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ot invest his successor quickly？〃
〃We await the mand；〃 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 jumped up and down to shout their congratulations。 And Hua Xin read the edict。
Hua Xin had always been devoted to Wei。 As soon as he knew of Cao Cao's death； he drafted this edict and got it sealed by Emperor Xian almost by force。 However； there it was： 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 exultant congratulations of all the officers。 This was followed by a great 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。
Main Next to Chapter 79 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Brother Oppressing Brother： Cao Zhi poses Poems；
Nephew Harming Uncle： Liu Feng Receives Punishment。
All eyes turned toward the speaker； High Minister Jia Kui； and the young prince manded 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 unbeing。〃
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 e as a mourner or as a rival claimant？〃
〃I am e 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 mand 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 Wealth Era； the First Year （AD 220）。 He made Jia Xu Grand mander； 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 Wei； 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 missioners 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 panions being two brothers named Ding Yi and Ding Yin。 They were very rude。 When we presented ourselves； Cao Zhi sat bolt upright； but would not say a word。 Ding Yi 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 Yin 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 mander stopped him。 Xu Chu slew that general and entered the city； unchallenged。 He went to the residence and found Cao Zhi and all his panions 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 Yi and Ding Yin。 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 rades 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 forted 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 mand。〃
〃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 pose 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 newly 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