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＇e＇ King Yu； founder of Xia； King Tang； founder of Shang； King Wen； founder of Zhou。
＇e＇ Nine Regions symbolized all the lands of the empire。 Ancient China was divided into nine regions。 But over the time； more regions were created。 During the Three Kingdoms period； there were already more than nine regions。
〃I now declare to you； O ye shades； the majesty of my master； the Emperor of the mighty Han Dynasty； excelling that of the Five Feudatories* and brilliantly continuing the glory of the Three Dynastic Kings*。 Recently； when the distant south rebelliously invaded his territory； contumeliously sent an army； loosed the venom of their sorcery； and gave free rein to their savagery in rebellion； I was manded to punish their crimes。 Wherefore my brave armies marched and utterly destroyed the contemptible rebels。 My brave soldiers gathered like the clouds； and the insensate rebels melted away。 Hearing of the easy successes I won； they were entirely demoralized。
〃My army consists of heroes from the Nine Regions*； and officers and people are famous in the empire； all are expert in war and skilled in the use of arms。 They go whither light leads them and serve the Emperor。 All have exerted themselves to obey orders and carried out the plans for the seven captures of Meng Huo。 They were whole…hearted in their service and vied in loyalty。 Who could foresee that you； O Spirits； would be sacrificed in the strategy and be involved in the enemies' wicked wiles？ Some of you went down to the deep springs wounded by flying arrows。 Others went out into the long night hurt by lethal weapons。 Living you were valorous； dead you left behind a name。
〃Now we are returning home。 The victors' song is in our mouths and our prisoners acpany us。 Your spirits are with us still and certainly hear our prayers。 Follow the banners； e with the host； return to your country； each to his own village； where you may enjoy the savor of the meat offerings and receive the sacrifices of your own families。 Do not bee wandering ghosts in unfamiliar hamlets of restless shades in strange cities。 I will memorialize our Emperor that your wives and little ones may enjoy his gracious bounty； every year gifts of food and clothing； every month donations for sustenance。 fort yourselves with this provision。
〃As for you； Spirits of this place； shades of the departed people of the south； here is the usual sacrifice。 You are near home。 Year…round sacrifice is not lacking。 Living you stood in awe of the celestial majesty； dead you e within the sphere of refining influence。 It is right that you should hold your peace and refrain from uttering unseemly cries。 With bowed head I pray you partake of the sweet savor of this sacrifice。
〃Alas； ye dead！ To you this offering！〃
Zhuge Liang broke into loud lamentations at the end of this prayer and manifested extreme emotion； and the whole army shed tears。 Meng Huo and his followers also moaned and wept； and amid the sad clouds and angry mists they saw the vague forms of many demons floating away on the wind till they disappeared。
The material portion of the sacrifice was then thrown into the river。 Next day the army stood on the south bank with a clear sky over their heads and calm waters at their feet； the clouds gone and the winds hushed； and the crossing was made without misadventure。 They continued their way； whips cracking； gongs clanging； spurs jingling； and ever and anon the song of victory rising over all。
Passing through Yongchang； Wang Kang and Lu Kai were left there in mand of the four territories………Yizhou； Yongchang； Zangge； and Yuesui。 And then Meng Huo was permitted to leave。 He was ordered to be diligent in his administration； maintain good control； and soothe and care for the people left to him to govern and to see to it that agriculture was promoted。 He took leave with tears rolling down his cheeks。
When the army neared Capital Chengdu； the Latter Ruler came out ten miles in state to wele his victorious minister。 The Emperor stood by the roadside as Zhuge Liang came up； and waited。
Zhuge Liang quickly descended from his chariot； prostrated himself and said； 〃Thy servant has offended in causing his master anxiety。 But the conquest of the south was long。〃
The Emperor took Zhuge Liang kindly by the hand and raised him。 Then the chariots of the Son of God and his minister returned to Chengdu side by side。 In the capital were great rejoicings with banquets and rewards for the army。 Henceforward distant nations sent tribute to the Imperial Court to the number of two hundred。
As proposed in a memorial； the Emperor provided for the families of the soldiers who had lost their lives in the expedition； and they were made happy。 And the whole land enjoyed tranquillity。
＇e＇ Lady Zhen； a famous lady in the North of Yellow River （Hebei）； wife to Yuan Xi； son of Yuan Shao。 When Yuan Shao was defeated by Cao Cao； both Cao Cao's sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi claimed her； not to mention Cao Cao himself。 Cao Pi eventually won her hand； wedded her； and made her an empress。 She later became the Goddess of River Luo； according to folktales。 。。。。。
Meanwhile in the Middle Land； the Ruler of Wei； Cao Pi； had now ruled seven years； and it was the fourth year of Beginning Prosperity in Shu…Han calendar。 Cao Pi had taken to wife a lady of the Zhen family； formerly the wife of the second son of Yuan Shao。 He had discovered Lady Zhen* at the sack of Yejun and had married her。 She bore him a son； Cao Rui； who was very clever and a great favorite with his father。
Later Cao Pi took as Beloved Consort a daughter of Guo Yong in Guangzong。 Lady Guo was a woman of exceeding beauty； whom her father said； 〃She is the king among women！〃 And the name 〃Lady King〃 stuck to her。
But with Lady Guo's arrival at court； Lady Zhen fell from her lord's favor； and the Beloved Consort's ambition led her to intrigue to replace the Empress。 She took Zhang Tao； a minister at the court； into her confidence。
At that time the Emperor was indisposed； and Zhang Tao alleged； saying； 〃In the palace of the Empress has been dug up a wooden image with Your Majesty's date of birth written thereon。 It is meant to exercise a maleficent influence。〃
Cao Pi in his anger forced his Empress to mit suicide； and he set up the Beloved Consort in her place。
But Lady Guo had no issue。 Wherefore she nourished Cao Rui as her own。 However； loved as Cao Rui was； he was not then named heir by the Empress。
When he was about fifteen； Cao Rui； who was an expert archer and a daring rider； acpanied his father to the hunt。 In a gully they started a doe and its fawn。 Cao Pi shot the doe； while the fawn fled。 Seeing that the fawn's course led past his son's horse； Cao Pi called out to him to shoot it。 Instead the youth bursts into tears。
〃Your Majesty has slain the mother。 How can one kill the child as well？〃
The words struck the Emperor with remorse。 He threw aside his bow； saying； 〃My son； you would make a benevolent and virtuous ruler。〃
From this circumstance Cao Pi decided that Cao Rui should succeed； and conferred upon him the princedom of Pingyuan。
In the fifth month the Emperor fell ill； and medical treatment was of no avail。 So the chief officers were summoned to the bedside of the Emperor。 They were mander of the Center Army Cao Zhen； General Who Guards the West Chen Qun； and Grand mander Sima Yi。
When they had e； the Emperor's son was called； and the dying Emperor spoke thus： 〃I am grievously ill； and my end is near。 I confide to your care and guidance this son of mine。 You must support him out of good feeling for me。〃
〃Why does Your Majesty talk thus？〃 said they。 〃We will do our utmost to serve you for a thousand autumns and a myriad years。〃
〃No； I know that I am about to die；〃 said the Emperor。 〃The sudden fall of the gates of Xuchang this year was the omen； as I well knew。〃
Just then the attendants said that General Who Conquers the East Cao Xiu had e to ask after the Emperor's health。 They were told to call Cao Xiu into the chamber。
When he had entered； Cao Pi said to him； 〃You and these three are the pillars and cornerstones of the state。 If you will only uphold my son； I can close my eyes in peace。〃
These were his last words。 A flood of tears gushed forth； and Cao Pi sank back on the co