success to the capital and was rewarded with the title of Commander, "Warden of the East."

At his headquarters in Yenchow Ts'ao Ts'ao welcomed wise counsellors and bold warriors, and many gathered around him. Two clever men, uncle and nephew, came at the same time, both Yingchow men, named Hsün Yü and Hsün Yu. The uncle had once been in the service of Yüan Shao. Ts'ao Ts'ao rejoiced when he had won the elder Hsün to his side saying he was his teacher. The nephew was famed for his ability and had been in the court service but had abandoned that career and retired to his village.

The uncle said to Ts'ao Ts'ao, "There is a certain wise man of Yenchow somewhere, but I do not know in whose service he is."

"Who is he?"

"Ch'êng Yü; he belongs to the eastern district."

"Yes; I have heard of him," said Ts'ao. So a messenger was sent to his native place to enquire. He was away in the hills engaged in study, but he came at Ts'ao Ts'ao's invitation. "I shall prove unworthy of your recommendation," said he to his friend Hsün, "for I am rough and ignorant. But have you forgotten a fellow villager of yours, Kuo Chia? He is really able. Why not spread the net to catch him?" "I had nearly forgotten," said Hsün Yü suddenly. So he told his master of this man, who was at once invited. Kuo, discussing the world at large with his master, spoke in high terms of one Liu Yeh; and when he had arrived he was the means of inviting two more, Man Ch'ung and Lü Ch'ien, who were already known to Ts'ao Ts'ao by reputation. These two brought to their new master's notice the name of Mao Chieh, who also came and was given office. Then a famous leader, with his troop of some hundreds, arrived to offer service. This was Yü Chin of T'aishan, an expert horseman and archer, and skilled beyond his fellows in every form of military exercise. He was made an army inspector.

Then another day Hsiahou Tun brought a really fine, handsome fellow to present to Ts'ao Ts'ao.

"Who is he," asked Ts'ao.

He is the

"He is from Ch'ên-liu and is named Tien Wei. boldest of the bold, the strongest of the strong. He was one of Chang Mo's men, but quarrelled with his tent companions and killed a lot of them with his fists. Then he fled to the mountains where I found him. I was out shooting and saw him follow a tiger across a stream. I persuaded him to join my troop and I recommend him."

"I see he is no ordinary man," said Ts'ao. "He is handsome and straight and looks very powerful and bold."

"He is. He killed a man once to avenge a friend and carried his head through the whole market place. Hundreds saw him,

but dared not come near. The weapon he uses now is a twobranched spear over a hundred pounds in weight, and he vaults into the saddle with this under his arm."

Ts'ao Ts'ao bade the man give proof of his skill so he galloped to and fro carrying the spear. Then he saw away among the tents a huge banner swaying dangerously with the force of the wind and on the point of falling. A crowd of soldiers were vainly struggling to keep it steady. Down he leaped, shouted to the men to clear out and held the staff quite steady with one hand, keeping it perfectly upright in spite of the strong wind.

"This is old Wu Lai again," said Ts'ao Ts'ao. He gave the strong man a post in the army and besides made him presents of an embroidered robe and a swift steed with a handsome saddle.

Thus Ts'ao Ts'ao encouraged able men to assist him and he had advisers on the civil side and valiant captains in the army. He became famous through all Shantung.

Ts'ao's father, Sung, was living at Langya, whither he had gone as a place free from the turmoil of the partizan struggles and, as a dutiful son, Ts'ao sent the Prefect of T'aishan to escort his father to Yenchow. The old man read the letter with joy and the family prepared to move. They were some forty in all, with a train of a hundred servants and many carts.

Their road led through Hsüchou where the Prefect, T'ao Ch'ien, was a sincere and upright man who had long wished to get on good terms with Ts'ao Ts'ao but, hitherto, had found no means of effecting a bond of union. Hearing that the family of the great man was passing through his district he went to welcome them, treated them with great cordiality, feasting and entertaining them for two days, and when they left he escorted them to his boundary. Further he sent with them one Chang K'ai with a special escort.

The whole party reached Huafei. It was the end of summer, just turning into autumn, and at this place they were stopped by a tremendous storm of rain. The only shelter was an old temple and thither they went. The family occupied the main rooms and the escort the two side wings. The men of the escort were drenched, angry and discontented. The leader called some of his petty officers to a secret spot and said, "We are old Yellow Turbans and only submitted to T'ao because there was no help for it. We have never got much out of it. Now here is the Ts'ao family with no end of gear and we can be rich very easily. We will make a sudden onslaught to-night at the third watch and slay the whole lot. Then we shall have plenty of treasure and we will get away to the mountains."

They all agreed. The storm continued into the night and as Ts'ao Sung sat waiting anxiously for signs of clearing he

suddenly heard a hubbub at the west end of the temple. His brother Ts'ao Tê, drawing his sword, went out to see what it was about and was at once cut down. Ts'ao Sung seized one of the concubines by the hand, rushed with her through the passage toward the back of the temple so that they might escape. But the lady was stout and could not get through the narrow doors so the two hid in one of the small outhouses at the side. However, they were seen and slain.

The unhappy Prefect fled for his life to Yüan Shao. The murderers fled into Huainan with their plunder after having set fire to the old temple.

Ts'ao Ts'ao, whom the ages praise,

Slew the Lüs in former days;
Nemesis ne'er turns aside,

Murdered too his family died.

Some of the escort escaped and took the evil tidings to Ts'ao Ts'ao. When he heard it he fell to the earth with a great cry. They raised him. With set teeth he muttered, "His men have slain my father: no longer can the same sky cover us. I will sweep Hsüchou off the face of the earth. Only thus can I satisfy my vengeance."

Leaving one small army to guard the east he set forth with all the remainder to destroy Hsüchou and avenge his father.

Now the Prefect of Kiukiang was a close friend of T'ao Ch'ien. Hearing Hsüchou was threatened he set out with half a legion to his friend's aid. Ts'ao sent Hsiahou Tun to cut him off while still on the march. At this time Ch'ên Kung was in office in the east and he was also on friendly terms with T'ao. Hearing of Ts'ao's design to destroy the whole population he came in haste to see his former companion. Ts'ao knowing his errand put him off at first and would not see him. But he could not forget the kindness he had formerly received and presently the visitor was called to his tent.

Ch'ên Kung said, "They say you go to avenge your father's death on Hsüchou, to destroy its people. I have come to say a word. The Prefect is humane and a good man. He is not looking out for his own advantage, careless of the means and of others. Your worthy father met his unhappy death at the hands of Chang K'ai. T'ao Ch'ien is guiltless. Still more innocent are the people and to slay them would be an evil. I pray you to think over it."

Ts'ao retorted angrily, "You once abandoned me and now you have the impudence to come to see me! T'ao Chien slew my whole family and I will tear his heart out in revenge. I swear it. You may speak for your friend and say what you will. I shall be as if I heard not."

Intercession had failed. He sighed and took his leave. "Alas! I cannot go to T'ao and look upon his face." So he rode off to the Ch'ên-liu district.

Ts'ao Ts'ao's army of revenge laid waste whatever place it passed through, slaying the people and desecrating their cemeteries.

When T'ao Ch'ien heard the terrible tidings he looked up to heaven saying, "I must be guilty of some fault before Heaven to have brought this evil upon my people." He called together his officials to consult. One of them, Ts'ao Pao, said, "Now the enemy is upon us, we cannot sit and await death with folded hands. I for one will help you to make a fight."

The army went out. From a distance the enemy spread abroad like hoar frost and rushed far and wide like snow. In their midst was a large white flag and on both sides was written "Vengeance.'

When he had ranged his men Ts'ao Ts'ao rode out dressed in mourning white and abused T'ao Ch'ien. But T'ao advanced and from beneath his ensign bowed low and said, "I wished to make friends with you, Illustrious Sir, and so I sent Chang K'ai to escort your family. I knew not that his rebel heart was still unchanged. The fault does not lie at my door as you must see."

"You old fool, you killed my father and now you dare to mumble this nonsense," said Ts'ao Ts'ao. And he asked who would go out and seize him.

Hsiahou Tun undertook this service and rode out. The Prefect fled to the inner portion of his array and as Hsiahou Tun came on Ts'ao Pao went to meet him. But just as the two horses met a hurricane burst over the spot and the flying dust and pebbles threw both sides into the utmost confusion. Both drew off.

The Prefect retired into the city and called his officers to council. "The force against us is too strong," said he. "I will give myself up as a prisoner and let him wreak his vengeance on me. I may save the people."

But a voice was heard saying, "You have long ruled here and the people love you. Strong as the enemy are they are not necessarily able to break down our walls, especially when defended by you and your people. I have a scheme to suggest that I think will make Ts'ao Ts'ao die in a place where he will not find burial."

These bold words startled the assembly and they eagerly asked what the scheme was.

Making overtures for friendship he encountered deadly hate, But, where danger seemed most threatening, he discovered safety's gate.

The next chapter will disclose who the speaker was.

Beep...

CHAPTER XI.

LIU, THE EMPEROR'S UNCLE, RESCUES K'UNG JUNG:

LU, MARQUIS OF WEN, DEFEATS TS'AO TS'AO.

It was one Mi Chu who said he knew how to defeat Ts'ao Ts'ao utterly. He came of a wealthy family of merchants trading in Loyang. One day travelling homeward from that city in a carriage he met an exquisitely beautiful lady trudging along the road, who asked him to let her ride. He stopped and yielded his place to her. She invited him to share the seat with her. He mounted, but sat rigidly upright never even glancing in her direction. They travelled thus for some miles when she thanked him and alighted. Just as she left she said, "I am the embodied spirit of the Southern Heat. I am on my way to execute a decree of the Supreme to burn your dwelling, but your extreme courtesy has so deeply touched me that I now warn you. Hasten homeward, remove your valuables for I must arrive to-night."

Thereupon she disappeared. Mi Chu hastily finished his journey and as soon as he arrived moved everything out of his house. Sure enough that night a fire started in the kitchen and involved the whole house. After this he devoted his wealth to relieving the poor and comforting the afflicted. T'ao Ch'ien gave him the office he then held.

The plan he proposed was this. "I will go to Pohai and beg K'ung Jung to help; another should go to Ch'ingchow on a similar mission, and if the armies of these two places march on our enemy he will certainly retire."

The Prefect accepted the plan and wrote letters. He asked for a volunteer to go to Ch'ingchow and a certain Chiên Têng offered himself and, after he had left, Mi Chu was formally entrusted with the mission to the north. Meanwhile they would hold the city as they could.

This K'ung was a native of Ch'üfou in the old state of Lü, one of the twentieth generation in descent from the great Teacher Confucius. He had been noted as a very intelligent lad, somewhat precocious. When ten years old he had gone to see Li Ying, the Governor, but the doorkeeper demurred to letting him in. But when he said, "I am Minister Li's intimate friend," he was admitted. Li asked him what relations had existed between their families that might justify the term intimate. The boy replied, "Of old my ancestor (K'ung)