ditary　succession　of　rulers　is　still　a　principle。　The　rulers　of　Zhou；　taking　the　two　preceding　dynasties　as　models；　strengthened　its　clan's　position　through　all　the　states；　and　it　reinforced　itself　with　the　support　of　the　states　of　Jing　and　Zheng。　When　the　great　Founder　of　Han　came　into　his　own；　he　ennobled　his　whole　family　with　kingships　and　lordships。　Later；　the　dynasty　had　to　issue　a　general　mand　throughout　the　whole　of　the　nine　regions　in　order　to　destroy　the　widespread　Lu　Family　and　to　enhance　the　Liu　Family*。

〃Now　Cao　Cao　is　an　enemy　of　all　rectitude；　and　his　followers　are　all　evil。　His　treachery　is　manifest。　Since　the　members　of　the　imperial　clan　are　few　and　weak；　the　clan　is　not　honored。　Having　reflected　upon　the　ancient　models　and　being　desirous　of　temporary　alleviation；　my　fellows　have　made　me　assume　the　title　of　Prince　of　Hanzhong　with　the　addition　of　Regent　Marshal。

〃I　have　deeply　considered　these　things。　If　one　receives　kindness　from　the　Throne　and　accepts　the　responsibility　for　a　portion　of　the　state　and　fail；　then　such　a　fault　would　only　be　made　the　more　serious　by　holding　high　rank　and　thereby　increasing　the　burden　of　reproach。　But　my　fellows　have　urged　me；　and　they　have　convinced　me　that　it　would　be　right；　and；　should　I　refuse；　the　wicked　will　not　be　destroyed　and　the　danger　to　the　state　will　not　be　removed。　The　temple　of　our　ancestors　is　in　danger；　and　the　imperial　prerogatives　are　failing。　A　faithful　servant；　who　in　the　day　of　tribulation　can　undertake　a　suitable　policy　whereby　to　preserve　the　dynasty；　should　not　refuse　his　help　at　any　cost。　Wherefore　I　have　yielded　and　accepted　the　position　for　the　glory　of　the　state。

〃Humbly　I　think　of　such　a　title　and　its　exalted　position　and　the　favor　vouchsafed　me；　and　I　would　endeavor　to　sho