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〃To the Prince of Wei。 In days of old； Yao yielded the empire to Shun； and Shun in turn gave it to Yu。 The will of Heaven does not follow the way of mortals； but seeks the virtuous。 The rule of Han has lost its virility and the times are out of joint。 When my turn came to rule； great disorder arose； and evils stalked abroad till the empire was in danger of subversion。 I trusted to the military genius of the late Prince of Wei to restore order and purge away the evil； whereby to ensure tranquillity to my House。 What could my single hand do to correct this and ensure peace for my Nine Domains？
〃The present Prince has succeeded to his father。 He is also resplendent in virtue； capable as Wu the Military King and Wen the Scholar King of the great task； brilliant in the glory of his father。 The spirit of the empire is upon him； gods and humans declare his worth。 To him be the bright reward； and let him accept this mandate。 For all say his capabilities fit him to stand beside Yu。
〃As did my great predecessor； I respectfully retire that he may be set up。 The revolution of Heaven brings the glory upon his person； and he will accept the high office and fort all people by reverently obeying the decree of Heaven。〃
The reading finished； the Prince of Wei； Cao Pi； proceeded to the terrace and ascended to the place of the Emperor。 Then Jia Xu； at the head of the great concourse of officers； came to the foot of the terrace； and a court was held。 The year of reign was changed from Prolonged Wealth； the first year； to Yellow Dawn； the first year （AD 220）； and the government became that of Great Wei。 An edict was then published proclaiming a general amnesty； and the title of 〃Founder of the Dynasty〃 was conferred upon the late Prince； Cao Cao。
Then said Hua Xin； 〃As heaven has but one sun； so the people can have but one ruler。 The Hans have abdicated； and it is fitting that they withdraw to a distance。 I pray for an edict naming the place of residence of the Liu family。〃
Taking the late Emperor by the arm； Hua Xin led him forward and made him kneel below the terrace to hear the mand。 Then the new Emperor Pi conferred upon him the title of Duke of Shanyang； bidding him depart forthwith。
Thereupon Hua Xin drew his sword and in a harsh voice said； 〃It is an old rule that the setting up of one emperor means the degradation of another。 Now； through the gracious kindness of His Majesty； you are spared personal injury and created a duke。 Proceed at once and return not to court without express mand。〃
The late Emperor Xian controlled his emotion； thanked the Emperor Pi for his clemency and left on horseback。 But those who saw the departure could not help a feeling of pity for him。
Said Cao Pi to his courtiers； 〃Now I understand the story of Shun and Yu。〃
Then they all shouted： 〃O Ruler； may thy life be eternal！〃
The ruling policy of Han had failed them；
Dangers pressed in upon the House；
And the land they had held so long
Passed from them forever。
Little thought he； who then snatched their scepter；
That the precedent he then claimed
Would be used in due time by another
To justify the destruction of his own House。
The officials then requested Cao Pi to make a solemn declaration to Heaven and Earth； which he did with humble obeisance。
But at this moment a sudden storm burst whirling up the dust and rolling along stones till no one could see the face of his neighbor。 All the lights on the terrace were extinguished。 The newly enthroned Emperor was terrified and fell prostrate。 He was borne away unconscious。 When he revived； he was assisted into the Palace； but for many days he was too ill to hold a court。
When he had somewhat recovered； he met his courtiers and received their felicitations。 He rewarded Hua Xin with the post of Minister of the Interior； and Wang Lang with that of Minister of Works。 All the officers were advanced in rank。 But as his recovery was slow； he began to think there was too much witchcraft about the palaces at Xuchang and left it for Luoyang； where he erected a large palace plex。
＇e＇ These rumors were inaccurate； or they might have had some political purpose。 Emperor Xian died fourteen years later； in AD 234。
The tale of these doings reached Chengdu and caused great grief to the Prince of Hanzhong； for he heard the rumors that the late Emperor had been put to death*。 He issued an order for mourning to be worn and instituted sacrifices； and he conferred the posthumous title of Emperor Xian the Filial on the late Emperor。 This worry brought on an illness； so that he could not transact the business of the court； which was left in the hands of Zhuge Liang。
Then Zhuge Liang and some of his colleagues took counsel one with another； saying； 〃The empire cannot be one single day without its ruler； wherefore we desire that our Prince should be honored with the title of 'Emperor'。〃
Qiao Zhou said； 〃There have been auspicious indications。 A yellow vapor has been seen in the northwest of Chengdu rising to the clouds； and the star of emperor has greatly increased in splendor and shined like the moon。 These signs mean that our Prince is to bee Emperor in succession to the House of Han。 There can be no doubt。〃
Whereupon Zhuge Liang and Xu Jing； at the head of a large number of officers； presented a memorial requesting the Prince to assume the title of Emperor。 But Liu Bei objected。
〃O Nobles； do you desire to set my feet in the way of disloyalty and wrong…doing？〃
〃Not so；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃But Cao Pi has usurped the Throne； while you are a scion of the House。 It is right and proper that you succeed and prolong the line。〃
But the Prince suddenly showed anger； saying； 〃Can I imitate the deeds of such a rebel？〃
He rose and left the chamber； going to his own apartments。 So the officials dispersed。
But three days later Zhuge Liang again led a deputation to the court； and they requested that the Prince should e forth and hear them。 He came； and they all prostrated themselves。
Xu Jing spoke； 〃The late Emperor of the Hans has been slain by Cao Pi。 You； O Prince； will fail both in loyalty and rectitude if you do not assume the succession and destroy the wrong…doers。 The whole empire requests you to rule that you may avenge the death of the late Emperor； and the people will be disappointed if you do not accede to their wishes。〃
The Prince replied； 〃Although I am descended from the grandson of Emperor Jing； I have not been of the least advantage。 If I assumed the title of 'Emperor'； how would that act differ from usurpation？〃
Zhuge Liang pleaded with him again and again； but the Prince remained obdurate。 Then Zhuge Liang bethought that where argument failed a ruse might succeed。 So having arranged the parts his several colleagues were to play； he pleaded illness and remained at home。 Presently it was told the Prince that his adviser's condition was being serious； wherefore Liu Bei went to see him as he lay on his couch。
〃What illness affects you； my mander…in…Chief？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃My heart is sad like unto burning； and I shall soon die。〃
〃What is it that causes you such grief？〃
But Zhuge Liang did not reply。 And when the question was repeated again and again he said nothing； but just lay with his eyes closed as if he was too ill to speak。
The Prince； however； pressed him to reply； and then with a deep sigh Zhuge Liang said； 〃Great Prince； from the day I left my humble cottage to follow you； you have always listened to my words and accepted my advice； and now this western domain； the whole of the two River Lands is yours just as I said it would be。 But this usurpation of Cao Pi means the annihilation of the Hans and the cessation of their sacrifices； wherefore my colleagues and I desired you to bee Emperor in order to crush this upstart Wei and restore the Hans。 We all worked for this end； never thinking that you would refuse so obstinately to accede to our wishes。 Now the officers are all annoyed； and they will drift away before very long。 If you are left alone and Wu and Wei e to attack； it will be difficult for you to hold on to what you have。 Do you not think this sufficient reason for me to feel grieved？〃
〃Unless I refused； the whole world would blame me。 I am afraid；〃 replied the Prince。
Quoting Confucius the Teacher； Zhuge Liang replied； 〃'If names be not correct； language is not in accordance with the truth of things。' In other words； if one be not really straight； people will not speak of one favorably。 O Prince； you are straight； and people speak of you favorably。 What more is there to say？ You know when Heaven offers and you refuse； you are certainly to blame。〃
〃When you have recovered； it shall be done；〃 said the Prince。
Up leapt Zhuge Liang from his bed； tapped at the screen in front of a doorway and in rushed a number of high officers； who prostrated themselves； crying； 〃So you have consented； O Prince！ Then choose the day for the ceremony。〃
They were all the most trusted of his court： Imperial Guardian Xu Jing； General Who Brings Peace to Han Mi Zhu； Lord of Qingyi Xiang Ju； Lord of Yangquan Liu Bao； Deputy Governor Zhao Zuo； First Secretary Yang Hong； Counselor Du Qiong； Secretary Zhang Shuang； Minister Lai Gong； Minister Huang Quan； Minister He Zong； Doctorate Scholar Yin Mo； Minister Qiao Zhou； Grand man