Then Tien Wei spun round and flung the darts. With every fling a man fell from the saddle and never a dart missed.

Having thus slain half a score the remainder fled and Tien quickly remounted his steed, set his twin lance and rushed again into the fight with a vigour that none could withstand. One by one his opponents yielded and he was able to lead Ts'ao Ts'ao safely out of the press of battle. Ts'ao and his captains went to their camp.

But as evening fell the noise of pursuit fell on their ears and soon appeared Lü Pu himself. "Ts'ao, you rebel, do not flee!" shouted he as he approached with his halberd ready for a thrust.

All stopped and looked in each others' faces: the men were weary, their steeds spent. Fear smote them and they looked around for some place of refuge.

You may lead your lord safely out of the press,

But what if the enemy follow?

We cannot say here what Ts'ao Ts'ao's fate was, but the next chapter will relate.

1

CHAPTER XII.

THE PREFECT T'AO THRICE OFFERS HIS CHARGE:

TS'AO TS'AO FIGHTS A GREAT BATTLE.

The last chapter closed with Ts'ao Ts'ao in great danger. However, help came. Hsiahou Tun with a small body of soldiers found his chief, checked the pursuit, and fought with Lü Pu till dusk. Rain fell in torrents swamping everything and as the daylight waned they drew off and Ts'ao Ts'ao reached camp. He rewarded Tien Wei richly and advanced him in rank.

When Lü Pu reached his camp he called in his adviser Ch'ên Kung. The latter proposed a new stratagem. He said, "In Puyang there is a rich family, T'ien by name, who number thousands, enough to populate a whole district in themselves. Make one of these people go to Ts'ao Ts'ao's camp with a pretended secret letter about Lü Pu's ferocity, and the hatred of the people, and their desire to be rid of him. End by saying that only Kao Shun is left to guard the city and they would help any one who would come to save them. Thus our enemy will be inveigled into the city and we will destroy him either by fire or ambush. His skill may be equal to encompassing the universe but he will not escape."

Lü Pu thought this trick might be tried and they arranged for the T'ien family letter to be sent. Coming soon after the defeat, when Ts'ao Ts'ao felt uncertain what step to take next, the secret letter was read with joy. It promised help and said the sign should be a white flag with the word "Rectitude" written thereon.

"Heaven is going to give me Puyang," said Ts'ao joyfully. So he rewarded the messenger very liberally and began to prepare for the expedition.

Then came Liu Hua saying, "Lü Pu is no strategist but Ch'ên Kung is full of guile; I fear treachery in this letter and you must be careful. If you will go, then enter with only one third your army leaving the others outside the city as a reserve."

Ts'ao agreed to take this precaution. He went to Puyang, which he found gay with fluttering flags. Looking carefully he saw among them, at the west gate, the white flag with the looked-for inscription. His heart rejoiced.

That day, just about noon, the city gates opened and two bodies of soldiers appeared as if to fight. Ts'ao Ts'ao told off

two of his captains to oppose them. Neither body, however, came on to engage but fell back into the city. By this move the assailants had been drawn close up to the drawbridge. From within the city several soldiers were seen taking any chance of confusion to escape and come outside. To Ts'ao Ts'ao they said they were clients of the T'ien family and they gave him secret letters stating the signal would be given about watch setting by beating a gong. That would be the time to attack. The gates would be opened.

So the rescuers were stationed and four trusty captains told off to accompany Ts'ao Ts'ao into the city. One of these Li Tien, pressed upon his master the precaution of letting him go first. But Ts'ao Ts'ao bade him be silent. "If I do not go, who will advance?" And so at the time appointed he led the way. The moon had not yet arisen.

As he drew near the west gate they heard a crackling sound, then a loud shouting, and then torches moved hither and thither. Next the gates were thrown wide open and Ts'ao Ts'ao, whipping up his steed, galloped in.

But when he reached the residence he noticed the streets were quite deserted and then he knew he had been tricked. Wheeling round his horse he shouted to his followers to retire. This was the signal for another move. An explosion of a signal-bomb was heard close at hand and it was echoed from every side in a deafening roar. Gongs and drums beat all around with a roar like rivers rushing backward to their source and the ocean boiling up from its depths. From two sides. came bodies of soldiers eager to attack.

Ts'ao dashed off toward the north only to find his way barred; he tried for the south gate, but met enemies led by Kao Shun and Hou Ch'êng. His trusty henchman Tien Wei, with fierce eyes and gritting teeth, at last burst through and got out, with the enemy close after him.

But when he reached the drawbridge he glanced behind him and missed his master. Immediately he turned back and cut his way inside. Just within he met Li Tien.

"Where is our lord?" cried he.

"I am looking for him."

"Quick! get help from outside," shouted Tien Wei. "I will seek him."

So one hastened for aid and the other slashed his way in, looking on every side for Ts'ao Ts'ao. He was not to be found. Dashing out of the city Tien Wei ran up against Yo Chin, who asked where their lord was.

"I have entered the city twice in search of him, but cannot find him," said Tien.

"Let us go in together," said Yo Chin.

They rode up to the gate. But the noise of bombs from the gate tower frightened Yo Chin's horse, so that it refused to

pass. Wherefore Tien Wei alone went in, butting through the smoke and dashing through the flames. But he got in and searched on every side.

When Ts'ao Ts'ao saw his sturdy protector cut his way out and disappear leaving him surrounded, he again made an attempt to reach the north gate. On the way, sharply outlined against the glow, he saw the figure of Lü Pu coming toward him with his halberd ready to kill. Ts'ao Ts'ao covered his face with his hand, whipped up his steed and galloped past. But Lü Pu came galloping up behind him and tapping him on the helmet with the halberd cried, "Where is Ts'ao Ts'ao?"

Ts'ao turned and, pointing to a dun horse well ahead, cried, "There; on that dun! that's he."

Hearing this Lü Pu left pursuing Ts'ao Ts'ao to gallop after the rider of the dun.

Thus relieved Ts'ao Ts'ao set off for the east gate. Then he fell in with Tien Wei, who took him under his protection and fought through the press leaving a trail of death behind till they reached the gate. Here the fire was raging fiercely and burning beams were falling on all sides. The earth element seemed to have interchanged with the fire element. Tien Wei warded off the burning pieces of wood with his lance and rode into the smoke making a way for his lord. Just as they were passing through the gate a flaming beam fell from the gate tower. Ts'ao just warded it off with his arm but it struck his steed on the quarters and knocked him down. Ts'ao's hand and arm were badly burned and his hair and beard singed.

Tien Wei turned back to his rescue. Luckily Hsiahou Yüan came along just then and the two raised Ts'ao and set him on Yüan's horse. And thus they got him out of the burning city. But the fighting went on till daybreak.

Ts'ao Ts'ao returned to his camp. His officers crowded about his tent, anxious for news of his health. He soon recovered and laughed when he thought of his escape.

"I blundered into that fool's trap, but I will have my revenge," said he.

"Let us have a new plan soon," said Kuo Chia.

"I will turn his trick to my own use. I will spread the false report that I was burned in the fire and that I died at the fifth watch. He will come to attack as soon as the news gets abroad and I will have an ambush ready for him in Maling Hills. I will get him this time."

"Really a fine stratagem!" said Kuo.

So the soldiers were put into mourning and the report went everywhere that Ts'ao Ts'ao was dead. And soon Lü Pu heard it and he assembled his men at once to make a surprise attack, taking the road by the Maling Hills to his enemy's camp.

As he was passing the hills he heard the drums beating for an advance and the ambushed soldiers leapt out all round him.

Only by desperate fighting did he get out of the mêlée and with a sadly diminished force returned to his camp at Puyang. There he strengthened the fortifications and could not be tempted forth to battle.

This year locusts suddenly appeared and they consumed every green blade. There was a famine and in the east grain rose to fifty "strings" a hu (bushel). People even took to cannibalism. Ts'ao Ts'ao's army suffered from want and he marched them to Chuangch'êng. Lü Pu took his men to Shanyang. Perforce therefore the fighting ceased.

It is time to return to Hsüchou. T'ao Ch'ien, over sixty years of age, suddenly fell seriously ill and he summoned his confident, Mi Chu, to his chamber to make arrangements for the future. As to the situation the adviser said, "Ts'ao Ts'ao abandoned his attack on this place because of his enemy's seizure of Yenchou and now they are both keeping the peace solely because of the famine. But Ts'ao will surely renew the attack in the spring. When Liu Yüan-tê refused to allow you to vacate office in his favour you were in full vigour. Now you are ill and weak and you can make this a reason for retirement. He will not refuse again."

So a message was sent to the little garrison town calling Liu Pei to a counsel on military affairs. This brought him with his brothers and a slender escort. He was at once called in to the sick man's chamber. Quickly disposing of the enquiries about his health T'ao soon came to the real object of his call for Liu Pei.

"Sir, I asked you to come for the sole reason that I am dangerously ill and like to die at any time. I look to you, illustrious Sir, to consider the Hans and their Empire as more important than anything else, and so to take over the symbols of office of this district, the commission and the seal, that I may close my eyes in peace.'

"You have two sons, why not depute them to relieve you?" said Liu Pei.

"Both lack the requisite talents. I trust you will instruct them after I have gone, but do not let them have the guidance of affairs."

"But I am unequal to so great a charge."

"I will recommend to you one who could assist you. He is Sun Ch'ien who could be appointed to some post."

Turning to Mi Chu he said, "The noble Liu here is the most prominent man of the time and you should serve him well."

Still would Liu Pei have put from him such a post, but just then the Prefect, pointing to his heart to indicate his sincerity, passed away.

When the ceremonial wailings of the officials were over, the insignia of office were brought to Liu Pei. But he would have none of them. The following days the inhabitants of the town