Huan Fan made no reply； but with head bent followed the others。
It was decided to request the Emperor to declare the hunt at an end and order a return to the city。 Cao Shuang； Cao Xi； and Cao Xun were confined in their own house； the gate whereof was fastened with a huge lock； and soldiers were set to guard it round about。 They were sad and anxious； not knowing what would be their fate。
Then Cao Xi said； 〃We have but little food left。 Let us write and ask for supplies。 If Sima Yi sends us food； we may be sure he does not intend harm。〃
They wrote； and a hundred carts of supplies were sent。
This cheered them； and Cao Shuang said； 〃Our lives are safe in the hands of Sima Yi！〃
Sima Yi had Zhang Dang arrested and put to the question。
Zhang Dang said。 〃I am not the only one who has tried to subvert the government。 He Yan； Deng Yang； Li Sheng； Ding Mi； and Bi Gui are all involved in the plot。〃
So they were arrested and； when interrogated； confessed that a revolt had been arranged for the third month。 Sima Yi had them locked in one long wooden collar。
The mander of the Gates； Si Fan； testified： 〃Huan Fan has imposed upon me with a pretended mand from Her Majesty and so has escaped out of the city。 Beside he has said the Imperial Guardian was a rebel。〃
Then said Sima Yi； 〃When a person maligns another and is false； the punishment for such a crime as he imputes falls upon his own head。〃
Huan Fan and those with him were thrown into prison。
Presently Cao Shuang and his brothers； all persons connected with them； and their clans were put to death in the market place。 All the treasures of their houses was sent to the public treasury。
Now there was a certain woman of the Xiahou family who had been wife to Wen Shu； a second cousin of Cao Shuang。 Early left a childless widow； her father wished her to marry again。 Lady Xiahou refused and cut off her ears as a pledge of constancy。 However； when the Caos were all put to death； her father arranged another marriage for her； whereupon she cut off her nose。 Her own people were chagrined at her obstinate determination。
〃For whom are you keeping your vow？〃 said they。 〃Man is but as the light dust upon the tender grass； and what is the good of mutilating your body？〃
The woman replied； weeping； 〃I have heard that honorable persons do not break a vow of chastity for the sake of wealth； and the hearts of righteous persons are constant unto death regardless of all losses。 While the house of Cao enjoyed prosperity； I remained faithful； how much more should I be true now that it has fallen upon evil days？ Can I act like a mere beast of the field？〃
The story of her devotion came to the ears of Sima Yi； who praised her conduct and allowed her to adopt a son to rear as her own and so continue the family。
A poem says：
What is a man to be mindful of？
A grain of dust on a blade of grass；
Such virtue as Lady Xiahou had
Stands out sublime as the ages pass。
This fair young wife of gentle mien
Dared all to maintain her purpose high。
What people though strong in the flush of life
Have equaled her in constancy？
After Cao Shuang had suffered death； Jiang Ji said to Sima Yi； 〃Xin Chang and Lu Zhu and others who had been of his party had forced the gate and joined the rebels。 Yang Zong had opposed the surrender of the seal of the late minister。 They deserve punishment。〃
However； no action was taken against them。
〃They are righteous people who serves their master faithfully；〃 said Sima Yi； and he even confirmed these men in their offices。
Xin Chang sighed； 〃Had I not listened to the advice of my sister； I would have walked in the way of unrighteousness。〃
A poet has praised his sister； Xin Xianying。
〃You call him lord and take his pay；
Then stand by him when danger nears。〃
Thus to her brother spoke Xin Xianying；
And won fair fame though endless years。
A general amnesty was extended to all Cao Shuang's partisans； and no officer was removed or dismissed for having supported the late order of things。 All were left in possession of their property； and soon all was tranquillity。
However； it is to be noted that He Yan and Deng Yang met the unhappy end that Guan Lu had foretold for them。
The seer Guan Lu was deeply read
In all the lore of the ancient sages。
Thus he could see events to e
As clear as those of former ages。
And he perceived the soul of He Yan；
Already in the vale of gloom。
And knew the outer shell of Deng Yang
Was hastening to an early tomb。
After his recovery of power； Sima Yi was made Prime Minister and received the Nine Dignities。 Sima Yi refused these honors； but the Ruler of Wei insisted and would take no denial。 His two sons were made assistants to their father； and all state affairs fell under the control of these three。
However； Sima Yi remembered that one man； Xiahou Ba； a member of the Cao clan； still manded at Yongzhou。 In his position Xiahou Ba might be a real danger； and he must be removed。 So an edict was issued calling him to Capital Luoyang to discuss affairs。
Upon receiving this call； Xiahou Ba was shocked。 But instead of obeying this call； he declared himself a rebel； and he had a force of three thousand troops to support him。 As soon as this was known； Guo Huai marched to suppress the malcontent。 The two armies were soon face to face； and Guo Huai went to the front and began to revile his opponent。
〃How could you rebel against the ruling house； you who are of the same clan as our great founder； and you who have always been treated generously？〃
Xiahou Ba replied； 〃My forefathers served the state right well； but who is this Sima Yi that he has put to death my kinspeople and would now destroy me？ What is his aim； if it be not to usurp the Throne？ If I can cut him off and so frustrate his design； I shall at least be no traitor to the state。〃
Guo Huai rode forward to attack； and Xiahou Ba advanced to the encounter。 They fought some ten bouts； and then Guo Huai turned and fled。 But this was only a feint to lead on his enemy； for ere Xiahou Ba had gone far； he heard a shout behind him and turned to see Chen Tai about to attack。 At the same moment Guo Huai turned again； and thus Xiahou Ba was between two fires。 He could effect nothing； so he fled； losing many troops。 Soon he decided that his only course was to flee to Hanzhong and to surrender to the Ruler of Shu。
Wherefore he went into Hanzhong to see if haply the Latter Ruler would accept his services。 When Jiang Wei heard of his desire to surrender； he had doubts of Xiahou Ba's sincerity。 However； after due inquiry Jiang Wei was satisfied and allowed the renegade from Wei to enter the city。 After making his obeisance； Xiahou Ba； with many tears； told the story of his wrongs。 Jiang Wei expressed sympathy。
＇e＇ The last king of Shang Dynasty was King Zhou； who was cruel and corrupt。 King Zhou had three uncles………Bi Gan； Qi Zi； and Wei Zi………who served as ministers。 When these three officials repeatedly failed to persuade King Zhou to repent； Wei Zi resigned his post； while Qi Zi pretended to be insane。 Bi Gan stayed and continued persuading the king； who later executed Bi Gan。 Later the Duke of Zhou overthrew Shang Dynasty and enobled Wei Zi； Qi Zi； and the wife and the son of Bi Gan。 Wei Zi became known as the Duke of Song。 Qi Zi left for Korea where he became a ruler。 。。。。。
Said Jiang Wei； 〃In the ancient time Wei Zi* left the court of King Zhou in disgust； and this act has assured to him everlasting honor。 You may be able now to assist in the restoration of the House of Han； and you will then stand no whit inferior to any person of antiquity。〃
A banquet was ordered； and while it was being prepared the host talked of affairs in Capital Luoyang。
Said Jiang Wei； 〃The Simas are now most powerful and in a position to carry out any scheme they planned。 Think you that they have any intentions against Shu？〃
〃The old traitor has enough to do with his rebellion； he has no leisure to trouble about any outside matters。 However； two other young leaders in Wei have lately e to the front； and if Sima Yi sent them against Shu and Wu； it might go ill with you both。〃
〃And who are these two？〃
〃One is named Zhong Hui； a man of Changsha。 He is a son of the former Imperial Guardian Zhong Yao。 As a mere boy he was noted