Gongsun Yuan was still more alarmed, but he resolved to make one more attempt. This time he sent High Counselor Wey Yan as his envoy. Sima Yi received this messenger sitting in state in his tent with his officers standing right and left. Wey Yan approached on his knees, and when he reached the door of the tent recited his petition.
“I pray you, O Regent Marshal, turn your thunderous wrath from us; we will send the son of our leader, Gongsun Xiu, the Heir Apparent, as hostage and all the officers shall appear before you bound with cords.”
Sima Yi replied, “There are five possible operations for any army. If you can fight, fight; if you cannot fight, defend; if you cannot defend, flee; if you cannot flee, surrender; if you cannot surrender, die. These five courses are open to you, and a hostage would be useless. Now return and tell your master.”
Wey Yan put his hands over his head and fled like a rat. He went into the city and related what had happened to him.
The Gongsuns, father and son, resolved to flee. They chose a thousand of mounted troops, and in the dead of night opened the south gate and got out. They took the road to the east and were rejoiced to find it clear.
All went well for a distance of three miles, when a bomb exploded. This was followed by a roll of drums and the blare of trumpets; and a cohort stood in the way. The leader was Sima Yi, supported by his two sons — Sima Shi and Sima Zhao.
“Stop, O rebel!” cried the sons.
But Gongsun Yuan lashed his steed to a gallop. Then Hu Zun, Xiahou Ba, Xiahou Wei, Zhang Hu, and Yue Chen, with their troops, came up and quickly surrounded them so that they were helpless. Gongsun Yuan saw that escape was impossible, so he came with his son, dismounted, and offered surrender.
Sima Yi hardly looked at the two men, but he turned to his officers and said, “That night the star fell to this land, and today, five days later, the omen becomes true.”
They all felicitated him, saying, “The Regent Marshal is superhuman!”
Gongsun Yuan and Gongsun Xiu were slain where they stood. Then Sima Yi turned to resume the siege of Xiangping; but before he had reached the walls, Hu Zun's army had entered. Sima Yi went in and was received with great respect, the people burning incense as he passed. He went to the residence, and then the whole of the Gongsun Yuan's clan, and all who had assisted in his rising, were beheaded. They counted heads to the number of seventy.
The city taken and the rebels destroyed, Sima Yi issued a proclamation in order to restore confidence among the people.
Certain persons told him, “Jia Fan and Lun Zhi had been against the revolt and had therefore suffered death.”
So Sima Yi honored their tombs and conferred ranks upon their children. The contents of the treasury were distributed among the soldiers as rewards, and then the army marched back to Luoyang.
One night the Ruler of Wei was suddenly awakened by a chill blast that extinguished all the lights, but he saw the form of the late Empress Mao, with a score or two of other palace attendants, coming toward the bed whereon he lay, and as they approached they demanded his life. He was very frightened and fell ill so that he was like to die.
So the two officers, Liu Fang and Sun Zi, were set over the privy council, and he summoned his brother Cao Yu, the Prince of Yan, to the capital to make him Grand Commander and Regent Marshal to assist the Heir Apparent, Cao Fang. However, Cao Yu being modest and retiring by nature, declined these high offices and their responsibilities.
The Ruler of Wei then turned to his two confidants, Liu Fang and Sun Zi, inquired of them, saying, “Who of the family is a suitable person to support the Heir Apparent?”
As Liu Fang and Sun Zi had both received many favors from Cao Zhen, they replied, “None is so fit as Cao Shuang, the son of Cao Zhen.”
The Ruler of Wei approved their choice, and thus Cao Shuang became a great person.
Then Liu Fang and Sun Zi memorialized, saying, “As Cao Shuang has been chosen, Cao Yu, the Prince of Yan, should be ordered to leave the capital and return to Yan, his own place.”
The Ruler of Wei consented and issued an edict, which these two bore to Cao Yu, saying, “The edict in the Emperor's own hand bids you return to your own domain at once, and you are not to return to court without a special command.”
Cao Yu wept, but he left forthwith. Thereupon Cao Shuang was created Grand Commander and Regent Marshal, and administered the government.
But the Ruler of Wei's illness advanced rapidly, and he sent messenger with authority flag to call Sima Yi into the palace. As soon as he arrived, he was led to the Emperor's chamber.
“I feared lest I should not see you again;” said the Ruler of Wei, “but now I can die content.”
The general bowed and said, “On the road they told me the sacred person was not perfectly well; I grieved that I had not wings to hasten hither. But I am happy in that I now behold the dragon countenance.”
