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〃The horses were feeding on bounty： It is auspicious to dream of dignity；〃 replied Jia Xu。 〃And naturally such an honor es to the Caos。 I do not think you need feel any misgivings。〃
Cao Cao was forted。
Cao Cao dreamed three steeds together fed；
The vision seers could not explain；
None guessed how soon； when Cao Cao was dead；
One dynasty would rule again。
Ah； yes； Cao Cao had vainly wrought；
Of none avail each wicked wile；
For； later； in Wei court； there fought
Against him one with equal guile。
That night Cao Cao became worse。 As he lay on his couch he felt dizzy and could not see； so he rose and sat by a table； upon which he leaned。 It seemed to him that someone shrieked； and； peering into the darkness； he perceived the forms of many of his victims………the Empress Fu； the Consort Dong； Fu Wan； Dong Cheng； and more than twenty other officials………； and all were bloodstained。 They stood in the obscurity and whispered； demanding his life。 He rose； lifted his sword and threw it wildly into the air。 Just then there was a loud crash； and the southwest corner of the new building came down。 And Cao Cao fell with it。 His attendants raised him and bore him to another palace； where he might lie at peace。
But he found no peace。 The next night was disturbed by the ceaseless wailing of men and women's voices。
When day dawned； Cao Cao sent for his officers； and said to them； 〃Thirty years have I spent in the turmoil of war and have always refused belief in the supernatural。 But what does all this mean？〃
〃O Prince； you should summon the Taoists to offer sacrifices and prayers；〃 said they。
Cao Cao sighed； saying； 〃The Wise Teacher said； 'He who offends against heaven has no one to pray to。' I feel that my fate is acplished； my days have run； and there is no help。〃
But he would not consent to call in the priests。 Next day his symptoms were worse。 He was panting and could no longer see distinctly。 He sent hastily for Xiahou Dun； who came at once。 But as Xiahou Dun drew near the doors； he too saw the shadowy forms of the slain Empress and her children and many other victims of Cao Cao's cruelty。 He was overe with fear and fell to the ground。 The servants raised him and led him away； very ill。
Then Cao Cao called in four of his trusty advisers………Cao Hong； Chen Qun； Jia Xu； and Sima Yi………that they might hear his last wishes。
Cao Hong； speaking for the four； said； 〃Take good care of your precious self； O Prince； that you may quickly recover。〃
But Cao Cao said； 〃Thirty and more years have I gone up and down； and many bold leaders have fallen before me。 The only ones that remain are Sun Quan in the south and Liu Bei in the west。 I have not yet slain them。 Now I am very ill； and I shall never again stand before you； wherefore my family affairs must be settled。 My first born………Cao Ang； son of Lady Liu………fell in battle at Wancheng； when he was young。 The Lady Bian bore four sons to me； as you know。 The third； Cao Zhi； was my favorite； but he was vain and unreliable； fond of wine and lax in morals。 Therefore he is not my heir。 My second son； Cao Zhang； is valiant； but imprudent。 The fourth； Cao Xiong； is a weakly and may not live long。 My eldest； Cao Pi； is steady and serious； he is fit to succeed me； and I look to you to support him。〃
Cao Hong and the others wept as they heard these words； and they left the chamber。 Then Cao Cao bade his servants bring all of the rare incenses and fragrances that he burned every day； and he handed out to his handmaids。
＇e＇ Kevin； a reader： 〃Cao Cao has been portrayed as an evil character because usually in a novel； you need a good guy and a bad guy。 Liu Bei is of course the good guy and Cao Cao is the bad guy in this case。 But in reality； that was not the case。 Cao Cao was one of the smartest humans ever to be born in China………not smart like Zhuge Liang； but in a different way。 Cao Cao was amazing in everything。 No wonder he controlled the biggest area。 No wonder he had so many followers。 Yes； he seems to be very cold hearted at times； but if you meet any successful people； they know when to separate their business from peronal matters。 Remember； this is only a novel even though it is very based on the real story； but do not forget that there are lots of embellishments。〃 。。。。。
And he said to them； 〃After my death you must diligently attend to your womanly labors。 You can make silken shoes for sale； and so earn your own living。〃
He also bade them go on living in the Bronze Bird Pavilion and celebrate a daily sacrifice for him； with music by the singing women； and presentation of the eatables laid before his tablet。
Next he manded that seventy…two sites for a tomb should be selected near Jiangwu； that no one should know his actual burying place； lest his remains should be dug up。
And when these final orders had been given； he sighed a few times； shed some tears； and died。 He was sixty…six； and passed away in the first month of the twenty…fifth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity Era （AD 220）。*
A certain poet posed 〃A Song of Yejun〃 expressing sympathy for Cao Cao； which is given here：
I stood in Yejun and saw the River Zhang
Go gliding by。 I thought no mon human
Ever rose from such a place。 Or he was great
In war； a poet； or an artist skilled。
Perchance a model minister； or son；
Or famous for fraternal duty shown。
The thoughts of heroes are not ours to judge；
Nor are their actions for our eyes to see。
A man may stand the first in merit； then
His crimes may brand him chief of criminals。
And so his reputation's fair and foul；
His literary gifts may bear the mark
Of genius； he may be a ruler born；
But this is certain： He will stand above
His fellows； herding not with mon people。
Takes he the field； then is he bold in fight；
Would he a mansion build； a palace springs。
In all things great； his genius masters him。
And such was Cao Cao。 He could never be
Obedient； he a rebel was； foredoomed。
He seized and ruled； but hungered for more power；
Became a prince； and still was not content。
And yet this man of glorious career
When gripped by sickness； wept as might a child。
Full well he knew； when on the bed of death；
That all is vanity and nothing worth。
His latest acts were kindly。 Simple gifts
Of fragrant incense gave he to the maids。
Ah！ The ancients' splendid deeds or secret thoughts
We may not measure with our puny rule。
But criticize them； pedants； as ye may
The mighty dead will smile at what you say。
As Cao Cao breathed his last； the whole of those present raised a great wailing and lamentation。 The news was sent to the members of the family； the Heir Cao Pi； Lord of Yanling Cao Zhang； Lord of Linzi Cao Zhi； and Lord of Xiaohuai Cao Xiong。 They wrapped the body in its shroud； enclosed it in a silver shell； and laid it in a golden coffin； which was sent at once home to Yejun。
The eldest son wept aloud at the tidings and went out with all his following to meet the procession and escort the body of his father into his home。 The coffin was laid in a great hall beside the main building； and all the officials in deep mourning wailed in the hall。
Suddenly one stood out from the ranks of the mourners and said； 〃I would request the heir to cease lamentation for the dead and devote himself to the present needs of state。〃
It was Sima Fu； and he continued； 〃The death of the Prince will cause an upheaval in the empire； and it is essential that the heir should assume his dignity without loss of time。 There is not mourning alone to be seen to。〃
The others replied。 〃The succession is settled； but the investiture can hardly proceed without the necessary edict from the Emperor。 That must be secured。〃
Said Chen Jiao； who was Minister of War； 〃As the Prince died away from home； it may be that disputes will ensue； and the country will be in danger。〃
Then Chen Jiao slashed off the sleeves of his robe with a sword and shouted fiercely； 〃We will invest the prince forthwith； and anyone who does not agree； let him be treated as this robe。〃
Still fear held most of the assembly。 Then arrived Hua Xin most haste from the capital。 They wondered what his sudden arrival meant。
Soon he entered the hall and said； 〃The Prince of Wei is dead and the world is in motion。 Why do you not invest his successor quick