On his return to Chengdu, Jiang Wei had audience with the Latter Ruler, whereat he inquired why he had been commanded to return.
The Latter Ruler replied, “Because you have been so long on the frontier, noble Sir; I thought the soldiers must be weary. There was no other reason.”
“Your Majesty, thy servant had got his camps on Qishan and was on the eve of complete success. To leave off thus in the middle just played into the hands of our enemies. Surely Deng Ai found means of sowing distrust in me.”
The Latter Ruler sat lost in thought, and silent.
Jiang Wei continued, “I am pledged to destroy those rebels and prove my devotion to my country. Your Majesty should not listen to the babble of mean persons till distrust grows in your heart.”
“I do not distrust you,” said the Latter Ruler after a long pause. “You may return into Hanzhong and await the next favorable opportunity.”
Jiang Wei left the court and betook himself into Hanzhong to the army.
Dang Jun went back to the Qishan camp and reported his success.
Deng Ai and Sima Wang rejoiced, saying, “In the Lands of Rivers, trouble is not far off when the ruler and his servants do not live in harmony.”
They sent Dang Jun to Luoyang to tell his own story to Sima Zhao, who also rejoiced, for he ardently desired to subdue Shu.
On this matter he consulted Jia Chong, Commander of the Central Guard.
“What do you think of an attack upon Shu?”
“Not to be considered,” said Jia Chong. “The Emperor does not trust you, and your departure would be the beginning of trouble for you. Last year, when a yellow dragon was seen in the well and all the officers were felicitating the Emperor upon such a very auspicious occurrence, the Emperor said, 'It is not auspicious; just the reverse. The dragon symbolizes the ruler. To be neither in heaven, nor on earth among the people, but to be in a well, is a dark portent and bodes evil.' He wrote some verses, and one stanza undoubtedly points to you, my lord. It reads:
The recital of the poem annoyed Sima Zhao.
“This fellow is very like Cao Fang, and if I do not remove him he will hurt me,” said he.
“I will see to it for you,” said Jia Chong.
In the fifth year of Sweet Dew, in Wei calendar (AD 261), during the fourth month, in summer, Sima Zhao had the effrontery to go to court armed. However, the Ruler of Wei received him with exaggerated courtesy.
The courtiers said, “The services of the Regent Marshal are so magnificent, and his virtue so high that he should be rewarded with the title 'Duke of Jin' and the Nine Gifts of Honors.”
Cao Mao hung his head and kept silent.
And Sima Zhao himself said discontentedly, “My father and my brother have all given great services to Wei, and yet I deserves not being a mere Duke of Jin?”
“Should I dare not do what you requested?” said Cao Mao.
“That poem about the Lurking Dragon called us slimy creatures; what sort of politeness is that?” said Sima Zhao.
The Ruler of Wei had nothing to say, and the haughty minister left the chamber, smiling cruelly.
Cao Mao retired, taking with him Ministers Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye, and they went to a privy chamber to consult. Cao Mao was very sad.
He said, “There is no doubt that Sima Zhao intends to usurp the throne; everybody knows that. But I will not sit thereon patiently awaiting the indignity of being pushed off. Cannot you gentlemen help me to kill
him?”
“He may not be slain,” said Wang Jing. “That will not do. In the old state of Lu, King Zhao could not bear with the Ji family, and ran away, thus losing his country. But this Sima Zhao and his family have been in power very long and have innumerable supporters, many of whom are quite independent of any act of his whether loyal or disloyal. They support him under any conditions. Your Majesty's guards are few and weak and incapable; not the ones for any desperate effort. It would be most lamentable if Your Majesty could not bear this trial. The correct course is to wait and not act hastily.”
“If I can bear this, what cannot I bear?” said Cao Mao. “But I will do something, and if I die, what matters?”
He went into the private apartments and spoke to the Empress Dowager.
Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye sat outside talking.
“This matter is coming to a head, and unless we want to be put to death and all our loved ones with us, we would better go and warn Sima Zhao,” said Wang Shen.
