muster　his　trusty　friends　and　henchmen　and　put　the　finishing　touches　to　the　plot　for　the　overthrow　of　his　rival。

Now　terminates　his　forced　inaction；

He　must　destroy　the　hostile　faction。

Cao　Shuang's　fate　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。

Main　Next　to　Chapter　107　》》

Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　107

Chapter　107

The　Ruler　of　Wei　Hands　Over　The　Power　To　Sima　Yi；

Jiang　Wei　Is　Defeated　At　Ox　Head　Hills。

Sima　Yi　was　very　pleased　to　hear　that　Cao　Shuang　and　his　party　were　to　follow　the　Ruler　of　Wei　on　a　visit　to　the　tombs　bined　with　a　hunt；　for　it　meant　that　the　whole　enemy　faction　left　the　city。　Accordingly；　Cao　Shuang　and　his　three　brothers　Cao　Xi；　Cao　Xun；　Cao　Yan；　and　his　friends　He　Yan；　Deng　Yang；　Ding　Mi；　Bi　Gui；　Li　Sheng；　and　others　left　the　capital　with　the　Emperor。

As　soon　as　they　left；　Sima　Yi　entered　with　his　authority　as　Imperial　Guardian；　gave　Gao　Rou；　Minister　of　the　Interior；　provisional　mand　of　the　army　and　sent　him　to　seize　the　camp　of　Cao　Shuang。　A　similar　mand　was　given　to　Wang　Guan；　Supervisor　of　the　Palace；　to　replace　Cao　Xi　as　mander　of　the　Center　Army　and　to　occupy　his　camp。

Having　secured　his　position　thus；　Sima　Yi　and　his　supporters　went　to　the　palace　of　the　Empress　Dowager。

They　said　to　her；　〃Cao　Shuang　has　betrayed　the　trust　placed　in　him　by　the　late　Emperor　and　has　ruined　the　government。　His　fault　must　be　expiated。〃

Empress　Guo　replied；　〃What　can　be　done　in　the　absence　of　the　Son　of　Heaven？〃

〃I　have　prepared　plans　for　the　destruction　of　these　base　ministers　and　will　see　to　it　that　no　trouble　happens　to　yourself。〃

The　Empress　was　much　alarmed；　but　could　only　act　as　she　was　directed　and　agree。　So　two　of　Sima　Yi's　supporters；