第七十九回

第七十九回 兄逼弟曹植赋诗 侄陷叔刘封伏法

却说曹丕闻曹彰提兵而来，惊问众官，一人挺身而出，愿往折服之。众视其人，乃谏议大夫贾逵也。曹丕大喜，即命贾逵前往。逵领命出城，迎见曹彰。彰问曰：“先王玺绶安在？”逵正色而言曰：“家有长子，国有储君。先王玺绶，非君侯之所宜问也。”彰默然无语，乃与贾逵同入城。至宫门前，逵问曰：“君侯此来，欲奔丧耶？欲争位耶？”彰曰：“吾来奔丧，别无异心。”逵曰：“既无异心，何故带兵入城？”彰即时叱退左右将士，只身入内，拜见曹丕。兄弟二人，相抱大哭。曹彰将本部军马尽交与曹丕。丕令彰回鄢陵自守，彰拜辞而去。

于是曹丕安居王位，改建安二十五年为延康元年，封贾诩为太尉，华歆为相国，王朗为御史大夫，大小官僚，尽皆升赏。谥曹操曰武王，葬于邺郡高陵，令于禁董治陵事。禁奉命到彼，只见陵屋中白粉壁上，图画关云长水淹七军擒获于禁之事。画云长俨然上坐，庞德愤怒不屈，于禁拜伏于地，哀求乞命之状。原来曹丕以于禁兵败被擒，不能死节，既降敌而复归，心鄙其为人，故先令人图画陵屋粉壁，故意使之往见以愧之。当下于禁见此画像，又羞又恼，气愤成病，不久而死。后人有诗叹曰：

三十年来说旧交，可怜临难不忠曹。知人未向心中识，画虎今从骨里描。

却说华歆奏曹丕曰：“鄢陵侯已交割军马，赴本国去了。临淄侯植，萧怀侯熊，二人竟不来奔丧，理当问罪。”丕从之，即分遣二使往二处问罪。不一日，萧怀使者回报：“萧怀侯曹熊惧罪，自缢身死。”丕令厚葬之，追赠萧怀王。又过了一日，临淄使者回报，说：“临淄侯日与丁仪、丁廙兄弟二人酣饮，悖慢无礼。闻使命至，临淄侯端坐不动，丁仪骂曰：‘昔者先王本欲立吾主为世子，被谗臣所阻。今王丧未远，便问罪于骨肉，何也？’丁廙又曰：‘据吾主聪明冠世，自当承嗣大位，今反不得立。汝那庙堂之臣，何不识人才若此！’临淄侯因怒，叱武士将臣乱棒打出。”

丕闻之，大怒，即令许褚领虎卫军三千，火速至临淄擒曹植等一干人来。褚奉命，引军至临淄城。守将拦阻，褚立斩之，直入城中，无一人敢当锋锐，径到府堂。只见曹植与丁仪、丁廙等尽皆醉倒。褚皆缚之，载于车上，并将府下大小属官，尽行拿解邺郡，听候曹丕发落。丕下令，先将丁仪、丁廙等尽行诛戮。丁仪字正礼，丁廙字敬礼，沛郡人，乃一时文士，及其被杀，人多惜之。

却说曹丕之母卞氏，听得曹熊缢死，心甚悲伤。忽又闻曹植被擒，其党丁仪等已杀，大惊，急出殿召曹丕相见。丕见母出殿，慌来拜谒。卞氏哭谓丕曰：“汝弟植平生嗜酒疏狂，盖因自恃胸中之才，故尔放纵。汝可念同胞之情，存其性命。吾至九泉亦瞑目也。”丕曰：“儿亦深爱其才，安肯害他？今正欲戒其性耳。母亲勿忧。”

卞氏洒泪而入。丕出偏殿，召曹植入见。华歆问曰：“适来莫非太后劝殿下勿杀子建乎？”丕曰：“然。”歆曰：“子建怀才抱智，终非池中物，若不早除，必为后患。”丕曰：“母命不可违。”歆曰：“人皆言子建出口成章，臣未深信。主上可召入，以才试之。若不能，即杀之，若果能，则贬之，以绝天下文人之口。”丕从之。须臾，曹植入见，惶恐伏拜请罪。丕曰：“吾与汝情虽兄弟，义属君臣，汝安敢恃才蔑礼？昔先君在日，汝常以文章夸示于人，吾深疑汝必用他人代笔。吾今限汝行七步吟诗一首，若果能，则免一死，若不能，则从重治罪，决不姑恕！”植曰：“愿乞题目。”时殿上悬一水墨画，画着两只牛，斗于土墙之下，一牛坠井而亡。丕指画曰：“即以此画为题。诗中不许犯着‘二牛斗墙下，一牛坠井死’字样。”植行七步，其诗已成。诗曰：

两肉齐道行，头上带凹骨。相遇块山下，欻起相搪突。二敌不俱刚，一肉卧土窟。非是力不如，盛气不泄毕。

曹丕及群臣皆惊。丕又曰：“七步成章，吾犹以为迟。汝能应声而作诗一首否？”植曰：“愿即命题。”丕曰：“吾与汝乃兄弟也。以此为题。亦不许犯着‘兄弟’字样。”植略不思索，即口占一首曰：

煮豆燃豆萁，豆在釜中泣。本是同根生，相煎何太急！

曹丕闻之，潸然泪下。其母卞氏，从殿后出曰：“兄何逼弟之甚耶？”丕慌忙离坐告曰：“国法不可废耳。”于是贬曹植为安乡侯。植拜辞上马而去。

曹丕自继位之后，法令一新，威逼汉帝，甚于其父。早有细作报入成都。汉中王闻之，大惊，即与文武商议曰：“曹操已死，曹丕继位，威逼天子，更甚于操。东吴孙权，拱手称臣。孤欲先伐东吴，以报云长之仇；次讨中原，以除乱贼。”言未毕，廖化出班，哭拜于地曰：“关公父子遇害，实刘封、孟达之罪。乞诛此二贼。”玄德便欲遣人擒之。孔明谏曰：“不可。且宜缓图之，急则生变矣。可升此二人为郡守，分调开去，然后可擒。”

玄德从之，遂遣使升刘封去守绵竹。原来彭羕与孟达甚厚，听知此事，急回家作书，遣心腹人驰报孟达。使者方出南门外，被马超巡视军捉获，解见马超。超审知此事，即往见彭羕。羕接入，置酒相待。酒至数巡，超以言挑之曰：“昔汉中王待公甚厚，今何渐薄也？”羕因酒醉，恨骂曰：“老革[1]荒悖，吾必有以报之！”超又探曰：“某亦怀怨心久矣。”羕曰：“公起本部军，结连孟达为外合，某领川兵为内应，大事可图也。”超曰：“先生之言甚当。来日再议。”超辞了彭羕，即将人与书解见汉中王，细言其事。玄德大怒，即令擒彭羕下狱，拷问其情。羕在狱中，悔之无及。玄德问孔明曰：“彭羕有谋反之意，当何以治之？”孔明曰：“羕虽狂士，然留之久必生祸。”于是玄德赐彭羕死于狱。

羕既死，有人报知孟达。达大惊，举止失措。忽使命至，调刘封回守绵竹去讫。孟达慌请上庸、房陵都尉申耽、申仪弟兄二人商议曰：“我与法孝直同有功于汉中王，今孝直已死，而汉中王忘我前功，乃欲见害，为之奈何？”耽曰：“某有一计，使汉中王不能加害于公。”达大喜，急问何计。耽曰：“吾弟兄欲投魏久矣。公可作一表，辞了汉中王，投魏王曹丕，丕必重用。吾二人亦随后来降也。”达猛然省悟，即写表一通，付与来使，当晚引五十馀骑投魏去了。使命持表回成都，奏汉中王，言孟达投魏之事。先主大怒。览其表曰：

臣达伏惟殿下：将建伊、吕之业，追桓、文之功，大事草创，假势吴、楚，是以有为之士，望风归顺。臣委质以来，愆戾山积；臣犹自知，况于君乎？今王朝英俊鳞集，臣内无辅佐之器，外无将领之才，列次功臣，诚足自愧！

臣闻范蠡[2]识微，浮于五湖；舅犯[3]谢罪，逡巡河上。夫际会之间，请命乞身，何哉？欲洁去就之分也。况臣卑鄙，无元功巨勋，自系于时，窃慕前贤，早思远耻。昔申生至孝，见疑于亲；子胥[4]至忠，见诛于君；蒙恬[5]拓境而被大刑，乐毅破齐而遭谗佞。臣每读其书，未尝不感慨流涕，而亲当其事，益用伤悼！

迩者，荆州覆败，大臣失节，百无一还，惟臣寻事，自致房陵、上庸，而复乞身，自放于外。伏想殿下圣恩感悟，愍臣之心，悼臣之举。臣诚小人，不能始终。知而为之，敢谓非罪？臣每闻“交绝无恶声，去臣无怨辞”。臣过奉教于君子，愿君王勉之。臣不胜惶恐之至！

玄德看毕，大怒曰：“匹夫叛吾，安敢以文辞相戏耶！”即欲起兵擒之。孔明曰：“可就遣刘封进兵，令二虎相并。刘封或有功，或败绩，必归成都，就而除之，可绝两害。”玄德从之，遂遣使到绵竹，传谕刘封。封受命，率兵来擒孟达。

却说曹丕正聚文武议事，忽近臣奏曰：“蜀将孟达来降。”丕召入问曰：“汝此来，莫非诈降乎？”达曰：“臣为不救关公之危，汉中王欲杀臣，因此惧罪来降，别无他意。”曹丕尚未准信，忽报刘封引五万兵来取襄阳，单搦孟达厮杀。丕曰：“汝既是真心，便可去襄阳取刘封首级来，孤方准信。”达曰：“臣以利害说之，不必动兵，令刘封亦来降也。”丕大喜，遂加孟达为散骑常侍、建武将军、平阳亭侯，领新城太守，去守襄阳、樊城。原来夏侯尚、徐晃已先在襄阳，正将收取上庸诸部。孟达到了襄阳，与二将礼毕，探得刘封离城五十里下寨。达即修书一封，使人赍赴蜀寨招降刘封。刘封览书大怒曰：“此贼误吾叔侄之义，又间吾父子之亲，使吾为不忠不孝之人也！”遂扯碎来书，斩其使。次日，引军前来搦战。

孟达知刘封扯书斩使，勃然大怒，亦领兵出迎。两阵对圆，封立马于门旗下，以刀指骂曰：“背国反贼，安敢乱言！”孟达曰：“汝死已临头上，还自执迷不省！”封大怒，拍马轮刀，直奔孟达。战不三合，达败走，封乘虚追杀二十馀里，一声喊起，伏兵尽出，左边夏侯尚杀来，右边徐晃杀来，孟达回身复战。三军夹攻，刘封大败而走，连夜奔回上庸，背后魏兵赶来。刘封到城下叫门，城上乱箭射下。申耽在敌楼上叫曰：“吾已降了魏也！”封大怒，欲要攻城，背后追军将至。封立脚不住，只得望房陵而奔，见城上已尽插魏旗。申仪在敌楼上将旗一，城后一彪军出，旗上大书“右将军徐晃”。封抵敌不住，急望西川而走，晃乘势追杀。刘封部下只剩得百馀骑，到了成都，入见汉中王，哭拜于地，细奏前事。玄德怒曰：“辱子有何面目复来见吾！”封曰：“叔父之难，非儿不救，因孟达谏阻故耳。”玄德转怒曰：“汝须食人食、穿人衣，非土木偶人！安可听谗贼所阻！”命左右推出斩之。汉中王既斩刘封，后闻孟达招之，毁书斩使之事，心中颇悔，又哀痛关心，以致染病，因此按兵不动。

且说魏王曹丕，自即王位，将文武官僚，尽皆升赏，遂统甲兵三十万，南巡沛国谯县，大飨先茔。乡中父老，扬尘遮道，奉觞进酒，效汉高祖还沛之事。人报大将军夏侯惇病危，丕即还邺郡。时惇已卒，丕为挂孝，以厚礼殡葬。

是岁八月间，报称石邑县凤凰来仪，临淄城麒麟出现，黄龙现于邺郡。于是中郎将李伏、太史丞许芝商议：种种瑞征，乃魏当代汉之兆，可安排受禅之礼，令汉帝将天下让于魏王。遂同华歆、王朗、辛毗、贾诩、刘廙、刘晔、陈矫、陈群、桓阶等一班文武官僚，四十馀人，直入内殿，来奏汉献帝，请禅位于魏王曹丕。正是：魏家社稷今将建，汉代江山忽已移。未知献帝如何回答，且看下文分解。

[1] 老革——革，兵革；老革，犹言老兵，轻蔑刘备的话。

[2] 范蠡——春秋时楚国人。辅佐越王勾践灭吴，官上将军。他认为勾践“不可与共乐”，于是离去，变姓名，泛舟五湖。

[3] 舅犯——即狐偃，字子犯，晋文公的母舅，故又称舅犯；春秋时晋国的大夫。他跟随晋文公在外流亡十九年，后来回国路上，将要渡过黄河的时候，他恐怕晋文公忘了他的功劳而专记过失，于是向晋文公作出谢罪告别的姿态。

[4] 子胥——姓伍，名员，字子胥，春秋时楚国人。辅佐吴王夫差，大破越国。后被谗自杀。

[5] 蒙恬——秦朝的大将，带兵警备当时北方的匈奴，有功。后为赵高所害，自杀。

CHAPTER 79. Brother Oppressing Brother: Cao Zhi Composes Poems; Nephew Harming Uncle: Liu Feng Receives Punishment.

All eyes turned toward the speaker, High Minister Jia Kui, and the young prince commanded him to undertake the mission. So he went out of the city and sought to speak with Cao Zhang. Cao Zhang came quickly to the point.

“Who has the late Prince's seal?” asked he.

Jia Kui replied seriously, “There is an eldest son to a house, and an heir-apparent to a state. Such a question from your lordship is unbecoming.”

Cao Zhang held his peace, and the two proceeded into the city to the gates of the palace. There Jia Kui suddenly asked him, “You come as a mourner or as a rival claimant?”

“I am come as a mourner; I never had any ulterior motive.”

“That being so; why bring in your soldiers?”

Whereupon Cao Zhang ordered his escort to retire, and entered the city alone. When the Cao brothers met, they fell into each other's arms and wept. Then Cao Zhang yielded command of all his army, and he was directed to go back to Yanling and guard it. He obediently withdrew.

Cao Pi, being now firmly established, changed the name of the period of his rule to the Prolonged Repose Era, the First Year (AD 220). He made Jia Xu Grand Commandant, Hua Xin Prime Minister, and Wang Lang High Minister, and made many promotions. To the late Prince, he gave the posthumous title of the King of Great Might, and buried him in Gaoling.

To the superintendence of the building of King Cao's tomb, Cao Pi nominated Yu Jin, but with malevolent intent. For when Yu Jin reached his post, he found the walls of the rooms decorated with chalk sketches depicting the drowning of the seven armies and the capture of himself by Guan Yu. Guan Yu was looking very dignified and severe. Pang De was refusing to bow to the victor, while Yu Jin himself was lying in the dust pleading for his life.

Cao Pi had chosen this method of putting Yu Jin to open shame, because Yu Jin had not preferred death to the dishonor of capture, and had sent an artist on purpose to depict the shameful scenes. When Yu Jin saw them, shame and rage alternately took possession of him till he fell ill. Soon after he died.

War waged he for many a year,

Yet fell prey to craven fear.

None can know another's heart,

Drawing tigers, with bones start.

Soon after the accession, Hua Xin memorialized the Prince of Wu, saying, “The Lord of Yanling has cut himself loose from his army and gone quietly to his post, but your other two brothers did not attend the funeral of their father. Their conduct should be inquired into and punished.”

Cao Pi took up the suggestion and sent commissioners to each. They who were sent to the younger quickly returned to report: “Cao Xiong, the Lord of Xiaohuai, had hanged himself rather than suffer for his fault.”

Cao Pi ordered honorable burial for Cao Xiong and gave him the posthumous title of Prince of Xiaohuai.

Soon after, the envoy to Linzi returned to report: “The Lord of Linzi, Cao Zhi, is spending his time in dissipation, his especial boon companions being two brothers named Ding Zhengli and Ding Jingli. They were very rude. When we presented ourselves, Cao Zhi sat bolt upright, but would not say a word. Ding Zhengli used insulting words, saying, 'King Cao intended our lord to succeed, but was turned there from by the slanderous tongues of certain among you. As soon as he is dead, your master begins to think of punishment for his own flesh and blood.'

“The other brother Ding Jingli said, 'In intellect our lord leads the age, and he ought to have been heir to his father. Now, not only does he not succeed, but he is treated in this harsh way by a lot of courtiers of your sort, ignorant of what genius means.'

“And then Cao Zhi, in a fit of anger, had ordered his lictors to beat the chief envoy and turn him out.”

This treatment of his messenger annoyed Cao Pi greatly, and he dispatched a force of three thousand Imperial Tiger Guards under Xu Chu to arrest his brother and all his immediate surroundings. When Xu Chu arrived Linzi, the gate commander stopped him. Xu Chu slew that general and entered the city, unchallenged. He went to the residence and found Cao Zhi and all his companions dead drunk; so he bound them, put them into carts, and sent them to court in Yejun. He also arrested all the officers of the palace.

Cao Pi's first order was to put to death Ding Zhengli and Ding Jingli. The two brothers were not wholly base; they had a reputation for learning, and many were sorry for them.

Cao Pi's mother, Lady Bian, was alarmed at the severity of the new rule, and the suicide of her youngest son wounded her deeply. When she heard that Cao Zhi had been arrested and his comrades put to death, she left her palace and went to see her eldest son. As soon as he saw her, the Prince hastened to meet her. She began to weep.

“Your brother has always had that weakness for wine, but we let him go his way out of consideration for his undoubted ability. I hope you will not forget he is your brother and that I bore you both. Spare his life that I may close my eyes in peace when I set out for the deep springs.”

“I also admire his ability, Mother, and have no intention to hurt him. But I would reform him. Have no anxiety as to his fate,” said Cao Pi.

So the mother was comforted and withdrew. The Prince then went to a private room and bade them call his brother.

Said Hua Xin, “Surely the Princess-Mother has just been interceding for your brother; is it not so?”

“It is so,” replied the Prince.

“Then let me say that Cao Zhi is too clever to be content to remain in a humble station. If you do not remove him, he will do you harm.” “I must obey my mother's command.”

“People say your brother simply talks in literature. I do not believe it myself, but he might be put to the test. If he bears a false reputation, you can slay him; if what they say is true, then degrade him, lest the scholars of the land should babble.”

Soon Cao Zhi came, and in a state of great trepidation bowed low before his elder brother, confessing his fault.

The Prince addressed him, saying, “Though we are brothers, yet the proper relation between us of prince and minister must not be overlooked. Why then did you behave indecorously? While the late Prince lived, you made a boast of your literary powers, but I am disposed to think you may have made use of another's pen. Now I require you to compose a poem within the time taken to walk seven paces, and I will spare your life if you succeed. If you fail, then I shall punish you with rigor.”

“Will you suggest a theme?” asked Cao Zhi.

Now there was hanging in the hall a black and white sketch of two bulls that had been fighting at the foot of a wall, and one of them had just fallen dead into a well. Cao Pi pointed to the sketch and said, “Take that as the subject. But you are forbidden to use the words 'two bulls, one bull, fighting, wall's foot, falling, well and dead.'“

Cao Zhi took seven paces and then recited this poem:

Two butcher's victims lowing walked along,

Each head bore curving bones, a sturdy pair,

They met just by a hillock, both were strong,

Each would avoid a pit new dug there.

They fought unequal battle, for at length

One lay below a gory mass, inert.

It was not that they were of unequal strength

Though wrathful both, one did not strength exert.

This exhibition of skill amazed the Prince and the whole court. Cao Pi thought he would use another test, so he bade his brother improvise on the theme of their fraternal relationship, the words “brotherhood" or “brother” being barred. Without seeming to reflect, Cao Zhi rattled off this rhyme:

They were boiling beans on a beanstalk fire;

Came a plaintive voice from the pot,

“O why, since we sprang from the selfsame root,

Should you kill me with anger hot?”

The allusion in these verses to the cruel treatment of one member of a family by another was not lost upon Cao Pi, and he dropped a few silent tears.

The mother of both men came out at this moment from her abiding place and said, “Should the elder brother thus oppress the younger?”

The Prince jumped from his seat, saying, “My mother, the laws of the state cannot be nullified.”

Cao Zhi was degraded to the rank of Lord of Anxiang. He accepted the decision without a murmur and at once left his brother's court by horse. Cao Pi's accession was the signal for a set of new laws and new commands. His behavior toward Emperor Xian was more intemperate than his father's had ever been.

The stories of his harshness reached Chengdu and almost frightened Liu Bei, who summoned his counselors to discuss what he should do.

Said he, “Since the death of Cao Cao and the accession of his son, the position of the Emperor has changed for the worse. Sun Quan acknowledges the lordship of Wei, and its influence is becoming too great. I am disposed to destroy Sun Quan in revenge for the death of my brother. That done. I will proceed to the Capital District and purge the whole land of rebellion. What think you?”

Then Liao Hua stood out from the ranks of officers and threw himself upon the earth, saying with tears, “Liu Feng and Meng Da were the true cause of the death of your brother and his adopted son; both these renegades deserve death.”

Liu Bei was of the same opinion and was going to send and arrest them forthwith, but here Zhuge Liang intervened and gave wiser advice.

“That is not the way; go slowly or you may stir up strife. Promote these two and separate them. After that you may arrest.”

The Prince of Hanzhong saw the prudence of this procedure and stayed his hand. He raised Liu Feng to the Governorship of Mianzhu, and so separated the two delinquents.

Now Peng Yang and Meng Da were old friends. Hearing what was afoot, the former hastened home and wrote warning his friend. The letter was confided to a trusty messenger to bear to Meng Da. The messenger was caught as he went out of the city and carried before Ma Chao, who thus got wind of the business. He then went to Peng Yang's house, where, nothing being suspected, he was received kindly and wine was brought in. The two drank for some time. When Ma Chao thought his host sufficiently off his guard, he said, “The Prince of Hanzhong used to look on you with great favor; why does he do so no longer?”

The host began to rave against his master.

“The obstinate old leather-belly! But I will find some way to pay him out.”

In order to see to what lengths he would go, Ma Chao led him on, saying, “Truth to tell, I have long hated the man too.”

“Then you join Meng Da and attack, while I will win over the people of Eastern and Western Lands of Rivers. That will make it easy enough,” said Peng Yang.

“What you propose is very feasible, but we will talk it over again tomorrow,” said Ma Chao, and took leave.

Taking with him the captured man and the letter he carried, Ma Chao then proceeded to see the Prince, to whom he related the whole story. Liu Bei was very angry and at once had the intended traitor arrested and put in prison, where he was examined under torture to get at full details.

While Peng Yang lay in prison, bitterly but vainly repentant, Liu Bei consulted his adviser.

“That fellow Peng Yang meant to turn traitor; what shall I do with him?” “The fellow is something of a scholar, but irresponsible,” replied Zhuge Liang. “He is too dangerous to be left alive.”

Thereupon orders were given that he should be allowed to commit suicide in gaol. The news that Peng Yang had been made away frightened his sympathizer and friend, Meng Da, and put him in a quandary. What would he better do on the top of this? Liu Feng's promotion and transfer to Mianzhu arrived, and frightened him still more. So he sought advice from two friends and commanders, the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi, who lived in Shangyong.

“My friend Peng Yang and I did much for the Prince of Hanzhong. But now Peng Yang is dead, and I am forgotten. More than that, the Prince wishes to put me to death. What can I do?” said Meng Da.

Shen Dan replied, “I think I can find a plan that will secure your safety.”

“What is it?” asked Meng Da, feeling happier.

“Desertion. My brother Shen Yi and I have long desired to go over to Wei. You just write the Prince of Hanzhong a memorial resigning your service and betake yourself to the Prince of Wei, who will certainly employ you in some honorable way. Then we two will follow.”

Meng Da saw that this was his best course, so he wrote a memorandum, which he gave to the messenger who had brought the recent dispatches to take back with him. That night Meng Da left his post and went to Wei.

The messenger returned to Chengdu, handed in Meng Da's memorial and told the story of his desertion. The Prince was angry. He tore open the letter and read:

“In the humble opinion of thy servant, O Prince, you have set out to accomplish a task comparable with that of Yi

Yin, and to walk in the meritorious footsteps of Lu Wang in building the fame of Kings Wen and Huan. When the great design was rough-hewn, you had the support of the lands of the states of Wu and Chu, wherefore many people of ability incontinently joined you. Since I entered your service, I have committed many faults; and if I recognize them, how much more do you see them! Now, O Prince, you are surrounded by famous people, while I, useless as a helper at home and inept as a leader abroad, should be shamed were I to take a place among them.

“It is well known that when Fan Li saw certain eventualities, he went sailing on the lakes, and Zi Fan acknowledged his faults and stayed by the rivers. Inasmuch as one cannot take means of safeguarding one's self at the critical and dangerous moment, I desire—as is my duty—to go away as I came, untainted. Moreover, I am stupid and without use or merit, merely born in these days as the sport of circumstances.

“In the days of old, Shen Sheng, though perfectly filial, incurred the suspicions of his father and died; Zi Xu, though perfectly loyal, was put to death. Meng Tian, though he extended the borders of Qin, suffered the extreme penalty; and Yue Yi, though he destroyed the might of Qi, was the victim of calumny. Whenever I have read of these men, I have been moved to tears, and now I am in like case and the more mortified.

“Lately Jingzhou was overwhelmed, and I, an officer of rank, failed in my duty, not one in a hundred behaving as I should. Only I return Fangling and Shangyong and seek service abroad. Now I desire you, O Prince, graciously to understand, to sympathize with thy servant and to condone the step he is about to take. Really I am but a mean man, incapable of great deeds. I know what I am doing, and I dare to say it is no small fault.

“They say that dissolution of bonds should not occasion recrimination, and the dismissed servant should take leave without heart-burning. I have taken your orders many times, and now, O Prince, you must act yourself. I write this with extreme trepidation.”

But the reading gave rise to great anger in the breast of the Prince.

“The unmerited fellow!” said he. “He turns traitor and dares to insult me by sending a letter of farewell.”

Liu Bei was just giving orders to send a force to seize the deserter, when Zhuge Liang interposed, saying, “You would better send Liu Feng to capture him and let the two tigers worry each other to weakness. Whether Liu Feng succeeds or fails, he will have to come to the capital, and you can kill him. Thus will you cut off two evils.”

Liu Bei took his advice. Orders were sent to Mianzhu, and Liu Feng obediently led out his troops.

Now Meng Da arrived when Cao Pi was holding a great council. When the attendants told him that General Meng Da of Shu had come, Cao Pi summoned him to enter and said to him, “Is not this an insincere surrender?”

Meng Da replied, “I was in fear of death for not having relieved Guan Yu. That is my only reason for coming.”

However, Cao Pi did not trust him. When they reported that Liu Feng was coming to arrest him, with a large army, and had attacked Xiangyang and was challenging Meng Da to battle, Cao Pi said, “You seem to be true. Go then to Xiangyang and take Liu Feng. If you bring me his head, I shall no longer doubt.”

Meng Da replied, “I will convince him by argument; no soldiers will be needed. I will bring him to surrender too.”

So Meng Da was made General Who Establishes Strong Arms, Lord of Pingyang, and Governor of Xincheng, and sent to guard Xiangyang and Fankou.

Now there were two generals there already, Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang, who engaged in reducing the surrounding territories. Meng Da arrived, met his two colleagues, and was told that Liu Feng was fifteen miles from the city. Whereupon Meng Da wrote him a letter urging him to surrender. But Liu Feng was in no mood to surrender; instead he tore up the letter and put the messenger to death.

“The renegade has already made me offend against my duty to my uncle, and now would sever me from my father so that I shall be reproached as disloyal and unfilial,” said Liu Feng.

Meng Da went out with his army to give battle. Liu Feng rode to the front, pointed with his sword at his opponent and railed against him.

“Death is very near you,” replied Meng Da, “yet you continue blindly in the way of foolishness and will not understand.”

Liu Feng rode out flourishing his sword. He engaged Meng Da, who ran away before the conflict had well begun. Liu Feng pursued hotly to seven miles. Then he fell into an ambush and found himself attacked on two sides by Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang. Also Meng Da returned to the attack. Liu Feng was forced to fly. He made straight for Shangyong, pursued all the way. When he reached the city and hailed the gate, he was met by a volley of arrows.

“I have surrendered to Wei,” cried Shen Dan from the city tower. It was impossible to attack the city, as the army of Wei was close behind, and having no resting place, he set off for Fangling. He arrived there to find the banners of Wei set out along the walls. Then he saw Shen Yi wave a signal from the tower, and at once there appeared from the shelter of the wall a body of soldiers led by Xu Huang.

Then Liu Feng made for home. But he was pursued, and only a hundred riders of his remained to him when he regained Chengdu.

Seeking an interview with his father, he found but scant sympathy, for in response to his petition, made prostrate, and weeping, Liu Bei said, “Shameful son! How are you come to see me at all?”

“My uncle's mishap was not due to my refusal of help, but because Meng Da thwarted me.”

“You eat as a man, you dress as a man; but you have no more the instincts of a man than an image of clay or wood. What mean you by saying another wretch thwarted you?”

Liu Bei bade the executioners expel Liu Feng and put him to death. But the Prince felt some compunction later when he heard of Liu Feng's treatment to the messenger who had brought Meng Da's letter inviting him to become a traitor. And he gave way to grief for the death of Guan Yu until he fell ill. So no military movements were made.

After he had succeeded to the princedom, Cao Pi raised all his officers to high rank and had an army prepared of three hundred thousand, and maneuvered them over the southern territories and made great feasts in the county of Qiao in the old state of Pei, which was the land of his ancestors. As the grand army passed by, the aged villagers lined the roads offering gifts of wine, just as when the Founder of the Hans returned home to Pei.

When it was announced that the Regent Marshal Xiahou Dun was near death, Cao Pi hastened back to Yejun, but arrived too late to see him. He put on mourning for the great leader and instituted magnificent funeral ceremonies.

In the late summer of this same year, it was reported that a phoenix had been seen to bow at Shiyi, and a linlion had appeared at Linzi, while a yellow dragon was observed in Yejun. Whereupon Imperial Commander Li Fu and Minister Xu Zhi discussed these appearances, and putting them all together they concluded, saying, “Those splendid signs presage that Wei is about to supplant Han, and the altar of abdication should be set up.”

Presently a deputation of forty high officers, both military and civil, led by Hua Xin, Wang Lang, Xin Pi, Jia Xu, Liu Ye, Liu Yi, Chen Jiao, Chen Qun, and Huan Jie went into the Palace and proposed to Emperor Xian that he should abdicate and yield to the Prince of Wei, Cao Pi.

It is time to set up the throne of Wei,

And steal the land from the Hans.

The next chapter will record the Emperor's reply.