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ars later； in AD 234。
The tale of these doings reached Chengdu and caused great grief to the Prince of Hanzhong； for he heard the rumors that the late Emperor had been put to death*。 He issued an order for mourning to be worn and instituted sacrifices； and he conferred the posthumous title of Emperor Xian the Filial on the late Emperor。 This worry brought on an illness； so that he could not transact the business of the court； which was left in the hands of Zhuge Liang。
Then Zhuge Liang and some of his colleagues took counsel one with another； saying； 〃The empire cannot be one single day without its ruler； wherefore we desire that our Prince should be honored with the title of 'Emperor'。〃
Qiao Zhou said； 〃There have been auspicious indications。 A yellow vapor has been seen in the northwest of Chengdu rising to the clouds； and the star of emperor has greatly increased in splendor and shined like the moon。 These signs mean that our Prince is to bee Emperor in succession to the House of Han。 There can be no doubt。〃
Whereupon Zhuge Liang and Xu Jing； at the head of a large number of officers； presented a memorial requesting the Prince to assume the title of Emperor。 But Liu Bei objected。
〃O Nobles； do you desire to set my feet in the way of disloyalty and wrong…doing？〃
〃Not so；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃But Cao Pi has usurped the Throne； while you are a scion of the House。 It is right and proper that you succeed and prolong the line。〃
But the Prince suddenly showed anger； saying； 〃Can I imitate the deeds of such a rebel？〃
He rose and left the chamber； going to his own apartments。 So the officials dispersed。
But three days later Zhuge Liang again led a deputation to the court； and they requested that the Prince should e forth and hear them。 He came； and they all prostrated themselves。
Xu Jing spoke； 〃The late Emperor of the Hans has been slain by Cao Pi。 You； O Prince； will fail both in loyalty and rectitude if you do not assume the succession and destroy the wrong…doers。 The whole empire requests you to rule that you may avenge the death of the late Emperor； and the people will be disappointed if you do not accede to their wishes。〃
The Prince replied； 〃Although I am descended from the grandson of Emperor Jing； I have not been of the least advantage。 If I assumed the title of 'Emperor'； how would that act differ from usurpation？〃
Zhuge Liang pleaded with him again and again； but the Prince remained obdurate。 Then Zhuge Liang bethought that where argument failed a ruse might succeed。 So having arranged the parts his several colleagues were to play； he pleaded illness and remained at home。 Presently it was told the Prince that his adviser's condition was being serious； wherefore Liu Bei went to see him as he lay on his couch。
〃What illness affects you； my mander…in…Chief？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃My heart is sad like unto burning； and I shall soon die。〃
〃What is it that causes you such grief？〃
But Zhuge Liang did not reply。 And when the question was repeated again and again he said nothing； but just lay with his eyes closed as if he was too ill to speak。
The Prince； however； pressed him to reply； and then with a deep sigh Zhuge Liang said； 〃Great Prince； from the day I left my humble cottage to follow you； you have always listened to my words and accepted my advice； and now this western domain； the whole of the two River Lands is yours just as I said it would be。 But this usurpation of Cao Pi means the annihilation of the Hans and the cessation of their sacrifices； wherefore my colleagues and I desired you to bee Emperor in order to crush this upstart Wei and restore the Hans。 We all worked for this end； never thinking that you would refuse so obstinately to accede to our wishes。 Now the officers are all annoyed； and they will drift away before very long。 If you are left alone and Wu and Wei e to attack； it will be difficult for you to hold on to what you have。 Do you not think this sufficient reason for me to feel grieved？〃
〃Unless I refused； the whole world would blame me。 I am afraid；〃 replied the Prince。
Quoting Confucius the Teacher； Zhuge Liang replied； 〃'If names be not correct； language is not in accordance with the truth of things。' In other words； if one be not really straight； people will not speak of one favorably。 O Prince； you are straight； and people speak of you favorably。 What more is there to say？ You know when Heaven offers and you refuse； you are certainly to blame。〃
〃When you have recovered； it shall be done；〃 said the Prince。
Up leapt Zhuge Liang from his bed； tapped at the screen in front of a doorway and in rushed a number of high officers； who prostrated themselves； crying； 〃So you have consented； O Prince！ Then choose the day for the ceremony。〃
They were all the most trusted of his court： Imperial Guardian Xu Jing； General Who Brings Peace to Han Mi Zhu； Lord of Qingyi Xiang Ju； Lord of Yangquan Liu Bao； Deputy Governor Zhao Zuo； First Secretary Yang Hong； Counselor Du Qiong； Secretary Zhang Shuang； Minister Lai Gong； Minister Huang Quan； Minister He Zong； Doctorate Scholar Yin Mo； Minister Qiao Zhou； Grand mander Yin Chun； Imperial mander Zhang Si； Treasurer Wang Mou； Doctorate Scholar Yi Ji； Counselor Qin Mi； and many others。
The Prince was greatly startled； and said； 〃You are mitting me to doing what is dishonorable！〃
But Zhuge Liang said； 〃Since consent has been given； let a terrace be built and a day chosen for the great ceremony。〃
The Prince was escorted back to his palace； and Academician Xu Ci and High Counselor Meng Guang were told off to see to the building of the terrace at Mount Wudan south of Chengdu。 And when all was ready； a great concourse of officers solemnly escorted the Prince； seated in a carriage of the imperial pattern； to the ground prepared； and he went up to the altar and performed the appointed sacrifice。
This done； the solemn announcement was read in a loud voice by Qiao Zhou：
〃On this twelfth day of the fourth month of the twenty…fifth year of the Rebuilt Tranquillity Era； Liu Bei； the Emperor； makes this solemn announcement to Heaven and Earth。
〃The dynasty of Han has possessed the empire for years without end。 Formerly Wang Mang rebelled against his sovereign； and Liu Xiu the Founder of Latter Han rose in his wrath and put Wang Mang to death； thus restoring the prerogatives of the great sacrifices to him who rightly exercised them。 Lately Cao Cao； powerful and cruel； slew the Empress； and his crimes cry aloud to Heaven for vengeance。 His son； Cao Pi； carrying evils into every quarter； then seized the scepter。
〃My officials and leaders； regarding the dynasty as having been overthrown； think it fitting that I； Liu Bei； would continue the line。 As successor to my two warrior ancestors； Liu Bang and Liu Xiu； I will punish as Heaven decrees。
〃Fearing lest my virtue be inadequate to the Imperial Throne； I consulted the voices of the people； and all； even the most distant； have said that the mandate of Heaven may not be disobeyed； the great task of my ancestors may not discontinue； the land must have a lord； and they aver the cynosure of all eyes is myself。
〃Now I； respecting the mandate of Heaven and fearing lest the great achievements of Liu Bang and Liu Xiu may be overthrown； have reverently selected this auspicious day to ascend the altar； sacrifice； and announce my assumption of the Imperial Seal in order to fort all the people； rejoice the ancestors of the Dynastic House； and bring eternal tranquillity to all domains。〃
When the reading was ended； and the sacrifice and the prayer； Zhuge Liang； in the name of all those assembled； presented the Imperial Seal。
The Prince received it in both hands； laid it upon the altar； and again declined acceptance； saying； 〃I； Liu Bei； am unfitted。 I pray that another； more able； may be chosen。〃
But Zhuge Liang said； 〃Our lord has settled the empire； and his merits are manifest to the whole world。 Moreover； he is of the Dynastic Family； and it is fitting that he succeed。 Now that the great announcement has been made； such self…abnegation is impossible。〃
So all the officers shouted； 〃Eternal life to the Emperor！〃 And they did obeisance。
Then the style of the reign was announced to be Manifest Might； the first year （AD 220）。 The Lady Wu