home. Living you stood in awe of the celestial majesty, dead you come within the sphere of refining influence. It is right that you should hold your peace and refrain from uttering unseemly cries. With bowed head I pray you to partake of the sweet savour of this sacrifice.

"Alas, ye dead! To you this offering!"

K'ung-ming broke into loud lamentations at the end of this prayer and manifested extreme emotion, and the whole army shed tears. Mênghuo and his also moaned and wept, and amid the sad clouds and angry mists they saw the vague forms of many demons floating away on the wind till they disappeared.

The material portion of the sacrifice was then thrown into the river. Next day the army stood on the south bank with a clear sky over their heads and calm waters at their feet, the clouds gone and the winds hushed; and the crossing was made without misadventure. They continued their way, whips cracking, gongs clanging, spurs jingling, and ever and anon the song of victory rising over all.

Passing through Yungch'ang, Wang K'ang and Lü K'ai were left there in command of the four districts, and then Mênghuo was permitted to leave. He was ordered to be diligent in his administration, maintain good control, and soothe and care for the people left to him to govern and to see to it that agriculture was promoted. He took leave with tears rolling down his cheeks.

When the army neared the capital, the Latter Ruler came out in state to welcome his victorious minister. The king stood by the roadside as K'ung-ming came up, and waited.

K'ung-ming 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."

His lord took him kindly by the hand and raised him. Then the chariots of the king and his minister returned to Ch'êngtu side by side. In the capital were great rejoicings with banquets and rewards for the army. Henceforward distant lands sent tribute to the court to the number of two hundred. As proposed in a memorial, the king 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.

The King of Wei, Ts'ao P'ei, had now ruled seven years, and it was the fourth year of the king's reign in Shu. Ts'ao P'ei had taken to wife a lady of the Chên family, formerly the wife of the second son of Yüan Shao. He had discovered her at the sack of Yehch'êng and had married her. Shu bore him a son, Jui, also known as Yüan-chung, who was very clever and a great favourite with his father. Later he took as kuei-fei a daughter of one Kua Jung. She was a woman of exceeding

beauty whom her father called "Queen of Women," and the name stuck to her. But with her arrival at court the Lady Chên fell from her lord's favour, and the kuei-fei's ambition led her to intrigue to replace the Empress. She took Chang T'ao, a minister at the court, into her confidence.

At that time the king was indisposed, and Chang alleged that in the palace of the consort had been dug up a wooden image with the king's date of birth written thereon, so that it represented him. It was meant to exercise maleficent influence. Ts'ao P'ei in his anger put his consort to death; and he set up the kuei-fei in her place.

But she had no issue. Wherefore she nourished Jui as her own. However, loved as Jui was, he was not then named heir. When he was about fifteen Jui, who was an expert archer and a daring rider, accompanied his father to the hunt. In a gully they started a doe and its fawn. The king shot the doe, while the fawn fled. Seeing that the fawn's course led past his son's horse the king 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 king with remorse. He threw aside his bow, saying, "My son, you would make a benevolent and virtuous ruler."

From this circumstance he decided that Jui should succeed, and conferred upon him the princedom of P'ingyüan. In the fifth month the king fell ill, and medical treatment was of no avail. So the chief officers were summoned to the bedside of the king. They were Ts'ao Ch'ên, Ch'ên Chün, Ssuma I. When they had come, the king's son was called, and the dying king spake thus: "I am grievously ill, and my end is near. 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 king. "The sudden fall of the city gates was the omen, as I well knew." Just then the attendants said that Ts'ao Hsiu had come to ask after the king's health. They were told to call him into the chamber. When he had entered, Ts'ao P'ei 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 he sank back on the couch dead. He was forty years of age and had reigned seven years.

The four ministers raised the wailing for the dead and forthwith busied themselves with setting up Ts'ao Jui as the

Emperor of Ta Wei. The late king received the posthumous style of "Emperor Wên." The new Emperor's mother, the consort who had suffered death, was styled "Empress Wênchao."

Honours were distributed freely in celebration of the new reign. Chung Yu was made T'ai-fu; Ts'ao Chên, General; Ts'ao Hsiu, Minister of War; Hua Hsin a T'ai-yu; Ssŭma I became a Cavalry General; and many others, conspicuous and cbscure, were promoted. A general amnesty was declared throughout all the land.

About this time a vacancy existed in the governorship of Yungchou and Hsiliang. Ssuma I asked for the post and got it. He left for his new office as soon as he had received the appointment.

In due time the news of all these doings reached K'ung-ming and perturbed him not a little. He was anxious, not because of the death of one ruler and the succession of another, but about Ssŭma I, who was very crafty, and who, in command of such forces as were in his two provinces, might prove a serious danger to Shu. He felt that this man ought to be attacked at

once.

Ma Su spoke of this matter. "You, O 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 Ts'ao Jui may be brought to work the destruction of Ssŭma I. May I lay it before you?"

"What plan have you?" said he.

"The young king has no confidence in Ssuma I although he is a high minister of state. Now send someone secretly to Loyang and Yehchün to disseminate reports that Ssuma is about to rebel. Further, prepare a proclamation in his name and post it up so as to cause Ts'ao Jui to mistrust him and put him to death."

K'ung-ming adopted the suggestion. Whence it came about that a notice suddenly appeared on the city gate of Yehch'êng. The wardens of the gate took it down and sent it to Ts'ao Jui. This is what it said: "I, Ssuma I, Piao-chi Ta Chiang-chün, Commander of the Forces of Yung and Liang, confident in the universal principles of right, now inform the empire, saying, the Founder of this Dynasty, the Emperor Wu, established himself with the design of securing the empire to the son of Prince Ch'ên Ssu. Unfortunately, calumny spread abroad, and the Emperor could not manifest himself for many years. His grandson, Ts'ao Jui, 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 favouring 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, and 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 king, and he turned pale. At once he called a council of his lords to consider

it.

Hua Hsin said, "That was the reason for his having requested the governorship of the two provinces. Now the Founder of your House frequently said to me that Ssŭma I was ambitious and cruel, 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, "Ssuma I is a master of strategy and skilled in tactics. Moreover, he is ambitious and will cause mischief if he be allowed to live."

Wherefore Ts'ao Jui wrote a command to raise an army, which he would lead to punish the minister. Suddenly Ts'ao Chên stood forth from the rank of military officers and said, "What you advise is impossible. His late Majesty confided his son to the care of certain officers of state, of whom Ssuma I is one, wherefore it is certain that he felt sure of his 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 to reflect before you do anything."

"Supposing Ssŭma I really contemplates a revolt; what

then?"

Ts'ao Chên replied, "If Your Majesty suspects him, then do as did Han Kao-Tsu when, under pretence of taking a trip on the lakes Yün and Mêng he summoned his vassals-and seized Han Hsin, who had been denounced. Go to Ani; Ssuma I will assuredly come out to meet you, and his actions and demeanour may be watched closely. He can be arrested if need be."

Ts'ao Jui changed his mind. Leaving Ts'ao Chên to regulate the affairs of state, the young king went out with the Imperial Guards, to the number of ten legions, and travelled to Ani. Ignorant of the reason of his coming, and anxious to show off his dignity, Ssŭma I went to welcome his ruler in all the pomp of a commander of a great army. As he approached, the courtiers told the king that Ssŭma I's defection was certain since such a large army could only mean that he was prepared to resist. Whereupon Ts'ao Hsiu, with a large force, was sent in front to meet him. Ssuma I distrusted this show of force, but he advanced alone and stood humbly by the roadside till Ts'ao Hsiu came up.

Ts'ao Hsiu advanced and said, "Friend, His late Majesty entrusted you with the heavy responsibility of caring for his son; why are you in revolt?"

Ssuma I turned pale, and a cold sweat broke out all over him as he asked the reason for such a charge. Ts'ao Hsiu told him what had occurred.

"This is a vile plot on the part of our rivals to cause dissension," said he. “It is a design to make the Emperor work evil upon his ministers that thereby another may profit. I must see the Son of Heaven and explain."

Ordering his army to retire, he went forward alone to the Emperor's chariot, bowed low and said, weeping, "His late Majesty gave me charge of his son; could I betray him? This is a wile of the enemy. I crave permission to lead an army, first to destroy Shu and then to attack Wu, whereby to show my gratitude to the late Emperor and Your Majesty and manifest my own true heart."

However, Jui did not feel quite convinced, and Hua Hsin said, "In any case withdraw his military powers and let him go into retirement."

And thus it was decided. Ssŭma I retired to his native village. Ts'ao Hsiu succeeded to his command, and Jui returned to Loyang.

K'ung-ming rejoiced when they told him of the success that had attended the ruse.

"Ssuma I and the forces he commanded have been the obstacles in my long-wished-for attack on Wei. Now he has fallen I have no more anxiety."

At the first great assembly of officers at court K'ung-ming stepped forth and presented a memorial on the expedition he contemplated.

"The late Emperor had accomplished but half his great task at his death. At this moment the empire is in three parts, and our country is weak; it is a most critical moment for us. Still, ministers are not remiss in the capital, and loyal and devoted soldiers sacrifice their lives abroad, for they still remember the special kindness of the late Emperor and wish to show their gratitude to him by service to Your Majesty. Therefore it would be indeed fitting that you should extend your holy virtue to glorify his virtuous memory in the stimulation of the will of your purposeful officers. Your Majesty should not lose yourself in the pursuit of mean things, quoting phrases to confound the eternal principles of rectitude and so preventing remonstrance from honest men. One rule applies to the palace of the Emperor and the residence of a courtier; there must be one law rewarding the good and punishing the evil. Evil-doers and law-breakers, as also true and good men, should be dealt with according to their deserts by the officers concerned in order to manifest Your Majesty's