Chapter 105: The Marquis of Wu Leaves a Plan in a Brocade Pouch; The Wei Ruler Dismantles the Dew Collection Plate
When Yang Yi heard the report that troops were blocking the road ahead, he hastily ordered scouts to investigate. They reported back that Wei Yan had burned the plank road and was leading troops to block the way. Yang Yi was greatly alarmed and said, “While the Chancellor was alive, he foresaw that this man would one day rebel; who would have thought it would come to pass today? Now he has cut off our retreat—what should we do?” Fei Yi said, “This man will surely first fabricate a memorial to the Son of Heaven, falsely accusing us of rebellion, and thus he burned the plank road to block our return. We too should submit a memorial to the Son of Heaven, setting forth the circumstances of Wei Yan’s rebellion, and then devise a plan against him.” Jiang Wei said, “There is a small path here called Mount Cha; though rugged and perilous, it can bypass the plank road and emerge behind it. Let us, on one hand, write a memorial to inform the Son of Heaven, and on the other, lead our troops along the Mount Cha path to advance.”
Meanwhile, the Later Ruler in Chengdu was restless, unable to eat or sleep, his every movement unsettled. Later he dreamed that the Brocade Screen Mountain in Chengdu had collapsed; he awoke with a start and sat waiting for dawn. Then he assembled all the civil and military officials and entered the court to interpret the dream. Qiao Zhou said, “Last night your servant observed the heavens and saw a star, red in color, with rays like horns, falling from the northeast to the southwest. It portends a great calamity for the Chancellor. Now Your Majesty’s dream of a mountain collapse exactly fulfills this omen.” The Later Ruler became even more fearful. Suddenly word arrived that Li Fu had come, and the Later Ruler hastily summoned him in to inquire. Li Fu kowtowed and tearfully reported that the Chancellor had passed away, recounting in detail the Chancellor’s final words. The Later Ruler wept loudly and said, “Heaven takes my support from me!” He collapsed weeping onto his dragon bed. Attendants supported him into the rear palace. When Empress Dowager Wu heard this, she too wept uncontrollably. All the officials were grief-stricken, and the common people shed tears. The Later Ruler was so overcome with sorrow for several days that he could not hold court. Suddenly it was reported that Wei Yan had submitted a memorial accusing Yang Yi of rebellion. The officials were greatly alarmed and entered the palace to inform the Later Ruler. At that time, Empress Dowager Wu was also in the palace. The Later Ruler was shocked by the report and ordered a close attendant to read Wei Yan’s memorial. It read in summary:
“Your subject, Wei Yan, General Who Conquers the West and Marquis of Nanzheng, in utmost trepidation, kowtows and submits: Yang Yi has usurped military command, led the troops in rebellion, seized the Chancellor’s coffin, and seeks to bring the enemy into our territory. Your subject has first burned the plank road and deployed troops to defend it. I respectfully submit this for Your Majesty’s information.”
After the reading, the Later Ruler said, “Wei Yan is a brave general, more than a match for Yang Yi and the others—why should he burn the plank road?” Empress Dowager Wu said, “I once heard the late Emperor say that Kongming knew Wei Yan had a rebellious bone at the back of his skull and often wished to kill him; but out of pity for his valor, he temporarily kept him in service. Now that he accuses Yang Yi and the others of rebellion, this cannot be lightly believed. Yang Yi is a civil official; the Chancellor entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of Chief Clerk, which shows that this man is reliable. If today we heed only one side of the story, Yang Yi and his men will surely defect to Wei. This matter requires deep and careful consideration—we must not act hastily.” While the officials were still deliberating, word suddenly arrived that Chief Clerk Yang Yi had an urgent memorial. A close attendant opened it and read:
“Your subject, Yang Yi, Chief Clerk and General Who Pacifies the Army, in utmost trepidation, kowtows and respectfully submits: On his deathbed, the Chancellor entrusted the great affairs to your servant, who has followed the established regulations without change, ordering Wei Yan to bring up the rear and Jiang Wei to follow next. Now Wei Yan, disregarding the Chancellor’s final command, has led his own troops ahead into Hanzhong, set fire to and burned the plank road, seized the Chancellor’s hearse, and plotted treason. This upheaval has occurred suddenly; I hastily dispatch this urgent memorial for Your Majesty’s information.”
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager asked, “What are your views?” Jiang Wan memorialized, “In your servant’s humble opinion, although Yang Yi’s temperament is hasty and he cannot tolerate others, when it comes to planning provisions and assisting in military strategy, he worked alongside the Chancellor for many years. Now that the Chancellor, on his deathbed, entrusted great affairs to him, he is certainly not a man who would betray him. Wei Yan, relying on his merits, has always sought higher position, and everyone yielded to him. Only Yang Yi did not accommodate him, and Wei Yan harbored resentment. Now, seeing Yang Yi in command of the army, he is dissatisfied, so he burned the plank road to cut off his retreat and has brought false accusations to frame him. Your servant is willing to stake his entire family, noble and base alike, as a guarantee that Yang Yi is not a rebel; truly, I dare not vouch for Wei Yan.” Dong Yun also memorialized, “Wei Yan, relying on his great merit, has often harbored discontent and spoken resentful words. The reason he did not rebel earlier was solely out of fear of the Chancellor. Now that the Chancellor has just died, he seizes the opportunity to create chaos—this is inevitable. As for Yang Yi, his talent is quick and thorough, and he was employed by the Chancellor; he will certainly not betray him.” The Later Ruler said, “If Wei Yan indeed rebels, what strategy should we use to resist him?” Jiang Wan said, “The Chancellor always suspected this man and must have left a plan with Yang Yi. If Yang Yi had no support, how could he have retreated through the valley mouth? Wei Yan will surely fall into the trap. Your Majesty may rest easy.” Shortly thereafter, another memorial from Wei Yan arrived, accusing Yang Yi of rebellion. While they were reading it, yet another memorial from Yang Yi arrived, accusing Wei Yan of rebellion. The two men sent memorials one after the other, each stating his case. Suddenly it was reported that Fei Yi had arrived. The Later Ruler summoned him in, and Fei Yi detailed the circumstances of Wei Yan’s rebellion. The Later Ruler said, “If that is so, let Dong Yun be sent temporarily with an imperial staff to mediate and use kind words to pacify them.” Dong Yun received the imperial decree and departed.
Now, Wei Yan, having burned the plank road, encamped at Nangu, guarding the pass, thinking himself clever. But he did not expect that Yang Yi and Jiang Wei would lead their troops by night around to the rear of Nangu. Fearing that Hanzhong might be lost, Yang Yi ordered the vanguard He Ping to lead three thousand troops ahead. Yang Yi, together with Jiang Wei and the others, led the troops, escorting the Chancellor’s coffin, and headed toward Hanzhong.
Meanwhile, He Ping led his troops straight to the rear of Nangu, beating drums and raising war cries. Scouts galloped to report to Wei Yan, saying that Yang Yi had sent the vanguard He Ping with troops from the Mount Cha path to offer battle. Wei Yan flew into a rage, hastily donned his armor and mounted his horse, grasped his blade, and led his troops to meet the enemy. The two formations squared off, and He Ping rode out, shouting, “Where is the rebel Wei Yan?” Wei Yan also shouted back, “You are aiding Yang Yi in rebellion—how dare you curse me!” He Ping retorted, “The Chancellor has just died; his bones are not yet cold—how dare you rebel!” Then he raised his whip and pointed at the Sichuan troops, saying, “You soldiers are all from Western Sichuan; in Sichuan, you have parents, wives, children, brothers, and relatives. The Chancellor, while alive, never treated you poorly. Now you should not aid a rebel; each of you should return to your hometowns and await rewards.” When the troops heard this, they let out a great shout, and more than half scattered. Wei Yan, furious, brandished his blade, spurred his horse, and charged straight at He Ping. He Ping leveled his spear and engaged him. After less than a few exchanges, He Ping feigned defeat and fled, with Wei Yan in hot pursuit. The troops on He Ping’s side shot arrows and crossbow bolts all at once, and Wei Yan turned his horse back. Seeing his own troops in disorderly flight, Wei Yan grew even angrier; he whipped his horse forward, caught up with a few men, and killed them, but still could not stop the rout. Only Ma Dai’s three hundred men remained steadfast. Wei Yan said to Ma Dai, “You truly help me; when the deed is done, I will never betray you.” Then he joined Ma Dai in pursuing He Ping. He Ping led his troops and fled swiftly. Wei Yan gathered his remaining forces and consulted with Ma Dai, saying, “What if we defect to Wei?” Ma Dai replied, “General, these words are most unwise. Why does a great man not strive to establish his own dominion, rather than lightly bend the knee to others? In my view, the General has both wisdom and valor; among the men of the Two Sichuan regions, who dares to oppose you? I swear that I will join you in first taking Hanzhong, and then we will attack the Two Sichuan regions.”
Wei Yan was overjoyed, and so he and Ma Dai led their troops straight toward Nanzheng. From atop the walls of Nanzheng, Jiang Wei saw Wei Yan and Ma Dai advancing with great fanfare, surging forward like a wind-driven tide. Jiang Wei urgently ordered the drawbridge to be raised. Wei Yan and Ma Dai both shouted, "Surrender at once!" Jiang Wei sent for Yang Yi to discuss the matter, saying, "Wei Yan is fierce, and with Ma Dai assisting him, even though their forces are small, what plan can we use to drive him back?" Yang Yi said, "The Prime Minister, before his death, left a brocade sack with instructions: 'If Wei Yan rebels, only when facing him before the city walls may you open it, and it will contain a plan to behead Wei Yan.' Now we should take it out and look." So they brought out the brocade sack and broke the seal. On it was written: "Only when you are on horseback opposite Wei Yan may you open it." Jiang Wei was delighted and said, "Since the Prime Minister left these instructions, you, the Chief Clerk, may keep it. I will first lead the troops out of the city and form a battle array; you can follow afterward." Jiang Wei donned his armor, mounted his horse, and took his spear in hand. Leading three thousand troops, he opened the city gates and charged out, with a great roar of drums, and formed into ranks. Jiang Wei, spear held high, reined in his horse beneath the command flag and shouted loudly in abuse, "Rebel Wei Yan! The Prime Minister never treated you poorly—why do you betray him today?" Wei Yan, holding his sword across his horse, said, "Bo Yue, this does not concern you. Just call Yang Yi out!" Yang Yi, from within the shadow of the command flag, opened the brocade sack and read it. It contained instructions exactly as follows. Yang Yi was overjoyed. Riding out lightly on his horse, he halted before the battle line, pointed at Wei Yan, and laughed, saying, "When the Prime Minister was alive, he knew you would surely rebel one day and told me to be on guard. Now it has come true as he said. If you dare to shout three times from horseback, 'Who dares to kill me?' you will truly be a great man. Then I will offer you the city of Hanzhong." Wei Yan laughed loudly and said, "Listen, you base fellow Yang Yi! If Kongming were still alive, I might fear him three-tenths; but now that he is dead, who under heaven dares to stand against me? Not to mention shouting three times—even if I shout thirty thousand times, what difficulty is there?" So he raised his sword, steadied his reins, and from horseback bellowed, "Who dares to kill me?" Before the echo of the first shout died away, a man behind him cried out sternly, "I dare to kill you!" His hand rose and his blade fell, cutting Wei Yan down from his horse. The onlookers were all astounded. The man who struck down Wei Yan was none other than Ma Dai. It turned out that when Zhuge Liang was near death, he had secretly instructed Ma Dai, waiting only for Wei Yan to shout before taking him by surprise. On that day, after Yang Yi had read the plan from the brocade sack, he already knew that Ma Dai was lying in ambush there, so he acted accordingly, and indeed Wei Yan was slain. Later generations composed a poem:
Zhuge Liang's foresight recognized Wei Yan,
Knowing he would one day rebel against western Sichuan.
The brocade sack's posthumous plan was hard to guess,
Yet success was seen right before the horse.
Zhuge Liang's foresight recognized Wei Yan,
Knowing he would one day rebel against western Sichuan.
The brocade sack's posthumous plan was hard to guess,
Yet success was seen right before the horse.
Now, before Dong Yun had even reached Nanzheng, Ma Dai had already slain Wei Yan and joined forces with Jiang Wei. Yang Yi wrote a memorial and sent it by courier that very night to report to the Later Ruler. The Later Ruler issued an edict, saying: "Since his crimes have been clearly adjudicated, still remembering his former merits, grant him a coffin and burial." Yang Yi and the others escorted Zhuge Liang's funeral carriage to Chengdu. The Later Ruler, leading all the civil and military officials, all wearing mourning garments, went twenty li outside the city to welcome it. The Later Ruler wailed loudly. From the high ministers and nobles down to the common folk of the hills and forests, men and women, young and old—none did not weep bitterly, and the sound of mourning shook the earth. The Later Ruler ordered the funeral carriage brought into the city and placed in the Prime Minister's residence. His son, Zhuge Zhan, observed the mourning rites.
The Later Ruler returned to court. Yang Yi came forward bound, to beg forgiveness. The Later Ruler ordered his attendants to untie his bonds and said, "If it were not for your ability to follow the Prime Minister's dying instructions, when could the funeral carriage have returned, and how could Wei Yan have been executed? The great affair was preserved—all due to your efforts." Thereupon he promoted Yang Yi to the post of Central Army Advisor. Ma Dai, having rendered merit in suppressing the rebellion, was granted Wei Yan's rank and title. Yang Yi presented Zhuge Liang's final memorial. The Later Ruler finished reading it, wept bitterly, and issued an edict to select a burial site through divination. Fei Yi memorialized: "The Prime Minister, before his death, commanded that he be buried on Dingjun Mountain, without walls, bricks, or stone, and without any sacrificial offerings." The Later Ruler complied. Choosing an auspicious day in the tenth month of that year, the Later Ruler personally escorted the funeral carriage to Dingjun Mountain for burial. The Later Ruler issued an edict for the sacrificial rites, bestowing the posthumous title of Marquis Zhongwu. He ordered a temple to be built in Mianyang, with seasonal offerings four times a year. Later, Du Gongbu composed a poem:
Where can the Prime Minister's shrine be sought?
Outside Jinguan City, cypress trees stand thick and tall.
The green grass by the steps shows spring colors of its own,
Amid the leaves, the oriole's song is but a lovely sound in vain.
Thrice he was visited, consulting on the great plans of the realm;
Serving two dynasties, he opened a path—this was the old minister's heart.
He set forth on campaign but died before success was won,
Making heroes ever after wet their sleeves with tears!
Where can the Prime Minister's shrine be sought?
Outside Jinguan City, cypress trees stand thick and tall.
The green grass by the steps shows spring colors of its own,
Amid the leaves, the oriole's song is but a lovely sound in vain.
Thrice he was visited, consulting on the great plans of the realm;
Serving two dynasties, he opened a path—this was the old minister's heart.
He set forth on campaign but died before success was won,
Making heroes ever after wet their sleeves with tears!
Another poem by Du Gongbu says:
Zhuge Liang's great name resounds through the universe;
The portrait of the ancestral minister is solemn and sublime.
In dividing the realm into three parts, he exhausted his strategies,
Like a single feather in the clouds of ten thousand ages.
He stands as an equal to Yi Yin and Lü Wang,
His command so decisive that Xiao He and Cao Can lose their luster.
But the times shifted, and the fortunes of Han could not be restored;
His resolve firm, he died—all from the toils of military affairs.
Zhuge Liang's great name resounds through the universe;
The portrait of the ancestral minister is solemn and sublime.
In dividing the realm into three parts, he exhausted his strategies,
Like a single feather in the clouds of ten thousand ages.
He stands as an equal to Yi Yin and Lü Wang,
His command so decisive that Xiao He and Cao Can lose their luster.
But the times shifted, and the fortunes of Han could not be restored;
His resolve firm, he died—all from the toils of military affairs.
Now, the Later Ruler returned to Chengdu. Suddenly, a close minister reported: "A border report has come that Eastern Wu has ordered Quan Cong to lead tens of thousands of troops, stationed at the border of Baqiu. Their intentions are unknown." The Later Ruler was startled and said, "The Prime Minister has just passed away, and now Wu violates the alliance to invade our borders. What is to be done?" Jiang Wan memorialized: "Your servant dares to recommend Wang Ping and Zhang Yi to lead tens of thousands of troops to garrison Yong'an, to guard against unforeseen events. Your Majesty should also send someone to Wu to announce the mourning, and thereby probe their movements." The Later Ruler said, "We must have a skilled debater as envoy." One man stepped forward and answered, "Your servant is willing to go." The crowd looked at him. He was from Anzhong in Nanyang, named Zong Yu, styled Deyan, holding the office of Army Advisor and Right Central Gentleman. The Later Ruler was greatly pleased and immediately ordered Zong Yu to go to Wu to announce the mourning, and also to investigate the true situation.
Zong Yu received the order and went straight to Jinling, where he sought an audience with the Wu ruler, Sun Quan. After the rites were concluded, Zong Yu noticed that all those around were dressed in plain white garments. Sun Quan's expression changed, and he said, "Wu and Shu are already one family. Why has your lord increased the garrison at Baidi City?" Zong Yu replied, "Your servant believes that if the east increases its garrison at Baqiu, and the west increases its garrison at Baidi, it is only because the situation demands it. Neither is grounds for mutual reproach." Sun Quan laughed and said, "You are no less than Deng Zhi." Then he said to Zong Yu, "I have heard that the Prime Minister, Zhuge, has returned to heaven. I weep daily and have ordered all my officials to wear mourning garments. I feared that the Wei might take advantage of the mourning to seize Shu territory, so I increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand troops, to serve as reinforcements—there is no other intention." Zong Yu kowtowed in thanks. Sun Quan said, "Since I have already agreed to the alliance, how could I violate righteousness?" Zong Yu said, "The Son of Heaven, because the Prime Minister has just passed away, specially sent me to announce the mourning." Sun Quan then took a golden arrow, broke it, and swore an oath, saying, "If I violate the former alliance, may my descendants be cut off!" He also ordered envoys to take incense, silk, and sacrificial offerings into Shu to offer condolences.
Zong Yu took his leave of the Wu ruler and returned to Chengdu with the Wu envoys. He entered an audience with the Later Ruler and memorialized: "The Wu ruler wept himself at the Prime Minister's death and ordered all his ministers to wear mourning. His increase of troops at Baqiu was out of fear that Wei might take advantage of our weakness—there is no other intention. Now he has broken an arrow as an oath and will not violate the alliance." The Later Ruler was greatly pleased, rewarded Zong Yu generously, treated the Wu envoys with honor, and sent them away. Then, following Zhuge Liang's dying words, he appointed Jiang Wan as Prime Minister and Grand General, with authority over the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat; he appointed Fei Yi as Director of the Imperial Secretariat, to jointly handle the Prime Minister's affairs; he appointed Wu Yi as General of Chariots and Cavalry, granting him the authority of a commissioner to oversee Hanzhong; Jiang Wei was made General Who Assists Han and Marquis of Pingxiang, with overall command of all troops, and went out with Wu Yi to garrison Hanzhong, to guard against Wei forces; all other officers retained their former posts.
Yang Yi, believing that his years of service and official rank placed him ahead of Jiang Wan, yet found himself in a position inferior to Jiang Wan’s, and also relying on his own great merits without receiving generous rewards, voiced complaints, saying to Fei Yi: “If, when the former Chancellor had just passed away, I had led the entire army to defect to Wei, how could I have ended up in such cold and desolate circumstances as now!” Fei Yi then wrote these words into a memorial and secretly reported them to the Later Ruler. The Later Ruler, enraged, ordered Yang Yi to be imprisoned and interrogated, intending to execute him. Jiang Wan memorialized: “Although Yang Yi is guilty, in the past he followed the Chancellor and rendered many meritorious services; he should not be executed, but ought to be degraded to commoner status.” The Later Ruler followed this advice, and so demoted Yang Yi to the rank of a commoner in Jiajun, Hanzhong. Yang Yi, filled with shame, committed suicide by cutting his own throat.
In the thirteenth year of Jianxing of Shu Han, the third year of Qinglong of Wei’s ruler Cao Rui, and the fourth year of Jiahe of Wu’s ruler Sun Quan, the three states each refrained from raising armies. It is told solely that the Wei ruler enfeoffed Sima Yi as Grand Marshal, in overall command of the military, to pacify and secure the various borders. After Sima Yi expressed his thanks, he returned to Luoyang. The Wei ruler, in Xuchang, undertook extensive construction projects, building palaces; he also constructed the Zhaoyang Hall and the Taiji Hall in Luoyang, and erected the Zongzhang Observatory: all ten zhang high; he also built the Chonghua Hall, the Qingxiao Pavilion, the Fenghuang Tower, and the Nine Dragons Pond, appointing the Scholar Ma Jun to oversee the work, which was extremely ornate: carved beams and painted rafters, green tiles and gold bricks, shining brilliantly in the sunlight. He selected over thirty thousand skilled artisans from across the land and more than three hundred thousand laborers, who worked day and night without cease. The people’s strength was exhausted, and voices of complaint arose continuously. Cao Rui further issued an edict to undertake construction in the Fanglin Garden, requiring all high officials to carry earth and plant trees within it. Situ Dong Xun submitted a memorial earnestly remonstrating:
“I humbly reflect that since the Jian’an era, casualties in field battles have been such that entire households have been wiped out; even those who survive are left with orphans, the elderly, and the weak. If the present palaces are too cramped and one wishes to expand them, it should still be done in accordance with the seasons, without hindering agricultural work—how much less should useless things be built? Your Majesty, since you honor the body of officials, adorning them with caps and crowns, clothing them in embroidered garments, and conveying them in splendid carriages, these are the means to distinguish them from commoners. Yet now you make them carry wood and bear earth, their bodies stained with mud and their feet covered in dirt, thereby defiling the nation’s luster to promote useless endeavors—this truly lacks reason. Confucius said: ‘The ruler employs his ministers according to ritual; ministers serve their ruler with loyalty.’ Without loyalty, without ritual, on what can the state be established? I know that speaking these words will surely bring death; but I consider myself as a single hair on an ox—if living brings no benefit, what loss is there in dying? Gripping my brush, I shed tears; my heart has already bidden farewell to the world. I have eight sons; after my death, they will become a burden to Your Majesty. I tremble and await Your command to the utmost!”
Cao Rui, after reading the memorial, said angrily: “Does Dong Xun not fear death!” His attendants requested his execution. Cao Rui said: “This man has always been loyal and righteous; for now, let him be degraded to commoner status. Anyone else who speaks rashly will be executed!” At that time, there was a Crown Prince Attendant, Zhang Mao, styled Yancai, who also submitted a memorial earnestly remonstrating, and Cao Rui ordered him executed. That same day, he summoned Ma Jun and asked: “We are building lofty towers and high pavilions, wishing to consort with immortals and seek the way to eternal youth and long life.” Ma Jun memorialized: “Among the twenty-four emperors of the Han dynasty, only Emperor Wu enjoyed the longest reign and the highest longevity, likely because he imbibed the essence of the sun and moon in the heavens. He once built the Boliang Tower in the Chang’an palace; atop the tower he placed a bronze figure, holding a plate in its hands, called the ‘Dew-Receiving Plate,’ to catch the hangxie water that descends from the Northern Dipper at the third watch. This water is called ‘Heavenly Nectar’ or ‘Sweet Dew.’ Taking this water, grinding fine jade into powder, and mixing it for consumption can restore youth to the aged.” Cao Rui, greatly delighted, said: “You may now take laborers overnight to Chang’an, dismantle and retrieve the bronze figure, and move it to the Fanglin Garden.”
Ma Jun received the order, took ten thousand men to Chang’an, and ordered them to erect wooden scaffolding all around and ascend the Boliang Tower. In no time, five thousand men, using ropes and cables, coiled and climbed upward. The Boliang Tower was twenty zhang high, and the bronze pillar measured ten spans in girth. Ma Jun ordered the bronze figure to be dismantled first. With many men exerting joint effort, they dismantled the bronze figure, only to see tears streaming from its eyes. Everyone was greatly startled. Suddenly, from beside the tower, a fierce wind arose, sending flying sand and rolling stones, as violent as a sudden downpour; with a great crash, like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting, the tower toppled and the pillars fell, crushing over a thousand men to death. Ma Jun retrieved the bronze figure and the golden plate and returned to Luoyang, entering the presence of the Wei ruler to present the bronze figure and the Dew-Receiving Plate. The Wei ruler asked: “Where is the bronze pillar?” Ma Jun memorialized: “The pillar weighs a million jin; it cannot be transported.” Cao Rui ordered the bronze pillar to be broken into pieces, transported to Luoyang, and cast into two bronze figures, named “Wengzhong,” placed outside the Sima Gate; he also cast one bronze dragon and one bronze phoenix: the dragon four zhang high, the phoenix over three zhang high, erected before the hall. Furthermore, in the Shanglin Park, he planted exotic flowers and rare trees, and raised precious birds and strange beasts. Junior Tutor Yang Fu submitted a memorial remonstrating:
“I have heard that Yao revered thatched huts, and the myriad states were at peace; Yu reduced his palace chambers, and all under heaven rejoiced in their work. By the Yin and Zhou dynasties, some halls were no more than three chi high, with dimensions merely of nine yan. The sage emperors and enlightened kings of antiquity never exhausted the people’s strength and resources through lofty and ornate palaces. Jie built the Xuan Chamber and the Elephant Stable, Zhou built the Qing Palace and the Deer Tower, leading to the loss of their altars of state. King Ling of Chu brought disaster upon himself by building the Zhanghua Tower. The First Emperor of Qin built the Epang Palace, and calamity befell his son; all under heaven rebelled, and the dynasty fell in the second generation. Without weighing the strength of the myriad people, and indulging the desires of the eyes and ears, none have escaped destruction. Your Majesty should take Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, King Wen, and King Wu as models, and take Jie, Zhou, Chu, and Qin as warnings; yet you indulge in self-gratification, merely adorning palaces and halls—this will surely bring peril and ruin. The ruler is the head, the ministers are the limbs; survival and ruin are one body, gains and losses are the same. Though I am dull and timid, how dare I forget the great duty of a remonstrating minister? If my words are not earnest and thorough, they will not suffice to move Your Majesty. I respectfully knock on my coffin, bathe myself, and prostrate myself awaiting heavy punishment.”
The memorial was presented, but Cao Rui did not heed it; he only urged Ma Jun to hasten the construction of the high terrace and to install the bronze figure and the Dew-Receiving Plate. He further issued an edict to widely select beautiful women from across the realm and bring them into the Fanglin Garden. Many officials submitted memorials one after another, remonstrating and arguing, but Cao Rui paid no attention to any of them.
Now, the Empress Mao of Cao Rui was a native of Henei. In earlier years, when Cao Rui was Prince of Pingyuan, they were deeply in love. When he ascended the throne, he made her empress. Later, because Cao Rui favored Lady Guo, Empress Mao lost favor. Lady Guo was beautiful and intelligent; Cao Rui doted on her exceedingly, taking his pleasure with her daily, not leaving the palace for over a month. That spring, in the third month, a hundred flowers vied to bloom in Fanglin Garden. Cao Rui and Lady Guo went to the garden to enjoy the sights and drink wine. Lady Guo said, “Why not invite the empress to share our joy?” Cao Rui replied, “If she were here, I could not swallow a single morsel.” So he issued an order to the palace maids, forbidding them to let Empress Mao know. Empress Mao, seeing that Cao Rui had not entered her main palace for over a month, took a dozen palace women that day to the Cuihua Tower to pass the time. Hearing the clear sound of music, she asked, “Where is the music playing?” A palace official reported, “It is His Majesty and Lady Guo enjoying the flowers and drinking in the Imperial Garden.” Hearing this, Empress Mao grew vexed and returned to her chambers to rest. The next day, Empress Mao rode a small carriage out of the palace for an outing and happened to meet Cao Rui in a winding corridor. She smiled and said, “Your Majesty enjoyed a fine pleasure yesterday in the North Garden, did you not?” Cao Rui flew into a rage and immediately ordered the attendants from the previous day to be seized. He rebuked them, saying, “Yesterday, when I toured the North Garden, I forbade anyone to let Empress Mao know. How did this leak out?” He shouted for the palace officials to behead all those attendants. Empress Mao was greatly alarmed and returned to her palace in her carriage. Cao Rui forthwith issued an edict ordering Empress Mao to die and made Lady Guo empress. None of the court officials dared to remonstrate. Suddenly, one day, the Inspector of Youzhou, Guanqiu Jian, submitted a memorial reporting that Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong had rebelled, proclaimed himself King of Yan, changed the reign title to Shaohan, the first year, built palaces, appointed palace officials, raised troops to invade, and shook the northern regions. Cao Rui was greatly alarmed and immediately assembled all his civil and military officials to discuss a plan to raise an army to repel Gongsun Yuan. Truly:
Just as the land was wearied by civil engineering, frontier wars were seen anew.
Just as the land was wearied by civil engineering, frontier wars were seen anew.
How to resist him is unknown; see the next chapter for the explanation.