on。

Then　Liu　Fang　and　Sun　Zu　memorialized；　saying；　〃As　Cao　Shuang　has　been　chosen；　Cao　Yu；　the　Prince　of　Yan；　should　be　ordered　to　leave　the　capital　and　return　to　Yan；　his　own　place。〃

The　Ruler　of　Wei　consented　and　issued　an　edict；　which　these　two　bore　to　Cao　Yu；　saying；　〃The　edict　in　the　Emperor's　own　hand　bids　you　return　to　your　own　domain　at　once；　and　you　are　not　to　return　to　court　without　a　special　mand。〃

Cao　Yu　wept；　but　he　left　forthwith。

Thereupon　Cao　Shuang　was　created　Regent　Marshal　and　Court　Administrator。

But　the　Ruler　of　Wei's　illness　advanced　rapidly；　and　he　sent　messenger　with　authority　ensign　to　call　Sima　Yi　into　the　Palace。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　he　was　led　to　the　Emperor's　chamber。

〃I　feared　lest　I　should　not　see　you　again；〃　said　the　Ruler　of　Wei。　〃But　now　I　can　die　content。〃

The　general　bowed　and　said；　〃On　the　road　they　told　me　the　sacred　person　was　not　perfectly　well。　I　grieved　that　I　had　not　wings　to　hasten　hither。　But　I　am　happy　in　that　I　now　behold　the　dragon　countenance。〃

The　heir；　Cao　Fang；　was　summoned　to　the　Emperor's　bedside　and　also　Cao　Shuang；　Liu　Fang；　Sun　Zu；　and　certain　others。

Taking　Sima　Yi　by　the　hand；　the　dying　Emperor　said；　〃When　Liu　Bei　lay　dying　at　Baidicheng；　he　confided　his　son；　so　soon　to　be　an　orphan；　to　the　care　of　Zhuge　Liang；　who　labored　in　this　task　to　the　very　end　and　whose　devotion　only　ceased　with　death。　If　such　conduct　is　possible　in　the　mere　remnant　of　a　dying　dynasty　continued　in　a　small　state；　how　much　more　may　I　hope　for　it　in　a　great　country！　My　son　is　only　eight　years　of　age；　and　incapable　of　sustaining　the　burden　of　rulership。　Happily　for　him　he　has　ample　merit　and　experience　around　him　in　the　persons　of　yourself　and　his　relatives。　He　will　never　lack