Yüan Shu being dead, his nephew taking his coffin and his wife and children, sought shelter in Luchiang. There the magistrate, Hsü Ch'iu, slew all the survivors. Among the possessions he found the Imperial Seal, which he at once took to the capital and presented to Ts'ao Ts'ao, for which service he was made Prefect of Kaoling.

When Yüan-tê heard that Yüan Shu was dead he prepared a report to the throne, and sent it to Ts'ao Ts'ao. He sent the two officers deputed by Ts'ao Ts'ao back to the capital, keeping the army to defend Hsüchou. He also personally went through the country-side commanding the people to resume their ordinary avocations.

Ts'ao Ts'ao was angry when his two officers returned without their man and was going to put them to death. Hsün Yü reasoned with him.

"The power was in Liu Pei's hands and so these two had no alternative," said he.

So they were pardoned.

"You should instruct Ch'ê Chou to try to destroy him," said Yü.

Accordingly he sent secret orders to Ch'ê Chou, who took Chiên Têng into his confidence and asked his advice. Têng advised an ambush in the city gate to attack Liu Pei on his return from the country; he himself would attack the escort with arrows from the city walls. Ch'ê agreed to try this.

Then Têng went to his father to tell him. His father Ch'ên Kuei bade him go and warn the intended victim. He at once rode away to do so. Before long he met the two younger brothers, to whom he told his story.

Now Yuan-tê was following some distance behind. As soon as Chang Fei heard of the plot he wanted to attack the ambush, but Yün-ch'ang said he had a better plan.

Said he, "The ambush will be a failure. And I think we can compass the death of Ch'ê Chou. In the night we will pretend to be some of Ts'ao's men and entice him out to meet us. We will slay him."

Chang Fei approved of the plan. Now the soldiers still had some of Ts'ao Ts'ao's army banners and wore similar armour. About the third watch they came to the city wall and hailed the gate. Those on guard asked who they were. The men replied that they were Chang Wên-yüan's troop sent from the capital. This was told Ch'ê Chou who sent hastily for Ch'ên Têng to ask his advice.

"If I do not receive them they will suspect my loyalty," said he. "Yet if I go out I may be victim of a ruse.'

So he went up on the wall and said it was too dark to distinguish friends from foes and they must wait till daylight. The men shouted back that Liu Pei must be kept in ignorance

and they begged him to let them in. Still Ch'ê Chou hesitated. They shouted louder than ever to open the gate.

Presently Ch'ê girded on his armour, placed himself at the head of a company and went out. He galloped over the bridge, shouting, "Where is Wênyüan?"

Then lights blazed around and he recognised Kuan Yü with his sword drawn.

"Wretch!" cried Kuan Yü. "You would plot to slay my brother, would you?"

Ch'ê Chou was too frightened to make good defence and he turned to re-enter the gate. But as he reached the drawbridge flights of arrows met him, wherefore he turned aside and galloped along under the wall. But Kuan Yü came quickly in pursuit. His sword was raised aloft and as it came down the fugitive fell to the earth. Kuan Yü cut off his head and returned, shouting, "I have slain the traitor. You others need not fear if you only surrender."

They threw aside their spears and gave in. As soon as the excitement had calmed Kuan Yü took the head to show Yüan-tê and told him the story of the plot.

"But what will Ts'ao Ts'ao think of this?" said Yüan-tê. "And he may come."

"If he does we can meet him," said Kuan Yü.

But Yuan-tê was grieved beyond measure. When he entered the city the elders of the people knelt in the road to welcome him. When he reached his residence he found that Chang Fei had already exterminated the family of Ch'ê Chou.

Yüan-tê said, "We have slain one of his best friends and how will he stand that?"

"Never mind!" cried Ch'ên Têng. "I have a plan."

Just from grave danger extricated,

An injured friend must be placated.

The plan proposed by Ch'ên Têng will be disclosed next.

CHAPTER XXII.

YUAN AND TS'AO BOTH TAKE THE FIELD:

THE TWO Brothers CAPTURE Two CAPTAINS.

This was the plan proposed to Yuan-tê: “Yüan Shao is Ts'ao

Ts'ao's terror. He is strongly posted in an extensive district with a hundred legions of fighting men and many able officers. Write letters and pray him to rescue you."

Liu Pei replied, "But we have never had any dealings with each other and he is unlikely to do such a thing for one who has just destroyed his brother."

"There is some one here whose family have been on intimate terms with the Yüans for a hundred years. Shao would surely come if he wrote.'

"And who is this?"

"A man you know well and respect greatly; can you not guess? ?"

"You surely mean Chêng K'ang-ch'êng," said Liu Pei suddenly.

"That is he," said Ch'ên Têng smiling.

Now Chêng K'ang-ch'êng's ming was Yüan. He was a student and a man of great talent, who had long studied under Ma Jung. Ma Jung was peculiar as a teacher. Whenever he lectured he let fall a curtain behind which were a circle of singing girls. The students were assembled in front of this curtain. Chêng Yüan attended these lectures for three years and never once let his eyes wander to the curtain.

Naturally the master admired his pupil. After Chêng Yüan had finished his studies and gone home Ma Jung praised him to the others, saying, "Only one man has penetrated the inner meaning of my instructions and that one is Chêng Yüan."

In the Chêng household the waiting maids were familiar with Mao's edition of the Odes. Once one of the maids opposed Yüan's wishes, so as punishment she was made to kneel in front of the steps. Another girl made fun of her, quoting from an ode;

"What are you doing there in the mire?" The kneeling girl capped the verse from another ode; quoth she:

""Twas but a simple word I said,

Yet brought it wrath upon my head."

Such was the family in which he had been born. In the reign of the Emperor Huan he rose to the rank of President of a

Board, but when the Ten Eunuchs began to control the government he gave up office and retired into the country to Hsüchou. Liu Pei had known him before, had consulted him on many occasions and greatly respected him.

Liu Pei was glad that he had remembered this man and without loss of time, in company with Ch'ên Têng, he went to his house to ask him to draft this letter, which he generously consented to do.

Sun Ch'ien was entrusted with the task of delivery and set out at once. Shao read it and considered the matter long before speaking. "Liu Pei destroyed my brother and I ought not to help him, but out of consideration for the writer of this letter I must."

Whereupon he assembled his officers to consider an attack upon Ts'ao Ts'ao.

Tien Fêng said, "Do not raise an army. The people are worn out and the granaries are empty with these constant wars. Let us rather report the recent victory of Kungsun Tsan to the Throne. If that does not reach the Emperor, then memorialise that Ts'ao Ts'ao is hindering the government. Then raise an army: occupy Liyang, assemble a fleet in Honan, prepare weapons, send out your various divisions and within three years you will win all round."

The adviser Shên P'ei replied, "I do not agree. The military genius of our illustrious lord having overcome the hordes of the north, to dispose of Ts'ao is as simple as turning one's hand; it is not a matter of months."

Chü Shou said, "Victory is not always to the many. Ts'ao Ts'ao's discipline is excellent; his soldiers are brave and well drilled. He will not sit down quietly waiting to be surrounded as Kungsun Tsan did. Now you abandon the intention to inform the Throne of our success, which I find a good plan, but you intend to send out an army without any valid excuse. Our lord should not do that."

Then followed adviser Kuo T'u, "You are wrong. No expedition against Ts'ao Ts'ao can lack excuse. But if our master would take the chance now offering itself of coming into his own, he will accede to the request in the letter and ally himself with Liu Pei for the destruction of Ts'ao. This would win the approval of heaven and the affections of the people, a double blessing."

Thus the four advisers differed and wrangled and Yüan Shao could not decide which to follow. Then there came two others, Hsü Yu and Hsün Shên, and, seeing them, Shao said, "You two have wide experience, how would you decide?”

The two made their obeisance and Yüan Shao said, "A letter from Chêng the President has arrived, counselling me to support Liu Pei in an attack on Ts'ao Ts'ao. Now am I to send an army or not send an army?"

They both cried with one voice, "Send! Your armies are numerous enough and strong enough; you will destroy a traitor and help the dynasty."

"Your words just express my desire," said Shao and thenceforward the discussion turned on the expedition.

First Sun Ch'ien was sent back with Yüan Shao's consent and instructions for Liu Pei to make ready to co-operate. Officers were assigned divisions and advisers were told off. The army was to be composed of thirty legions, horse and foot in equal numbers. They were to march on Liyang.

When the arrangements were complete Kuo T'u went to his chief saying, "In order to manifest the righteousness of your attack on Ts'ao it would be well to issue a manifesto with a summary of his various crimes."

Yüan Shao approved of this and a certain Ch'ên Lin, well known as a scholar, who had been a Recorder in the late Emperor's reign, was entrusted to compose such a document. This is the manifesto:

"A perspicacious ruler wisely provides against political vicissitudes; a loyal minister carefully foresees the difficulties in the assertion of authority. Wherefore a man of unusual parts precedes an extraordinary situation, and of such a man the achievements will be extraordinary. For indeed the ordinary man is quite unequal to an extraordinary situation.

"In former days, after having gained ascendancy over a weakling King of the powerful Ts'in Dynasty, Chao Kao wielded the whole authority of the Throne, overruling the government. All dignity and fortune came through him and his contemporaries were restrained so that none dared to speak openly. Slowly but surely evolved the tragedy of the Wangi Temple, when the Emperor was slain and the Imperial tablets perished in the flames. He, the author of these crimes, has ever since been held up to obloquy as the arch example of an evil doer.

"In the later days of the Empress Lü of the Hans the world saw Lü Chan and Lü Lu, brothers of the Empress and fellows in wickedness, monopolising the powers of government. Within the capital they commanded two armies and without they ruled the feudal states of Liang and Chao. They arbitrarily controlled all State affairs and decided all questions in the council chamber and the Court. This dominance of the base and declension of the noble continued till the hearts of the people grew cold within them.

"Thereupon Chou P'o, Marquis of Chiang, and Liu Chang, Marquis of Chuhsü, asserted their dignity and let loose their wrath. They destroyed the contumacious ministers and restored their Ruler to his royal state. Thus they enabled the kingly way to be re-established and the glory to be manifested. Here are two instances where ministers asserted their authority.