The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome the Tiger: The Epic Chinese Tale of Loyalty and War in a Dynamic New Translation (12 page)

H
ua
Qin was the spokesman of the deputation of officials that went into the palace. He said to Emperor Xian: “Since his accession, the Prince of Wei’s virtue has been acclaimed throughout the four corners of the empire and his humanity has reached every creature on earth. He is truly unmatched in all the ages, not even by the ancient rulers Tang and Yu. We, your servants, have taken counsel among ourselves and come to the conclusion that the fortune of Han is exhausted. Therefore we trust Your Majesty, in imitation of our earliest rulers Yao and Shun, will yield the throne and the empire to the Prince of Wei, thereby satisfying the will of Heaven and the hearts of men, and enabling yourself to enjoy the happiness of repose. Your abdication will be the greatest fortune for your ancestors and for all your subjects. Having thoroughly debated this matter, we have come to lay it before you.”

The Emperor listened in severe shock, and for a time could not reply. Then, weeping sadly, he looked at the assembly and pleaded, “How can I abandon my empire? It was won through such arduous struggles by my great ancestor, its founder, who, after destroying Qin and overwhelming Chu, established the empire of Han, which has been handed down for four centuries. Though I do not possess remarkable talents, yet I have done no wrong. You must give this a just consideration.”

Hua Qin led Li Fu and Xu Zhi forward and said, “If Your Majesty does not believe our words, pray ask these two, who will explain.”

Li Fu said, “Since the Prince of Wei took office, several auspicious animals, like the
qi-lin
, the phoenix, and the yellow dragon have been sighted. The grain of felicity has flourished and sweet dew has watered the earth. All these augur that Heaven decrees a change and Wei must replace Han.”

Xu Zhi continued, “My colleagues and I, watching the aspects of the sky at night, have noticed the gradual fading of the fortune of the Hans. Your Majesty’s own star has become dim whereas the stars for Wei illumine the whole earth, indicating such prosperity that words are rendered impotent to describe it. These signs also coincide with an oracle which says:

‘Ghost’ at the side of ‘sent’,
For the Han, nothing to be said.
‘Noon’ in the east and ‘word’ in the west,
Two suns shine, one on the other set.
^*

“The interpretation is unmistakably: ‘Wei at Xuchang is to inherit the throne of Han.’ Your Majesty must consider this.”

The Emperor said, “All these so-called auspicious signs and oracles are purely illusory. Is it reasonable that I should suddenly abandon my ancestral heritage for such illusions?”

Wang Lang, another high-ranking official, said: “Since ancient times, rise and fall have been the law of all things. Prosperity is inevitably followed by decline. Has any kingdom endured forever or any house never failed? The House of Han, handed down through four centuries to yourself, has lost its vigor and the time has come to yield. There must be no delay or calamity will ensue.”

Weeping loudly, the Emperor retired to his private chamber while the officials, laughing, also left the hall.

Next morning they assembled in the Audience Hall but the Emperor did not appear. So they sent some eunuchs to request his presence. Still he feared to show himself. Surprised, Empress Cao, daughter of Cao Cao, asked him why he did not attend the court as usual, especially when he was requested to go out.

“Because your brother wishes to depose me and become emperor himself. He has set the whole court against me to force me to abdicate.”

“How can my brother do such a dreadfully rebellious thing?” she said, indignantly.

Just as she spoke, Cao Hong and Cao Xiu, both armed, entered the chamber and requested His Majesty to proceed to the Audience Hall.

The Empress abused them. “This is exactly the doing of you rascals! For the sake of wealth and power for yourselves, you have conspired to rebel. My father, whose merits had overshadowed all in the whole land, never dared to aspire to the sacred throne. But my brother, who has only just succeeded him, is so insatiable in his hunger for power that he intends to usurp the throne. Heaven will surely punish him!”

She wept bitterly as she went inside and the attendants also sobbed in sorrow. Then Cao Hong and Cao Xiu pressed the Emperor to go out into the hall, and at last he had to yield.

There, Hua Qin took up the issue of abdication again. “Your Majesty should do as we advised yesterday to avoid any misfortune.”

The Emperor sobbed. “All of you have enjoyed the bounty of Han for years, and many among you are descendants of officials who rendered great services to the dynasty. How can you bring yourselves to act against all propriety toward your lord?”

“If Your Majesty refuses to follow our advice I fear misfortune is imminent. Once that happens, do not blame us for being disloyal.”

“Who dares to murder me?” cried the Emperor.

Hua Qin shouted ferociously, “Everyone knows that Your Majesty does not have the attributes of a successful ruler and that is why the country is beset with troubles. Were it not for the presence of the Prince of Wei in your court, many a man would slay you. How can Your Majesty be so ungrateful? Is Your Majesty waiting for all men to rise against you?”

The Emperor, shocked at the violence of his language, shook out his sleeves and rose to go away. Wang Lang shot a meaningful glance at Hua Qin, who rushed forward and seized the Emperor by the sleeve.

“Have you consented or not?” he glowered at the Emperor monstrously. “One word!”

The Emperor trembled with terror.

“Where is the keeper of the imperial seal?” shouted Cao Hong and Cao Xiu, drawing their swords.

“Here I am,” cried Zu Bi, keeper of the imperial seal, as he stepped calmly to the front.

They tried to force the seal from him, but he said, “The seal belongs to the Emperor. How dare you seek it from me?” Cao Hong ordered him to be put to death but, fearless, he abused the usurpers to his final breath.

Dethroned was the House of Han by wicked ministers,
Who falsely claimed to follow the deeds of Yu and Tang.
The crowd of officials at court were all on Wei’s side
Save one, the keeper of the seal, and loyally he died.

The Emperor trembled in abject fear, and when he saw the whole court full of armed men, all soldiers of Wei, he burst into tears.

“I will give up the throne to the Prince of Wei. Pray spare my feeble life and let me live out the few years Heaven has assigned me.” He wept as he spoke.

“The prince will not mistreat Your Majesty,” said Jia Xu. “Pray prepare the abdication document quickly to calm the people.”

Intimidated into submission, the Emperor told Chen Qun to draft the document. As soon as it was finished, Hua Qin, followed by the whole court, took it to the palace of the prince and presented it to Cao Pi together with the imperial seal. Cao Pi read the document with rapture.

During the whole of my thirty-two years of reign the land has been in a state of turmoil, but the spirits of my ancestors have preserved me in the midst of danger. Now from the aspects of the sky and the hearts of the people I see that the rule of Han is exhausted and fortune has devolved upon the House of Wei, as can be seen from the success in war enjoyed by the late prince and the resplendent virtue of the present prince.

By all noble principles the empire is no private possession, but a public trust. Therefore the great ruler Yao, to his eternal glory, did not yield his throne to his own son. How I admire this deed! Now in imitation of him I have resolved to abdicate and give my empire to my prime minister, the Prince of Wei, who will not, I hope, decline.

As soon as the document was read out Cao Pi stepped forth to accept the nomination. But Sima Yi said that although the edict and the seal had been sent, decorum demanded his refusal at first so as to silence criticism from the people. Cao Pi saw the wisdom of this advice and so ordered Wang Lang to draft a memorial feigning a modest refusal of the offer on the ground of unfitness and asking that some other more capable personage be sought. When this reached the Emperor he was perplexed and asked the officials what he should do next.

Hua Qin replied, “When his father (Cao Cao) was offered the rank of prince he declined it thrice—but he finally accepted. Your Majesty should issue another edict to make the offer again and the prince will certainly accept.”

The Emperor had no other choice but to obey. So another official was requested to draft a second offer, which was again sent, together with the seal. The new edict read as follows:

To the Prince of Wei. You have modestly refused my offer to succeed the throne. But I have long been aware of the eclipse of the power of Han and I could only rely upon the support of the late prince, your father, who virtuously undertook the great task of removing evil forces and restoring peace to the land. Now you have succeeded your noble father. Already your virtue is resplendent, your fame universal, and your benevolence conveyed to the four seas and eight districts. The divine choice rests upon you. In the days of old, Shun rendered twenty meritorious services, so Emperor Yao abdicated and offered him the throne. Later Shun also abdicated and offered the kingdom to Yu the Great, who performed the magnificent service of taming the flooding river. Following the noble practice of Emperor Yao, it is a matter of obligation for the House of Han to yield its throne to the wise to ensure tranquillity of the Earth and manifest the command of Heaven.

“By the hand of Zhang Yin this edict is sent with the Emperor’s emblems and the imperial seal.”

Cao Pi was ecstatic when he received this. But upon second thought he said to Jia Xu, “Although I have received two such edicts, I fear that I may not escape being branded as a usurper by posterity.”

“That is easily arranged,” replied Jia Xu. “Direct Zhang Yin to take the seal back again and tell Hua Qin to make the Emperor set up an altar of abdication and select an auspicious day for the ceremony. Then assemble all the officials at the altar and tell the Emperor to offer the seal to you with his own hands and surrender the empire to Wei. That will clear away all doubts and silence any criticism.”

So the seal was once more returned with a memorial in modest language. The Emperor again inquired of the courtiers how he was to understand this second rejection.

Hua Qin said, “Your Majesty can set up an altar of abdication and assemble nobles, officials, and common people there to witness the prince’s succession to the throne. Then you and your descendants will receive favor from Wei.”

The Emperor consented. A site was soon chosen at Fanyang, where an altar of three stories was erected, and a propitious day in the tenth month was set out for the abdication. On the appointed day Emperor Xian requested Cao Pi to ascend the altar and receive his abdication. At the foot of the altar stood the officials, more than four hundred in all, and an enormous number of soldiers and the Imperial Tiger Guards. There the Emperor presented the seal to Cao Pi who took it in his hands. Then all those about the altar knelt down to listen to the reading of the announcement of abdication.

To the Prince of Wei. In days of old, Yao yielded the empire to Shun, and Shun in turn gave it to Yu. It is the will of Heaven to bestow the throne to the virtuous. The rule of Han has long lost its virility and the times are out of joint. When my turn came to rule, appalling chaos arose everywhere and the empire was in danger of being subverted by vicious warlords. I trusted to the military genius of the late Prince of Wei to restore order and purge the land of evil, whereby to preserve my House and ensure peace for my nine domains.

The present prince has succeeded his father’s great cause. He is resplendent in virtue, capable of accomplishing great tasks, and as magnanimous as his late father. Heaven shows auspicious signs; gods and men declare his worth. To him give the bright reward, and let him accept this mandate. All say his capabilities fit him to be the supreme ruler as the ancient sage Shun. Thus, as did my great predecessor Yao, I respectfully retire that you may be established. The revolution of Heaven brings the glory upon your person, and you will accept the highest office and comfort all men by reverently obeying the decree of Heaven.

The reading finished, Cao Pi proceeded to the altar and ascended to the place of the Emperor. Then Jia Xu, at the head of the great concourse of officials, came to the foot of the altar to bow to their new ruler. The title of the reign was changed to Huang-Chu and the government became that of Great Wei. An edict was then published proclaiming a general amnesty, and the title of “Founder and Emperor Wu of Wei Dynasty” was conferred upon the late prince Cao Cao.

After that Hua Qin said, “As Heaven has but one sun, so the people can have but one ruler. The Hans have abdicated, and it is fitting that they withdraw from the capital. I pray Your Majesty will name the place of residence for the Liu family.”

Taking the deposed Emperor by the arm, he led him forward and made him kneel below the altar to hear the command. Then the new Emperor conferred upon him the title of “Duke of Shanyang,” ordering him to depart that very day for the place.

The wicked Hua Qin, his hand on his sword, pointed at his former lord and shouted in a harsh voice: “It is an old rule that the setting up of one Emperor means the deposition of another. Now, through the gracious kindness of His Majesty you are spared your life and created a duke. Leave at once and never return to court without being summoned.”