Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao

Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao, also known as the Ganlu Incident (Chinese: 甘露之變), occurred on 2 June 260 in Luoyang, the capital of the state of Cao Wei, during the Three Kingdoms period. Cao Mao, the nominal emperor of Wei, attempted to oust the regent Sima Zhao, who effectively controlled the Wei government. However, the plot concluded with Cao Mao's death and Sima Zhao retaining his status. Contrary to its intention, the coup actually increased the Sima clan's power and influence in Wei, albeit at the cost of Sima Zhao's personal standing, thus providing a foundation for the eventual usurpation of the Wei throne in February 266 by Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan, who founded the Western Jin dynasty.

The incident is also mentioned in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, which dramatises the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. The events of the incident described in the novel are largely similar to that described in historical sources.

Background The state of Cao Wei was established in December 220 by Cao Pi, which marked the start of the Three Kingdoms period in China. The authority of the Wei imperial family had been weakening since the death of the second Wei emperor, Cao Rui in January 239, and reached a nadir after the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs in February 249, when the Wei general Sima Yi seized power from the regent Cao Shuang. Sima Yi died in September 251 and was succeeded by his sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, who effectively controlled the Wei government.

In October 254, Sima Shi deposed the third Wei ruler, Cao Fang, and installed a 13-year-old Cao Mao on the throne in November. From the start of his reign, Cao Mao acted in defiance of the Simas, refusing to accept the imperial seal directly from Sima Shi, and, after Sima Shi's death in March 255, he attempted to order Sima Zhao to remain in Xuchang to keep watch over Shouchun (present-day Shou County, Anhui), where a rebellion led by Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin had just been suppressed. However, Sima Zhao ignored Cao Mao's edict and returned to the capital Luoyang. While Sima Zhao administered state affairs, Cao Mao attempted to gain the favour of the literati in the court through unremarkable meetings to discuss literature with some officials—Sima Zhao's cousin Sima Wang, Wang Chen, Pei Xiu, and Zhong Hui. Cao Mao also provided Sima Wang with a chariot and five imperial guardsmen as escorts because the latter lived further away from the palace than the others.

In July 258, Sima Zhao was offered the title of Duke of Jin and the nine bestowments a total of nine times, all of which he declined.([甘露三年]夏五月，命大將軍司馬文王為相國，封晉公，食邑八郡，加之九錫，文王前後九讓乃止。) Sanguozhi, vol.04. The month corresponds to 18 Jun to 17 Jul 258 in the Julian calendar. Discussion and debate over the matter allowed him to judge his level of support.

A few months later, in February 259, Cao Mao received sightings of yellow dragons in two wells;([甘露]四年春正月，黃龍二，見寧陵縣界井中。)Sanguozhi, vol.04. The month corresponds to 10 Feb to 10 March 259 in the Julian calendar. he wrote a poem identifying the dragons as being trapped inside wells and likened himself to the dragons. Sima Zhao saw the poem and was angry.(〈《漢晉春秋》曰：是時龍仍見，咸以為吉祥。帝曰：「龍者，君德也。上不在天，下不在田，而數屈於井，非嘉兆也。」仍作潛龍之詩以自諷，司馬文王見而惡之。) Han Jin Chun Qiu annotation in Sanguozhi, vol.04

In May 260, Sima Zhao was again offered the title of Duke of Jin and the nine bestowments and did not immediately decline.

The incident On 2 June 260, 19-year-old Cao Mao gathered his associates Wang Chen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye, declaring his intention to make a last-ditch attempt to overthrow Sima Zhao, even at the cost of his life.(帝见威权日去，不胜其忿。[景元元年]五月，己丑，召侍中王沈、尚书王经、散骑常侍王业，谓曰：“司马昭之心，路人所知也。吾不能坐受废辱，今日当与卿自出讨之。”) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.77

Wang Jing advised the emperor against such an action, but Cao Mao ignored Wang Jing's advice and informed Empress Dowager Guo of his plan. In his absence, Wang Chen and Wang Ye secretly deserted Cao Mao and notified Sima Zhao about the plot.

Cao Mao then led his forces from the palace, personally wielding a sword. Sima Zhao's younger half-brother Sima Zhou, then holding the position of a Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry (), led his troops to stop Cao Mao. However, his men dispersed in fear when Cao Mao shouted at them.() Hanjin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol.04 Man Changwu (a grandson of Man Chong) was in charge of guarding one of the palace gates. Sima Zhao's younger full-brother Sima Gan led his men to the palace to assist Sima Zhao, but Man Changwu refused to let him pass and told him to enter through another gate instead. Later, when Sima Zhao asked Sima Gan why he was late, Sima Gan told him what happened.(高貴鄉公之難，以掾守閶闔掖門，司馬文王弟安陽亭侯幹欲入。 ... 長武謂幹曰：「此門近，公且來，無有入者，可從東掖門。」幹遂從之。文王問幹入何遲，幹言其故。) Shiyu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 26.

Sima Zhao's aide Jia Chong led another defence at the South Watchtower. When Cheng Ji (成濟), a military officer under Jia Chong, asked Jia what to do, Jia told him to defend the Sima clan regardless of the consequences. Cheng Ji then approached Cao Mao and killed the emperor with his spear.

Aftermath After Cao Mao's death, the public called for Jia Chong's execution on the grounds that he had committed regicide. Sima Zhao forced Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously demote Cao Mao to the status of a commoner, citing the precedent of the Prince of Changyi during the Western Han dynasty.(昔汉昌邑王以罪废为庶人，此儿亦宜以民礼葬之，当令内外咸知此儿所行。) Sanguozhi, vol.04 and then ordered Wang Jing and his clan to be executed. The following day (3 June 260), after pleas from his uncle Sima Fu and other senior officials such as Gao Rou and Zheng Chong, Sima Zhao asked Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously instate Cao Mao as the "Duke of Gaogui Village" (高貴鄉公) and bury Cao Mao with the ceremonies befitting that of a prince,([甘露五年五月]庚寅，太傅孚、大将军文王、太尉柔、司徒冲稽首言：“伏见中令，故高贵乡公悖逆不道，自陷大祸，依汉昌邑王罪废故事，以民礼葬。臣等备位，不能匡救祸乱，式遏奸逆，奉令震悚，肝心悼栗。春秋之义，王者无外，而书‘襄王出居于郑’，不能事母，故绝之于位也。今高贵乡公肆行不轨，几危社稷，自取倾覆，人神所绝，葬以民礼，诚当旧典。然臣等伏惟殿下仁慈过隆，虽存大义，犹垂哀矜，臣等之心实有不忍，以为可加恩以王礼葬之。”太后从之。) Sanguozhi, vol.04 though this may not actually be carried out. Cao Huang (later renamed to Cao Huan), the Duke of Changdao (常道鄉公), was chosen to succeed Cao Mao and was installed on the throne. 18 days later, Sima Zhao had Cheng Ji and his family executed to appease public anger, but Jia Chong was spared.

Sima Zhao successfully retained his power during the incident and eliminated his opponents in the Wei court, leaving only the young Cao Huan as a puppet emperor under his control. He did not take the Wei throne, even until his death. Instead, he was first granted the title of a vassal duke —"Duke of Jin" (晉公) and the nine bestowments in December 263, after the successful campaign against Shu. A few months later, he was made a vassal king—"King of Jin" (晉王)—by Cao Huan in May 264. Sima Zhao died in September 265 and was succeeded by his son Sima Yan, who forced Cao Huan to abdicate in his favour in February 266 and established the Western Jin dynasty. In 280, Sima Yan would order the conquest of Jin's rival state Wu, ending the Three Kingdoms period and unifying China after nearly a century.

Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao

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