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 was declared Empress； and the eldest son； Liu Shan； was declared Heir…Apparent。 The second son Liu Yung was made Prince of Lu； and the third son Liu Li； Prince of Liang （the ancient states of Lu and Liang）。 Zhuge Liang became Prime Minister； and Xu Jing； Minister of the Interior。 Many others were promoted； and a general amnesty was proclaimed； so that there was great rejoicing throughout all the length and breadth of the two River Lands。
Next day the first court was held； and after the ceremonial prostration； and when they were all arranged in due order； the First Ruler made a pronouncement。
〃In the Peach Garden I and my brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei pledged ourselves to live and die together。 Unhappily my brother Guan Yu came to his end at the hands of Sun Quan of Wu； and I must avenge him lest I fail to fulfill the oath。 Therefore will I devote the whole force of my kingdom to the destruction of Wu and the capture of its rebellious chief； whereby to wipe away my reproach。〃
But just as he closed this oration； an officer threw himself down at the foot of the throne； crying； 〃It may not be so！〃
All eyes turned to this man。 He was Tiger General Zhao Yun。
〃Dire vengeance will I wreak！〃 so cried the King；
His minister replied； 〃Do no such thing。〃
What arguments were used will appear in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 81 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Eager For Vengeance； Zhang Fei Is Assassinated；
Athirst Of Retribution； The First Ruler Goes To War。
Zhao Yun was opposed to the attempt to fight Wu； and spoke against the plan。
〃The real rebel was not Sun Quan； but Cao Cao。 Now it is his son who has usurped the Imperial Throne and called forth the anger of gods and humans。 You should first aim at the Land Within the Passes by camping on the River Wei； from which to attack the rebel。 After that the loyal people in the East of the Pass will cart their grains and herd their horses to wele your army。 If you leave River Wei out of consideration in order to fight Wu； your military force will be engaged； and could you disengage it quickly in case of necessity？ It is worth reflection。〃
The First Ruler replied； 〃Sun Quan slew my brother。 Furthermore； Fu Shiren； Mi Fang； Pan Zhang； and Ma Zhong are on his side； all of whom I hate so much that I could eat their flesh with gusto and devour their relatives； whereby I should have my vengeance。 Why； Noble Sir； do you obstruct me？〃
〃Because the enmity against Cao Cao is a public matter； vengeance for the manner of your brother's end is private。 The empire should be placed first。〃
〃What care I for myriads of square miles of territory as long as my brother is unavenged？〃
So Zhao Yun's remonstrance was disregarded； and orders went forth to prepare an army against Wu。 The First Ruler also sent into the Five Valleys to borrow the aid of fifty thousand of tribesmen。 He sent a messenger to Langzhong conferring on Zhang Fei the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry and the title of Lord of Xixiang。 Zhang Fei became also Governor of Langzhong。
When Zhang Fei heard the tidings of Guan Yu's death at the hands of Sun Quan； he wept very bitterly day and night； so that his raiment was soaked with his tears。 His subordinates tried to cheer him with wine； but he over…drank； and this increased his ill…humor； which he vented on any offender in his camp。 Some of his people even died under the lash。 Every day he gazed southward； grinding his teeth with rage and glaring。 He wept and groaned without ceasing。
Then a messenger was announced。 He was summoned immediately； and Zhang Fei at once tore open and read his dispatches。 When Zhang Fei read the edict； he accepted his new rank in all humility； bowing northward toward the imperial mandate。 Then he gave a banquet to the messenger。
He said； 〃My enmity for the death of my brother is deep as the sea。 Why do not the officers at the court propose an avenging expedition？〃
The messenger replied； 〃Most of them favor first the destruction of Wei。 Wu is to follow。〃
〃What sort of talk is this？