of Wei； who will not； I hope； disappoint my wishes。〃
Cao Pi heard this and was going to accept it as final。
But Sima Yi said no： 〃Although the declaration and the seal have been sent； yet decorum demands refusal at first so as to silence people's criticism。〃
Then Wang Lang drafted a memorial modestly declining the proposal of succession on the ground of unfitness and asking that some other be sought。 When this reached the Emperor； he was much perturbed and asked what was to be done next。
Replied Hua Xin； 〃When his father was offered a princedom； he declined thrice； but he finally accepted。 Wherefore Your Majesty should renew the offer。 The Prince will end by acceptance。〃
There was no help for it； and so Huan Jie was bidden to draft another declaration of offer； which was sent by the hand of the Officer of the Dynastic Temple； Zhang Yin； together with the emblems and the seal。
This new declaration read thus：
〃To the Prince of Wei。 You have sent your modest refusal of my offer to abdicate。 But I have long since seen that the virtue of Han is passing； and I could only rely upon the late Prince； your father； who virtuously undertook the great task of removing the evil oppressors and purging the land。 Now his son Cao Pi has succeeded。 His perfect virtue is resplendent； his fame universal and his benevolence is wafted to all parts。 The divine choice rests upon him。
〃In the days of old； Yao the Great would abdicate； and did so in favor of Shun； who possessed merit after his twenty acplishments； and the God…king Shun in the same manner handed the Throne to Yu after Yu had labored to control the floodwaters。 The House of Han succeeded in the course of ages to the work of Yao and now passes on the sacred trust； to promote t