Cao Mao: Encyclopedia II - Cao Mao - Reign: domination by the Simas

Cao Mao - Reign: domination by the Simas

Despite Empress Dowager Guo's intentions and Cao Mao's own intelligence, however, they made very little impact in trying to stem the tide of the Simas' growing power. In 255, the general Wuqiu Jian, the commander in the important eastern city of Shouchun (壽春, in modern Lu'an, Anhui), along with another general Wen Qin (文欽), raised a rebellion against the Simas, but were quickly crushed by Sima Shi's forces. Wuqiu was killed, and his clan was slaughtered. Wen and his sons fled to Eastern Wu.

Sima Shi, however, was already ill when Wuqiu and Wen started the rebellion, and he grew sicker during the campaign and died less than a month after the defeat of Wuqiu and Wen, at Xuchang (許昌, in modern Xuchang, Henan). In the aftermaths of Sima Shi's death, the 14-year-old emperor made an effort to regain imperial power. With Sima Shi's brother and heir Sima Zhao also at Xuchang, Cao Mao issued an edict which, under the rationale that Sima Shi had just defeated Wuqiu and Wen's rebellion and that the southeastern empire was still not complete pacified, ordered Sima Zhao to remain at Xuchang and that Sima Shi's assistant Fu Gu (傅嘏) return to the capital Luoyang with the main troops. Under Fu and Zhong Hui's advice, however, Sima Zhao returned to Luoyang anyway against edict, and was able to maintain control of the government. Indeed, from that point on, he would not let Cao Mao or Empress Dowager Guo to be out of his control.

Also in 255, Cao Mao created his wife Lady Bian empress.

In the next few years, Cao Mao was further known for his diligent studies. He gradually established a circle around him -- a number of officials who were unquestioned in their support of the Simas, but who might also have something to gain from allegiance to the emperor, including Sima Zhao's cousin Sima Wang (司馬望), Wang Chen (王沈), Pei Xiu (裴秀), and Zhong Hui, all of whom were known for their literary talent. By doing this, he was hoping that he could minimize suspicion against him but at the same time gradually win their heart. He often met with them to discuss literature, and, because Sima Wang lived farther from the palace than the others, he gave Sima Wang a fast two-wheeled wagon and five imperial guardsmen as escorts.

As it became clearer that Sima Zhao had designs on the throne, the general Zhuge Dan, who succeeded Wuqiu as the commander at Shouchun, became uneasy. When Sima Zhao sent his associate Jia Chong (賈充) to Shouchun to discuss military matters with Zhuge and Jia probed whether Zhuge could support a Sima takeover -- which Zhuge sternlly rebuke Jia about. After Jia returned to Luoyang, he advised Sima to summon Zhuge back to the capital under the guise of promoting him to Prime Examiner (司空), and Sima did so. Zhuge, in response, declared a rebellion and sought help from Eastern Wu (under a promise that he would surrender Shouchun to Eastern Wu). Sima acted swiftly and quickly surrounded Shouchun, but not until an Eastern Wu detachment led by Wen entered the city to help its defense. However, the main Eastern Wu forces, under the command of the powerful but incompetent general Sun Lin (孫綝), failed to advance on Shouchun, and was of little help to Zhuge. By spring 258, Zhuge and Wen were trapped inside the city, and they got into an argument as to proper strategy. Zhuge killed Wen, whose sons then defected to Sima, leading to the fall of the city. Zhuge was captured and killed, along with his clan, except for his son Zhuge Jing (諸葛靚), who had been sent as a messenger to Eastern Wu. After Zhuge's failure, no other general or official dared to resist Sima's might. Cao Mao became desperate, and in 259, after reports of discovery of yellow dragons (considered a sign of divine favor) in two wells, Cao Mao commented that it was actually a sign of divine disfavor and wrote the following poem, entitled The Ode to the Hidden Dragon (濳龍詩):

This greatly displeased Sima Zhao, who paid more attention to the emperor's activities afterwards.

Also in 258, under pressure from Sima, Cao Mao issued an edict granting him the nine bestowments (九錫) -- a sign of impending usurpation -- and while Sima declined, it became even clearer what his intentions were.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Reign: domination by the Simas", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki