ng till regional troops can arrive and deal with Sima Yi？〃
Cao Shuang replied； 〃How can we go to another place when all our families are in the city？〃
Said Huan Fan； 〃Even a fool in this crisis would think only of life。 You have the Son of Heaven with you here and mand all the forces of the empire。 None would dare disobey you； and yet you march quietly to death。〃
Cao Shuang could not decide to strike a blow for safety； he did nothing but snivel。
Huan Fan continued； 〃We can reach Xuchang tonight。 The stay in Xuchang would be but brief； and there are ample supplies for years。 You have forces at your call at the South Pass。 You hold the seal of Minister of War； and I have brought it with me。 Everything is in your favor。 Act！ Act at once！ Delay is death。〃
〃Do not hurry me；〃 said Cao Shuang。 〃Let me think it over carefully。〃
Then came Xu Yun and Chen Tai； the two messengers of Sima Yi； and said； 〃The Imperial Guardian desires only to strip the military power of the Regent Marshal。 If the Regent Marshal yields； he may return peacefully to the city。〃
Still Cao Shuang hesitated。
Next arrived Yin Damu； saying； 〃The Imperial Guardian had sworn by River Luo to the singleness of his aim。 Here is letter of Minister Jiang Ji。 The Regent Marshal should relinquish the military power and return to the Palace in peace。〃
When Cao Shuang seemed disposed to accept the assurance of Sima Yi； Huan Fan inveighed against it； saying； 〃You are a dead man if you listen to the voice of these people！〃
Night found Cao Shuang still vacillating。 As twilight faded into darkness he stood； sword in hand； sad； sighing and weeping。 And morning found him still trying to make up his mind。
Huan Fan again urged him to decide upon some course。
〃You have had a whole day and a whole night for reflection and must decide；〃 said he。
〃I will not fight； I will yield all； being a wealthy man is enough；〃 said Cao Shuang； throwing down his sword。
Huan Fan left the tent wailing。
〃Cao Zhen might boast of his abilities； but his sons are mere cattle；〃 said he； weeping copiously。
The two messengers； Xu Yun and Chen Tai； bade Cao Shuang offer his seal of office to Sima Yi； and it was brought。
But First Secretary Yang Zong clung to it and would not give it up； saying； 〃Alas！ That you； my lord； should resign your powers and make such a pitiful surrender。 For surely you will not escape death in the eastern market place。〃
〃The Imperial Guardian will surely keep faith with me；〃 said Cao Shuang。
The seal was borne away； and Cao Shuang's generals and soldiers； thus released from the bonds of discipline； dispersed and the hosts melted away。 When the Cao brothers reached the Floating Bridge； they were ordered to go to their dwellings； and they went。 Their supporters were imprisoned to await the edicts of the Emperor。
Cao Shuang and his friends； so lately all…powerful； entered the city alone； without even a servant following。
As Huan Fan approached the bridge； Sima Yi； from horseback； pointed his whip disdainfully at him and said； 〃What brought you to this？〃
Huan Fan made no reply； but with head bent followed the others。
It was decided to request the Emperor to declare the hunt at an end and order a return to the city。 Cao Shuang； Cao Xi； and Cao Xun were confined in their own house； the gate whereof was fastened with a huge lock； and soldiers were set to guard it round about。 They were sad and anxious； not knowing what would be their fate。
Then Cao Xi said； 〃We have but little food left。 Let us write and ask for supplies。 If Sima Yi sends us food； we may be sure he does not intend harm。〃
They wrote； and a hundred carts of supplies were sent。
This cheered them； and Cao Shuang said； 〃Our lives are safe in the hands of Sima Yi！〃
Sima Yi had Zhang Dang arrested and put to the question。
Zhang Dang said。 〃I am not the only one who has tried to subvert the government。 He Yan； Deng Yang； Li Sheng； Ding Mi； and Bi Gui are all involved in the plot。〃
So they were arrested and； when interrogated； confessed that a revolt had been arranged for the third month。 Sima Yi had them locked in one long wooden collar。
The mander of the Gates； Si Fan； testified： 〃Huan Fan has imposed upon me with a pretended mand from Her Majesty and so has escaped out of the city。 Beside he has said the Imperial Guardian was a rebel。〃
Then said Sima Yi； 〃When a person maligns another and is false； the punishment for such a crime as he imputes falls upon his own head。〃
Huan Fan and those with him were thrown into prison。
Presently Cao Shuang and his brothers； all persons connected with them； and their clans were put to death in the market place。 All the treasures of their houses was sent to the public treasury。
Now there was a certain woman of the Xiahou family who had been wife to Wen Shu； a second cousin of Cao Shuang。 Early left a childless widow； her father wished her to marry again。 Lady Xiahou refused and cut off her ears as a pledge of constancy。 However； when the Caos were all put to death； her father arranged another marriage for her； whereupon she cut off her nose。 Her own people were chagrined at her obstinate determination。
〃For whom are you keeping your vow？〃 said they。 〃Man is but as the light dust upon the tender grass； and what is the good of mutilating your body？〃
The woman replied； weeping； 〃I have heard that honorable persons do not break a vow of chastity for the sake of wealth； and the hearts of righteous persons are constant unto death regardless of all losses。 While the house of Cao enjoyed prosperity； I remained faithful； how much more should I be true now that it has fallen upon evil days？ Can I act like a mere beast of the field？〃
The story of her devotion came to the ears of Sima Yi； who praised her conduct and allowed her to adopt a son to rear as her own and so continue the family。
A poem says：
What is a man to be mindful of？
A grain of dust on a blade of grass；
Such virtue as Lady Xiahou had
Stands out sublime as the ages pass。
This fair young wife of gentle mien
Dared all to maintain her purpose high。
What people though strong in the flush of life
Have equaled her in constancy？
After Cao Shuang had suffered death； Jiang Ji said to Sima Yi； 〃Xin Chang and Lu Zhu and others who had been of his party had forced the gate and joined the rebels。 Yang Zong had opposed the surrender of the seal of the late minister。 They deserve punishment。〃
However； no action was taken against them。
〃They are righteous people who serves their master faithfully；〃 said Sima Yi； and he even confirmed these men in their offices。
Xin Chang sighed； 〃Had I not listened to the advice of my sister； I would have walked in the way of unrighteousness。〃
A poet has praised his sister； Xin Xianying。
〃You call him lord and take his pay；
Then stand by him when danger nears。〃
Thus to her brother spoke Xin Xianying；
And won fair fame though endless years。
A general amnesty was extended to all Cao Shuang's partisans； and no officer was removed or dismissed for having supported the late order of things。 All were left in possession of their property； and soon all was tranquillity。
However； it is to be noted that He Yan and Deng Yang met the unhappy end that Guan Lu had foretold for them。
The seer Guan Lu was deeply read
In all the lore of the ancient sages。
Thus he could see events to e
As clear as those of former ages。
And he perceived the soul of He Yan；
Already in the vale of gloom。
And knew the outer shell of Deng Yang
Was hastening to an early tomb。
After his recovery of power； Sima Yi was made Prime Minister and received the Nine Dignities。 Sima Yi refused these honors； but the Ruler of Wei insisted and would take no denial。 His two sons were made assistants to their father； and all state affairs fell under the control of these three。
However； Sima Yi remembered that one man； Xiahou Ba； a member of the Cao clan； still manded at Yongzhou。 In his position Xiahou Ba might be a real danger； and he must be removed。 So an edict was issued calling him to Capital Luoyang to discuss affairs。
Upon receiving this call； Xiahou Ba was shocked。 But instead of obeying this call； he declared himself a rebel； and he had a force of three thousand troops to support him。 As soon as this was known； Guo Huai marched to suppress the malcontent。 The two armies were soon face to face； and Guo Huai went to the front and began to revile his opponent。
〃How could you rebel against the ruling house； you who are of the same clan as our great founder； and you who have always been treated generously？〃
Xiahou Ba replied； 〃My forefathers served the state right well； but who is this Sima Yi that he has put to death my kinspeople and would now destroy me？ What is his aim； if it be not to usurp the Throne？ If I can cut him off and so frustrate his design； I shall at least be no traitor to the state。〃
Guo Huai rode forward to attack； and Xiahou Ba advanced to the encounter。 They fought some ten bouts； and then Guo Huai turned and fled。 But this was only a feint to lead on his enemy； for ere Xiahou Ba had gone far； he heard a shout behind him and turned to see Chen Tai about to attack。 At the same moment Guo Huai turned again； and thus Xiahou Ba was between two fires。 He could effect nothing； so he fled； losing