friends for my sake。〃
Turning to the young prince； he continued； 〃My friend Sima Yi is as myself； and you are to treat him with the same respect and deference。〃
Cao Rui bade Sima Yi lead the young prince forward。 The boy threw his arms around Sima Yi's neck and clung to him。
〃Never forget the affection he has just shown；〃 said Cao Rui； weeping。 And Sima Yi wept also。
The dying man swooned； although he could not speak； his hand still pointed to his son； and soon after he died。 Cao Rui had reigned thirteen years and was thirty…six years of age。 His death took place in the first month of the third year of Spectacular Beginning （AD 239）。
No time was lost in enthroning the new Emperor； the supporters being Sima Yi and Cao Shuang。 The new ruler's name was Cao Fang。 However； he was Cao Rui's son only by adoption。 He had been brought up in the Palace secretly； and no one knew his real origin。
The posthumous title of Emperor Rui the Knowledgeable was conferred upon the late ruler； and he was buried in the Gaoping Tombs。 Empress Guo was given the title of Empress Dowager。
The new reign was styled Right Beginning Era； the first year （AD 239）。 Sima Yi and Cao Shuang conducted the government； and in all matters Cao Shuang treated Sima Yi with deference and took no steps without his knowledge。
＇e＇ Deng Yu was mander…in…chief of Liu Xiu； the founder of Latter Han。 。。。。。
Cao Shuang was no stranger at court。 Cao Rui had respected him for his diligence and care and had been very fond of him； He had had the freedom of the Palace all his life。 He had a host of five hundred clients and retainers。 Among them were five wholly light and foppish。 Their names were He Yan； Deng Yang； Li Sheng； Ding Mi； and Bi Gui。 Deng Yang was a desc