measured ten feet from head to tail and from hoof to neck eight feet. When he neighed the sound filled the empyrean and shook the ocean.

Mark ye the steed swift and tireless, see the dust, spurned by his hoofs, rising in clouds;

Now he swims the river, anon climbs the hill, rending the purple mist asunder;

Scornful he breaks the rein, shakes from his head the jewelled bridle;

He is as a fiery dragon descending from the highest heaven.

Pu was delighted with the horse and said, "What return can I hope to make for such a creature?"

"What return can I hope for? I came to you out of a sense of what is right."

Wine was brought in and they drank.

"We have seen very little of each other, but I am constantly meeting your honourable father," said Li Su.

"You are drunk," said Pu. "My father has been dead for years."

"Not so; I spoke of Ting Yuan, the man of the day."

Lü Pu started. "Yes, I am with him but only because I can do no better."

"Sir, your talent is higher than the heavens, deeper than the seas. Who in all the world does not bow before your name? Fame and riches and honours are yours for the taking. And you say you can do no better than remain a subordinate!"

"If I could only find a master to serve!" said Lü Pu.

"The clever bird chooses the branch whereon to perch; the wise servant selects the master to serve. Seize the chance when it comes, for repentance ever comes too late."

"Now you are in the government. Who think you is really the bravest of all?", asked Lü Pu.

"I despise the whole lot except Tung Cho. He is one who respects wisdom and reveres scholarship; he is discriminating in his rewards and punishments. Surely he is destined to be a really great man."

"I would that I could serve him, but there is no way, I fear." Then Su produced his pearls and gold and the jewelled belt and laid them out before his host.

"What is this? What does it mean?" said Lü Pu.

"Send away the attendants," said Li Su. And he went on, "Tung Cho has long respected your valour and sent these by my hand. The Hare was also from him."

"But, if he loves me like this, what can I do in return?" "If a stupid fellow like me can 'e an officer in The Tigers, it is impossible to say what honours await you."

"I am sorry I can offer him no service worth mentioning."

"There is one service you can do, and an extremely easy one to perform; but you would not render that."

Lü Pu pondered long in silence. Then he said, "I might slay Ting Yüan and bring over his soldiers to Tung Cho's side; what think you of that?"

"If you would do that, there could be no greater service. But such a thing must be done quickly."

And Lü Pu promised his friend that he would do the deed and come over on the morrow.

So Li Su took his leave. That very night, at the second watch, Lü Pu entered, sword in hand, into his master's tent. He found Ting Yüan reading by the light of a solitary candle. Seeing who came in he said, "My son, what is afoot?"

"I am a bold hero," said Pu, "do you think I am willing to be a son of yours?"

"Why this change, Fêng-hsien?"

As a reply Lü Pu made one cut at his protector and his head fell to the earth. Then he called the attendants and said, "He was an unjust man and I have slain him. Let those who back me stay; the others may depart."

Most ran away. Next day, with the head of the murdered man as his gift, Lü Pu betook himself to Li Su, who led him to Tung Cho. Cho received him with a warm welcome and had wine set before him.

"Your coming is welcome as the gentle dew to the parched grass,” said Tung Cho.

Lü Pu made Cho seat himself and then made his obeisance, saying, "Pray let me bow to you as my adopted father."

Tung Cho gave his newly won ally gold and armour and silken robes and spread the feast of welcome. They then separated.

Thence Tung Cho's power and influence increased rapidly. He gave ranks of nobility to his brother and Lü Pu, who were leaders of the two wings, he himself being leader of the centre. The adviser Li Ju never ceased from urging him to carry out the design of deposing the young Emperor.

The now all-powerful general prepared a banquet in the capital at which all the officers of State were guests. He also bade Lü Pu post a company of armed men right and left ready for action. The feast began and several courses were served with nothing to distinguish that banquet from any other. Then suddenly the host arose and drew his sword, saying, "He who is above us being weak and irresolute is unfit for the duties of his high place. Wherefore I, as of old did I Yin and Ho Kuang, will set aside this Emperor giving him the title of Prince Hung-nung and I will place on the throne the present Prince of Ch'ên-liu. And those who do not support me will suffer death."

Fear seized them in its grip and they were silent, all but Yuan Shao who said that the Emperor was innocent of any fault and to set him aside in favour of a commoner was rebellion and nothing else.

"The Empire is in my hands;" cried Cho, "an I choose to do this thing who will dare say nay? Think you my sword lacks an edge?"

"If your sword is sharp, mine is never blunt," said Shao as his sword flashed out of the sheath.

The two men stood face to face amid the feasters:

When Ting by treacherous murder died,

The loss was great to Yüan's side.

The fate of Yüan Shao will be disclosed in later chapters.

CHAPTER IV.

THE DEPOSITION OF THE EMPEROR: PRINCE OF
CH'EN-LIU BECOMES EMPEROR:

SCHEMES AGAINST TUNG CHO: MENG-TE PRESENTS

A SWORD.

It is recorded that Tung Cho was on the point of slaying Yüan Shao, but his adviser checked him, saying, "You must not kill rashly while the business hangs in the balance."

Yüan Shao, his sword still unsheathed, left the assembly. He hung up the symbols of his office at the east gate and went to Ichow.

Tung Cho said_to_the_T'ai-fu Yüan Wei, "Your nephew behaved improperly but I pardon him for your sake; what think you of my scheme?"

"What you think is right," was the reply.

"If any one opposes the great scheme he will be dealt with by military law," said Tung Cho.

The ministers, thoroughly cowed, promised obedience and the feast came to an end. Tung asked Chou Pi and Wu Chiung what they thought of the flight of Yüan Shao.

"He left in a state of great anger. In such a state of excitement much harm may ensue to the present state of affairs, especially as the Yüan family have been noted for their kindness to the people for four generations, and their protégés and dependents are everywhere. If they assemble bold spirits and call up their clients, all the valiant warriors will be in arms and Shantung will be lost. You had better pardon him and give him a post. He will be glad at being forgiven and will do no harm."

Wu said, "Shao is fond of scheming, but he fails in decision and so is not to be feared. But it would be well to give him rank and thus win popular favour."

Tung Cho followed this advice and thereupon sent a messenger to offer Yüan Shao the command of Pohai.

In the ninth month the Emperor was invited to proceed to the Hall of Abounding Virtue where was a great assembly of officials. There Tung Cho, sword in hand, faced the gathering and said, "The Emperor is a weakling unequal to the burden of ruling this land. Now listen ye to the document I have prepared."

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And Li Ju read as follows:-"The dutiful Emperor Ling too soon left his people. The Emperor is the cynosure of all the people of this land. Upon the present Emperor Heaven has conferred but small gifts: in dignity and deportment he is deficient and in mourning he is remiss. Only the most complete virtue can grace the imperial dignity. The Empress Mother has trained him improperly and the whole State administration has fallen into confusion. The Empress Dowager, Jung-lê, died suddenly and no one knew why. The doctrine of the three bonds and the continuity of celestial and terrestrial interdependence have both been injured. But Hsieh, Prince of Ch'ên-liu, is sage and virtuous beside being of handsome exterior. He conforms to all the rules of propriety, his mourning is sincere; his speech is always correct. Eulogies of him fill the Empire. He is well fitted for the great duty of consolidating the rule of Han.

"Now therefore the Emperor is deposed and created Prince Hung-nung and the Empress Dowager retires from the administration.

"I pray the Prince to accept the throne in conformity with the decrees of Heaven, the desires of men and the fulfilment of the hopes of mankind."

This having been read Tung Cho bade the attendants lead the Emperor down from the throne, remove his seal and cause him to kneel facing the north, styling himself minister and requesting commands. Moreover he bade the EmpressDowager strip off her dress of ceremony and await the imperial command. Both victims of this oppression wept and every minister present was deeply affected. One put his discontent into words, crying, "The false Tung Cho is the author of this insult, which I will risk my life to wipe away." And with this he rushed at Tung Cho threatening him with his ivory bâton of office.

It was the President Ting Kuan and he was removed and summarily put to death. While he lived he ceased not to rail at the oppressor, nor was he frightened at death.

The rebel Tung conceived the foul design

To thrust the King aside and wrong his line.
With folded arms the courtiers stood, save one

Ting Kuan, who dared to cry that wrong was done.

Then the Emperor designate went to the upper part of the hall to receive congratulations. After this the late Emperor, his mother and the Lady in waiting T'ang were removed to the Palace of Perpetual Calm. The entrance gates were locked against all comers.

It was pitiful! There was the young Emperor, after reigning less than half a year, deposed and another put in his place. The new Emperor was Hsieh, the second son of the late Emperor and the name under which he reigned is Hsien. He