o take。 Really I am but a mean man； incapable of great deeds。 I know what I am doing； and I dare to say it is no small fault。
〃They say that dissolution of bonds should not occasion recrimination； and the dismissed servant should take leave without heart…burning。 I have taken your orders many times； and now； O Prince； you must act yourself。 I write this with extreme trepidation。〃
But the reading gave rise to great anger in the breast of the Prince。
〃The unmerited fellow！〃 said he。 〃He turns traitor and dares to insult me by sending a letter of farewell。〃
Liu Bei was just giving orders to send a force to seize the deserter； when Zhuge Liang interposed； saying； 〃You had better send Liu Feng to capture him and let the two tigers worry each other to weakness。 Whether Liu Feng succeeds or fails； he will have to e to the capital； and you can kill him。 Thus will you cut off two evils。〃
Liu Bei took his advice。 Orders were sent to Mianzhu； and Liu Feng obediently led out his troops。
Now Meng Da arrived when Cao Pi was holding a great council。 When the attendants told him that General Meng Da of Shu had e； Cao Pi summoned him to enter。
Said Cao Pi to him； 〃Is this a sincere surrender？〃
Meng Da replied； 〃I was in fear of death for not having relieved Guan Yu。 That is my only reason for ing。〃
However； Cao Pi did not trust him。 Then they reported that Liu Feng was ing to arrest him； with a large army； and had attacked Xiangyang and was challenging Meng Da to battle。
Cao Pi said； 〃You seem to be true。 Go then to Xiangyang and take Liu Feng。 If you bring me his head； I shall no longer doubt。〃
Meng Da replied； 〃I will convince him by argument。 No soldiers will be needed。 I will bring him to surrender too。〃
So Meng Da was made General Who Establishes Strong Arms； Lord of Pingyang； and Governor of Xincheng； and sent to guard Xiangyang and Fancheng。
Now there were two generals there already； Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang； who engaged in reducing the surrounding territories。 Meng Da arrived； met his two colleagues； and was told that Liu Feng was fifteen miles from the city。 Whereupon Meng Da wrote him a letter urging him to surrender。 But Liu Feng was in no mood to surrender。 Instead he tore up the letter and put the messenger to death。
〃The renegade has already made me offend against my duty to my uncle； and now would sever me from my father so that I shall be reproached as disloyal and unfilial；〃 said Liu Feng。
Meng Da went out with his army to give battle。 Liu Feng rode to the front； pointed with his sword at his opponent； and railed against him。
〃Death is very near you！〃 replied Meng Da。 〃Yet you continue obstinately in the way of foolishness and will not understand。〃
Liu Feng rode out flourishing his sword。 He engaged Meng Da； who ran away before the conflict had well begun。 Liu Feng pursued hotly to seven miles。 Then he fell into an ambush and found himself attacked on two sides by Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang。 Also Meng Da returned to the attack。 Liu Feng was forced to fly。 He made straight for Shangyong； pursued all the way。 When he reached the city and hailed the gate； he was met by a volley of arrows。
〃I have surrendered to Wei！〃 cried Shen Dan from the city tower。
Liu Feng got furious and prepared to attack the wall； but the army of Wei was close behind； and having no resting place； he set off for Fangling。 He arrived there to find the banners of Wei set out along the walls。 Then he saw Shen Yi wave a signal from the tower； and at once there appeared from the shelter of the wall a body of soldiers； and the leading banner displayed General of the Right Army Xu Huang 。
Liu Feng was worsted by the ambush。 Then he made for home。 But he was pursued； and only a hundred riders of his remained to him when he regained Chengdu。
Seeking an interview with his father； he found but scant sympathy。
In response to his petition； made prostrate； and weeping； Liu Bei said； 〃Shameful son！ How are you e to see me at all？〃
〃My uncle's mishap was not due to my refusal of help； but because Meng Da thwarted me。〃
〃You eat as a man； you dress as a man； but you have no more the instincts of a man than an image of clay or wood。 What mean you by saying another wretch thwarted you？〃
Liu Bei bade the executioners expel Liu Feng and put him to death。 But the Prince felt some punction later when he heard of Liu Feng's treatment to the messenger who had brought Meng Da's letter inviting him to bee a traitor。 And he gave way to grief for the death of Guan Yu until he fell ill。 So no military movements were made。
After he had succeeded to the princedom； Cao Pi raised all his officers to high rank and had an army prepared of three hundred thousand； and maneuvered them over the southern territories and made great feasts in the county of Qiao in the old state of Pei； which was the land of his ancestors。 As the grand army passed by； the aged villagers lined the roads offering gifts of wine； just as when the Founder of the Hans returned home to Pei。
When it was announced that the Regent Marshal Xiahou Dun was near death； Cao Pi hastened back to Yejun； but arrived too late to see him。 He put on mourning for the great leader and instituted magnificent funeral ceremonies。
In the eighth month of that same year （AD 220）； it was reported that a phoenix had been seen to bow at Shiyi； and a jilin had appeared at Linzi； while a yellow dragon was observed in Yejun。
Whereupon Imperial mander Li Qu and Minister Xu Zhi discussed these appearances； and putting them all together they concluded； saying； 〃Those splendid signs presage that Wei is about to supplant Han； and the altar of abdication should be set up。〃
Presently a deputation of forty high officers； both military and civil； led by Hua Xin； Wang Lang； Xin Pi； Jia Xu； Liu Ye； Liu Zi； Chen Jiao； Chen Qun； and Huan Jie went into the Forbidden City and proposed to Emperor Xian that he should abdicate and yield to the Prince of Wei； Cao Pi。
It is time to set up the throne of Wei；
And steal the land from the Hans。
The next chapter will record the Emperor's reply。
Main Next to Chapter 80 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Cao Pi Deposes The Emperor； Taking Away The Fortunes of Hans；
Liu Bei Assumes The Throne； Continuing The Heritage。
＇e＇ King Tang was the founder of Shang Dynasty （BC 1700…1050）。 。。。。。
＇e＇ King Yao； King Shun； and King Yu （BC 2400…2200） were the three ideal rulers in ancient China。 They ascended the throne by their virtues and merits； and not by heritage。 King Yu was also the founder of the Xia Dynasty。 。。。。。
Hua Xin was the spokesman of the deputation of officers that went into the Forbidden City； and he spoke thus： 〃Since the inauguration of the Prince of Wei； virtue has spread to the four corners of the empire and humanity has permeated all the earth to a degree unexcelled in all the ages； even in the days of the ancient rulers； King Tang* and King Yu*。 We； your servants； have taken account of these things and have reached the conclusion that the fortunes of Han is worn out； wherefore we trust Your Majesty； in imitation of the great prototypes King Yao* and King Shun*； will yield the mountains； the rivers； and the peoples to a more able guardian and high priest of the sacrifices in the person of the Prince of Wei； thereby pleasing Heaven and satisfying the hearts of humans； and enabling Your Majesty to enjoy the happiness of freedom and repose from the exacting duties of the chief ruler。 The happiness of your ancestors and of humanity at large would thereby be enhanced。 Having thoroughly debated this matter； we have e to lay it before you。〃
The Emperor listened in amazement； and for a time could not reply。
Then； looking at the assembly； he said sadly； 〃How can I abandon my empire for the sake of repose………the empire won by my Great Ancestor； its Founder； when； with a three…span sword； he slew the Snake and restored Right； and consolidated when he reduced Qin and overwhelmed Chu………the empire which has been handed down for four centuries？ Though I possess not brilliant talents； yet I have done no wrong。 Go back and debate this again in a just and moderate spirit。〃
Then Hua Xin led forward Xu Zhi and Li Qu nearer the throne； saying； 〃If Your Majesty thinks we may be mistaken； pray ask these two； who will explain。〃
Said Li Qu； 〃Since the Prince of Wei has taken his seat； the Jilin has descended； the Phoenix has appeared； the Yellow Dragon has e forth； the Grain of Felicity has flourished； and Sweet Dew has watered the earth。 All these things augur that Heaven decrees a change； and Wei must replace Han。〃
Xu Zhi continued； 〃The astrologers； watching the aspect of the skies at night； have seen the blazing light of the star of Han gradually fade away and Your Majesty's own star bee dim。 On the other hand； the aspect of the sky and the attitude of the earth have been wholly bright in favor of Wei to a degree hard to state in words。 Moreover； the lots have been cast； and they gave the words 'Devil； at the side； has been sent； there must be an inroad upon Han without word'； another lot； 'Word； in east； light moves west； two suns radiating as the air blows south'。 These oracles gave two words which； joined； pose Xu； 'two suns； one on the other'； which is Ch