ay aside arms and rest weapons； to cease from war and train your soldiers until the times shall be favorable。 If your mighty legions be now sent to camp on the river bank and the rebels should take refuge behind their natural defenses； your soldiers will be unable to prove their prowess； and should extraordinary strategies be planned； the rebels will not be available。 In such a case your high prestige would be impaired。 I trust； Illustrious Sir； you will deign to examine this。〃
After reading this； Cao Cao ceased to think of an expedition against the south。 Instead； he established schools and set himself to attract people of ability。
About the same time four of his officers………Wang Can； Du Xi； Wei Kai； and He He………conceived the idea of getting for Cao Cao the honor of 〃Prince of Wei〃。
But Xun You opposed this course； saying； 〃The Prime Minister's rank is already that of 〃Duke〃； and he has received the additional honor of the Nine Dignities； so that his position is extremely high。 If he advances to the rank of kingship； it will be inconsistent with reasonableness。〃
But Cao Cao was annoyed at this opposition and said； 〃Does the man wish to emulate Xun Yu？〃
When Xun You heard of Cao Cao's anger； he was grieved and fell ill； so that in a few days he died。 He was fifty…eight years of age。 Cao Cao had his remains interred honorably； and he stayed his ambition for princely rank。
But there came a day when Cao Cao entered the Palace wearing his sword and made his way to the apartment where the Emperor and the Empress were seated。 The Empress rose in a fright； and the Emperor gazed at his minister in terror。
〃Sun Quan and Liu Bei have each seized a portion of the empire and no longer respect the court。 What is to be done？〃
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