〃What is there to fear？ I have been talking to two dead men。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Deng Yang's gait is that of one whose sinews are loosed from his bones； and his pulse is unsteady。 When he would stand； he totters as a man without limbs。 This is the aspect of a disembodied soul。 He Yan looks as if his soul was about to quit its habitation。 He is bloodless； and what should be solid in him is mere vapor。 He looks like rotten wood。 This is the aspect of a soul even now in the dark valley。 Both these men will certainly soon die a violent death； and none need fear them。〃
His uncle left； cursing him for a madman。
Cao Shuang and his five friends were devoted to hunting and were often out of the city。 Cao Xi； a brother of Cao Shuang； remonstrated with him about this and pointed out the dangers of such frequent absence on these excursions。
〃You are in an exalted position and yet you are constantly being out hunting。 If anyone took advantage of this to work you evil； you might have to be exceedingly regretful。〃
Cao Shuang only showed anger and replied； 〃The whole military authority is in my hands； and what is there to fear？〃
Huan Fan； Minister of Agriculture； also reasoned with him； but Cao Shuang would not listen。
About this time the style of the reign was changed from Right Beginning； the tenth year； to Domestic Calm； the first year （AD 249）。
Now ever since Cao Shuang had enjoyed the monopoly of military authority； he had never heard the truth about the state of health of the man he had maneuvered out of power。 But when the Ruler of Wei appointed Li Sheng to the Imperial Protectorship of Qingzhou； Cao Shuang bade Li Sheng go to take leave of Sima Yi； at the same time to find out the true state of his health。
So Li Sheng proceeded to the residence of the High Minister and was announced。
Sima Yi saw through the device at once and told his sons； saying； 〃This is Cao Shuang's wish to find out my real condition。〃
And he bade them play their parts in the scene he arranged； before the visitor was admitted。
Sima Yi threw aside his headdress； so letting his hair fall in disorder； stretched himself upon his couch； tumbled the bed ding into confusion； got a couple of servant girls to support him； and then told his servants to lead in the visitor。
Li Sheng came in and went up to the sick man； saying； 〃It is a long time since I have seen you； and I did not know you were so seriously ill。 His Majesty is sending me to Qingzhou； and I have e to pay my respects to you and bid you farewell。〃
〃Ah； Bingzhou is in the north； you will have to be very careful there；〃 said Sima Yi feigning that he had not heard。
〃I am going as Imperial Protector of Qingzhou； not Bingzhou；〃 said Li Sheng。
〃Oh； you have just e from Bingzhou。〃
〃Qingzhou； in Huashang Mountains。〃
〃Just back from Qingzhou； eh？〃 said Sima Yi； smiling。
〃How very ill the Imperial Guardian is！〃 said Li Sheng to the servants。
〃The Minister is deaf；〃 said they。
〃Give me paper and a pen；〃 said Li Sheng。
Writing materials were brought； when Li Sheng wrote what he wished to say and put it before his host。
〃My illness has made me very deaf。 Take care of yourself on the way；〃 said Sima Yi。
Looking up； he pointed to his mouth。 One of the girls brought some broth and held the cup for him to drink。 He put his lips to the cup； but spilled the broth all over his dress。
〃I am very weak and ill；〃 said he； 〃and may die at any moment。 My sons are but poor things； but you will instruct them。 When you see the Regent Marshal； you will ask him to take care of them for me； will you not？〃
At this point Sima Yi fell back on the couch； panting； and Li Sheng took his leave。
Li Sheng told Cao Shuang what he had seen； and Cao Shuang rejoiced； thinking his rival could not last long。
〃If the old man died； I should not be the one to grieve；〃 said Cao Shuang。
But no sooner had Li Sheng gone than Sima Yi rose from his couch and said to his sons； 〃Li Sheng will take a full account of this to Cao Shuang； who will not fear me any more。 But wait till Cao Shuang goes on his next hunting trip； and we will see what can be done。〃
Soon after this； Cao Shuang proposed to the Ruler of Wei； Cao Fang； to visit the Gaoping Tombs where his father lay and perform the filial sacrifices in person。 So they went； a goodly pany of officers in the train of the imperial chariot； and Cao Shuang with all his brothers and his friends went with the guards。
Huan Fan； Minister of Agriculture； entreated him to remain in the city for fear of plots and risings。
〃Your Lordship are in charge of the capital security； and you and your brothers should not leave the city together。 Suppose there were a revolt； what then？〃
But Cao Shuang asked angrily and rudely； 〃Who would dare make trouble？ Hold your wild tongue！〃
And he went with the Emperor。
His departure rejoiced the heart of Sima Yi； who at once began quietly to muster his trusty friends and henchmen and put the finishing touches to the plot for the overthrow of his rival。
Now terminates his forced inaction；
He must destroy the hostile faction。
Cao Shuang's fate will appear in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 107 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 107
Chapter 107
The Ruler of Wei Hands Over The Power To Sima Yi；
Jiang Wei Is Defeated At Ox Head Hills。
Sima Yi was very pleased to hear that Cao Shuang and his party were to follow the Ruler of Wei on a visit to the tombs bined with a hunt； for it meant that the whole enemy faction left the city。 Accordingly； Cao Shuang and his three brothers Cao Xi； Cao Xun； Cao Yan； and his friends He Yan； Deng Yang； Ding Mi； Bi Gui； Li Sheng； and others left the capital with the Emperor。
As soon as they left； Sima Yi entered with his authority as Imperial Guardian； gave Gao Rou； Minister of the Interior； provisional mand of the army and sent him to seize the camp of Cao Shuang。 A similar mand was given to Wang Guan； Supervisor of the Palace； to replace Cao Xi as mander of the Center Army and to occupy his camp。
Having secured his position thus； Sima Yi and his supporters went to the palace of the Empress Dowager。
They said to her； 〃Cao Shuang has betrayed the trust placed in him by the late Emperor and has ruined the government。 His fault must be expiated。〃
Empress Guo replied； 〃What can be done in the absence of the Son of Heaven？〃
〃I have prepared plans for the destruction of these base ministers and will see to it that no trouble happens to yourself。〃
The Empress was much alarmed； but could only act as she was directed and agree。 So two of Sima Yi's supporters； mander Jiang Ji and High Minister Sima Fu； copied out the memorial he had prepared； and it was sent to the Ruler of Wei by the hand of an eunuch。 Then the arsenals were seized。
Soon the news of the rising came to the knowledge of the family of Cao Shuang； and his wife； Lady Liu； came out from the inner apartments and summoned Pan Ju； mander of the Gates。
She inquired； 〃The Master is outside； and Sima Yi is revolting： What does it mean？〃
〃Your Ladyship need feel no alarm。 Let me go and find out the truth；〃 said Pan Ju。
Thereupon Pan Ju； at the head of a several dozen bowmen； went up on the wall and looked around。 At that moment Sima Yi was crossing the court； and Pan Ju bade his men shoot。 Sima Yi could not pass。
But Sun Qiao； one of his generals； said； 〃You must not shoot at the Imperial Guardian； he is on public service。〃
Thrice Sun Qiao urged his chief not to let the men shoot； and so Pan Ju desisted。 Sima Yi went across guarded by his son Sima Zhao。 Then he went out of the city and camped on River Luo at the Floating Bridge。
When the revolution began； one of Cao Shuang's officers； Lu Zhu by name； took counsel with Military Adviser Xin Chang。
〃Now that this revolt has begun； what should we do？〃
〃Let us go to the Emperor with what troops we have；〃 replied Xin Chang。
〃Perhaps the best course；〃 replied Lu Zhu。
And Xin Chang went into the inner chamber to get ready to start。 There he met his sister； Xin Xianying； who asked the meaning of all this haste。
〃His Majesty is out on a hunt； and Sima Yi has closed the gates of the city。 This is rebellion。〃
〃I do not think so。 He only means to slay Cao Shuang； his rival；〃 replied she。
〃Wha