〃The other brother Ding Yin said； 'In intellect our lord leads the age； and he ought to have been heir to his father。 Now； not only does he not succeed； but he is treated in this harsh way by a lot of courtiers of your sort； ignorant of what genius means。'
〃And then Cao Zhi； in a fit of anger； had ordered his lictors to beat the chief envoy and turn him out。〃
This treatment of his messenger annoyed Cao Pi greatly； and he dispatched a force of three thousand Imperial Tiger Guards under Xu Chu to arrest his brother and all his immediate surroundings。 When Xu Chu arrived Linzi； the gate mander stopped him。 Xu Chu slew that general and entered the city； unchallenged。 He went to the residence and found Cao Zhi and all his panions dead drunk。 So he bound them； put them into carts； and sent them to court in Yejun。 He also arrested all the officers of the palace。
Cao Pi's first order was to put to death Ding Yi and Ding Yin。 The two brothers were not wholly base； they had a reputation for learning； and many were sorry for them。
Cao Pi's mother； Lady Bian； was alarmed at the severity of the new rule； and the suicide of her youngest son wounded her deeply。 When she heard that Cao Zhi had been arrested and his rades put to death； she left her palace and went to see her eldest son。 As soon as he saw her； the Prince hastened to meet her。 She began to weep。
〃Your brother has always had that weakness for wine； but we let him go his way out of consideration for his undoubted ability。 I hope you will not forget he is your brother and that I bore you both。 Spare his life that I may close my eyes in peace when I set out for the deep springs。〃
〃I also admire his ability； Mother； and have no intention to hurt him。 But I would reform him。 Have no anxiety as to his fate；〃 said Cao Pi。
So the mother was forted and withdrew。 The Prince then went to a private room and bade them call his brother。
Said Hua Xin； 〃Surely the Princess…Mother has just been interceding for your brother。 Is it not so？〃
〃It is so；〃 replied the Prince。
〃Then let me say that Cao Zhi is too clever to be content to remain in a humble station。 If you do not remove him； he will do you harm。〃
〃I must obey my mother's mand。〃
〃People say your brother simply talks in literature。 I do not believe it myself； but he might be put to the test。 If he bears a false reputation； you can slay him； if what they say is true； then degrade him； lest the scholars of the land should babble。〃
Soon Cao Zhi came； and in a state of great trepidation bowed low before his elder brother； confessing his fault。
The Prince addressed him； saying； 〃Though we are brothers； yet the proper relation between us of prince and minister must not be overlooked。 Why then did you behave indecorously？ While the late Prince lived； you made a boast of your literary powers； but I am disposed to think you may have made use of another's pen。 Now I require you to pose a poem within the time taken to walk seven paces； and I will spare your life if you succeed。 If you fail； then I shall punish you with rigor。〃
〃Will you suggest a theme？〃 asked Cao Zhi。
Now there was hanging in the hall a black and white sketch of two bulls that had been fighting at the foot of a wall； and one of them had just fallen dead into a well。 Cao Pi pointed to the sketch and said； 〃Take that as the subject。 But you are forbidden to use the words 'two bulls； one bull； fighting； wall's foot； falling； well； and dead'。〃
Cao Zhi took seven paces and then recited this poem：
〃Two butcher's victims lowing walked along；
Each head bore curving bones； a sturdy pair；
They met just by a hillock； both were strong；
Each would avoid a pit newly dug there。
They fought unequal battle； for at length
One lay below a gory mass； inert。
It was not that they were of unequal strength
Though wrathful both； one did not strength exert。〃
This exhibition of skill amazed the Prince and the whole court。 Cao Pi thought he would use another test； so he bade his brother improvise on the theme of their fraternal relationship； the words 〃brotherhood〃 or 〃brother〃 being barred。 Without seeming to reflect； Cao Zhi rattled off this rhyme：
〃They were boiling beans on a beanstalk fire；
Came a plaintive voice from the pot；
'O why； since we sprang from the selfsame root；
Should you kill me with anger hot？'〃
The allusion in these verses to the cruel treatment of one member of a family by another was not lost upon Cao Pi； and he dropped a few silent tears。
The mother of both men came out at this moment from her abiding place and said； 〃Should the elder brother thus oppress the younger？〃
The Prince jumped from his seat； saying； 〃My mother； the laws of the state cannot be nullified。〃
Cao Zhi was degraded to the rank of Lord of Anxiang。 He accepted the decision without a murmur and at once left his brother's court by horse。
Cao Pi's accession was the signal for a set of new laws and new mands。 His behavior toward Emperor Xian was more intemperate than his father's had ever been。
The stories of his harshness reached Chengdu and almost frightened Liu Bei； who summoned his counselors to discuss what he should do。
Said he； 〃Since the death of Cao Cao and the accession of his son； the position of the Emperor has changed for the worse。 Sun Quan acknowledges the lordship of Wei； and its influence is being too great。 I am disposed to destroy Sun Quan in revenge for the death of my brother。 That done。 I will proceed to the Capital District and purge the whole land of rebellion。 What think you？〃
Then Liao Hua stood out from the ranks of officers and threw himself upon the earth； saying with tears； 〃Liu Feng and Meng Da were the true cause of the death of your brother and his adopted son。 Both these renegades deserve death。〃
Liu Bei was of the same opinion and was going to send and arrest them forthwith； but here Zhuge Liang intervened and gave wiser advice。
〃That is not the way。 Go slowly or you may stir up strife。 Promote these two and separate them。 After that you may arrest。〃
The Prince of Hanzhong saw the prudence of this procedure and stayed his hand。 He raised Liu Feng to the Governorship of Mianzhu； and so separated the two delinquents。
Now Peng Yang and Meng Da were old friends。 Hearing what was afoot； the former hastened home and wrote warning his friend。 The letter was confided to a trusty messenger to bear to Meng Da。 The messenger was caught as he went out of the city and carried before Ma Chao； who thus got wind of the business。 He then went to Peng Yang's house； where； nothing being suspected； he was received kindly and wine was brought in。 The two drank for some time。
When Ma Chao thought his host sufficiently off his guard； he said； 〃The Prince of Hanzhong used to look on you with great favor。 Why does he do so no longer？〃
The host began to rave against his master。
〃The obstinate old leather…belly！ But I will find some way to pay him out。〃
In order to see to what lengths he would go； Ma Chao led him on； saying； 〃Truth to tell； I have long hated the man too。〃
〃Then you join Meng Da and attack； while I will win over the people of East and West River Lands。 That will make it easy enough；〃 said Peng Yang。
〃What you propose is very feasible； but we will ta