Editing Sima Zhao (section)

===Succeeding Sima Shi===
In 254, while Sima Zhao was at the capital [[Luoyang]], advisors to the Wei emperor, [[Cao Fang]], suggested that the emperor surprise Sima Zhao and kill him to seize his troops, and then use those troops against Sima Shi. Cao Fang, apprehensive, did not act on the suggestion, but the plot was still discovered, and Sima Zhao assisted his brother in deposing the emperor and replacing him with Cao Mao.  In the aftermath of the removal of the emperor, the generals [[Guanqiu Jian]] and [[Wen Qin]] rebelled in 255 but were defeated by Sima Shi.

Sima Shi, however, had a serious eye illness that was aggravated by the campaign, and he died less than a month later; on 23 March.<ref><br>{{quote|The wei jiangjun Sima Zhao went from Luoyang to inquire after Sima Shi's health. Sima Shi ordered him to take command of all the forces. On the day xinhai (March 23), Sima Shi died at Xuchang.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> At that time, Sima Zhao was with his brother at [[Xuchang]]. The 14-year-old emperor Cao Mao made an effort to regain imperial power. He issued an edict which, under the rationale that Sima Shi had just quelled Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's rebellion and that the southeastern empire was still not completely pacified, ordered Sima Zhao to remain at Xuchang and that Sima Shi's assistant [[Fu Jia]] return to Luoyang with the main troops. Under Fu Jia and [[Zhong Hui]]'s advice, however, Sima Zhao returned to Luoyang anyway against edict,<ref><br>{{quote|The zhongshu shilang, Zhong Hui, had been in the suite of Sima Shi, taking charge of confidential matters. The Emperor, in a personal edict, commanded the shangshu Fu Jia (傅嘏) that, the southeast having recently been conquered, the wei jiangjun Sima Zhao was to station himself for the time being at Xuchang, to serve as internal and external support, and Fu Jia should return with the various troops. Zhong Hui consulted Fu Jia and had Fu Jia send up a memorial to the throne that they were starting together with Sima Zhao. They returned and encamped south of the Luoshui
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> and was able to maintain control of the government.<ref><br>{{quote|Second month. On the day tingsi (march 29), the Emperor appointed Sima Zhao to be da jiangjun and lu shangshu shi.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> Indeed, from that point on, he did not let Cao Mao or [[Empress Guo (Cao Rui's wife)|Empress Dowager Guo]] out of his control.