he was to understand this act。
Then Hua Xin said； 〃Your Majesty can set up a Terrace of Abdication and assemble nobles； officers； and mon people to witness the act of abdication。 Thereafter the descendants of your House shall receive favor at the hands of Wei。〃
The Emperor consented and sent officials in the Office of Imperial Ceremonies to select a site at Fanyang。 And there they built a terrace of three stories； and they chose an auspicious day of the tenth month for the act of abdication。 On the appointed day； Emperor Xian requested Cao Pi to ascend the terrace and receive his abdication。 At the foot of the terrace stood the officials； more than four hundred； and the Imperial Guards and the Tiger Guards； and soldiers to the number of three hundred thousand。 Thereupon the Emperor presented the seal； which Cao Pi received into his hands。 Then all those about the terrace knelt to listen to the reading of the manifesto：
〃To the Prince of Wei。 In days of old； Yao yielded the empire to Shun； and Shun in turn gave it to Yu。 The will of Heaven does not follow the way of mortals； but seeks the virtuous。 The rule of Han has lost its virility and the times are out of joint。 When my turn came to rule； great disorder arose； and evils stalked abroad till the empire was in danger of subversion。 I trusted to the military genius of the late Prince of Wei to restore order and purge away the evil； whereby to ensure tranquillity to my House。 What could my single hand do to correct this and ensure peace for my Nine Domains？
〃The present Prince has succeeded to his father。 He is also resplendent in virtue； capable as Wu the Military King and Wen the Scholar King of the great task； brilliant in the glory of his father。 The spirit of the empire is upon him； g