And so his reputation's fair and foul;
His literary gifts may bear the mark
Of genius; he may be a ruler born;
But this is certain; he will stand above
His fellows, herding not with common people.
Takes he the field, then is he bold in fight;
Would he a mansion build, a palace springs.
In all things great, his genius masters him.
And such was Cao Cao. He could never be
Obedient; he a rebel was, foredoomed.
He seized and ruled, but hungered for more power;
Became a prince, and still was not content.
And yet this man of glorious career
When gripped by sickness, wept as might a child.
Full well he knew, when on the bed of death,
That all is vanity and nothing worth.
His latest acts were kindly. Simple gifts
Of fragrant incense gave he to the maids.
Ah me! The ancients' splendid deeds or secret thoughts
We may not measure with our puny rule.
But criticize them, pedants, as ye may
The mighty dead will smile at what you say.
As Cao Cao breathed his last, the whole of those present raised a great wailing and lamentation. The news was sent to the members of the family, the Heir Cao Pi, Lord of Yanling Cao Zhang, Lord of Linzi Cao Zhi, and Lord of Xiaohuai Cao Xiong. They wrapped the body in its shroud, enclosed it in a silver shell, and laid it in a golden coffin, which was sent at once home to Yejun.
The eldest son wept aloud at the tidings and went out with all his following to meet the procession and escort the body of his father into his home. The coffin was laid in a great hall beside the main building, and all the officials in deep mourning wailed in the hall.
Suddenly one stood out from the ranks of the mourners and said, “I would request the heir to cease lamentation for the dead and devote himself to the present needs of state.”
It was Sima Fu, and he continued, “The death of the Prince will cause an upheaval in the empire, and it is essential that the heir should assume his dignity without loss of time. There is not mourning alone to be seen to.”
The others replied. “The succession is settled, but the investiture can hardly proceed without the necessary edict from the Emperor. That must be secured.”
Said Chen Jiao, who was Minister of War, “As the Prince died away from home, it may be that disputes will ensue, and the country will be in danger.”
Then Chen Jiao slashed off the sleeves of his robe with a sword and shouted fiercely, “We will invest the prince forthwith, and any one who do not agree, let him be treated as this robe.”
Still fear held most of the assembly. Then arrived Hua Xin most haste from the capital. They wondered what his sudden arrival meant. Soon he entered the hall and said, “The Prince of Wei is dead and the world is in commotion; why do you not invest his successor quickly?”
“We await the command,” cried they in chorus, “and also the order of Princess-Mother Bian concerning the heirship.”
“I have procured the Imperial edict here,” cried he, pulling it out from his breast.
They all began to congratulate him. And he read the edict.
Hua Xin had always been devoted to Wei, and so he drafted this edict and got it sealed by Emperor Xian almost by force. However, there it was; and therein Cao Pi was named as Prince of Wei, First Minister, and Imperial Protector of Jizhou.”
Cao Pi thereupon took his seat in the princely place and received the congratulations of all the officers. This was followed by a banquet.
However, all was not to pass too smoothly. While the banquet was in progress, the news came: “Cao Zhang, Lord of Yanling, with an army of one hundred thousand troops, is approaching from Changan.”
In a state of consternation, the new Prince turned to his courtiers, saying, “What shall I do? This young, golden-bearded brother of mine, always obstinate and determined and with no little military skill, is marching hither with an army to contest my inheritance.”
“Let me go to see the Marquis; I can make him desist,” said one of the guests.
The others cried, “Only yourself, O Exalted One, can save us in this peril!”
Quarrel between two sons of Cao Cao
Just as in the House of Yuan Shao.
If you would know who proposed himself as envoy, read the next chapter.
CHAPTER 79. Brother Oppressing Brother: Cao Zhi Composes Poems; Nephew Harming Uncle: Liu Feng Receives Punishment.
All eyes turned toward the speaker, High Minister Jia Kui, and the young prince commanded him to undertake the mission. So he went out of the city and sought to speak with Cao Zhang. Cao Zhang came quickly to the point.
“Who has the late Prince's seal?” asked he.
Jia Kui replied seriously, “There is an eldest son to a house, and an heir-apparent to a state. Such a question from your lordship is unbecoming.”
Cao Zhang held his peace, and the two proceeded into the city to the gates of the palace. There Jia Kui suddenly asked him, “You come as a mourner or as a rival claimant?”
“I am come as a mourner; I never had any ulterior motive.”
“That being so; why bring in your soldiers?”
Whereupon Cao Zhang ordered his escort to retire, and entered the city alone. When the Cao brothers met, they fell into each other's arms and wept. Then Cao Zhang yielded command of all his army, and he was directed to go back to Yanling and guard it. He obediently withdrew.
Cao Pi, being now firmly established, changed the name of the period of his rule to the Prolonged Repose Era, the First Year (AD 220). He made Jia Xu Grand Commandant, Hua Xin Prime Minister, and Wang Lang High Minister, and made many promotions. To the late Prince, he gave the posthumous title of the King of Great Might, and buried him in Gaoling.
To the superintendence of the building of King Cao's tomb, Cao Pi nominated Yu Jin, but with malevolent intent. For when Yu Jin reached his post, he found the walls of the rooms decorated with chalk sketches depicting the drowning of the seven armies and the capture of himself by Guan Yu. Guan Yu was looking very dignified and severe. Pang De was refusing to bow to the victor, while Yu Jin himself was lying in the dust pleading for his life.
Cao Pi had chosen this method of putting Yu Jin to open shame, because Yu Jin had not preferred death to the dishonor of capture, and had sent an artist on purpose to depict the shameful scenes. When Yu Jin saw them, shame and rage alternately took possession of him till he fell ill. Soon after he died.
War waged he for many a year,
Yet fell prey to craven fear.
None can know another's heart,
Drawing tigers, with bones start.
Soon after the accession, Hua Xin memorialized the Prince of Wu, saying, “The Lord of Yanling has cut himself loose from his army and gone quietly to his post, but your other two brothers did not attend the funeral of their father. Their conduct should be inquired into and punished.”
Cao Pi took up the suggestion and sent commissioners to each. They who were sent to the younger quickly returned to report: “Cao Xiong, the Lord of Xiaohuai, had hanged himself rather than suffer for his fault.”