's　palace；　and　his　plex　swarmed　with　beautiful　damsels。　Minister　Zhang　Dang　of　the　Inner　Bureau　toadied　to　Cao　Shuang　so　far　as　to　select　eighteen　of　the　late　Emperor's　handmaids　and　send　them　to　the　now　powerful　minister。　Cao　Shuang　also　chose　for　him　a　chorus　of　two　score　well…born　ladies　who　were　skilled　in　music　and　dancing。　Cao　Shuang　also　built　for　himself　beautiful　towers　and　pavilions　and　made　to　himself　vessels　of　gold　and　silver；　the　work　of　the　most　expert　craftspeople；　whom　he　kept　constantly　employed。
Now　He　Yan　heard　of　Guan　Lu's　great　skill　in　divination　and　sent　to　Pingyuan　to　invite　him　to　discuss　about　the　Book　of　Changes。
When　the　soothsayer　arrived；　Deng　Yang　was　of　the　pany　to　meet　him；　and　he　said　to　Guan　Lu；　〃You　call　yourself　a　skillful　diviner；　but　your　speech　does　not　resemble　the　language　of　the　Book　of　Changes。　How　is　that？〃
Guan　Lu　replied；　〃An　interpreter　does　not　use　the　language　of　the　original。〃
He　Yan　laughed；　saying；　〃Certainly　good　words　are　not　wearisome。　But　cast　a　lot　for　me；　and　tell　me　whether　I　shall　ever　arrive　at　the　highest　office　or　not；　for　I　have　dreamed　repeatedly　that　many　blue　flies　settled　on　my　nose。〃
Guan　Lu　replied；　〃Gao　Kai　and　Gao　Yuan　aided　King　Shun；　Duke　Zhou　assisted　the　young　Emperor　Cheng　of　Zhou　Dynasty；　all　these　were　kindly　and　modest　and　enjoyed　great　happiness。　You；　Sir；　have　e　to　high　honors　and　wield　great　powers；　but　those　who　esteem　you　are　few　and　those　who　fear　you；　many。　You　are　not　careful　to　walk　in　the　way　of　good　fortune。　Now　the　nose　is　an　eminence。　If　an　eminence　retains　its　characteristic；　thereby　it　remains　in　honor。　But　is　it　not　that　blue　flies　gather　to　foul　objects　and　the　lofty　fears　a　fall？　I　would　wish　you　to　give　of　your　abundance　for　the　good　of　the　poor　and　avoid　walking　in　the　wrong　road。　Then　indeed　may　you　reach　the　highest　dignity；　and　the　blue　flies　will　disperse。〃
〃This　is　mere　senile　gossip；〃　said　Deng　Yang。
〃The　gift　of　age　is　to　see　that　which　is　yet　to　e；　the　gift　of　gossip　is　to　perceive　what　is　not　said；〃　replied　Guan　Lu。　Thereupon　he　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　went　away。
〃He　is　very　mad；　really；〃　said　his　two　hosts。
Guan　Lu　went　home。　When　he　saw　his　uncle；　Guan　Lu　gave　him　an　account　of　the　interview。
His　uncle　was　alarmed　at　the　probable　consequences；　and　said；　〃Why　did　you　anger　them？　They　are　too　powerful　for　you　to　offend。〃
〃What　is　there　to　fear？　I　have　been　talking　to　two　dead　men。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Deng　Yang's　gait　is　that　of　one　whose　sinews　are　loosed　from　his　bones；　and　his　pulse　is　unsteady。　When　he　would　stand；　he　totters　as　a　man　without　limbs。　This　is　the　aspect　of　a　disembodied　soul。　He　Yan　looks　as　if　his　soul　was　about　to　quit　its　habitation。　He　is　bloodless；　and　what　should　be　solid　in　him　is　mere　vapor。　He　looks　like　rotten　wood。　This　is　the　aspect　of　a　soul　even　now　in　the　dark　valley。　Both　these　men　will　certainly　soon　die　a　violent　death；　and　none　need　fear　them。〃
His　uncle　left；　cursing　him　for　a　madman。
Cao　Shuang　and　his　five　friends　were　devoted　to　hunting　and　were　often　out　of　the　city。　Cao　Xi；　a　brother　of　Cao　Shuang；　remonstrated　with　him　about　this　and　pointed　out　the　dangers　of　such　frequent　absence　on　these　excursions。
〃You　are　in　an　exalted　position　and　yet　you　are　constantly　being　out　hunting。　If　anyone　took　advantage　of　this　to　work　you　evil；　you　might　have　to　be　exceedingly　regretful。〃
Cao　Shuang　only　showed　anger　and　replied；　〃The　whole　military　authority　is　in　my　hands；　and　what　is　there　to　fear？〃
Huan　Fan；　Minister　of　Agriculture；　also　reasoned　with　him；　but　Cao　Shuang　would　not　listen。
About　this　time　the　style　of　the　reign　was　changed　from　Right　Beginning；　the　tenth　year；　to　Domestic　Calm；　the　first　year　（AD　249）。
Now　ever　since　Cao　Shuang　had　enjoyed　the　monopoly　of　military　authority；　he　had　never　heard　the　truth　about　the　state　of　health　of　the　man　he　had　maneuvered　out　of　power。　But　when　the　Ruler　of　Wei　appointed　Li　Sheng　to　the　Imperial　Protectorship　of　Qingzhou；　Cao　Shuang　bade　Li　Sheng　go　to　take　leave　of　Sima　Yi；　at　the　same　time　to　find　out　the　true　state　of　his　health。
So　Li　Sheng　proceeded　to　the　residence　of　the　High　Minister　and　was　announced。
Sima　Yi　saw　through　the　device　at　once　and　told　his　sons；　saying；　〃This　is　Cao　Shuang's　wish　to　find　out　my　real　condition。〃
And　he　bade　them　play　their　parts　in　the　scene　he　arranged；　before　the　visitor　was　admitted。
Sima　Yi　threw　aside　his　headdress；　so　letting　his　hair　fall　in　disorder；　stretched　himself　upon　his　couch；　tumbled　the　bed　ding　into　confusion；　got　a　couple　of　servant　girls　to　support　him；　and　then　told　his　servants　to　lead　in　the　visitor。
Li　Sheng　came　in　and　went　up　to　the　sick　man；　saying；　〃It　is　a　long　time　since　I　have　seen　you；　and　I　did　not　know　you　were　so　seriously　ill。　His　Majesty　is　sending　me　to　Qingzhou；　and　I　have　e　to　pay　my　respects　to　you　and　bid　you　farewell。〃
〃Ah；　Bingzhou　is　in　the　north；　you　will　have　to　be　very　careful　there；〃　said　Sima　Yi　feigning　that　he　had　not　heard。
〃I　am　going　as　Imperial　Protector　of　Qingzhou；　not　Bingzhou；〃　said　Li　Sheng。
〃Oh；　you　have　just　e　from　Bingzhou。〃
〃Qingzhou；　in　Huashang　Mountains。〃
〃Just　back　from　Qingzhou；　eh？〃　said　Sima　Yi；　smiling。
〃How　very　ill　the　Imperial　Guardian　is！〃　said　Li　Sheng　to　the　servants。
〃The　Minister　is　deaf；〃　said　they。
〃Give　me　paper　and　a　pen；〃　said　Li　Sheng。
Writing　materials　were　brought；　when　Li　Sheng　wrote　what　he　wished　to　say　and　put　it　before　his　host。
〃My　illness　has　made　me　very　deaf。　Take　care　of　yourself　on　the　way；〃　said　Sima　Yi。
Looking　up；　he　pointed　to　his　mouth。　One　of　the　girls　brought　some　broth　and　held　the　cup　for　him　to　drink。　He　put　his　lips　to　the　cup；　but　spilled　the　broth　all　over　his　dress。
〃I　am　very　weak　and　ill；〃　said　he；　〃and　may　die　at　any　moment。　My　sons　are　but　poor　things；　but　you　will　instruct　them。　When　you　see　the　Regent　Marshal；　you　will　ask　him　to　take　care　of　them　for　me；　will　you　not？〃
At　this　point　Sima　Yi　fell　back　on　the　couch；　panting；　and　Li　Sheng　took　his　leave。
Li　Sheng　told　Cao　Shuang　what　he　had　seen；　and　Cao　Shuang　rejoiced；　thinking　his　rival　could　not　last　long。
〃If　the　old　man　died；　I　should　not　be　the　one　to　grieve；〃　said　Cao　Shuang。
But　no　sooner　had　Li　Sheng　gone　than　Sima　Yi　rose　from　his　couch　and　said　to　his　sons；　〃Li　Sheng　will　take　a　full　account　of　this　to　Cao　Shuang；　who　will　not　fear　me　any　more。　But　wait　till　Cao　Shuang　goes　on　his　next　hunting　trip；　and　we　will　see　what　can　be　done。〃
Soon　after　th