What　now？〃

Cao　Xi　replied；　〃I　remonstrated　with　you；　but　you　were　obstinate　and　listened　not。　So　it　has　e　to　this。　Sima　Yi　is　false　and　cunning　beyond　measure。　If　Zhuge　Liang　could　not　get　the　better　of　him；　could　we　hope　to　do　so？　I　see　nothing　but　to　yield　that　haply　we　may　live。〃

Just　at　this　moment　arrived　Adviser　Xin　Chang　and　mander　Lu　Zhu。　Cao　Shuang　asked　what　tidings　they　brought。

They　replied；　〃The　city　is　pletely　and　closely　surrounded；　Sima　Yi　is　camped　on　the　river　at　the　Floating　Bridge；　and　you　cannot　return。　You　must　decide　how　to　act　at　once。〃

Then　galloped　up　Huan　Fan；　who　said；　〃This　is　really　rebellion。　Why　not　request　His　Majesty　to　proceed　to　Xuchang　till　regional　troops　can　arrive　and　deal　with　Sima　Yi？〃

Cao　Shuang　replied；　〃How　can　we　go　to　another　place　when　all　our　families　are　in　the　city？〃

Said　Huan　Fan；　〃Even　a　fool　in　this　crisis　would　think　only　of　life。　You　have　the　Son　of　Heaven　with　you　here　and　mand　all　the　forces　of　the　empire。　None　would　dare　disobey　you；　and　yet　you　march　quietly　to　death。〃

Cao　Shuang　could　not　decide　to　strike　a　blow　for　safety；　he　did　nothing　but　snivel。

Huan　Fan　continued；　〃We　can　reach　Xuchang　tonight。　The　stay　in　Xuchang　would　be　but　brief；　and　there　are　ample　supplies　for　years。　You　have　forces　at　your　call　at　the　South　Pass。　You　hold　the　seal　of　Minister　of　War；　and　I　have　brought　it　with　me。　Everything　is　in　your　favor。　Act！　Act　at　once！　Delay　is　death。〃

〃Do　not　hurry　me；〃　said　Cao　Shuang。　〃Let　me　think　it　over　carefully。〃

Then　came　Xu　Yun　and　Chen　Tai；　the　two　messengers　of　Sima　Yi；　and　said；　〃The　Imperial　Guardian　desires　only　to　strip　the　military　power　of　the　Regent　Marshal。　If　the　Regent　Marshal　yields；　he　may　return　peacefully　to　the