apital； all the officers attended to receive him at the Nanye Gate； where an imperial carriage awaited him。 He hastily returned their salutations。
〃The ruler ought not to return these salutations；〃 said Grand mander Wang Su。
〃I also am a minister and must respond；〃 replied he。
They conducted him to the carriage to ride into the Palace； but he refused to mount it； saying； 〃Her Majesty has manded my presence； I know not for what reason。 How dare I enter the Palace in such a carriage？〃
He went on foot to the Hall； where Sima Shi awaited him。 He prostrated himself before Sima Shi。 Sima Shi hastily raised him and led him into the presence。
The Empress Dowager said； 〃In your youth I noticed that you bore the impress of majesty。 Now you are to be the Ruler of the Empire。 You must be respectful and moderate； diffusing virtue and benevolence。 You must do honor to your ancestors………the former emperors。〃
Cao Mao modestly declined the proposed honor； but he was pelled to accept it。 He was led out of the presence of the Empress Dowager and placed in the seat of empire in the Hall of Principles。
The style of the reign was changed from Domestic Calm； the sixth year； to Right Origin； the first year （AD 254）。 An amnesty was granted。 Honors were heaped upon Sima Shi； who also received the golden axes； with the right to proceed leisurely within the precincts； to address the Throne without using his name； and to wear arms at court。 Many other officers also received promotions。
But in the spring of the second year of Right Origin； it was reported at court that Guanqiu Jian； General Who Guards the East； and Wen Qin； Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； were raising armies with the declared design of restoring the deposed emperor。
Sima Shi disconcerted。
If ministers of Han have always faithful been；
Wei leaders； too； prove their loyalty are keen。
How this new menace was met will appear in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 110 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 110
Chapter 110
Riding Alone； Wen Yang Repulses A Brave Force；
Following The River； Jiang Wei Defeats The Enemy。
It has been said that in the second year of Right Origin （AD 256） Guanqiu Jian； of the South of River Huai； General Who Guards the East； was manding the forces in River Huai when he heard the news Sima Shi deposed Cao Fang。
He was moved to great anger； and his eldest son； Guanqiu Dian； fomented his father's wrath； saying； 〃Father； you are chief of all this region。 With this Sima Shi in such a position； the country is in danger； and you cannot sit still and look on。〃
〃My son； you speak well！〃 replied Guanqiu Jian。
Whereupon he requested Wen Qin； Imperial Protector of Yangzhou； to e and consult with him。 This Wen Qin had been a client of Cao Shuang's； and he hastened at the call of the general。 When he arrived； he was led into the private apartments； and； the salutations at an end； the two began to talk over the situation。 Presently the host began to weep； and his visitor asked the cause of his tears。
〃Think you that this conduct of Sima Shi does not tear my heart？ He has deposed the Emperor and now holds in his grip all authority of the state。 Things are all upside down。〃
Wen Qin replied； 〃You are the chief of this region。 If you are willing to play the part； you ought to take arms and slay this rebel。 I will help you； regardless of consequences。 My second son； Wen Yang； is a good warrior and a man of great valor。 Moreover； he hates Sima Shi and wishes to avenge on the Sima brothers the death of Cao Shuang。 He would make an excellent Leader of the Van。〃
Guanqiu Jian was delighted to get such ready and willing support； and the two poured a libation in pledge of mutual good faith。 Then； pretending that they held an edict from the Empress Dowager； they summoned all the officers to Shouchun； where they built an altar on the west side and sacrificed a white horse； smearing their lips with its blood in token of their oath。
They made this declaration：
〃Sima Shi is a rebel and devoid of rectitude。 We have a secret edict manding us to muster the forces of the South of River Huai and put down this rebellion。〃
Thus supported； Guanqiu Jian led sixty thousand troops to Xiangcheng； where he camped； while his fellow…conspirator Wen Qin took twenty thousand troops to the front to go to and fro lending help where it was needed。 Letters were sent all through the counties and territories calling for assistance。
Now that mole below the left eye of Sima Shi used to pain at times； and he decided to have it removed。 The surgeon excised it； closed and dressed the wound； and the patient rested quietly in his palace till it should heal。
It was at this time that he received the disquieting news of opposition to his authority。 Whereupon he called in Grand mander Wang Su to discuss the matter。
Said Wang Su； 〃When Guan Yu was most famous； Sun Quan sent Lu Meng to capture Jingzhou by surprise。 What did Lu Meng do？ He first won over the officers of Guan Yu by taking care of their families and thus broke the power of his enemy like a tile。 Now the families of all the officers in the South of River Huai are here in the Middle Land。 Treat them well； at the same time taking care that they do not get away； and you will be irresistible。〃
〃Your words are good；〃 said Sima Shi。 〃However； I cannot go out to war till I have recovered。 Yet； to send another is to take great risks； and I shall feel insecure。〃
＇e＇ Chu was one of the most important of states contending for power in both Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods。 If other states wanted to be dominant； they had to fight and defeat Chu。 Located in the fertile valley of the Great River （Yangtze） in the south； corresponding to the surrounding territory of Jingzhou。
There was also present Secretary Zhong Hui； who here interposed； saying； 〃The forces of the South of River Huai and Chu* are very formidable。 If you send another； there is danger whatever happens； and if your leader makes a serious mistake； your whole policy will fail。〃
〃No one but myself can succeed；〃 cried Sima Shi； starting from his couch。 〃I must go。〃
So； in spite of illness； he resolved to lead in person。 He left his brother in charge of affairs at Luoyang and set out； traveling in a padded carriage。
Zhuge Dan； General Who Guards the East； was given mand over all the forces of Yuzhou and ordered to march from Anfeng and to take possession of Shouchun。 Hu Zun； General Who Conquers the East； with the Qingzhou forces； was sent to bar any retreat at Qiaosong。 Wang Ji； Imperial Protector of Yuzhou and Army Inspector； was sent to capture Chennan。
To his camp at Xiangyang； Sima Shi summoned all his officers to a council。
＇e＇ Zhou Yafu was son of Zhou Bo； the prime minister of Emperor Wen （BC 179…156）。 After the death of Emperor Wen； Duke Wu started a rebellion of Seven Kingdoms。 Zhou Yafu as a general put down this rebellion。 。。。。。
Minister Zheng Mao spoke first； saying； 〃Guanqiu Jian is fond of laying plans； but slow to e to any decision。 His fellow…conspirator Wen Qin is bold； but imprudent。 Now this scheme of theirs is too large for their minds。 But as their soldiers are full of spirit； they should not be engaged lightly。 We should remain on the defensive till their ardor has burned out。 This is what Zhou Yafu* of old time did。〃
But Army Inspector Wang Ji objected； saying； 〃This is not a rising of the people； nor of the soldiers； but is the work of Guanqiu Jian。 The people are merely his tools and cannot help themselves。 The rebellion will go to pieces as soon as an army approaches the region。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 replied Sima Shi。
Then he advanced upon River Ying and camped by the bridge。
Wang Ji said； 〃The city of Nandun is an excellent camping ground。 Occupy it at once； for if not the enemy will do so。〃
Sima Shi sent Wang Ji to carry out his own plan。
Reports of these movements of the enemy came to Guanqiu Jian in Xiangcheng； and an assembly of officers was called。
The Leader of the Van； Ge Yong； said； 〃Nandun is an excellent site for a camp； with a river beside it and hills at the rear。 If the Wei armies camp there； we shall be unable to dislodge them。 Let us occupy it。〃
So the army set out。 But before they drew near； the sco