Romance of the Three Kingdoms II (65 page)

One night the King of Wei was suddenly awakened by a chill blast that extinguished all the lights, but he saw the form of his late Consort, with a score or two of others, coming toward the seat whereon he sat, and as they approached they demanded his life. He was very frightened and fell ill so that he was like to die.

So the two officers Liu Fang and Sun Tzu were set over the privy council, and he summoned his brother Yu to the capital to make him
Ta-Chiang-Chun,
and assistant to the regent, Ts'ao Fang, the Heir Apparent. However, his brother being modest and retiring by nature, declined these high offices and their responsibilities.

The king then turned to his two confidants and enquired of them who of the family was a suitable person to support the Heir Apparent. As they had both received many favours from Ts'ao Chen, they replied that none was so fit as Ts'ao Shuang, the son of their patron. The king approved their choice, and thus Shuang became a great person. Then they memorialised, saying that as Ts'ao Shuang had been chosen, the king's brother Ts'ao Yu, Prince Yen, should be ordered to leave the capital and return to his own place.

The king consented and issued an edict, which these two bore to the prince, saying, "The edict in the King's own hand bids you return to your own domain at once, and you are not to return to court without a special command."

The prince wept, but he left forthwith. Thereupon Ts'ao Shuang was created
Ta-Chiang-Chun,
and administered the government.

But the king's illness advanced rapidly, and he called Ssuma into the palace. As soon as he arrived he was led to the king's chamber.

"I feared lest I should not see you again," said the king; "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 was summoned to the king's bedside and also Ts'ao Shuang, Liu Fang, Sun Tzu, and certain others. Taking Ssuma by the hand, the dying king said, "When Liu Yuan-te lay dying at Paitich'eng he confided his son, so soon to be an orphan, to the care of Chuko K'ung-ming, who laboured 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 Chung-ta is as myself, and you are to treat him with the same respect and deference."

The king bade Ssuma lead the young prince forward. The boy threw his arms around his new guardian's neck and clung to him.

"Never forget the affection he has just shown," said the king, weeping. And Ssuma wept also.

The dying man swooned; although he could not speak, his hand still pointed to his son, and soon after he died. He had reigned thirteen years and was thirty-six years of age. His death took place in the last decade of the first month of the third year of
Ch'u-Ching.

No time was lost in enthroning the new king, the supporters being Ssuma and Ts'ao Shuang. The new ruler's name was Ts'ao Fang, his other name being Lan-ching. However, he was the King's son only by adoption. He had been brought up in the palace as a son, and no one knew his real origin.

The posthumous title of "Emperor Ming" was conferred upon the late ruler, and he was buried in the Kaop'ing Tombs.

The late Empress Kuo was given the title of
"T'ai-bou."

The new reign was styled
Cheng-Shih.
Ssuma I and Ts'ao Shuang conducted the government, and in all matters the latter treated his colleague with deference and took no steps without his knowledge.

Ts'ao Shuang was no stranger at court. The late king 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 clients and retainers. Among them were five wholly light and foppish. Their family names were Ho, Teng, Li, Ting and Pi. Beside these five there was another named Huan Fan, a man of good parts, who had the sobriquet of "Bag o' Wisdom". These six were Ts'ao Shuang's most trusted companions and confidants.

Now that they saw their patron in such an exalted position they began to think how to exploit it. One day Ho Yen said, "Ts'ao Shuang, you should not let your great powers slip into the hands of any other, or you will repent it."

Ts'ao replied, "Ssuma I as well as I received the king's sacred trust, and I mean to be true."

Ho said, "When your father and this Ssuma were winning their victories in the east, your father suffered much from this man's temper, which ultimately brought about his death. Why do you not look into that?"

Ts'ao 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 king a memorial proposing that Ssuma should be promoted to the rank of
T'aiju
for his great merits and services.

The promotion was made, and, consequently, Ssuma disappeared from the administration, and the whole military authority fell into the hands of Ts'ao Shuang.

Having thus far succeeded, Ts'ao next appointed his brothers to high military posts, so that each commanded three companies of the guards, with right to go in and out of the palace at will. Moreover, three of his friends were created Presidents, and the two others received powerful offices, one of which was the governorship of Honan. These five and their patron were close associates in all concerns of state.

Ts'ao Shuang gathered about him larger and still larger numbers of supporters, till Ssuma gave out that he was ill and remained in seclusion. His two sons also resigned their offices.

Ts'ao 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 Ts'ao before it entered the palace, and his courts swarmed with beautiful damsels.

The eunuch Chang Fang toadied to Ts'ao Shuang so far as to select a few of the late emperor's handmaids and send them to them now powerful minister; he also chose for him a chorus of two score well-born ladies who were skilled in music and dancing. Ts'ao Shuang also built for himself beautiful towers and pavilions and made to himself vessels of gold and silver, the work of the most expert craftsmen, whom he kept constantly employed.

Now Ho Yen heard of Kuan Lu's great skill in divination and sent to him in P'ingyuan to invite him to take the
sortes
on his account. When the soothsayer arrived, Teng Yang was of the company to meet him, and he said to Kuan, "You call yourself a skilful diviner, but your speech does not resemble the language of the Book of Changes. How is that?"

Kuan replied, "An interpreter does not use the language of the original."

Ho 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 dignity or not, for I have dreamed repeatedly that many black flies settled on my nose."

Kuan replied, "Yuan K'ai aided Shun; Duke Chou assisted Chou; both these were kindly and modest and enjoyed great happiness. You, Sir, have come to high honours 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 honour. But is it not that black 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 black flies will disperse."

"This is mere senile gossip," said Teng.

"The gift of age is to see that which is yet to come; the gift of gossip is to perceive what is not said," replied Kuan.

Thereupon he shook out his sleeves and went away.

"He is very mad, really," said his two hosts.

Kuan Lu went home. When he saw his uncle he 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 talking to two dead men."

"What do you mean?"

"Teng 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. Ho Yen looks as if his soul was about to quit its habitation. He is bloodless, and what should be solid in him is mere vapour. 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.

Ts'ao Shuang and his five friends were devoted to the chase and were often out of the city. Ts'ao Hsi, a brother of Shuang's, 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 constant going out hunting. If anyone took advantage of this to work you evil you might have cause to be exceedingly regretful."

Ts'ao Shuang only showed anger, and replied, "The whole military authority is in my hands and what is there to fear?"

Huan Fan, then Minister of Agriculture, also reasoned with him, but he would not listen.

About this time the style of the reign was changed to
Chia-P'ing.

Now ever since Ts'ao had enjoyed the monopoly of military authority he had never heard the truth about the state of health of the man he had manoeuvred out of power. But when a certain Li Sheng was appointed to the governorship of Ch'ingchou he bade him go to take leave of Ssuma I, at the same time to find out the true state of his rival's health.

So Li proceeded to the residence of the
Tai-fu
and was announced. Ssuma saw through the device at once and told his sons the real reason of this visit, and bade them play their parts in the secne he arranged before the visitor was admitted.

He threw aside his head-dress, so letting his hair fall in disorder, stretched himself upon his couch, tumbled the bedding into confusion, got a couple of slave girls to support him, and then told his servants to lead in the visitor.

Li 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 Ch'ingchou, and I have come to pay my respects to you and bid you farewell."

Ah, Pingchou is in the north; you will have to be very careful there," said Ssuma feigning that he had not heard.

I am going as Governor of Ch'ingchou, not Pingchou," said Li.

"Oh, you have just come from Pingchou."

"Ch'ingchou, in Shantung."

"Just back from Ch'ingchou, eh?" said Ssuma, smiling.

"How very ill the
T'ai-ju
is!" said Li Sheng to the servants.

"The
T'ai-ju
is deaf," said they.

Give me paper and a pen," said Li.

Writing materials were brought, when Li 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 Ssuma.

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, and when you see the general you will remember them, will you not?"

At this point he fell back on the couch, panting, and Li took his leave. He told his patron what he had seen, and Ts'ao Shuang rejoiced, thinking his rival could not last long.

"If the old man died, I should not be the one to grieve," said he.

But no sooner had Li gone than Ssuma rose from his couch and said to his sons, "Li Sheng will take a full account of this to his patron, who will not fear me any more. But wait till he goes on his next hunting trip, and we will see what can be done."

Soon after this, Ts'ao Shuang proposed to the king to visit the tomb of his father and perform the filial sacrifices in person. So they went, a goodly company in the train of the imperial chariot, and Ts'ao Shuang with all his brothers and his friends went with the guards. Ts'ao's friend Huan entreated him to remain in the city for fear of plots and risings, but Ts'ao asked angrily and rudely who would dare make trouble, and bade him hold his tongue. And he went with the king.

His departure rejoiced the heart of Ssuma, 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.