Editing Sima Zhao (section)

===Consolidation of authority===
====Third Rebellion of Shouchun====
{{main|Three Rebellions in Shouchun}}

During the next few years, Sima Zhao consolidated his authority further, leaving the emperor and empress dowager with little power. He further built up a series of events that were viewed as precipitations to usurpation of the Wei throne. In 256, he had the emperor grant him the privilege of wearing imperial robes, crowns, and boots. He further tested waters by having his close aides hinting to the generals around the empire as to his intentions. In 257, when he sent [[Jia Chong]] to probe [[Zhuge Dan]]'s intentions, Zhuge rebuked Jia Chong severely<ref><br>{{quote|Jia Chong saw Zhuge Dan and discussed the politics of the day, on which occasion he said, “The worthy gentleman of Luoyang all desire the Emperor to abdicate in favor of a new Ruling House. This is what you yourself are aware of. What is your opinion on this point?” In a raised voice, Zhuge Dan said, “Are you not the son of Jia Kui, the Governor of Yuzhou? For two generations, your family has been receiving favors from the Wei; how is it possible that you wish to have the dynasty turned over to someone else? Should there be any such extraordinary happening in Luoyang, I shall die for the cause.” Jia Chong kept silent.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref>
—leading Sima Zhao to summon Zhuge Dan back to the capital under the guise of a promotion. Zhuge Dan refused and started a rebellion, submitting himself to [[Eastern Wu]] for protection.<ref><br>{{quote|On the day jiazi (May 24), the Emperor appointed Zhuge Dan as sigong and summoned him to the capital. Having received the Imperial edict, Zhuge Dan became all the more afraid. Suspecting that the cishi of Yangzhou, Yue Lin, was disloyal to him, he killed Yue Lin (樂綝). He levied the government troops who had been engaged in husbandry in the military agricultural colonies in the various prefectures and districts in Huainan and Huaibei, some ten odd myriads of men, as well as those men in Yangzhou who had recently joined him and were able to bear arms, forty or fifty thousand men; he collected provisions, sufficient for a year, and thus planned to defend his position by closing all the city gates. He sent his changshi Wu Gang with his youngest son Zhuge Jing (諸葛靚) to the Wu to call himself a vassal and request help; he also requested them to make hostages of the sons and younger brothers of his yamen generals.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> Sima Zhao advanced quickly on Zhuge Dan's stronghold of [[Shouchun]] and surrounded it, eventually capturing the city in 258 after cutting off any hope of an Eastern Wu rescue, killing Zhuge Dan and his family, although he treated many of those involved, such as the common citizens, and most notably the Wu soldiers who had been sent as reinforcements, with great magnanimity, despite being advised to punish the citizens and kill all the soldiers,<ref><br>{{quote|Some of Sima Zhao’s advisers suggested that he massacre the people of Huainan because they had rebelled on numerous occasions. Sima Zhao declined this suggestion. Instead, he allowed the Wu soldiers to return home while he relocated many of the people of Huainan to the commanderies near the capital where they could make less trouble. He rewarded those generals who had surrendered and pardoned those who had rebelled.
Zizhi Tongjian, Sima Guang.}}</ref> to which he retorted: "The ancients in using troops, preserving the state is best, so kill the leaders and nothing more. Should the Wú soldiers escape and flee back, then they can report the greatness of the central states." This benevolence managed to cast the Sima family in a more, and much-needed, positive light amongst the populace. After Zhuge Dan's death, there was no one who dared to oppose Sima Zhao further for the next few years.  In 258, he would force the emperor to offer him the [[Nine Bestowments]], state chancellorship, and the title of Duke of Jin—a step that put him closer to usurpation—and then publicly declined them nine times.<ref><br>{{quote|Summer fifth month (June 18-July 17). The Emperor appointed Sima Zhao to be xiangguo and enfeoffed him as Duke of Jin with an appanage of eight prefectures, conferring on him the Nine Gifts. Sima Zhao declined these honors nine times in all, after which the Emperor desisted.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref>

====Death of Cao Mao and complete control of the Wei government====
{{Further|Coup of Cao Mao}}

In {{circa}}May 260, Sima Zhao again forced [[Cao Mao]] to issue an edict granting him the Nine Bestowments and the promotions, which he then declined again,<ref><br>{{quote|Summer, fourth month (April 28-May 27). The Emperor issued an edict to his officials that his former command should be obeyed: he again advanced the rank of the da jiangjun Sima Zhao to that of xiangguo and enfeoffed him as Duke of Jin, conferring on him the nine gifts.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> but which drew Cao Mao's ire. He gathered his associates [[Wang Shen (Three Kingdoms)|Wang Shen]], [[Wang Jing (Three Kingdoms)|Wang Jing]], and [[Wang Ye (Three Kingdoms)|Wang Ye]] and told them that, while he knew the chances of success were slight, he was going to act against Sima Zhao.<ref><br>{{quote|Observing that his power was on the wane day after day, the Emperor was unable to bear his vexation. In the fifth month, on the day jichou (June 2), he summoned the shizhong Wang Chen, the shangshu Wang Jing, and the sanji changshi Wang Ye, and spoke to them, “Sima Zhao's design is known to men walking on the street. I cannot sit still and suffer the disgrace of being dethroned by him. Today I intend to go out myself together with you and attack him.” Wang Jing said, “Of old, Duke Zhao of Lu was not able to bear the Ji; he was defeated and fled, thus being deprived of his throne. He became the laughing-stock of the whole world. At present, power has been lying in his House for a long time: within the Court and in the four quarters of the Empire, all are serving him with the utmost loyalty, even unto death, without paying attention to whether he is loyal or disloyal to the throne. This has not been going on for just a single day. Furthermore, the palace guard is depleted, their arms and weapons are few and weak. What does your Majesty rely on that you would act thus all of a sudden? Is it not like aggravating one's ailment, though one is bent on removing it? The disaster cannot be gauged; you ought to be prudent and cautious.”
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> He took lead of the imperial guards, armed himself with a sword, and set out toward Sima Zhao's mansion. Sima Zhao's brother [[Sima Zhou]] tried to resist, but after Cao Mao's attendants yelled loudly, Sima Zhou's forces deserted. [[Jia Chong]] then arrived and intercepted the imperial guards. Cao Mao fought personally, and Jia Chong's troops, not daring to attack the emperor, were also deserting.<ref><br>{{quote|In the end, the Emperor unsheathed his sword, mounted his carriage and, leading the palace guards and menial servants of the palace, came out beating drums and clamoring. Sima Zhao's younger brother, the tunji jiaoyu Sima Zhou, met with the Emperor at the East Zhiche Men (Gate for Stopping Carriages). The attendants yelled at him. Sima Zhou and his men rushed off. The zhonghu jun Jia Chong was entering the palace from the outside; he met the Emperor and fought with him beneath the Southern Tower Gate. The Emperor himself wielded his sword; his horde wanted to retreat.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> One of the officers under Jia Chong's command, Cheng Ji (成濟), after asking Jia what to do and was told by Jia to defend the Sima power regardless of the consequences, took a spear and killed Cao Mao with it.<ref><br>{{quote|The younger brother of the jidu Cheng Cui, the taizi sheren Cheng Ji asked Jia Chong, “The situation is urgent. What shall we do?” Jia Chong said, “His Excellency Sima Zhao has been supporting you people just in anticipation of today. Whatever you do today, you will not be held responsible.” Cheng Ji then drew out his spear and stepped forward to stab the Emperor, who met his death beneath his carriage.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> This left Sima Zhao thoroughly vexed.<ref><br>{{quote|Hearing of this, Sima Zhao was greatly astonished and threw himself on the ground saying, “What will the world say of me?” The taifu Sima Fu hastened on the scene and, taking the Emperor's leg as a pillow, mourned him sorrowfully, saying, “It is my fault that Your Majesty is dead.”
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref>

After Cao Mao's death, public sentiments called for Jia Chong's death, but what Sima Zhao did first was to force Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously demote Cao Mao to common citizen status and order that he be buried as such.<ref><br>{{quote|The Empress Dowager issued a command indicting the iniquities of the Duke of Gaoguixiang and degrading him to the rank of a commoner, to be interred with ceremonies befitting the common people; she also ordered the arrest of Wang Jing and the members of his family, who were to be turned over to the tingyu.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> He also executed Wang Jing and his family. The next day, after pleas from his uncle [[Sima Fu]], Sima Zhao instead had Empress Dowager Guo order that Cao Mao be promoted back to a duke and buried with the ceremonies of an imperial prince.<ref><br>{{quote|On the day gengyin, the taifu Sima Fu and others memorialized the throne, requesting that the Duke of Gaoguixiang be interred with the ceremonies befitting a feudal prince; the Empress Dowager granted it.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> Sima Zhao then summoned [[Cao Huan]], the Duke of Changdao, and a grandson of Cao Cao, to the capital to become the emperor; by now, Empress Dowager Guo was powerless to speak further.<ref><br>{{quote|The Empress Dowager had the zhonghujun Sima Yan fetch the Duke of Changdaoxiang, Cao Huang, a son of the Prince of Yan, Cao Yu, from Ye, to make him an heir to Mingdi. Sima Yan was a son of Sima Zhao.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref>{{efn|Cao Huang's name, being a homophone of “Huang” (yellow), which must have been frequently used in daily life, had to be altered to some uncommon character.}} In the midst of these events, Sima Zhao went on to decline the Nine Bestowments and the promotions towards state chancellorship and the title of Duke of Jin.<ref><br>{{quote|On the day guimao (June 16), Sima Zhao earnestly declined to accept the appointment of xiangguo, Duke of Jin, and the bestowal of the Nine Gifts. The Empress Dowager in an edict granted her permission.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> Some days later, Sima Zhao publicly accused Cheng Ji and his brothers of treason and had them and their family executed to appease public sentiment while sparing Jia Chong.<ref><br>{{quote|On the day wushen, Sima Zhao sent up a memorial that Cheng Ji and his elder brother Cheng Cui had committed high treason, and that they and the members of their families should be exterminated.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> No one dared to act against Sima Zhao even in the aftermaths of the emperor's death, however, for Sima Zhao was effectively the imperial authority by this point. On 27 June, Cao Huan entered Luoyang and became emperor.<ref><br>{{quote|On the day jiayin (June 27), the Duke of Changdaoxiang entered Luoyang. On this day he ascended the Imperial Throne. He was fifteen years old. A general amnesty was granted and the reign title altered from Ganlu to Jingyuan.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> Two days later, Sima Zhao forced Cao Huan to confer upon him the Nine Bestowments as well as the promotions towards state chancellorship and the title of Duke of Jin, which he earnestly declined,<ref><br>{{quote|On the day bingchen (June 29), the Emperor in an edict advanced Sima Zhao's rank and conferred on him the Nine Gifts as before. Sima Zhao earnestly declined to accept the appointment, and so the Emperor desisted.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref> as well as another time in October.<ref><br>{{quote|Autumn, eighth month. on the day jiayin (October 20), the Emperor again advanced Sima Zhao's enfeoffment and rank, but he declined.
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref><ref><br>{{quote|From SGZ, Chronicle of the Prince of Chenliu, where it reads: “In the eighth month, on the day wuyin (September 14), Cao Gan, the Prince of Zhao, died. On the day jiayin, the Emperor again advanced the enfeoffment of the da jiangjun to that of Duke of Jin and conferred on him the rank of xiangguo, giving him the Nine Gifts, all as in his former edict. But he declined earnestly, whereupon the Emperor desisted.” The day jiayin does not exist in the eighth month of this year; it is the tenth day of the ninth month (October 20).
Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Achilles Fang.}}</ref>