As Liu Fang and Sun Zu had both received many favors from Cao Zhen； they replied； 〃None is so fit as Cao Shuang； the son of Cao Zhen。〃
The Ruler of Wei approved their choice； and thus Cao Shuang became a great person。
Then Liu Fang and Sun Zu memorialized； saying； 〃As Cao Shuang has been chosen； Cao Yu； the Prince of Yan； should be ordered to leave the capital and return to Yan； his own place。〃
The Ruler of Wei consented and issued an edict； which these two bore to Cao Yu； saying； 〃The edict in the Emperor's own hand bids you return to your own domain at once； and you are not to return to court without a special mand。〃
Cao Yu wept； but he left forthwith。
Thereupon Cao Shuang was created Regent Marshal and Court Administrator。
But the Ruler of Wei's illness advanced rapidly； and he sent messenger with authority ensign to call Sima Yi into the Palace。 As soon as he arrived； he was led to the Emperor's chamber。
〃I feared lest I should not see you again；〃 said the Ruler of Wei。 〃But now I can die content。〃
The general bowed and said； 〃On the road they told me the sacred person was not perfectly well。 I grieved that I had not wings to hasten hither。 But I am happy in that I now behold the dragon countenance。〃
The heir； Cao Fang； was summoned to the Emperor's bedside and also Cao Shuang； Liu Fang； Sun Zu； and certain others。
Taking Sima Yi by the hand； the dying Emperor said； 〃When Liu Bei lay dying at Baidicheng； he confided his son； so soon to be an orphan； to the care of Zhuge Liang； who labored in this task to the very end and whose devotion only ceased with death。 If such conduct is possible in the mere remnant of a dying dynasty continued in a small state； how much more may I hope for it in a great country！ My son is only eight years of age； and incapable of sustaining the burden of rulership。 Happily for him he has ample merit and experience around him in the persons of yourself and his relatives。 He will never lack friends for my sake。〃
Turning to the young prince； he continued； 〃My friend Sima Yi is as myself； and you are to treat him with the same respect and deference。〃
Cao Rui bade Sima Yi lead the young prince forward。 The boy threw his arms around Sima Yi's neck and clung to him。
〃Never forget the affection he has just shown；〃 said Cao Rui； weeping。 And Sima Yi wept also。
The dying man swooned； although he could not speak； his hand still pointed to his son； and soon after he died。 Cao Rui had reigned thirteen years and was thirty…six years of age。 His death took place in the first month of the third year of Spectacular Beginning （AD 239）。
No time was lost in enthroning the new Emperor； the supporters being Sima Yi and Cao Shuang。 The new ruler's name was Cao Fang。 However； he was Cao Rui's son only by adoption。 He had been brought up in the Palace secretly； and no one knew his real origin。
The posthumous title of Emperor Rui the Knowledgeable was conferred upon the late ruler； and he was buried in the Gaoping Tombs。 Empress Guo was given the title of Empress Dowager。
The new reign was styled Right Beginning Era； the first year （AD 239）。 Sima Yi and Cao Shuang conducted the government； and in all matters Cao Shuang treated Sima Yi with deference and took no steps without his knowledge。
＇e＇ Deng Yu was mander…in…chief of Liu Xiu； the founder of Latter Han。 。。。。。
Cao Shuang was no stranger at court。 Cao Rui had respected him for his diligence and care and had been very fond of him； He had had the freedom of the Palace all his life。 He had a host of five hundred clients and retainers。 Among them were five wholly light and foppish。 Their names were He Yan； Deng Yang； Li Sheng； Ding Mi； and Bi Gui。 Deng Yang was a descendant of mander Deng Yu of Han*。 Beside these five there was another named Huan Fan； Minister of Agriculture； a man of good parts； who had the sobriquet of 〃Bag of Wisdom〃。 These six were Cao Shuang's most trusted panions and confidants。
One day He Yan said； 〃My lord； you should not let your great powers slip into the hands of any other； or you will repent it。〃
Cao Shuang replied； 〃Sima Yi as well as I received the late Emperor's sacred trust； and I mean to be true。〃
He Yan said； 〃When your father and this Sima Yi were winning their victories in the west； your father suffered much from this man's temper； which ultimately brought about his death。 Why do you not look into that？〃
Cao Shuang seemed suddenly to wake up。
Having entered into an intrigue with the majority of the officers about the court； then one day he presented to the Ruler of Wei a memorial； saying； 〃Sima Yi should be promoted to the rank of Guardian of the Throne for his great merits and services。〃
The promotion was made； and consequently Sima Yi； now a civil officer； let the whole military authority fall into the hands of Cao Shuang。
Having thus far succeeded； Cao Shuang next appointed his brothers to high military posts： Cao Xi as mander of the Center Army； Cao Xun； mander of the Imperial Guards； Cao Yan； mander of the Cavalry。 Each manded three thousand of the Palace guards； with right to go in and out of the Palace at will。 Moreover； three of his friends………He Yan； Deng Yang； and Ding Mi………were created Chairs of three boards； Bi Gui； mander of Capital District； and Li Sheng； Governor of Henan。 These five and their patron were close associates in all concerns of state。
Cao Shuang gathered about him larger and still larger numbers of supporters； till Sima Yi gave out that he was ill and remained in seclusion。 His two sons also resigned their offices。
Cao Shuang and his friends now gave themselves up to dissipation； spending days and nights in drinking and music。 In their dress and the furniture of their table they copied the Palace patterns。 Tribute in the shape of jewels and curios went to the residence of Cao Shuang before it entered the Emperor's palace； and his plex swarmed with beautiful damsels。 Minister Zhang Dang of the Inner Bureau toadied to Cao Shuang so far as to select eighteen of the late Emperor's handmaids and send them to the now powerful minister。 Cao Shuang also chose for him a chorus of two score well…born ladies who were skilled in music and dancing。 Cao Shuang also built for himself beautiful towers and pavilions and made to himself vessels of gold and silver； the work of the most expert craftspeople； whom he kept constantly employed。
Now He Yan heard of Guan Lu's great skill in divination and sent to Pingyuan to invite him to discuss about the Book of Changes。
When the soothsayer arrived； Deng Yang was of the pany to meet him； and he said to Guan Lu； 〃You call yourself a skillful diviner； but your speech does not resemble the language of the Book of Changes。 How is that？〃
Guan Lu replied； 〃An interpreter does not use the language of the original。〃
He Yan laughed； saying； 〃Certainly good words are not wearisome。 But cast a lot for me； and tell me whether I shall ever arrive at the highest office or not； for I have dreamed repeatedly that many blue flies settled on my nose。〃
Guan Lu replied； 〃Gao Kai and Gao Yuan aided King Shun； Duke Zhou assisted the young Emperor Cheng of Zhou Dynasty； all these were kindly and modest and enjoyed great happiness。 You； Sir； have e to high honors and wield great powers； but those who esteem you are few and those who fear you； many。 You are not careful to walk in the way of good fortune。 Now the nose is an eminence。 If an eminence retains its characteristic； thereby it remains in honor。 But is it not that blue flies gather to foul objects and the lofty fears a fall？ I would wish you to give of your abundance for the good of the poor and avoid walking in the wrong road。 Then indeed may you reach the highest dignity； and the blue flies will disperse。〃
〃This is mere senile gossip；〃 said Deng Yang。
〃The gift of age is to see that which is yet to e； the gift of gossip is to perceive what is not said；〃 replied Guan Lu。 Thereupon he shook out his sleeves and went away。
〃He is very mad； really；〃 said his two hosts。
Guan Lu went home。 When he saw his uncle； Guan Lu gave him an account of the interview。
His uncle was alarmed at the probable consequences； and said； 〃Why did you anger them？ They are too powerful for you to offend。〃
〃What is there to fear？ I have been talk