ettled　the　empire；　and　his　merits　are　manifest　to　the　whole　world。　Moreover；　he　is　of　the　Dynastic　Family；　and　it　is　fitting　that　he　succeed。　Now　that　the　great　announcement　has　been　made；　such　self…abnegation　is　impossible。〃

So　all　the　officers　shouted；　〃Eternal　life　to　the　Emperor！〃　And　they　did　obeisance。

Then　the　style　of　the　reign　was　announced　to　be　Manifest　Might；　the　first　year　（AD　220）。　The　Lady　Wu　was　declared　Empress；　and　the　eldest　son；　Liu　Shan；　was　declared　Heir…Apparent。　The　second　son　Liu　Yung　was　made　Prince　of　Lu；　and　the　third　son　Liu　Li；　Prince　of　Liang　（the　ancient　states　of　Lu　and　Liang）。　Zhuge　Liang　became　Prime　Minister；　and　Xu　Jing；　Minister　of　the　Interior。　Many　others　were　promoted；　and　a　general　amnesty　was　proclaimed；　so　that　there　was　great　rejoicing　throughout　all　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　two　River　Lands。

Next　day　the　first　court　was　held；　and　after　the　ceremonial　prostration；　and　when　they　were　all　arranged　in　due　order；　the　First　Ruler　made　a　pronouncement。

〃In　the　Peach　Garden　I　and　my　brothers　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　pledged　ourselves　to　live　and　die　together。　Unhappily　my　brother　Guan　Yu　came　to　his　end　at　the　hands　of　Sun　Quan　of　Wu；　and　I　must　avenge　him　lest　I　fail　to　fulfill　the　oath。　Therefore　will　I　devote　the　whole　force　of　my　kingdom　to　the　destruction　of　Wu　and　the　capture　of　its　rebellious　chief；　whereby　to　wipe　away　my　reproach。〃

But　just　as　he　closed　this　oration；　an　officer　threw　himself　down　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　crying；　〃It　may　not　be　so！〃

All　eyes　turned　to　this　man。　He　was　Tiger　General　Zhao　Yun。

〃Dire　vengeance　will　I　wreak！〃　so　cried　the　King；

His　minister　replied；　〃Do　no　such　thing。〃

What　arguments　were　used　will　appear　in　the　next　chapter。