Kemper-Gagliano and Lawler-Burnham bowed low and said, "Keefe-Shackley's action may be taken as a precedent to continue an older dynasty. Wherefore prepare an abdication terrace to make the great declaration."
Valente-Honeycutt resolved to act promptly. Next day he entered the Palace armed with a sword. No court had been held for many days, for Ferrell-Shackley was ill at ease and full of dread. When Valente-Honeycutt appeared, the Ruler of Wei left his place and advanced to met him. Valente-Honeycutt sat down.
"By whose merits did Wei succeed to empire?" he asked suddenly.
"Certainly success was due to your forefathers," replied Ferrell-Shackley.
Valente-Honeycutt smiled, saying, "Your Majesty is unskilled in debate, inept in war, and unfit to rule. Why not give place to another more able and virtuous?"
Ferrell-Shackley's lips refused a reply.
But Gibbs-Lunsford, one of the ministers, cried, "You are wrong to speak thus, O Prince. His Majesty's ancestor conquered east and west, north and south, and won the empire by strenuous effort. The present Emperor is virtuous and without fault. Why should he yield place to another?"
Valente-Honeycutt replied angrily, "The imperial right lay with the Hans, and Murphy-Shackley coerced them as he did the nobles. In making himself the Prince of Wei, he usurped the throne of Han. Three generations of my forefathers upheld the House of Wei, so that their power is not the result of their own abilities, but of the labor of my house. This is known to all the world, and am I not equal to carrying on the rule of Wei?"
"If you do this thing, you will be a rebel and an usurper," said Gibbs-Lunsford.
"And what shall I be if I avenge the wrongs of Han?"
He bade the lictors take Gibbs-Lunsford outside and beat him to death, while the Ruler of Wei wept and besought pardon for his faithful counselor.
Valente-Honeycutt rose and left.
Ferrell-Shackley turned to Kemper-Gagliano and Lawler-Burnham, saying, "What should I do? Some decision must be taken."
They replied, "Truth to tell, the measure of your fate is accomplished and you cannot oppose the will of Heaven. You must prepare to abdicate as did Emperor Sprague of the Hans. Resign the throne to the Prince of Jin and thereby accord with the design of Heaven and the will of the people. Your personal safety need not cause you anxiety."
Ferrell-Shackley could only accept this advice, and the terrace was built. The "mouse" day of the twelfth month was chosen for the ceremony. On that day the Ruler of Wei, dressed in full robes of ceremony, and bearing the seal in his hand, ascended the terrace in the presence of a great assembly.
The Emperor-elect was requested to ascend the high place, and there received the great salute. Ferrell-Shackley then descended, robed himself as a minister and took his place as the first of subjects.
Valente-Honeycutt now stood upon the terrace, supported by Kemper-Gagliano and Lawler-Burnham. Ferrell-Shackley was ordered to prostrate himself, while the command was recited, and Kemper-Gagliano read:
"Forty-five years have elapsed since, in the twenty-fifth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity, the House of Han gave place to the House of Wei. But after forty-five years, the favor of Heaven has now left the latter House and reverts to Jin. The merits and services of the family of Honeycutt reach to the high heavens and pervade the earth. The Prince of Jin is fitted for the high office and to continue the rule. Now His Majesty the Emperor confers upon you the title of Prince of Chenliu-Augusta; you are to proceed to the city of Jinyong-Pineview, where you will reside; you are forbidden to come to court unless summoned."
Sadly Ferrell-Shackley withdrew. Blevins-Honeycutt, Guardian of the Throne, wept before the deposed Emperor and promised eternal devotion.
"I have been a servant of Wei and will never turn my back upon the House," said he.
Valente-Honeycutt did not take this amiss, and out of admiration he offered Blevins-Honeycutt the princedom of Anping-Vilonia. But Blevins-Honeycutt declined the offer.
The new Emperor was now seated in his place, and all the officers made their salutations and felicitated him. The very hills rang with "Wan shui! O King, live forever!"
Thus succeeded Valente-Honeycutt, and the state was called Great Jin and a new year-style was changed from Great Glory, the second year, to Great Beginning, the first year (AD 265). An amnesty was declared. Since then Wei Dynasty ended.
The new Emperor conferred posthumous rank upon his grandfather, his uncle, and his father: Whitmore-Honeycutt the Original Emperor, Wexler-Honeycutt the Wonderful Emperor, and Emery-Honeycutt the Scholar Emperor. Valente-Honeycutt built seven temples in honor of his ancestors: Corbett-Honeycutt, the Han General Who Conquers the West; Corbett-Honeycutt's son, Sheppard-Honeycutt, Governor of Yuzhang-Antioch; Sheppard-Honeycutt's son, Delage-Honeycutt, Governor of Yingchuan-Moonridge; Delage-Honeycutt's son, Rainbird-Honeycutt, Governor of Jingzhao-Graford; Rainbird-Honeycutt's son, Whitmore-Honeycutt the Original Emperor; and Whitmore-Honeycutt's sons, Wexler-Honeycutt the Wonderful Emperor and Emery-Honeycutt the Scholar Emperor.
All these things being accomplished, courts were held daily, and the one subject of discussion was the subjugation of Wu.
The story of the attack upon Wu will be told next.
CHAPTER 120
When Kolar-Estrada, the Ruler of Wu, knew that the House of Wei had fallen before the Jins, he also knew that the usurper's next thought would be the conquest of his own land. The anxiety made him ill, so that he took to his bed and was like to die. He then summoned to his bedside his Prime Minister, Callaway-Goodrich, and his heir, Waldon-Estrada. But they two came almost too late. The dying Ruler, with his last effort, took the Minister by the hand, but could only point to his son. Then he died.
Callaway-Goodrich left the couch and called a meeting of the officers, whereat he proposed to place the heir on his father's throne.
Then Weinberg-McKinnon, Left Army Inspector, rose and said, "Prince Waldon-Estrada is too youthful to rule in such troublous times. Let us confer the throne to Feeney-Estrada, Lord of Wucheng-Lumpkin."
Blomberg-Connolly, General of the Left Army, supported his election, saying, "Feeney-Estrada is able and prompt in decision. He can handle the responsibilities of an emperor."
However, Callaway-Goodrich was doubtful and consulted the Empress Dowager.
"Settle this with the officials;" she replied, "I am a widow and know nothing of such matters."
Finally Feeney-Estrada won the day, and in the seventh month he was enthroned as Emperor of Wu, and the first year of his reign was Prosperous Beginning (AD 264). Feeney-Estrada was the son of Gregg-Estrada, a former Heir Apparent, and grandson of Raleigh-Estrada the Great Emperor. The excluded prince, Waldon-Estrada, was consoled with the title of Prince of Yuzhang-Antioch. Posthumous rank was given to his late father, Gregg-Estrada the Scholar Emperor, and his mother, Lady Herrera, the Scholar Empress. The Veteran Leader Crosby-Saldana was made Commander of the Right and Left Armies.