Dogs and Rats Don't Eat Cao Zihuan

Cao Cao passed away in Luoyang. When the messenger arrived in Ye City with the news, the Crown Prince Cao Pi was overcome with a mix of grief and joy, while the assembled officials broke into chaotic, wailing sobs.

Seeing this, the Middle Attendant Sima Fu stepped forward and shouted sternly, "The King has departed this world and the realm is shaken! We should be installing a successor to stabilize the nation, not merely weeping!"

The officials ceased their wailing. Sima Fu advised Cao Pi to compose himself, so Cao Pi dismissed the court, keeping only key ministers like Chen Jiao, Sima Fu, Chen Qun, Wei Ji, and He Qia to discuss the urgent matters at hand.

Cao Pi ordered Sima Fu to arrange the funeral rites and instructed the Director of the Gentlemen of the Household He Qia to secure the palace guards, before deliberating on the aftermath of Cao Cao's passing with those remaining.

Cao Cao's final testament had arrived in Ye City with the messenger. The Chief Clerk of the Imperial Secretariat Chen Qun and others argued that the state could not go a single day without a ruler, urging the Crown Prince Cao Pi to ascend to the throne of the King of Wei immediately.

The Attendant Gentleman Wei Ji stepped out of the ranks to caution, "If the Crown Prince wishes to ascend to the throne of the King of Wei, he must, by protocol, first receive the decree from the Son of Heaven."

The Minister of the Secretariat Chen Jiao retorted, "The King has died abroad and the world is in a state of panic. The Crown Prince should set aside his grief and ascend the throne to satisfy the expectations of those near and far. Furthermore, the Marquis of Yanling holds military power