"Liu Pei, you have forgotten kindness and lost the sense of right; you are a rebel against the government.'

Yüan-tê answered, "I am related to the imperial family, and I hold an edict authorising me to seize all rebels. You have dared to lift up your hand against the Empress, made yourself a prince and arrogantly presume to an imperial chariot. If you are not a rebel, what are you?"

Then Ts'ao ordered Hsü Huang out to give battle, and Liu Fêng went to meet him. As the combat began, Yüan-tê retired within the ranks of his array. Liu Fêng was no match for his opponent, and fled. Ts'ao Ts'ao issued an order to capture Liu Pei. At this the army of the king of the west country uttered one great roar of rage. Then Ts'ao's men came surging on. The men of Shu fled toward the river abandoning everything, even throwing aside their weapons, which littered the road. But as Ts'ao's men pressed forward, he suddenly clanged the gongs, called a halt and drew off.

"Why did you call us off, O Prince, just as we were on the point of success?"

"Because I saw the enemy had encamped with the river in their rear, which was very suspicious. They also abandoned their steeds and weapons, which made me doubt. Wherefore I could only retire. But retain your armour. Let not a man take off his harness on pain of death. Now retire as quickly as you can march.”

As Ts'ao Ts'ao turned about to retire, K'ung-ming hoisted the signal to attack, and the retreating soldiers were harassed on every side both night and day till they were all disordered. Ts'ao Ts'ao ordered his army to take refuge in Nanchiêng.

Presently they saw flames rising all around, and soon it was known that their city of refuge was in the hands of their enemies. Disappointed and saddened, Ts'ao Ts'ao bade them march to Yangping Pass. But Yüan-tê with the main army followed them to Paochou in the Nanch'êng district and there pacified the people and restored confidence.

"Ts'ao Ts'ao was exceedingly quickly overcome this time," said Liu Pei; "how was that?"

"He has always been of a suspicious nature," said K'ungming, "and that has led to many failures although he is a good leader of men. I have defeated him by playing upon his doubts."

"He is rather weakened now," said Liu Pei. "Can you not devise a plan to drive him away finally?"

"That is all thought out."

"Next Chang Fei and Wei Yen were sent along two different roads to cut off Ts'ao Ts'ao's supplies. Two other cohorts were bidden to go and fire the hills. All these four had natives of the place to act as guides and show the way.

The scouts sent out from Yangp'ing Pass returned to report that the roads far and near were blocked by the men of Shu and every place seemed to be burning. They had not seen any soldiers. Ts'ao Ts'ao knew not what to do. Then they told him that his stores were being plundered by Chang Fei and Wei Yen. At this, he called for a volunteer to drive off the plunderers; and Hsü Ch'u offered. He was given a company of veterans, and went up to act as escort of the grain wagons. The officers in charge of the transport were very glad to get a guard of such renown.

"Except for you, O General, the grain could never reach Yangp'ing."

They entertained Hsü Ch'u with the wine and food on the carts; and he ate and drank copiously, so that he became very intoxicated. And in that state he insisted on marching, urging the convoy to start at once.

"The sun has nearly set," said the transport officers, "and the road near Paochou is bad and dangerous, so that we cannot pass there at night."

"I can face any danger," boasted the drunken captain; “I am brave as a myriad men put together. What do you think I fear? Beside, there is a good moon to-night, just the sort of thing to take grain carts along by."

Hsü Ch'u took the lead, sword in hand. By the second watch they were passing Paochou. About half the train had passed when the rolling drums and the blare of horns came down to them through a rift in the hills. It was soon followed by the appearance of a cohort led by Chang Fei. With spear ready, he came racing down straight for Hsü Ch'u, who, whirling his sword, dashed to the front to meet him.

But Hsü Ch'u was too drunk to stand against such a warrior. After a few bouts he received a spear thrust in the shoulder, turned round in his saddle and fell from his horse. His men rushed to his help, and they carried him away as they retreated, while Chang Fei took the whole transport train of fodder and forage away to his own camp.

The defeated escort carried their wounded leader back to Ts'ao's camp, where he was placed in the care of physicians. Then Ts'ao himself led out his army to fight a decisive battle with the men of Shu. Yüan-tê went out to meet him, and, when both sides were arrayed, Liu Fêng went out to challenge. Ts'ao at once let loose a torrent of taunts and reproaches.

"Seller of shoes, you are always sending out this pretended son of yours to fight for you. If I only call my youngster, your so-called son will be chopped to mincemeat."

These words enraged Liu Fêng, who raised his spear and galloped toward Ts'ao. Ts'ao bade Hsü Huang do battle with the young man, and Fêng at once ran away. Ts'ao led on his legions, but he was harassed by the explosion of bombs, the

beating of drums and the blare of trumpets that came from every side. He concluded that he was being led into an ambush, and he hastened to retire. The retreat was unfortunate, for the soldiers trampled upon each other and many were killed. Anon they all ran off to Yangp'ing Pass as quickly as they could.

But the men of Shu came right up to the walls of the city, and some burned the east gate while others shouted at the west. Others, again, burned the north gate while drums rolled at the south. Leader and led were alike harassed and frightened, and presently they left the Pass and ran away. They were pursued and sore smitten. The road to safety was not easy. Fei barred the way, while Chao Yün and Huang Chung came and attacked from different points. Ts'ao's army lost many men, and he was severely defeated. His officers gathered about him and took him off toward Hsiehku. cloud of dust was seen in the distance.

In one direction Chang

Here a great

"If that is an ambush it is the last of me," sighed Ts'ao. The soldiers came nearer, and then Ts'ao recognised not a enemy but his second son, Chang. As a lad Chang was a good horseman and an expert archer. He was more powerful than most men and could overcome a wild beast with his bare hands. Ts'ao did not approve of the young man's bent, and often warned him to study instead.

"You do not study, but only love your bow and your horse; this is the courage of a mere person. Think you that this makes for an honourable career?"

But Chang replied, "The really noble man ought to imitate such grand men as Wei Ching and Ho Ch'u-ping. They won their reputation in the Shamo Desert, where they led a mighty host able to overrun the whole world and go anywhere. What have I to do with scholarship?"

Ts'ao Ts'ao used to ask his sons what career they found admirable, and Chang always replied that he would be a leader of armies.

"But what should a leader be like?" asked Ts'ao.

"He should be inbued with firmness and courage; never turn aside from a difficulty, but be in the van of his officers and men. Rewards should be certain; and so should punishments."

Ts'ao Ts'ao smiled with pleasure.

In the twenty-third year of the period, Wu Huan of Taichün revolted, and Ts'ao Ts'ao sent this son with five legions to suppress him. Just as he was leaving, his father read him a homily on his duty.

"At home we are father and son, but when a task is given you you have to consider your duty as a servant of your ruler. The law knows no kindness, and you must beware."

When the expedition reached the north of Tai he led the array and smote as far as Sangkan, and peace was restored. He had lately heard that his father was at Yangp'ing Pass, and had come to help him to fight.

His coming greatly pleased his father, who said, "Now that my callow-bearded son has arrived, we can destroy Liu Pei for certain."

Then the army was marched back again and pitched camp at Hsiehku.

Someone told Yüan-tê of the arrival of Ts'ao Chang, and he asked for a volunteer to go out against him. Liu Fêng offered. Mêng Ta also desired to go, and Yüan-tê decided to let both go.

"Vie with each other," said he.

Each captain had half a legion, and Liu Fêng led the way. Ts'ao Chang rode out and engaged him, and in the third bout Fêng was overcome and ran off. Then Mêng Ta advanced, and a battle was just beginning when he saw that Ts'ao's men were in confusion. The cause was the sudden coming of Ma Ch'ao and Wu Lan. Before the enemy had recovered from the panic, Mêng Ta attacked on another side. Ma Ch'ao's men, who had been nursing their courage for a long time, fought brilliantly, so that none could withstand their onslaught, and they won the day. But in combat with Ts'ao Chang, Wu Lan received a spear thrust and fell.

After a great fight, Ts'ao Ts'ao's army was led off and went into camp at Hsiehku. Here Ts'ao remained many days, prevented from advancing by Ma Ch'ao and fearing ridicule if he should retreat. One day, while he was anxiously trying to decide what to do, his cook sent in some chicken broth. He noticed in the broth some chicken tendons, and this simple fact led him into a train of reflection. He was still deep in thought when Hsiahou Tun entered his tent to ask the watchword for that night. Ts'ao Ts'ao at once involuntarily replied, "Chicken tendon."

The word was passed on in orders. When the Recorder Yang Hsiu saw the order that the watchword was "chicken tendon" he told all his men to pack up their belongings ready for the march. One who saw this went and told Hsiahou Tun, who sent for Yang Hsiu and asked why he had packed up.

He replied, "By to-night's orders I see that the prince is soon going to retire. Chicken tendons' are tasteless things to eat, and yet it is a pity to waste them. Now if we advance we cannot conquer, and if we retire we fear we shall look ridiculous. There being no advantage here, the best course is to retire. You will certainly see the Prince of Wei retreat before long. I have made my preparations so as not to be hurried and confused at the last moment."

"You seem to know the prince's inmost heart," said Hsiahou Tun, and he bade his servants pack. The other captains seeing this, also made preparations for departure.

Ts'ao Ts'ao's mind was too perturbed for sleep. In the night he got up, took a steel battle-axe in his hand and wandered privily through the camp. When he got to Hsiahou Tun's tents he saw everything packed and ready for a move. Much surprised, he made his way back to his own tent and sent for that officer.

"Why is everything in your camp packed as if ready for the march?"

"Yang Hsiu, the Recorder, seems to have private knowledge of the Prince's design to retire," said he.

Ts'ao Ts'ao summoned Yang Hsiu and questioned him, and Yang replied with the chicken tendon incident.

"How dare you invent such a story and disturb the hearts of my army?"

Ts'ao called in his lictors and told them to take the man away and behead him and hang his head at the camp gate.

The victim was a man of acute and ingenious mind, but inclined to show off. His lack of restraint over his tongue had often wounded Ts'ao Ts'ao's susceptibilities. Once Ts'ao Ts'ao was having a pleasance laid out, and when it was completed he went to inspect the work. He uttered no word of praise or blame; he just wrote the word "alive" on the gate and left. Nobody could guess what he meant till Yang Hsiu heard of it.

"Gate" with "alive" inside it makes the word for "wide," said he. "The minister thinks the gates are too wide." Thereupon they rebuilt the outer walls on an altered plan. When complete, Ts'ao Ts'ao was asked to go and see it. And he was then delighted.

"But who guessed what I meant?" said he.

"Yang Hsiu," replied his men.

Ts'ao Ts'ao thereafter lauded Yang's ingenuity, but in his heart he feared.

Another time Ts'ao Ts'ao received a box of cream cheese from Saipei (Mongolia). Ts'ao Ts'ao just scribbled three words on the top and left it on the table. The words seemed to have no meaning. But Yang Hsiu happened to come in, saw the box and at once handed a spoonful of the contents to each guest in the room. When Ts'ao asked why he did this, he explained that that was the interpretation of the words on the box, which, resolved into primary symbols, read, "Each man a mouthful."

"Could I possibly disobey your orders?" said he.

Ts'ao Ts'ao laughed with the others, but hatred was in his heart.