Hua Tuo's transcendent skill beyond compare
Enabled him to see inside of men.
Alas, his text was lost upon his death:
The book of cures was never seen again.
Cao Cao's condition worsened after he had killed Hua Tuo, and he was depressed over his problems with the Southland and the Riverlands. As he pondered the situation, an attendant brought a letter from Sun Quan. Cao Cao opened it and studied the contents: "Your subject, Sun Quan, recognizing that the Mandate of Heaven has come to Your Highness, humbly anticipates your early ascension to the imperial throne. If you would dispatch your generals to destroy Liu Bei, I will forthwith lead my subordinates in tendering our lands in loyal submission." Cao Cao laughed aloud and showed the note to is courtiers. "The bastard wants to roast me on the fire!" he said.7 But a group around Chen Qun petitioned him: "The house of Han has long been declining,8 while Your Majesty's merits and virtues mount ever higher. All living souls look up to you. Now Sun Quan declares his allegiance—a human reflection of the divine, different orders with corresponding signs. You should respond to Heaven and accord with men, Your Majesty, and quickly assume the dynastic throne."9
Cao Cao smiled and said, "Many years have I served the Han, and perhaps some merit or virtue of mine has benefited the people. When I was raised to the status of king of Wei, my name and position reached their peak. What further dare I dream of? But if somehow the Mandate of Heaven should come to rest with me, I would remain loyal to the dynasty nonetheless, like King Wen of the Zhou."10 "Since Sun Quan declares his allegiance," Sima Yi added, "Your Highness could confer rank and office upon him with instructions that he resist Liu Bei." Cao Cao adopted the suggestion and submitted a memorial to the throne recommending that Sun Quan be made general of the Flying Cavalry and lord of Nanchang, as well as protector of Jingzhou. The documents were dispatched that day to the Southland.
Cao Cao's condition worsened. One night he dreamed that three horses (ma) were feeding from the same trough (cao). The next morning he described the dream to Jia Xu and said, "I've had this dream before. I thought then it meant trouble from Ma Teng and his sons.11 Ma Teng is dead, but the dream has recurred; does it signify something dire or auspicious?" Jia Xu responded, "They are boon (lu) horses—a sign of good luck.12 A boon horse comes home to Cao. There is no need for Your Majesty to be disturbed." Later, a poet left this verse:
Three horses at one trough troubled Cao Cao's mind;
Meanwhile, he overlooked the rooting tree of Jin.13
How fruitless all his tyrant treachery:
The men who broke his clan came from within.
Toward the third watch, as he lay in his chambers, Cao felt his head and eyes begin to swim. He got up and rested against a low table. Something sounded like cloth tearing. Frightened, Cao Cao looked up in amazement. Suddenly he saw the murdered queens, Empress Fu and Lady Dong, and the two royal sons, along with Fu Wan, Dong Cheng, and some twenty other high courtiers. Smeared with blood, they stood in the gloom and called for his life in muted voices. Cao Cao jerked his sword free and sliced at the empty air. Then came a crash as the southwest corner of the building fell in. Cao collapsed and was rushed to another part of the palace.
The next night Cao Cao could hear the incessant wails of men and women outside. At dawn he assembled the officials and said, "Throughout the campaigns of thirty years I have never given credence to the monstrous or the abnormal. But what do these things mean?" They replied, "Your Highness should command a Taoist priest to perform rites to ward off evil." But Cao sighed, commenting, "As the sage Confucius said, when you give offense to Heaven, to whom can you pray? My mandate is exhausted; I am beyond rescue." He did not allow the services to be held.
By morning Cao Cao felt a pounding in his head, and he could not identify forms. He called Xiahou Dun to his side. But when Dun reached the entrance to Cao's residence, he too had a vision of the murdered Empress Fu and Lady Dong, the royal sons, Fu Wan, Dong Cheng, and the others standing in the gloom. Dun took fright and collapsed. His attendants helped him out, but he never regained his health. Cao Cao called for Cao Hong, Chen Qun, Jia Xu, and Sima Yi; when they were at his bedside, he instructed them on the matter of the succession. Cao Hong and the others touched their heads to the ground and said, "Let Your Highness care well for his precious self. This spell is sure to pass, and soon."
Cao Cao responded, "I have made conquests the length and breadth of the realm these thirty years, and all manner of heroes have I annihilated. There remain but Sun Quan of the Southland and Liu Bei of the Riverlands to be removed. But I will not be able to remain among you, and I shall have to entrust my house to you. My eldest, Ang, son of Lady Liu, died young at Wancheng. Of my other four sons by Lady Bian—Pi, Zhang, Zhi, and Xiong—my favorite has always been Zhi, the third. But I will not have him as heir because he is vain and insincere, as well as overindulgent in wine and unrestrained in conduct. The second, Zhang, is bold but tactless; the fourth, Xiong, is sickly and will not live long. Only the eldest, Pi, is reliable, generous, respectful to others, and scrupulous in word and deed—fit, therefore, to succeed to my estate. I hope you will give him all support and assistance."14
Cao Hong and the rest wept as they received their king's last command. After they left, Cao Cao had an attendant bring out the rare perfumes he had collected; he apportioned these valuable substances to his harem ladies and instructed them as follows: "After my death devote yourselves diligently to needlework. Make plenty of silk shoes, and you will be able to survive on the sales." Cao Cao also commanded many of the women to remain in the Bronze Bird Tower in order to offer sacrifices to nourish his spirit each day in ceremonies to be attended by female entertainers and accompanied by music.15
In addition, Cao Cao ordered seventy-two decoy tombs erected outside Jiangwu in Zhangde county lest anyone discover his burial place and excavate it. Shortly afterward, with a long sigh and copious tears Cao Cao passed away at the age of sixty-six. It was the first month of the twenty-fifth year of Jian An (a. d. 220).16 Cao Cao is mourned in the following "Song of Ye" :
From Ye, the Ye that stands upon the Zhang,
Was sure to come a greatly gifted man:
Grand schemes and poetry from his genius sprang—
Genius shared by liege men, brothers, sons!
The hero who transcends the common scope
Can't tailor his career to please the world.
High merit and great evil—from a single hand,
Fair honors with foulest crime conjoined.
In letters, divine powers; as hegemon, great force—
Could he tamely blend among the mass?
Athwart the tide by Taihang he built towers;
The buildings' spirit fit their setting well.
Here was a man to challenge all tradition!
First he rose to hegemon, then to king.
But in decline he whined as any child.
He can fight no more; fate ordains his lot.
Turning to his womenfolk, he has no hope of help.
Doling out the rare perfumes—call him not unkind.
Alas!
Great men of old took care in every deed;
Deserted or in pomp, their purposes held firm.
The pedant lightly speaks about the dead;
From the grave they mock his pedant's airs.17
The entire court raised the cry of mourning. The funeral announcement was carried to Cao Cao's heir, Cao Pi; to Cao Zhang, lord of Yanling; to Cao Zhi, lord of Linzi; and to Cao Xiong, lord of Xiaohuai. The officials placed the king's body in a golden coffin with a silver outer casing. The bier was rushed from Luoyang to Ye. Cao Pi broke into unrestrained lamentation at the news. Leading a crowd of officials of all ranks, he prostrated himself in the road ten li outside the city to receive his father's coffin; then he had it carried to a side chamber of the palace. The entire court wore mourning vestments and wept together in the main hall of the palace.
Then someone stood
and came forward. "Let the heir grieve no more," he said. "We must consider the succession." The assembly turned to the man. It was Sima Fu, attendant to the heir apparent. "The king of Wei is no more," Fu went on, "and the empire trembles. We must instate his successor as soon as possible to calm the minds of the people. Why are you simply wailing and weeping?" "The heir apparent should succeed," the courtiers cried, "but without a mandate from the Son of Heaven, we are not free to act." Chen Jiao, minister of war, said, "The king has died away from the capital. If his sons strive for the succession, causing dissension among themselves, the dynastic shrine itself could fall." So saying, he drew his sword and slashed the sleeve of his surcoat. He cried fiercely, "Today we beg the heir apparent to mount the throne. Any official opposing will suffer the fate of this coat." The assembly shook with fear.18
The arrival of Hua Xin, who had ridden at top speed from Xuchang, caused fresh consternation. He entered the court and explained his purpose in coming: "The king of Wei is no more. The empire trembles. Shouldn't we instate his successor as soon as possible?" The officials responded, "Because we could not wait for the imperial mandate, we were discussing getting Lady Bian's royal approval for installing the heir apparent." But Hua Xin answered, "I already have a mandate from the Emperor with me." The courtiers elatedly voiced their congratulations. Hua Xin produced the document and read it out. Hua Xin, a fawning follower of the house of Wei, had drafted and compelled the Emperor to issue the decree, which honored Cao Pi as king of Wei, prime minister, and protector of Jizhou.19 That same day Cao Pi assumed his father's position and accepted the fervent felicitations of the court.
In the midst of the celebration feast it was reported that Cao Zhang, lord of Yanling, was bringing an army of one hundred thousand from Chang'an. In great alarm, Cao Pi turned to his advisers: "My yellow-bearded brother has always been willful. And he knows the martial arts well. For him to come so far with troops means he wants to contest the kingship of Wei. What is to be done?" Below the dais a man came forward and said, "Let me go to see the lord of Yanling. I can turn him around with a few words." The courtiers cried, "Only a great man like yourself could avert this crisis!" Indeed:
Cao Cao's two sons were falling out
As Yuan Shao's sons once did.
Who volunteered to dissuade Cao Zhang?
Read on.
79
Brother Oppresses Brother; Cao Zhi Composes a Poem; Nephew Entraps Uncle;
Liu Feng Answers to the Law1
The man who volunteered to stop Cao Zhang's onslaught was Imperial Officer First Grade Jia Kui.2 Delighted, Cao Pi ordered him to go to meet his brother Zhang. The first question Cao Zhang put to the officer was, "Where is the late king's seal?" With a dignified expression Jia Kui replied, "Every family has its eldest; every state has its appointed heir. It is not appropriate for Your Lordship to inquire about the late king's seal." Cao Zhang kept silent and rode into the city with Jia Kui. When they reached the palace, Jia Kui asked him, "Has Your Lordship come to attend the funeral or to contest the succession?" "For the services only," Cao Zhang replied. "I have no hostile intentions." "In that case," responded Jia Kui, "why have you brought an army?" Cao Zhang dismissed his guard and entered the palace alone. He paid his respects to Cao Pi, and the brothers embraced and wept. Cao Zhang turned his armed force over to Cao Pi, who ordered his brother to return to Yanling and guard it. Cao Zhang took his leave and departed.3
Cao Pi was now secure on the throne. He changed the reign year from Jian An 25 to Yan Kang 1 (a. d. 220). He made Jia Xu his grand commandant, Hua Xin his prime minister, and Wang Lang his chief censor. The entire court was given promotions and rewards. Cao Cao, posthumously titled King Wu, was interred at Gaoling in Ye.4 Yu Jin was given charge of all matters concerning the tombs.
When Yu Jin reached the site, however, he saw a painting on the chalky wall of the crypt depicting the battle between Lord Guan and himself. The drowning of Cao Cao's seven armies and the capture of Yu Jin were graphically shown, with Lord Guan seated grandly, Pang De defiant and indignant, and Yu Jin pressing himself to the ground, pleading piteously for his life. It so happened that Cao Pi had lost all respect for Yu Jin when, defeated and captured, he failed to die honorably and then returned north after surrendering. In order to humiliate Yu Jin, Cao Pi had ordered an artist to make the painting before sending him to the tomb. The moment Yu Jin looked at the wall, he felt shame and vexation, and the force of his anger made him so ill that he died soon after. A poet of later times has left these lines:
Thirty years bespeaks a friendship rare;
But facing death, Jin proved disloyal to Cao.
Cao Cao never saw into his heart.
To paint a tiger, the bones are where to start.
Hua Xin petitioned Cao Pi: "The lord of Yanling has turned his forces over to you and returned to his own fief. But Cao Zhi, lord of Linzi, and Cao Xiong, lord of Xiaohuai, have not attended the funeral and should be called to account." Cao Pi approved the suggestion and sent messengers to each to demand explanations.
Within a day there was an answer from Xiaohuai: "Cao Xiong, lord of Xiaohuai, has hanged himself for fear of giving offense." Cao Pi ordered his brother buried with honors and posthumously titled king of Xiaohuai. The following day there was an answer from the envoy to Linzi: "The lord of Linzi spends his days with the Ding brothers, Zhengli and Jingli, indulging in wine. Their manner is rude and arrogant; they violate all norms of civil conduct. When the edict arrived, the lord of Linzi remained seated, erect and motionless. His companion Ding Zhengli chided me, saying, 'The late king wanted my master to be his heir, but slanderers stood in the way. Now they are making flesh and blood answer for offenses so soon after the king's death. Why? ' Then his brother, Jingli, added, 'We are of the view that our brilliantly capable master, the foremost man of the age, should have succeeded to the throne as a matter of course. Instead, he has been unable to. But your kind of courtier can ignore a man as able as our lord! ' Then the lord of Linzi himself grew angry and had his personal guard drive me from his presence with blows."
Cao Pi, angered by the report, ordered Xu Chu to take three thousand of his personal Tiger Guard to Linzi and bring Cao Zhi and his company before him. When Xu Chu arrived at the town of Linzi, he was stopped by the commander in charge. Xu Chu swiftly cut him down and entered the town. Unopposed, he went into the official headquarters, where he found Cao Zhi and the Ding brothers intoxicated. Xu Chu tied them up, put them on a wagon, and headed back to Ye; he also took into custody all subordinate officials. Cao Pi disposed of the offending Ding brothers by having them publicly executed. They were noted literary men from the Pei district, and many deplored their deaths.
When Lady Bian, mother of Cao Pi, learned of Cao Xiong's death, she was bitterly aggrieved. The news of Cao Zhi's capture on top of that, and the killing of his companions, caused her great alarm. She hurried out of her chambers and summoned Cao Pi before her. Seeing that his mother had left her chamber, Cao Pi rushed to greet her. Tearfully, Lady Bian said, "Your younger brother Zhi has indulged himself in wine and wild behavior all his life; because he counted only on his inborn talents, he let himself go. You are to be mindful of your fraternal ties and spare his life. Only then I will be able to rest in peace in the netherworld." "I, too," Cao Pi replied, "deeply cherish my brother's talent. How could I harm him? I only meant to curb his temper. Put your worries to rest, Mother."
Lady Bian returned to her quarters, crying freely. Cao Pi ordered that Cao Zhi be brought into his presence. Hua Xin asked Pi, "Is it not true that the queen mother just now urged you not to kill Cao Zhi?" "That is so," Pi answered. Hua Xin went on, "Given Cao Zhi's talents and knowledge, he will never be content with what he has and will cause no end of trouble unless you act now." "I cannot violate my mother's command," Cao Pi said. "Everyone says," Hua Xin continued, "that Cao Zhi is so gifted that the very words he speaks become poems, though I myself have never believed it. My lord, summon him and put his reputed abili
ties to the test. If he fails, kill him. If he really shows talent, then lower his status and put an end to the carping of the literary men." Cao Pi adopted the advice.
Soon after, Cao Zhi came before Cao Pi and anxiously prostrated himself, begging forgiveness for his offenses. "Although in private sentiment we are brothers," Pi said, " in public responsibilities we are lord and vassal. How dare you presume upon your talents to set at naught the formalities of this relationship? When our late father was alive, you were always boasting of your compositions, but I always suspected someone else was actually doing the writing. Here is my challenge: walk seven paces and make a poem before you finish. If you succeed, I will spare your life; if not, your offenses will be heavily punished without the slightest mitigation. "" On what theme? "Cao Zhi asked. Cao Pi pointed to an ink drawing on the wall. It depicted two bulls by a wall, one of which—after a fight—had fallen dead into a well." There is your theme, "Cao Pi said." But your poem must avoid the words 'Two bulls fought by a wall, one fell dead in a well. ' " Cao Zhi took seven steps and in that time produced this poem:
Three Kingdoms Page 102
