Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Meanwhile, Yang Yi received word that troops were blocking the road ahead. He immediately sent out scouts, who returned and reported that Wei Yan had burned the plank roads and was leading troops to block the way. Yang Yi was greatly alarmed and said, "While the Prime Minister was alive, he long predicted that this man would rebel. Who would have thought it would happen today. Now he has cut off our retreat. What shall we do?"

Fei Yi said, "This man will certainly send a memorial to the Emperor first, falsely accusing us of rebellion, which is why he burned the plank roads to block our retreat. We too should send a memorial to the Emperor, setting forth Wei Yan's treasonous conduct, and then devise a plan."

Jiang Wei said, "There is a small path here called Cha Mountain. Although it is rugged and perilous, we can use it to get behind the plank roads. At the same time we write a memorial to the Emperor, let us also lead our troops along the Cha Mountain path."

Meanwhile, the Second Emperor in Chengdu could neither eat nor sleep in peace, and his every movement was troubled. He then had a dream in which he saw the Brocade Screen Mountain in Chengdu collapse. Startled awake, he sat waiting for dawn. He assembled his civil and military officials and held court to interpret the dream.

Qiao Zhou said, "Last night Your servant observed the heavens and saw a star, red in color with horn-like rays, falling from the northeast to the southwest. This portends a great calamity for the Prime Minister. Your Majesty's dream of a mountain collapsing corresponds exactly to this omen." The Second Emperor was even more terrified. Suddenly it was reported that Li Fu had arrived. The Second Emperor hastily summoned him and asked for news. Li Fu kowtowed and wept as he reported that the Prime Minister had died, and he recounted in detail the Prime Minister's final words.

Upon hearing this, the Second Emperor wept loudly and said, "Heaven has forsaken me!" He collapsed in tears upon the dragon couch. His attendants helped him to the inner palace. When Empress Dowager Wu heard the news, she too broke into uncontrollable weeping. There was not a single official who did not grieve, and the common people all shed tears. For days on end the Second Emperor was overcome with sorrow and could not hold court.

Suddenly it was reported that Wei Yi had sent a memorial accusing Yang Yi of rebellion. The officials were greatly alarmed and entered the palace to inform the Second Emperor. Empress Dowager Wu was also in the palace at the time. Upon hearing the report, the Second Emperor was greatly startled and ordered a close attendant to read Wei Yan's memorial, which read in part:

"Your subject Wei Yan, Grand General of the West and Marquis of Nangucheng, in trembling fear and with head bowed to the ground, humbly memorializes: Yang Yi has seized command of the troops and led them in rebellion. He has seized the Prime Minister's bier and intends to lead the enemy into our territory. Your subject has already burned the plank roads and stationed troops to defend against him. This is respectfully reported."

When the reading was finished, the Second Emperor said, "Wei Yan is a valiant general. He is more than capable of opposing Yang Yi and his men. Why then did he burn the plank roads?"

Empress Dowager Wu said, "I have often heard the Former Emperor say that Kongming recognized a rebellious bone behind Wei Yan's head and wished to put him to death many times. Because he pitied his bravery, he spared him and kept him in service. Now that he accuses Yang Yi of rebellion, we should not lightly believe him. Yang Yi is a man of letters whom the Prime Minister entrusted with the role of Chief Clerk—he must have been worthy of it. If today we heed only one side of the story, Yang Yi and the others will surely surrender to Wei. This matter requires deep consideration and careful deliberation; we must not act rashly."

While the officials were still deliberating, it was suddenly reported that the Chief Clerk Yang Yi had sent an urgent memorial. A close attendant broke the seal and read:

"Your subject Yang Yi, Chief Clerk and General Who Pacifies the Army, in trembling fear and with head bowed to the ground, humbly memorializes: At the time of his death, the Prime Minister entrusted the great affairs of state to your subject. We have followed the established regulations and dared not alter them, appointing Wei Yan to cover the rear, with Jiang Wei next. Now Wei Yan has disobeyed the Prime Minister's final instructions. He has led his own troops ahead into Hanzhong, set fire to and destroyed the plank roads, seized the Prime Minister's funeral carriage, and plotted treason. This sudden turn of events is hereby reported in haste."

When the Empress Dowager had heard the memorial read to the end, she asked, "What are your views?"

Jiang Wan memorialized, "In your servant's humble opinion, although Yang Yi is by nature too impatient and intolerant, when it comes to planning provisions and assisting with military strategy, he worked alongside the Prime Minister for a long time. Now that the Prime Minister, at the time of his death, entrusted the great affairs of state to him, he is certainly not a man who would betray his trust. Wei Yan has always relied on his merits and acted arrogantly, and everyone defers to him. Only Yang Yi did not yield to him, and Wei Yan has harbored resentment ever since. Now that he sees Yang Yi in command of the troops, he is unwilling to submit. Therefore he burned the plank roads to cut off our retreat and falsely memorialized in order to bring about our destruction. Your servant is willing to pledge the lives of his entire household, both servants and free men, as guarantee that Yang Yi will not rebel. But he truly cannot vouch for Wei Yan."

Dong Yun also memorialized, "Wei Yan has always relied on his great achievements and harbored a heart of discontent, often uttering complaints. The reason he did not rebel sooner was that he feared the Prime Minister. Now that the Prime Minister has just died, he has seized the occasion to make trouble—this was inevitable. As for Yang Yi, his abilities are keen and his understanding swift, and he was employed by the Prime Minister. He certainly would not betray his trust."

The Second Emperor said, "If Wei Yan has truly rebelled, what strategy should we use to defend against him?"

Jiang Wan said, "The Prime Minister always suspected this man and must have left a plan for Yang Yi. If Yang Yi had nothing to rely on, how could he have retreated into the valley pass? Wei Yan will certainly fall into the trap. Let Your Majesty set his mind at ease."

Before long, another memorial arrived from Wei Yan, accusing Yang Yi of rebellion. While the Second Emperor was reading it, yet another memorial arrived from Yang Yi, reporting that Wei Yan had betrayed his trust. The two men sent memorials in quick succession, each presenting his own account of right and wrong.

Then it was reported that Fei Yi had arrived. The Second Emperor summoned him, and Fei Yi gave a detailed account of Wei Yan's treasonous conduct. The Second Emperor said, "If this is so, let Dong Yun act with the imperial insignia to mediate and offer generous words of comfort." Dong Yun received the edict and departed.

Meanwhile, Wei Yan, having burned the plank roads, had stationed his troops at the South Valley and held the narrow pass, thinking himself well situated. He did not expect that Yang Yi and Jiang Wei would lead their troops by night and reach the rear of the South Valley. Yang Yi, fearing that Hanzhong might be lost, ordered the vanguard He Ping to lead three thousand troops ahead. Yang Yi together with Jiang Wei and the others led the troops, escorting the bier, toward Hanzhong.

Meanwhile, He Ping led his troops directly to the rear of the South Valley, beating drums and raising a great battle cry. A scout came galloping to report to Wei Yan: "Yang Yi has ordered the vanguard He Ping to lead his troops along the narrow path of Cha Mountain to challenge us to battle." Wei Yan flew into a rage. He hastily donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led his troops out with sword in hand. When the two armies had formed their battle lines, He Ping rode forward and cursed: "Where is the rebel Wei Yan?" Wei Yan likewise cursed: "You aid Yang Yi in rebellion—how dare you curse me!" He Ping shouted: "The Prime Minister has but recently died, and his flesh is still warm—how dare you rebel?" Then he raised his whip and pointed at the soldiers from Sichuan: "You are all men of West Sichuan, where many of you have parents, wives, children, and brothers and friends. While the Prime Minister lived, he never treated you poorly. Now you must not aid this rebel. You should each return home and await your rewards." When the soldiers heard these words, they raised a great shout and more than half of them scattered. Wei Yan was furious. He brandished his sword and spurred his horse straight at He Ping. He Ping leveled his lance to meet him. After only a few exchanges, He Ping feigned defeat and fled, with Wei Yan in hot pursuit. Then the soldiers loosed a volley of arrows and crossbow bolts together. Wei Yan wheeled his horse and withdrew. Seeing his troops in wholesale rout, Wei Yan turned his anger upon them and galloped after them, cutting down several men, but he could not stop them at all. Only the three hundred men under Ma Dai did not move. Wei Yan said to Ma Dai: "If you sincerely aid me, when this matter is accomplished, I shall never betray you." Then he and Ma Dai set off in pursuit of He Ping. He Ping led his troops and fled at full speed. Wei Yan gathered the remnant of his forces and consulted with Ma Dai: "What if we surrender to Wei?" Ma Dai said: "Your words, General, show the utmost lack of wisdom. A true man of greatness—why should you not seek to establish your own hegemony, but instead stoop so low as to bow your knee to another? I observe that your wisdom and courage are both fully equal to the task. Among the men of the two provinces of Sichuan, who could stand against you? I swear to join you, General: first we shall seize Hanzhong, and then we shall advance to conquer both provinces of Sichuan."

Wei Yan was overjoyed. He and Ma Dai thereupon led their troops straight toward Nanzheng. Jiang Wei, upon the walls of Nanzheng, saw Wei Yan and Ma Dai displaying their martial prowess, sweeping forward as if borne on the wind. Jiang Wei hastily ordered the drawbridge pulled up. Wei Yan and Ma Dai shouted loudly: "Surrender at once!" Jiang Wei sent a man to request Yang Yi's counsel, saying: "Wei Yan is fierce and brave, and moreover has Ma Dai assisting him. Though his army is small, by what plan can we repel him?" Yang Yi said: "When the Prime Minister was on his deathbed, he left a brocade bag, instructing me: 'If Wei Yan rebels, only when you face him in battle before the city walls may you open it, and there will be a plan to slay Wei Yan.' Now we should take it out and look." He then produced the brocade bag, broke the seal, and read it. It was inscribed: "When you face Wei Yan in battle, only on horseback may you open it." Jiang Wei was overjoyed. "Since the Prime Minister left these instructions, the Chief Clerk may hold it in trust. I shall first lead troops out of the city and form a battle array; you may then come forth." Jiang Wei donned his armor, mounted his horse, and took his spear in hand. He led three thousand troops, opened the city gates, charged out together, drums thundering loudly, and formed their battle lines. Jiang Wei sat astride his horse with spear leveled beneath the banner at the gate, and cursed loudly: "Rebel Wei Yan! The Prime Minister never wronged you—how can you turn traitor today?" Wei Yan laid his sword across his horse and said: "Boye, this is none of your concern. Just send Yang Yi out here!" Yang Yi, standing in the shadow of the gate banner, opened the brocade bag and read its contents—thus and thus. Yang Yi was overjoyed. He rode out lightly, halted his horse before the battle lines, pointed at Wei Yan, and laughed: "When the Prime Minister was alive, he knew that you would rebel in the future, and he taught me to be on guard. Now indeed his words have proven true. If you dare to shout three times from horseback, 'Who dares to kill me?' then you are a true great man, and I shall offer you the city of Hanzhong." Wei Yan laughed loudly: "Listen to me, you fool Yang Yi! If Kongming were alive, I would still fear him somewhat. Now that he is dead, who in all the world dares oppose me? Never mind three times—even if I shout thirty thousand times, what difficulty would there be?" Thereupon he raised his sword, took the reins, and from horseback shouted: "Who dares to kill me?" Before the first cry had ended, a voice behind him answered fiercely: "I dare to kill you!" The blade fell, and Wei Yan was cut down from his horse. All were stricken with terror. The one who slew Wei Yan was Ma Dai. It turned out that when Zhuge Liang was on his deathbed, he had entrusted Ma Dai with a secret plan: only when Wei Yan shouted was Ma Dai to take him by surprise and cut him down. That day, after Yang Yi had read the strategy in the brocade bag, he already knew that Ma Dai had been placed in ambush there, and so he acted according to the plan—and indeed Wei Yan was slain. A later poet wrote:

Zhuge Liang foresaw it all—he knew Wei Yan would rebel in West Sichuan.

The brocade-bag plan could no by mortal be divined,

Yet success was achieved right before their eyes.

Now when Shang Yun had not yet reached Nanzheng, Ma Dai had already slain Wei Yan and joined forces with Jiang Wei. Yang Yi prepared a memorial and sent it by night to the Latter Ruler. The Latter Ruler issued an edict: "Though his crime has been fully proven, we still remember his former merits. Grant him a coffin and burial." Yang Yi and the others escorted Zhuge Liang's coffin to Chengdu. The Latter Ruler led all his civil and military officials, all wearing mourning garments, out twenty *li* from the city to meet the procession. The Latter Ruler wept aloud. From the highest dukes and ministers down to the common folk in the hills and forests, men and women, old and young—all wept without exception, and their grief shook the earth. The Latter Ruler ordered the coffin brought into the city and placed in the Prime Minister's residence. His son Zhuge Zhan observed the mourning rites.

When the Latter Ruler returned to court, Yang Yi had bound himself and came to plead guilty. The Latter Ruler ordered a close attendant to unbind him, saying: "Had it not been for you, who were able to follow the Prime Minister's final instructions, when would the coffin have returned, and how would Wei Yan have been destroyed? The great affairs have been preserved—all through your efforts." He then promoted Yang Yi to Grand Army Commander. Ma Dai, having the merit of suppressing the rebellion, was enfeoffed with the title that had been Wei Yan's. Yang Yi presented the Prime Minister's final memorial. The Latter Ruler finished reading it and wept aloud. He issued an edict to select a site for the burial. Fei Yi memorialized: "The Prime Minister, at the end of his life, ordered that he be buried at Dingjun Mountain, without walls or bricks or stones, and without any sacrificial offerings whatsoever." The Latter Ruler followed this instruction. An auspicious day was chosen in the tenth month of that year, and the Latter Ruler personally escorted the coffin to Dingjun Mountain for burial. The Latter Ruler issued an edict commanding the sacrificial rites, and bestowed the posthumous title of Marquis Zhongwu. He ordered a temple built at Mianyang, to be honored with sacrifices in all four seasons. Later, the poet Du Fu wrote:

Where shall the Prime Minister's temple be found?

Beyond the walls of Jincheng, where cypresses grow dense.

The green grass by the steps mirrors the hues of spring,

And beyond the leaves the orioles sing in vain.

Three visits besought the counsel that swayed the realm—

Two dynasties he served with an old minister's heart.

"Before the campaign was won, the hero died; and to this day, his name brings tears to the heroes' eyes!"

Moreover, Minister Du Fu wrote:

Zhuge Liang's great name hangs above the universe;

His loyal image is solemn and pure.

The threefold realm he planned with painstaking care;

Through ten thousand ages, he soars as a single feather.

Between brothers, he ranks with Yi Yin and Lü Shang;

With steady command, he outshone Xiao He and Cao Can.

Yet Heaven's mandate on the Han could not be restored;

His will was resolute, his body perished—burdened by military affairs.

Now, when the Latter Lord returned to Chengdu, an attendant suddenly reported: "News from the frontier: Eastern Wu has ordered Quan Cong to lead several tens of thousands of troops and encamp at the border of Batur. It is not yet known what his intention is." The Latter Lord, alarmed, said, "The Prime Minister has just died. If Eastern Wu breaks our alliance and invades our borders, what shall we do?" Jiang Wan memorialized: "Your subject dares to guarantee that Wang Ping and Zhang Ni will lead several tens of thousands of troops to garrison Yongan, to guard against the unforeseen. Your Majesty should also send another envoy to Eastern Wu to announce the funeral, and thereby probe their movements." The Latter Lord said, "We need a man of eloquent tongue for this embassy." One man stepped forward and said, "This humble subject volunteers to go." The assembly turned to look; it was a man from Anye in Nanyang, named Zong Yu, courtesy name Deyan, holding the rank of Army Adviser and Right Leader of the Palace Guard. The Latter Lord was greatly pleased and immediately ordered Zong Yu to go to Eastern Wu to announce the funeral and at the same time investigate the situation.

Zong Yu received his orders and proceeded directly to Jinling. He was granted an audience with the Wu ruler, Sun Quan. After the formal courtesies, Zong Yu noticed that everyone on either side was dressed in white mourning garments. Sun Quan said with a stern expression, "Wu and Shu are already one family. Why has Your Sovereign increased the garrison at Baidicheng?" Zong Yu replied, "Your subject believes that the increase of your garrison at Batur in the east and the increase of the garrison at Baidicheng in the west are both dictated by the circumstances of the situation, and neither is sufficient cause for questioning the other." Sun Quan smiled and said, "You are no less than Deng Zhi." Then he said to Zong Yu, "I have heard that Prime Minister Zhuge Liang has ascended to Heaven. I weep daily, and I have ordered all my officials to put on mourning. I feared that Wei might take advantage of the mourning to seize Shu, so I have added ten thousand troops at Batur as a rescue force. I have no other intention." Zong Yu bowed his head in thanks. Sun Quan said, "Since I have already promised our alliance, how could I act against righteousness?" Zong Yu said: "The Son of Heaven, because of the Prime Minister's recent death, has specially sent your subject to announce the funeral." Sun Quan then took a golden-fletched arrow, broke it in half, and swore an oath: "If I betray our former alliance, may my descendants be cut off!" He also ordered an envoy to carry incense, silk, and sacrificial gifts to offer sacrifices in Shu.

Zong Yu took leave of the Wu ruler, and returned to Chengdu with the Wu envoy. He entered the court and reported to the Latter Lord: "The Wu ruler, because of the Prime Minister's recent death, also shed tears himself and ordered all his officials to put on mourning. The reason he increased his troops at Batur was that he feared the Wei might take advantage of the vacuum to invade; he had no other intentions. Now he has broken an arrow as an oath and will not break the alliance." The Latter Lord was greatly pleased, richly rewarded Zong Yu, and treated the Wu envoy generously before sending him away. Then, following Kongming's last wishes, he appointed Jiang Wan as Prime Minister and Grand General, with authority over the Imperial Secretariat; appointed Fei Yi as Imperial Secretary, to jointly manage affairs of state with the Prime Minister; appointed Wu Yi as Chariot and Cavalry General, with imperial authority to oversee Hanzhong; and appointed Jiang Wei as Assistant General of the Han and Marquis of Pingxiang, to command all the troops in various locations, and together with Wu Yi to garrison Hanzhong, to guard against Wei forces. The remaining generals and officers all retained their former posts.

Yang Yi, believing that he had served longer than Jiang Wan and yet held a position below him, and thinking highly of his own merits, believing he had not received adequate reward, spoke words of resentment to Fei Yi, saying, "When the Prime Minister first died, if I had led the entire army over to Wei, would I be left in such obscurity?" Fei Yi then memorialized the Latter Lord in secret, detailing these words. The Latter Lord was greatly enraged and ordered that Yang Yi be arrested and imprisoned for interrogation, intending to execute him. Jiang Wan memorialized: "Although Yang Yi is guilty, he accomplished much merit in the past while following the Prime Minister. He cannot be executed; he should be reduced to the status of a commoner." The Latter Lord followed this advice and banished Yang Yi to Jia Prefecture in Hanzhong to live as a commoner. Yang Yi, ashamed and mortified, took his own own life.

In the thirteenth year of Jianxing in Han, the third year of Qinglong in Wei under Emperor Cao Rui, and the fourth year of Jiahe in Wu under Emperor Sun Quan, the three kingdoms did not raise armies. It is said that the Wei ruler appointed Sima Yi as Grand Marshal, to command the armies and pacify the various frontiers. Sima Yi bowed in thanks and returned to Luoyang. The Wei ruler, in Xuchang, embarked on great construction projects, building palaces. He also built the Chaoyang Hall and the Taiji Hall in Luoyang, and constructed the Zongzhang Observatory, all ten zhang in height. He also erected the Chonghua Pavilion, the Qingxiao Terrace, the Phoenix Tower, and the Nine Dragons Pool, ordered the Erudite Ma Jun to oversee their construction, making them exceedingly ornate: carved beams and painted rafters, green tiles and golden bricks, gleaming in the sunlight. He selected over thirty thousand skilled craftsmen from throughout the empire, and three hundred thousand laborers, working day and night without rest. The strength of the people was exhausted, and cries of complaint never ceased. Rui also issued an edict to undertake construction in the Fanglin Garden, ordering all the dukes and ministers to carry earth and plant trees within it. The Minister of Education, Dong Xun, submitted a memorial earnestly remonstrating:

Since the Jian'an era, those who died in battle beyond the borders have left households utterly extinguished. Though some survive, they are orphaned, aged, and weak. If Your Majesty's palace is too small and you wish to enlarge it, it would still be proper to do so at a suitable time, without interfering with agricultural work—how much more so when making things of no benefit? Your Majesty has already honored your ministers by granting them caps and crowns, clothing them in embroidered silks, and riding them in ornate carriages, to distinguish them from the common people. Now you make them carry wood and bear earth, soil their bodies and muddy their feet, tarnishing the glory of the state in order to exalt what is useless—this is very unwise. Confucius said: "A ruler employs his ministers with propriety; ministers serve their ruler with loyalty." Without loyalty or propriety, how can a state stand? Your subject knows that speaking these words will surely mean death, yet he compares himself to a single hair of a cow—if his life is of no benefit, what harm is there in his death? Holding his brush, he weeps; his heart bids farewell to the world. Your subject has eight sons; after his death, they will be a burden upon Your Majesty. With trembling dread, he awaits your command!

Rui read the memorial and said in anger, "Does Dong Xun not fear death?" Those in attendance requested permission to execute him. Rui said, "This man has always been loyal and righteous. For now, I shall strip him of rank and make him a commoner. Anyone who presumes to speak recklessly again shall be beheaded." At that time there was a Gentleman Attendant of the Crown Prince, Zhang Mao, styled Yancai, who also submitted a memorial remonstrating sharply. Rui ordered him beheaded. On that very day, Rui summoned Ma Jun and said, "I am building lofty towers and towering pavilions, wishing to consort with immortals in order to seek the secret of eternal youth and immortality." Jun submitted, "Of the twenty-four emperors of the Han dynasty, only Emperor Wu enjoyed the longest reign and attained the greatest longevity, because he absorbed the essence of the sun and the radiance of the moon from the heavens. He once had the Tower of Cypress Beams built within the Chang'an palace grounds; atop the tower stood a bronze figure holding a plate, called the 'Plate for Gathering Dew,' which collected the dense, descending waters of the Northern Dipper at the third watch—called 'Heavenly Broth' or 'Sweet Dew.' By taking this water and mixing it with powdered precious jade, one may consume it and turn back the years, becoming young again." Rui was greatly pleased and said, "You may now lead workmen by day and night to Chang'an, dismantle the bronze figure, and transfer it to the Garden of Fragrant Forests."

Jun received the command and led ten thousand men to Chang'an. He ordered wooden scaffolding erected around the structure and ascended the Tower of Cypress Beams. Before long, five thousand men, joined by ropes and cables, ascended in rotation. The Tower of Cypress Beams was twenty zhang high, and the bronze pillar measured ten arm-spans in circumference. Ma Jun ordered the bronze figure dismantled first. Many men combined their strength to remove the bronze figure, and they saw tears streaming from its eyes. All were greatly alarmed. Suddenly a fierce wind rose beside the tower, whipping up sand and stones as swiftly as a sudden downpour; there was a tremendous crash, as though the heavens were splitting and the earth cracking—the tower collapsed and the pillar toppled, crushing over a thousand men to death. Jun took the bronze figure and the golden plate back to Luoyang, appeared before the Lord of Wei, and presented the bronze figure and the Plate for Gathering Dew. The Lord of Wei asked, "What became of the bronze pillar?" Jun submitted, "The pillar weighed a million jin; it could not be transported." Rui ordered the bronze pillar smashed to pieces and brought to Luoyang, where it was cast into two bronze figures, called Wengzhong, and placed outside the Gate of the Minister of Works. He also cast two bronze figures, a dragon and a phoenix: the dragon stood four zhang high, the phoenix over three zhang, and they were set before the palace hall. He further planted rare and exotic flowers and trees in the Shanglin Park and kept precious birds and strange beasts there. The Junior Tutor Yang Fu submitted a memorial remonstrating, saying:

Your servant has heard that Yao dwelt in humble thatched cottages, yet all the states lived in peace; Yu kept his palaces low and simple, yet the world rejoiced in its labors. Down through the Yin and Zhou dynasties, halls rose no more than three chi high, and were measured at nine banquet mats' length. Among the sage emperors and enlightened kings of antiquity, none exhausted the wealth and strength of the people by making their palaces tall and splendid. Jie built the Jade Chamber and the Elephant Stables; Zhou built the Slanting Tower and the Terrace of the Deer—and both lost their altars of soil and grain. King Ling of Chu erected the Tower of Zhanghua and brought calamity upon himself. The First Emperor of Qin built the Efang Palace and disaster fell upon his son; the empire rebelled, and in two generations it was destroyed. He who does not measure the strength of the myriad people but indulges the desires of his eyes and ears has never failed to perish. Your Majesty should take Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu as your models, and Jie, Zhou, the Chu king, and the Qin emperor as your warnings; yet you amuse and indulge yourself, adorning only your palaces, and disaster and ruin will surely follow. The ruler is the head; the ministers are the limbs. They share life and death together, and share gain and loss together. Though your servant is dull and timid, how would he dare forget the duty of a minister who speaks forthrightly? If my words are not earnest enough, they will不足以 move Your Majesty. I knock my head against the coffin and bathe in preparation, awaiting heavy punishment.

When the memorial was presented, Rui paid it no heed, only urging Ma Jun to hasten the construction of the lofty tower and the placement of the bronze figure and the Plate for Gathering Dew. He further issued an edict selecting beauties from all across the realm to enter the Garden of Fragrant Forests. Officials one after another submitted memorials of remonstrance, but Rui heeded none of them.

Now, the Empress Mao, consort of Cao Rui, was a native of Henei. In former years, when Rui was still Prince of Pingyuan, they were most devoted to each other. When he ascended the throne, she was established as empress. Later, Rui became infatiated with Lady Guo, and Empress Mao fell from favor. Lady Guo was beautiful and clever, and Rui doted upon her excessively, taking his pleasure with her every day and not venturing beyond the palace gates for over a month. In the third month of spring that year, the flowers in the Garden of Fragrant Forests vied in bloom. Rui went with Lady Guo to the garden to enjoy the scenery and drink wine. Lady Guo said, "Why not invite the Empress to share in the merriment?" Rui said, "If she were present, I could not swallow a single drop." He then instructed the palace maids that Empress Mao was not to learn of this. Empress Mao saw that Rui had not visited the main palace for over a month. That day she led a dozen palace women to the Tower of Emerald Flowers to pass the time, and she heard the sound of music ringing out. She asked, "Where is the music being played?" A palace official reported, "It is His Majesty and Lady Guo enjoying the flowers and drinking wine in the imperial garden." When Empress Mao heard this, she was vexed in her heart and returned to her palace to rest. The next day, Empress Mao rode in a small carriage out of the palace for pleasure. She met Rui in a winding corridor and said with a laugh, "Your Majesty's outing to the northern garden yesterday was not without its pleasures!" Rui flew into a rage. He immediately ordered the attendants who had waited on him the previous day seized and demanded, "Yesterday at the northern garden, I forbade those around me to let Empress Mao know—how was it leaked?" He commanded the palace officials to behead all the attendants. Empress Mao was greatly frightened and returned by carriage to her palace. Rui at once issued an edict commanding Empress Mao to take her own life and established Lady Guo as empress. None among the court officials dared to remonstrate. Then one day, the Inspector of Youzhou, Qiuqian Jian, submitted a memorial reporting that Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong had raised a rebellion, styled himself King of Yan, changed the reign title to the first year of Shao Han, built a palace, established court offices, and raised troops to invade, unsettling the north. Rui was greatly alarmed and assembled the civil and military officials to deliberate on a strategy to raise an army and drive back Yuan. And so it was:

Scarce had the empire been labored with earth and timber,

When once more the clash of arms rose from beyond the borders.

How the matter was to be dealt with, read on in the following chapter.