第七十八回

第七十八回 治风疾神医身死 传遗命奸雄数终

却说汉中王闻关公父子遇害，哭倒于地，众文武急救，半晌方醒，扶入内殿。孔明劝曰：“王上少忧。自古道‘死生有命’，关公平日刚而自矜，故今日有此祸。王上且宜保养尊体，徐图报仇。”玄德曰：“孤与关、张二弟桃园结义时，誓同生死。今云长已亡，孤岂能独享富贵乎！”言未已，只见关兴号恸而来。玄德见了，大叫一声，又哭绝于地。众官救醒。一日哭绝三五次，三日水浆不进，只是痛哭，泪湿衣襟，斑斑成血。孔明与众官再三劝解。玄德曰：“孤与东吴，誓不同日月也！”孔明曰：“闻东吴将关公首级献与曹操，操以王侯礼祭葬之。”玄德曰：“此何意也？”孔明曰：“此是东吴欲移祸于曹操，操知其谋，故以厚礼葬关公，令王上归怨于吴也。”玄德曰：“吾今即提兵问罪于吴，以雪吾恨！”孔明谏曰：“不可。方今吴欲令我伐魏，魏亦欲令我伐吴：各怀谲计，伺隙而乘。王上只宜按兵不动，且与关公发丧。待吴、魏不和，乘时而伐之可也。”众官又再三劝谏，玄德方才进膳，传旨川中大小将士，尽皆挂孝。汉中王亲出南门招魂祭奠，号哭终日。

却说曹操在洛阳，自葬关公后，每夜合眼便见关公。操甚惊惧，问于众官。众官曰：“洛阳行宫旧殿多妖，可造新殿居之。”操曰：“吾欲起一殿，名建始殿，恨无良工。”贾诩曰：“洛阳良工有苏越者，最有巧思。”操召入，令画图像。苏越画成九间大殿，前后廊庑楼阁，呈与操。操视之曰：“汝画甚合孤意，但恐无栋梁之材。”苏越曰：“此去离城三十里有一潭，名跃龙潭，前有一祠，名跃龙祠。祠傍有一株大梨树，高十馀丈，堪作建始殿之梁。”

操大喜，即令人工到彼砍伐。次日，回报此树锯解不开，斧砍不入，不能斩伐。操不信，自领数百骑，直至跃龙祠前下马，仰观那树，亭亭如华盖，直侵云汉[1]，并无曲节。操命砍之，乡老数人前来谏曰：“此树已数百年矣，常有神人居其上，恐未可伐。”操大怒曰：“吾平生游历普天之下四十馀年，上至天子，下及庶人，无不惧孤，是何妖神，敢违孤意！”言讫，拔所佩剑亲自砍之，铮然有声，血溅满身。操愕然大惊，掷剑上马，回至宫内。是夜二更，操睡卧不安，坐于殿中，隐几[2]而寐。忽见一人披发仗剑，身穿皂衣，直至面前，指操喝曰：“吾乃梨树之神也。汝盖建始殿，意欲篡逆，却来伐吾神木！吾知汝数尽，特来杀汝！”操大惊，急呼：“武士安在？”皂衣人仗剑砍操。操大叫一声，忽然惊觉，头脑疼痛不可忍。急传旨遍求良医治疗，不能痊可。众官皆忧。

华歆入奏曰：“大王知有神医华佗否？”操曰：“即江东医周泰者乎？”歆曰：“是也。”操曰：“虽闻其名，未知其术。”歆曰：“华佗字元化，沛国谯郡人也。其医术之妙，世所罕有。但有患者，或用药，或用针，或用灸，随手而愈。若患五脏六腑之疾，药不能效者，以麻肺汤饮之，令病者如醉死，却用尖刀剖开其腹，以药汤洗其脏腑，病人略无疼痛。洗毕，然后以药线缝口，用药敷之，或一月，或二十日，即平复矣。其神妙如此！一日，佗行于道上，闻一人呻吟之声。佗曰：‘此饮食不下之病。’问之果然。佗令取蒜虀汁三升饮之，吐蛇一条，长二三尺，饮食即下。广陵太守陈登，心中烦懑，面赤，不能饮食，求佗医治。佗以药饮之，吐虫三升，皆赤头，首尾动摇。登问其故，佗曰：‘此因多食鱼腥，故有此毒。今日虽可，三年之后，必将复发，不可救也。’后陈登果三年而死。又有一人眉间生一瘤，痒不可当，令佗视之。佗曰：‘内有飞物。’人皆笑之。佗以刀割开，一黄雀飞去，病者即愈。有一人被犬咬足指，随长肉二块，一痛一痒，俱不可忍。佗曰：‘痛者内有针十个，痒者内有黑白棋子二枚。’人皆不信。佗以刀割开，果应其言。此人真扁鹊[3]、仓公[4]之流也！现居金城，离此不远，大王何不召之？”

操即差人星夜请华佗入内，令诊脉视疾。佗曰：“大王头脑疼痛，因患风而起。病根在脑袋中，风涎不能出，枉服汤药，不可治疗。某有一法：先饮麻肺汤，然后用利斧砍开脑袋，取出风涎，方可除根。”操大怒曰：“汝要杀孤耶！”佗曰：“大王曾闻关公中毒箭，伤其右臂，某刮骨疗毒，关公略无惧色，今大王小可之疾，何多疑焉？”操曰：“臂痛可刮，脑袋安可砍开？汝必与关公情熟，乘此机会，欲报仇耳！”呼左右拿下狱中，拷问其情。贾诩谏曰：“似此良医，世罕其匹，未可废也。”操叱曰：“此人欲乘机害我，正与吉平无异！”急令追拷。

华佗在狱，有一狱卒姓吴，人皆称为“吴押狱”。此人每日以酒食供奉华佗，佗感其恩，乃告曰：“我今将死，恨有《青囊书》未传于世。感公厚意，无可为报，我修一书，公可遣人送与我家，取《青囊书》来赠公，以继吾术。”吴押狱大喜曰：“我若得此书，弃了此役，医治天下病人，以传先生之德。”佗即修书付吴押狱。吴押狱直至金城，问佗之妻取了《青囊书》回至狱中，付与华佗检看毕，佗即将书赠与吴押狱。吴押狱持回家中藏之。旬日之后，华佗竟死于狱中。吴押狱买棺殡殓讫，脱了差役回家，欲取《青囊书》看习，只见其妻正将书在那里焚烧。吴押狱大惊，连忙抢夺，全卷已被烧毁，只剩得一两叶。吴押狱怒骂其妻，妻曰：“纵然学得与华佗一般神妙，只落得死于牢中，要他何用！”吴押狱嗟叹而止。因此《青囊书》不曾传于世，所传者止阉鸡猪等小法，乃烧剩一两叶中所载也。后人有诗叹曰：

华佗仙术比长桑，神识如窥垣一方。惆怅人亡书亦绝，后人无复见《青囊》！

却说曹操自杀华佗之后，病势愈重，又忧吴、蜀之事。正虑间，近臣忽奏东吴遣使上书。操取书拆视之，略曰：

臣孙权久知天命已归王上，伏望早正大位，遣将剿灭刘备，扫平两川，臣即率群下纳土归降矣。

操观毕大笑，出示群臣曰：“是儿欲使吾居炉火上耶[5]！”侍中陈群等奏曰：“汉室久已衰微，殿下功德巍巍，生灵仰望。今孙权称臣归命，此天人之应，异气齐声。殿下宜应天顺人，早正大位。”操笑曰：“吾事汉多年，虽有功德及民，然位至于王，名爵已极，何敢更有他望？苟天命在孤，孤为周文王矣。”司马懿曰：“今孙权既称臣归附，王上可封官赐爵，令拒刘备。”操从之，表封孙权为骠骑将军、南昌侯，领荆州牧。即日遣使赍诰敕赴东吴去讫。

操病势转加。忽一夜梦三马同槽而食，及晓，问贾诩曰：“孤向日曾梦三马同槽，疑是马腾父子为祸。今腾已死，昨宵复梦三马同槽。主何吉凶？”诩曰：“禄马，吉兆也。禄马归于曹，王上何必疑乎？”操因此不疑。后人有诗曰：

三马同槽事可疑，不知已植晋根基。曹瞒空有奸雄略，岂识朝中司马师？

是夜，操卧寝室，至三更，觉头目昏眩，乃起，伏几而卧。忽闻殿中声如裂帛，操惊视之，忽见伏皇后、董贵人、二皇子，并伏完、董承等二十馀人，浑身血污，立于愁云之内，隐隐闻索命之声。操急拔剑望空砍去，忽然一声响亮，震塌殿宇西南一角。操惊倒于地，近侍救出，迁于别宫养病。次夜，又闻殿外男女哭声不绝。至晓，操召群臣入曰：“孤在戎马之中三十馀年，未尝信怪异之事。今日为何如此？”群臣奏曰：“大王当命道士设醮修禳。”操叹曰：“圣人云：‘获罪于天，无所祷也。’孤天命已尽，安可救乎？”遂不允设醮。

次日，觉气冲上焦[6]，目不见物，急召夏侯惇商议。惇至殿门前，忽见伏皇后、董贵人、二皇子、伏完、董承等，立在阴云之中。惇大惊昏倒，左右扶出，自此得病。操召曹洪、陈群、贾诩、司马懿等，同至卧榻前，嘱以后事。曹洪等顿首曰：“大王善保玉体，不日定当霍然[7]。”操曰：“孤纵横天下三十馀年，群雄皆灭，止有江东孙权，西蜀刘备，未曾剿除。孤今病危，不能再与卿等相叙，特以家事相托。孤长子曹昂，刘氏所生，不幸早年殁于宛城。今卞氏生四子：丕、彰、植、熊。孤平生所爱第三子植，为人虚华少诚实，嗜酒放纵，因此不立。次子曹彰，勇而无谋；四子曹熊，多病难保。惟长子曹丕，笃厚恭谨，可继我业。卿等宜辅佐之。”

曹洪等涕泣领命而出。操令近侍取平日所藏名香，分赐诸侍妾，且嘱曰：“吾死之后，汝等须勤习女工，多造丝履，卖之可以得钱自给。”又命诸妾多居于铜雀台中，每日设祭，必令女伎奏乐上食。又遗命于彰德府讲武城外，设立疑冢七十二：“勿令后人知吾葬处，恐为人所发掘故也。”嘱毕，长叹一声，泪如雨下。须臾，气绝而死。寿六十六岁。时建安二十五年春正月也。后人有《邺中歌》一篇，叹曹操云：

邺则邺城水漳水，定有异人从此起。雄谋韵事与文心，君臣兄弟而父子。英雄未有俗胸中，出没岂随人眼底？功首罪魁非两人，遗臭流芳本一身。文章有神霸有气，岂能苟尔化为群？横流筑台距太行，气与理势相低昂。安有斯人不作逆，小不为霸大不王？霸王降作儿女鸣，无可奈何中不平。向帐明知非有益，分香未可谓无情。呜呼！古人作事无巨细，寂寞豪华皆有意。书生轻议冢中人，冢中笑尔书生气！

却说曹操身亡，文武百官尽皆举哀，一面遣人赴世子曹丕、鄢陵侯曹彰、临淄侯曹植、萧怀侯曹熊处报丧。众官用金棺银椁将操入殓，星夜举灵榇赴邺郡来。曹丕闻知父丧，放声痛哭，率大小官员出城十里，伏道迎榇入城，停于偏殿。官僚挂孝，聚哭于殿上。忽一人挺身而出曰：“请世子息哀，且议大事。”众视之，乃中庶子司马孚也。孚曰：“魏王既薨，天下震动。当早立嗣王，以安众心。何但哭泣耶？”群臣曰：“世子宜嗣位，但未得天子诏命，岂可造次而行？”兵部尚书陈矫曰：“王薨于外，爱子私立，彼此生变，则社稷危矣。”遂拔剑割下袍袖，厉声曰：“即今日便请世子嗣位。众官有异议者，以此袍为例！”百官悚惧。忽报华歆自许昌飞马而至，众皆大惊。须臾华歆入，众问其来意，歆曰：“今魏王薨逝，天下震动，何不早请世子嗣位？”众官曰：“正因不及候诏命，方议欲以王后卞氏慈旨立世子为王。”歆曰：“吾已于汉帝处索得诏命在此。”众皆踊跃称贺。歆于怀中取出诏命开读。原来华歆谄事魏，故草此诏，威逼献帝降之，帝只得听从，故下诏即封曹丕为魏王、丞相、冀州牧。丕即日登位，受大小官僚拜舞起居。

正宴会庆贺间，忽报鄢陵侯曹彰，自长安领十万大军来到。丕大惊，遂问群臣曰：“黄须小弟，平日性刚，深通武艺。今提兵远来，必与孤争王位也。如之奈何？”忽阶下一人应声出曰：“臣请往见鄢陵侯，以片言折之[8]。”众皆曰：“非大夫莫能解此祸也。”正是：试看曹氏丕彰事，几作袁家谭尚争。未知此人是谁，且看下文分解。

[1] 云汉——银河。

[2] 隐（yìn）几——凭着几案（古代的几是一种矮脚桌）。

[3] 扁鹊——姓秦，名越人，春秋时的名医。

[4] 仓公——姓淳于，名意，西汉时的名医。

[5] 是儿欲使吾居炉火上耶——这句话有双关的意思：因为汉是所谓“火德”，居火之上，就是取代汉朝，自己做皇帝；曹操从名义上拥戴汉王朝，实际大权独揽，一旦改变为自己直接做皇帝，可能引起更多的反对，有一定危险性，所以孙权表面上的奉承话，却包藏着险恶的用心，要把曹操放在炉火上“烧烤”。是儿，这小子。

[6] 上焦——中医病理术语，有上中下三焦（膲），是水谷的道路，也是“气之所终始”。上焦部位在胃上口。俗用则往往泛指上半身或头部。

[7] 霍然——很快速的样子，引伸来形容病症一下子好了的感觉。

[8] 片言折之——用一句话去说服他。折，折服，指明大道理或大的利害关系，使人放弃己见，不得不听从的意思。

CHAPTER 78. Treating A Headache, A Famous Physician Dies; Giving The Last Words, The Crafty Hero Departs.

As has been said, the Prince of Hanzhong swooned on hearing the terrible news of the death of the two Guans, father and son. His officers went to his help, and when he had recovered sufficiently, they led him to his private apartments.

“My lord, control your grief,” said Zhuge Liang. “Life and death are fixed by fate. Guan Yu brought the evil upon himself by his harshness and haughtiness. You must now take care of your health and mature your vengeance.”

“When we swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, we pledged ourselves to live or die together. What enjoyment of riches and honors is there for me now that my brother is gone?”

Just then he saw Guan Yu's son, Guan Xing, coming in weeping in deep distress. At sight of the youth, Liu Bei uttered a great cry and again sank to the earth. By and by he came to, and spent the whole day weeping and swooning at intervals. For three days he refused all nourishment, and he wept so bitterly that his garments were wetted, and there were spots of blood. Zhuge Liang and the others tried every means to soothe him, but he was inconsolable.

“I swear I will not live under the same heaven as Sun Quan,” cried he.

“It is said that the head of your brother has been sent to Cao Cao, but Cao Cao has buried the remains with the rites of a princely noble,” said Zhuge Liang.

“Why did he do that?” asked Liu Bei.

“Because Sun Quan thought thereby to bring evil upon Cao Cao. But Cao Cao saw through the subterfuge and has buried your brother with great honor so that your anger may burn against Wu.”

“I want to send my armies to punish Wu and appease my wrath,” said Liu Bei.

“No; you may not do that. Wu wishes to move you to smite Wei, and Wei wishes you to attack Wu, each harboring the malevolent design of taking advantage of the quarrel. You would do well, my lord, to keep your armies at home. Put on mourning for Guan Yu, and wait till Wei and Wu are at war. That will be your time.”

The other officers supported Zhuge Liang, and Liu Bei listened. Presently his grief spent itself, and he began to take food again. An edict was promulgated enjoining mourning dress upon all officials. The Prince went outside the south gate to summon the spirit home, and sacrificed and wailed a whole day for the dead warrior, his brother.

Although Cao Cao had given honorable burial to the remains of Guan Yu, yet he was continually haunted by the dead man's spirit. Every night when he closed his eyes, he saw Guan Yu as he knew the warrior so well in the flesh. These visions made him nervous, and he sought the advice of his officers. Some suggested the building of new rooms for his own use.

“There is much witchcraft and malign influence in this old palace at Luoyang; build a new palace for your own occupation,” said they.

“I would, and it should be called 'The Firm Foundation,'“ said he. “But where is the good architect?”

Jia Xu said, “There is one Su Yue, a very cunning artificer in Luoyang.”

Su Yue was called and set to work on the plans for a nine-hall pavilion for Cao Cao's own use. It had verandahs and upper rooms as well. His plans pleased Cao Cao greatly.

“You have planned just such a place as I wished, only where will you find the main beam for such a building?”

“I know a certain tree that will serve,” said the architect. “About ten miles from the city there is the Pool of the Leaping Dragon. Near it is a shrine, and beside that grows a fine pear tree. It is over a hundred spans high, and that will serve for the roof tree.”

Cao Cao at once sent people to fell the tree. But after one whole day of labor they came back to say they could make no impression on it neither with saw nor ax. Cao Cao, doubting their word, went to see. When he had dismounted and stood by the tree, he could not but admire its size and proportions, as it rose above him tall, straight and branched till the wide-spreading and symmetrical top reached into the clouds. But he bade the men attack it again.

Then a few aged people of the village came and said, “The tree has stood here some centuries and is the haunt of a spirit. We think it should not be cut down.”

Cao Cao grew annoyed, saying, “I have gone to and fro in the world now some forty years, and there is no one, from the Emperor to the commoner, who does not fear me. What spirit is there who dares oppose my wish?”

Drawing the sword he was wearing, Cao Cao went up to the tree and slashed at the trunk. The tree groaned as he struck, and blood stains spattered his dress. Terror-stricken, he threw down the sword, mounted his horse and galloped off.

But that evening when he retired to rest, he could not sleep. He rose, went into the outer room, and sat there leaning on a low table. Suddenly a man appeared with his hair unbound, dressed in black and carrying a naked sword. The visitor came straight toward Cao Cao, stopped in front of him and, pointing, cried out, “Behold the Spirit of the Pear Tree. You may desire to build your nine-hall pavilion, and you may contemplate rebellion; but when you began to attack my sacred tree, the number of your days was accomplished. I am come now to slay you.”

“Where are the guards?” shouted Cao Cao in terror.

The figure struck at him with the sword. Cao Cao cried out and then awoke. His head was aching unbearably.

They sought the best physicians for him, but they failed to relieve the terrible pain. Sympathy for their lord was universal among Cao Cao's subordinates. Hua Xin one day said to his master, “My lord, have you heard of Hua Tuo?” “Do you mean him of Qiao who cured Zhou Tai?”

“Yes; that is he,” replied Hua Xin.

“I have heard something of his fame, but I know nothing of his capabilities in his art.”

“He is very clever; there are few so skillful. If one is ill and calls him in, he knows immediately whether to use drugs, or the needle, or the cutlery, and the patient finds relief at once. Let one suffer from an internal complaint and drugs are ineffectual, with a dose of hashish he throws the patient into a state of perfect insensibility and then opens the abdomen and washes the affected organs with a medicament. The patient feels no pain. When the cleansing is complete, he sews up the wound with thread, dresses it, and in a month or less the patient is well. This shows you how skillful he is.

“One day Hua Tuo was traveling, when he heard a man by the wayside groaning with pain. 'That is dyspepsia,' said Hua Tuo. And further questions confirmed the diagnosis. He prescribed long draughts of the juice of garlic as an emetic, and the man vomited a worm; after this the man was quite well.

“Chen Deng, the Governor of Guangling, suffered from a heavy feeling at the heart. His face was red and congested, and he had no appetite. Hua Tuo gave him a drug, and he threw up many internal wriggling parasites with red heads. The Governor asked what had caused the trouble, and Hua Tuo told him that he ate too much strong smelling fish. He could cure Chen Deng this once, but in three years the disease would recur, and then nothing could save him. Three later Chen Deng died.

“Another man had a tumor between the eyes, and it itched intolerably. Hua Tuo examined it and said there was a bird in it. The tumor was opened, and, surely enough, a canary flew out. The patient was relieved.

“A dog bit a man's toe, and two tumorous growths ensued, one of which itched intolerably and the other pained severely. Hua Tuo said the painful one contained ten needles, and the other a couple of chess pips, black and white. He opened the two swellings, and the contents were as he had said. Really he is of the same class of physician as masters Bian Que and Zang Kong of old times. He lives at Jincheng, not far away, and could be here very soon.”

Cao Cao summoned him; and as soon as he arrived, Hua Tuo felt the pulse and made careful examination.

“Prince, your headaches are due to a malignant humor within the brain case. The humor is too thick to get out. Swallowing drugs will do no good. But I propose to administer a dose of hashish, then open the brain case and remove the thickened humor. That will be a radical cure.”

“You mean you want to kill me?” cried Cao Cao angrily.

“O Prince, you have heard how I cured Guan Yu of the poison that had got into his bones? I scraped them, and he did not hesitate a moment. Your malady is trifling, and why do you mistrust me?”

“A painful arm may be scraped, but how can you cut open a man's head? The fact is you have conspired with some of Guan Yu's friends to take this opportunity to make away with me in revenge for his death.”

Cao Cao told his lictors to hale Hua Tuo to gaol, and there he was tortured to try to find who were his accomplices.

Jia Xu pleaded for him, saying, “The man possesses rare skills; to kill him is to waste his talents.” But the intervention was of no avail.

“The man wants to get a chance to kill me; he is the same sort of scoundrel as Ji Ping.”

The wretched physician was subjected to worse sufferings.

His gaoler was a certain Wu, nicknamed “The Gaoler” by nearly everybody. He was kindly disposed to Hua Tuo and saw that he was well fed. Hua Tuo conceived a liking for his gaoler and said to him one day, “I am doomed, I know. The pity is that my Black Bag treatise on medicine may be lost. You have been most kind to me, and as I have no other way of recompensing you, I will give you a letter to my wife telling her to send the Black Bag, and I will give it to you that you may carry on my art.”

Wu the Gaoler rejoiced greatly, thinking that he would throw away the menial position of gaoler and travel about the country healing sick folks, and so he told Hua Tuo to write the letter and promised to carry on his work.

The letter was written and given to Wu the Gaoler, who lost no time in traveling to Jincheng to meet with Hua Tuo's wife, and she gave him the Black Bag to bring back to Hua Tuo. After Hua Tuo had read through the book carefully, he presented it to Wu the Gaoler, who took it home and hid it away.

Ten days after this, Hua Tuo died in prison. Wu the Gaoler bought a coffin and had him buried. This done, he quitted the prison and went home. But when he asked for the book, he found that his wife had discovered it and was using it to light the fire. He snatched away what was left of it, but a whole volume was missing, and what was left amounted only to a few pages. He vented his anger in cursing his wife, and she retorted, saying, “If you become such a learned person as Hua Tuo, you will only die in prison like him. What good did it all do him?”

It struck Wu the Gaoler that there was something in what she said, and he ceased grumbling at her. But the upshot of all this was that the learning in the “Treatise of the Black Bag” was finally lost to the world, for what was left only contained a few recipes relating to domestic animals.

Hua Tuo was the ablest of physician,

Seeing what diseases were lurking within beings.

Alas! That he died, and his writings

Followed him to the Nine Golden Springs.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao became worse, the uncertainty of the intentions of his rivals aggravating his disease not a little. Then they said an envoy had come with letters from Wu, the gist of which was satisfactory, as it ran like this:

“Thy servant, Sun Quan, has long seen whom destiny indicates as master of all, and looks forward with confidence to his early accession to the dignity of the Son of God. If he will send his armies to destroy Liu Bei and sweep rebellion from the two Lands of Rivers, his servant at the head of his armies will submit and accept his land as a fief.”

Cao Cao laughed as he read this, and he said to his officers, “Is this youth trying to put me on a furnace?”

But Minister Chen Qun and the attendants seriously replied, “O Prince, the Hans have been feeble too long, while your virtues and merits are like the mountains. All the people look to you, and when Sun Quan acknowledged himself as your minister, he is but responsive to the will of God and the desire of humans. It is wrong that you oppose when such contrary influences work to a common end, and you must soon ascend to the high place.” Cao Cao smiled. “I have served the Hans for many years; and if I have acquired some merit, yet I have been rewarded with a princedom and high rank. I dare not aspire to greater things. If the finger of heaven points to me, then shall I be as King Wen of Zhou.”

“As Sun Quan acknowledges himself your servant and promises obedience, you, my lord, can confer a title upon him and assign to him the duty of attacking Liu Bei,” said Sima Yi.

Approving of the suggestion, Cao Cao gave Sun Quan the titles of General of the Flying Cavalry and Lord of Nanzhang, and appointed him to the Imperial Protectorship of Jingzhou. Forthwith this command was sent away to Sun Quan.

Cao Cao's condition grew worse daily. One night he had a dream of three horses feeding out of the same manger. Next day he told it to Jia Xu, saying, “I saw three horses feeding on the same manger before the family of Ma Teng was harmed. Last night I saw the same dream again. How do you interpret it?”

“It is auspicious to dream of dignity,” replied Jia Xu. “And naturally such an honor comes to the Caos. I do not think you need feel any misgivings.”

Cao Cao was comforted.

Cao Cao dreamed three steeds together fed,

The vision seers could not explain,

None guessed how soon, when Cao Cao was dead,

One dynasty would rule again.

Ah, yes; Cao Cao had vainly wrought;

Of none avail each wicked wile,

For, later, in Wei court, there fought

Against him one with equal guile.

That night Cao Cao became worse. As he lay on his couch he felt dizzy and could not see, so he rose and sat by a table, upon which he leaned. It seemed to him that someone shrieked, and, peering into the darkness, he perceived the forms of many of his victims—the Empress Fu, the Consort Dong, Fu Wan, Dong Cheng, and more than twenty other officials—, and all were bloodstained. They stood in the obscurity and whispered, demanding his life. He rose, lifted his sword and threw it wildly into the air. Just then there was a loud crash, and the southwest corner of the new building came down. And Cao Cao fell with it. His attendants raised him and bore him to another palace, where he might lie at peace.

But he found no peace. The next night was disturbed by the ceaseless wailing of men and women's voices.

When day dawned, Cao Cao sent for his officers, and said to them, “Thirty years have I spent in the turmoil of war and have always refused belief in the supernatural. But what does all this mean?”

“O Prince, you should summon the Taoists to offer sacrifices and prayers,” said they.

Cao Cao sighed, saying, “The wise Teacher said, 'He who offends against heaven has no one to pray to.' I feel that my fate is accomplished, my days have run, and there is no help.”

But he would not consent to call in the priests. Next day his symptoms were worse. He was panting and could no longer see distinctly. He sent hastily for Xiahou Dun, who came at once. But as Xiahou Dun drew near the doors, he too saw the shadowy forms of the slain Empress and her children and many other victims of Cao Cao's cruelty. He was overcome with fear and fell to the ground. The servants raised him and led him away, very ill. Then Cao Cao called in four of his trusty advisers—Cao Hong, Chen Qun, Jia Xu, and Sima Yi—that they might hear his last wishes.

Cao Hong, speaking for the four, said, “Take good care of your precious self, O Prince, that you may quickly recover.”

But Cao Cao said, “Thirty and more years have I gone up and down, and many a bold leader has fallen before me. The only ones that remain are Sun Quan in the south and Liu Bei in the west. I have not yet slain them. Now I am very ill, and I shall never again stand before you; wherefore my family affairs must be settled. My first born—Cao Ang, son of Lady Liu—fell in battle at Wancheng, when he was young. The Lady Bian bore four sons to me, as you know. The third, Cao Zhi, was my favorite, but he was vain and unreliable, fond of wine and lax in morals. Therefore he is not my heir. My second son, Cao Zhang, is valiant, but imprudent. The fourth, Cao Xiong, is a weakly and may not live long. My eldest, Cao Pi, is steady and serious; he is fit to succeed me, and I look to you to support him.”

Cao Hong and the others wept as they heard these words, and they left the chamber. Then Cao Cao bade his servants bring all of the Tibetan incenses and fragrances that he burned every day, and he handed out to his handmaids.

And he said to them, “After my death you must diligently attend to your womanly labors. You can make silken shoes for sale, and so earn your own living.”

He also bade them go on living in the Bronze Bird Pavilion and celebrate a daily sacrifice for him, with music by the singing women, and presentation of the eatables laid before his tablet.

Next he commanded that seventy-two sites for a tomb should be selected near Jiangwu, that no one should know his actual burying place, lest his remains should be dug up.

And when these final orders had been given, he sighed a few times, shed some tears, and died. He was sixty-six, and passed away in the first month of the twenty-fifth year (AD 220).

A certain poet composed “A Song of Yejun” expressing sympathy for Cao Cao, which is given here:

I stood in Yejun and saw the River Zhang

Go gliding by. I thought no common human

Ever rose from such a place. Or he was great

In war, a poet, or an artist skilled.

Perchance a model minister, or son,

Or famous for fraternal duty shown.

The thoughts of heroes are not ours to judge,

Nor are their actions for our eyes to see.

A man may stand the first in merit; then

His crimes may brand him chief of criminals.

And so his reputation's fair and foul;

His literary gifts may bear the mark

Of genius; he may be a ruler born;

But this is certain; he will stand above

His fellows, herding not with common people.

Takes he the field, then is he bold in fight;

Would he a mansion build, a palace springs.

In all things great, his genius masters him.

And such was Cao Cao. He could never be

Obedient; he a rebel was, foredoomed.

He seized and ruled, but hungered for more power;

Became a prince, and still was not content.

And yet this man of glorious career

When gripped by sickness, wept as might a child.

Full well he knew, when on the bed of death,

That all is vanity and nothing worth.

His latest acts were kindly. Simple gifts

Of fragrant incense gave he to the maids.

Ah me! The ancients' splendid deeds or secret thoughts

We may not measure with our puny rule.

But criticize them, pedants, as ye may

The mighty dead will smile at what you say.

As Cao Cao breathed his last, the whole of those present raised a great wailing and lamentation. The news was sent to the members of the family, the Heir Cao Pi, Lord of Yanling Cao Zhang, Lord of Linzi Cao Zhi, and Lord of Xiaohuai Cao Xiong. They wrapped the body in its shroud, enclosed it in a silver shell, and laid it in a golden coffin, which was sent at once home to Yejun.

The eldest son wept aloud at the tidings and went out with all his following to meet the procession and escort the body of his father into his home. The coffin was laid in a great hall beside the main building, and all the officials in deep mourning wailed in the hall.

Suddenly one stood out from the ranks of the mourners and said, “I would request the heir to cease lamentation for the dead and devote himself to the present needs of state.”

It was Sima Fu, and he continued, “The death of the Prince will cause an upheaval in the empire, and it is essential that the heir should assume his dignity without loss of time. There is not mourning alone to be seen to.”

The others replied. “The succession is settled, but the investiture can hardly proceed without the necessary edict from the Emperor. That must be secured.”

Said Chen Jiao, who was Minister of War, “As the Prince died away from home, it may be that disputes will ensue, and the country will be in danger.”

Then Chen Jiao slashed off the sleeves of his robe with a sword and shouted fiercely, “We will invest the prince forthwith, and any one who do not agree, let him be treated as this robe.”

Still fear held most of the assembly. Then arrived Hua Xin most haste from the capital. They wondered what his sudden arrival meant. Soon he entered the hall and said, “The Prince of Wei is dead and the world is in commotion; why do you not invest his successor quickly?”

“We await the command,” cried they in chorus, “and also the order of Princess-Mother Bian concerning the heirship.”

“I have procured the Imperial edict here,” cried he, pulling it out from his breast.

They all began to congratulate him. And he read the edict.

Hua Xin had always been devoted to Wei, and so he drafted this edict and got it sealed by Emperor Xian almost by force. However, there it was; and therein Cao Pi was named as Prince of Wei, First Minister, and Imperial Protector of Jizhou.”

Cao Pi thereupon took his seat in the princely place and received the congratulations of all the officers. This was followed by a banquet.

However, all was not to pass too smoothly. While the banquet was in progress, the news came: “Cao Zhang, Lord of Yanling, with an army of one hundred thousand troops, is approaching from Changan.”

In a state of consternation, the new Prince turned to his courtiers, saying, “What shall I do? This young, golden-bearded brother of mine, always obstinate and determined and with no little military skill, is marching hither with an army to contest my inheritance.”

“Let me go to see the Marquis; I can make him desist,” said one of the guests.

The others cried, “Only yourself, O Exalted One, can save us in this peril!”

Quarrel between two sons of Cao Cao

Just as in the House of Yuan Shao.

If you would know who proposed himself as envoy, read the next chapter.