〃Is not that just what Xi Zheng told you to say？〃 asked Sima Zhao。
〃It is just as you say；〃 was the reply。
They all laughed。 But really Sima Zhao was pleased with the frank answer and felt that nothing was to be feared from him。
Laughter loving； pleasure pursuing；
Rippling smiles over a merry face；
Never a thought of his former glory
In his callous heart finds place。
Childish joy in a change of dwelling；
That he feels and that alone；
Manifest now that he was never
Worthy to sit on his father's throne。
The courtiers thought that so grand an exploit as the conquest of the River Lands was worthy of high honor； so they memorialized the Ruler of Wei； Cao Huang； to confer the rank Prince of Jin on Sima Zhao。 At that time； Cao Huang ruled in name only； for he had no authority。 The whole land was under Sima Zhao； whose will the Emperor himself dared not cross。 And so； in due course； the Duke of Jin became Prince of Jin。
After being made Prince of Jin； Sima Zhao posthumously created his father； Sima Yi； the Original Prince and his late elder brother； Sima Shi； the Wonderful Prince。
The wife of Sima Zhao was the daughter of Wang Su。 She bore to him two sons； the elder of whom was named Sima Yan。 Sima Yan was huge of frame； his flowing hair reached to the ground when he stood up； and both hands hung down below his knees。 He was clever； brave； and skilled in the use of arms。
The second son； Sima You； was mild of disposition； a filial son and a dutiful brother。 His father loved him dearly。 As Sima Shi had died without leaving sons； this youth； Sima You； was regarded as his son； to continue that line of the family。
Sima Zhao used to say： 〃The empire was really my brother's。〃
Being a prince； it was necessary for Sima Zhao to choose his heir； and he wished to name his younger son Sima You。 But Shan Tao remonstrated。
〃It is improper and infelicitous to prefer the younger；〃 said Shan Tao。
And Jia Chong； He Zeng； and Pei Xiu followed in the same strain。
〃The elder is clever； able in war； one of the most talented people in the state and popular。 With such natural advantages he has a great destiny： He was not born to serve。〃
Sima Zhao hesitated； for he was still unwilling to abandon his desire。
But two other officers………Grand mander Wang Xiang and Minister of Works Xun Kai………also remonstrated； saying； 〃Certain former dynasties have preferred the younger before the elder and rebellion has generally followed。 We pray you reflect upon these cases。〃
Finally Sima Zhao yielded and named his elder son Sima Yan as his successor。
Certain officers memorialized： 〃This year a gigantic figure of a man descended from heaven in Xiangwu。 His height was twenty feet and his footprint measured over three feet。 He had white hair and a hoary beard。 He wore an unlined yellow robe and a yellow cape。 He walked leaning on a black…handled staff。 This extraordinary man preached； saying； 'I am the king of the people； and now I e to tell you of a change of ruler and the ing of peace。' He wandered about for three days and then disappeared。 Evidently this portent refers to yourself； Noble Sir； and now you should assume the imperial headdress with twelve strings of pearls； set up the imperial standard； and have the roads cleared when you make a progress。 You should ride in the golden…shafted chariot with six horses。 Your consort should be styled 'Empress' and your heir 'Apparent'。〃
Sima Zhao was greatly pleased。 He returned to his palace； but just as he was sitting down； he was suddenly seized with paralysis and lost the use of his tongue。 He quickly grew worse。 His three chief confidants； Wang Xiang； He Zeng； and Xun Kai； together with many court officials； came to inquire after his health； but he could not speak to them。 He pointed toward the heir apparent； Sima Yan； and died。 It was the eighth month of that year。
Then said He Zeng； 〃The care of the empire devolves upon the Prince of Jin： Let us induct the heir。 Then we can perform the sacrifices to the late prince。〃
Thereupon Sima Yan was set up in his father's place。 He gave He Zeng the title of Prime Minister； Sima Wang； Minister of the Interior； Shi Bao； mander of the Flying Cavalry； and conferred many other titles and ranks。 The posthumous title of the 〃Scholar Prince〃 was conferred upon his late father。
＇e＇ King Wen； aka the Scholar King； founder of the Zhou Dynasty； father of King Wu。 King Wen did not actually founded the dynasty； but he laid the foundation for Zhou。 At the end of Shang Dynasty； the state Zhou of King Wen had already possessed two…thirds of the empire； but King Wen still faithfully served the last emperor of Shang。 The final conquest was pleted by King Wu and King Wu's brother； the Duke of Zhou。 。。。。。
When the obsequies were finished； Sima Yan summoned Jia Chong and Pei Xiu into the Palace； and said； 〃Cao Cao said that if the celestial mandate rested upon him； he could be no more than King Wen of Zhou*； who served as a regent only。 Is this really so？〃
Jia Chong replied； 〃Cao Cao was in the service of Han and feared lest posterity should reproach him with usurpation。 Wherefore he spoke thus。 Nevertheless he caused Cao Pi to bee Emperor。〃
〃How did my father pare with Cao Cao？〃 asked Sima Yan。
〃Although Cao Cao was universally successful； yet the people feared him and credited him with no virtue。 Cao Pi's rule was marked by strife and lack of tranquillity。 No single year was peaceful。 Later the Original Prince and Wonderful Prince of your line rendered great services and disseminated passion and virtue； so that they were beloved。 Your late father overcame Shu in the west and was universally renowned。 parison with Cao Cao is impossible。〃
〃Still Cao Pi succeeded the rule of Han。 Can I not in like manner succeed that of Wei？〃
Jia Chong and Pei Xiu bowed low and said； 〃Cao Pi's action may be taken as a precedent to succeed an older dynasty。 Wherefore prepare an abdication terrace to make the great declaration。〃
Sima Yan resolved to act promptly。 Next day he entered the Forbidden City armed with a sword。 No court had been held for many days； for Cao Huang was ill at ease and full of dread。 When Sima Yan appeared； the Ruler of Wei left his place and advanced to met him。 Sima Yan sat down。
〃By whose merits did Wei succeed to empire？〃 he asked suddenly。
〃Certainly success was due to your forefathers；〃 replied Cao Huang。
Sima Yan smiled； saying； 〃Your Majesty is unskilled in debate； inept in war； and unfit to rule。 Why not give place to another more able and virtuous？〃
Cao Huang's lips refused a reply。
But Zhang Jie； one of the ministers； cried； 〃You are wrong to speak thus； O Prince。 His Majesty's ancestor conquered east and west； north and south； and won the empire by strenuous effort。 The present Emperor is virtuous and without fault。 Why should he yield place to another？〃
Sima Yan replied angrily； 〃The imperial right lay with the Hans； and Cao Cao coerced them as he did the nobles。 In making himself the Prince of Wei； he usurped the throne of Han。 Three generations of my forefathers upheld the House of Wei； so that their power is not the result of their own abilities； but of the labor of my house。 This is known to all the world； and am I not equal to carrying on the rule of Wei？〃
〃If you do this thing； you will be a rebel and an usurper；〃 said Zhang Jie。
〃And what shall I be if I avenge the wrongs of Han？〃
He bade the lictors take Zhang Jie outside and beat him to death； while the Ruler of Wei wept and besought pardon for his faithful minister。
Sima Yan rose and left。
Cao Huang turned to Jia Chong and Pei Xiu； saying； 〃What should I do？ Some decision must be taken。〃
They replied； 〃Truth to tell； the measure of your fate is acplished and you cannot oppose the will of Heaven。 You must prepare to abdicate as did Emperor Xian of the Hans。 Resign the throne to the Prince of Jin and thereby accord with the design of Heaven and the will of the people。 Your personal safety need not cause you anxiety。〃
Cao Huang could only accept this advice； and the terrace was built。 The 〃mouse〃 day of the twelfth month was chosen for the ceremony。 On that day the Ruler of Wei； dressed in full robes of ceremony； and bearing the seal in his hand； ascended the terrace in the presence of a grea