g domination； and he helped establish the Zhou administrative framework； which served as a model for future Chinese dynasties。 Zhou Dynasty lasted for 800 years （BC 1050…221）。 。。。。。
〃The Duke of Wei has rendered so great services that no minister before him； in Heaven as well as on Earth； not even Yi Yin* and the Duke of Zhou*； could match his manifest merits to the state。 Thus； the title of kingship should be granted to him。〃
The memorial was approved； and a draft edict was prepared by the famous Zhong Yao to make Cao Cao Prince of Wei。 Thrice Cao Cao with seeming modesty pretended to decline the honor； but thrice was his refusal rejected。 Finally he made his obeisance and was enrolled as Prince of Wei with the usual insignia and privileges； a coronet with twelve strings of beads and a chariot with gilt shafts； drawn by six steeds。 Using the formalities of the Son of God； he decorated his imperial chariot with bells and had the roads cleared when he passed along。 He built himself a Palace at Yejun。
Then he began to discuss the appointment of an heir…apparent。 His principal wife； Lady Ding； was without issue； but a concubine； Lady Liu； had borne him a son； Cao Ang； who had been killed in battle at the siege of Wancheng when Cao Cao fought against Zhang Xiu。 A second concubine； Lady Bian； had borne him four sons： Cao Pi； Cao Zhang； Cao Zhi； and Cao Xiong。 Wherefore he elevated Lady Bian to the rank of Queen of Wei in place of Lady Ding。
The third son； Cao Zhi； was very clever and a ready master of position。 Cao Cao wished him to be named the heir。
Then the eldest son； Cao Pi sought from the High Adviser Jia Xu a plan to secure his rights of primogeniture； and Jia Xu told him to do so and so。 Thereafter； whenever the father went out on any military expedition； Cao Zhi wrote fulsome panegyrics； but Cao Pi wept so copiously at bidding his father farewell that the courtiers were deeply affected and remarked that though Cao Zhi was crafty and clever； he was not so sincerely filial as Cao Pi。 Cao Pi also bought over his father's immediate attendants； who then rang the praises of his virtues so loud that Cao Cao was strongly disposed to name him as the heir after all。
After hesitating a long time； the matter was referred to Jia Xu。
〃I wish to name my heir。 Who shall it be？〃 said Cao Cao。
Jia Xu would not say； and Cao Cao asked why。
〃I was just recalling the past in my mind and could not reply at once；〃 said Jia Xu。
〃What were you recalling？〃
〃I was thinking of two fathers； Yuan Shao and Liu Biao； and their sons。〃
Cao Cao laughed。 Soon after this he declared his eldest son his heir。
In the winter of that year； in the tenth month； the building of the Palace of the new Prince of Wei was pleted； and the furnishing begun。 From all parts were collected rare flowers and unmon trees to beautify the gardens。 One agent went into the South Land and saw Sun Quan； to whom he presented a letter from Cao Cao asking that he might be allowed to proceed to Wenzhou to get some oranges。 At that period Sun Quan was in a most plaisant mood toward Cao Cao； so from the orange trees in his own city； he picked forty loads of very fine fruits and sent them immediately to Yejun。
On the way； the bearers of the oranges fell tired； and they had to stop at the foot of a certain hill。 There came along an elderly man； blind of one eye and lame of one leg； who wore a white rattan headdress and a black loose robe。 He saluted the bearers and stayed to talk。
Presently he said； 〃Your burdens are heavy； O Porters。 May this old Taoist lend you a shoulder？ What do you say？〃
Naturally they were pleased enough； and the amiable wayfarer bore each load for two miles。 When they resumed their burdens； they noticed that the loads seemed lighter than before； and they felt rather suspicious。
When the Taoist was taking his leave of the officer in charge of the party； he said； 〃I am an old friend from the same village as the Prince of Wei。 My name is Zuo Ci。 Among Taoists I bear the appellation of 'Black Horn'。 When you get to the end of your journey； you may say that I was inquiring after your lord。〃
Zuo Ci shook down his sleeves and left。 In due course the orange bearers reached the new Palace； and the oranges were presented。 But when Cao Cao cut one open； it was but an empty shell of a thing： There was no pulp beneath the rind。 Cao Cao was rather puzzled and called in the porters； who told him of their falling in with the mysterious Taoist on the way。 But Cao Cao scouted the idea of that being the reason。
But just then the warden of the gate sent to say that a certain Taoist named Zuo Ci was at the gate and wished to see the king。
〃Send him in；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃He is the man we met on the way；〃 said the porters when he appeared。
Cao Cao said curtly； 〃What sorcery have you been exercising on my beautiful fruit？〃
〃How could such a thing happen？〃 said the Taoist。
Thereupon he cut open an orange and showed it full of pulp； most delicious to the taste。 But when Cao Cao cut open another； that again was empty； nothing but rind。
Cao Cao was more than ever perplexed。 He bade his visitor be seated； and； as Zuo Ci asked for refreshment； wine and food were brought in。 The Taoist ate ravenously； consuming a whole sheep； and drank in proportion。 Yet he showed no sign of intoxication or repletion。
〃By what magic are you here？〃 said Cao Cao。
＇e＇ Emei Mountain one of the most renowned Buddhist and Daoist （Taoist） sanctuaries in China。 The mountain is located in the basin of Sichuan Province。 The beautiful majesty of this mountain has caused it to be named Emei； 〃the most beautiful mountain under heaven〃。 Visitors of this mountain are treated to several peaks； bubbling springs； cascading waterfalls； tall ancient trees and abundant flowers along the many mountain paths leading to the many scenic spots and temples that dot the mountain side from the base to the summit。 。。。。。
〃I am but a poor Taoist。 I went into Jialing in Shu； and on Emei Mountain*； I studied the way for thirty long years。 One day I heard my name called from out the rocky wall of my cell。 I looked； but could see nothing。 The same thing happened next day； and so on for many days。 Then suddenly； with a roar like thunder； the rock split asunder； and I saw a sacred book in three volumes called 'The Book of Concealing Method'………the first volume was named 'Concealing Heaven'； the second 'Concealing Earth'； and the third 'Concealing Human'。 From the first volume I learned to ascend to the clouds astride the wind； to sail up into the great void itself； from the second to pass through mountains and penetrate rocks； from the third； to float light as vapor； over the seas； to bee invisible at will or change my shape； to fling swords and project daggers so as to decapitate a man from a distance。 You； O Prince； have reached the acme of glory。 Why not now withdraw and； like me； bee a disciple of the Taoists？ Why not travel to Emei Mountain and there mend your ways so that I may bequeath my three volumes to you ？〃
〃Oft have I reflected upon this course and struggled against my fate； but what can I do？ There is no one to maintain the government；〃 replied Cao Cao。
〃There is Liu Bei of Yizhou； a scion of the dynastic family。 Could you not make way for him？ If you do not； I may have to send one of my flying swords after your head one day。〃
〃You are one of his secret agents；〃 said Cao Cao； suddenly enraged。 〃Seize him！〃 cried he to his lictors。
They did so； while the Taoist laughed。 And Zuo Ci continued to laugh as they dragged him down to the dungeons； where they beat him cruelly。 And when they had finished； the Taoist lay there gently respiring in a sound sleep； just as if he felt nothing whatever。
This enraged Cao Cao still more； and he bade them put the priest into the large wooden collar and nail it securely and then chain him in a cell。 And Cao Cao set guards over him； and the guards saw the collar and chains just fall off while the victim lay fast asleep not injured in the least。
The Taoist lay in prison seven days without food or water。 But when they went to look at him； he was sitting upright on the ground； quite well and rosy looking。
The gaolers reported these things to Cao Cao； who had the prisoner brought in。
〃I do