his escort and soon he found himself alone and close to the enemy. He called out to them to halt. Lü at once turned back and came as if to fight. But they had only exchanged a single pass when he again fled, taking the road among the hills. Sun followed but soon lost sight of his foe.

Sun turned up the hill. Then the gongs clanged and down the hills fell showers of stones, while from among the trees the arrows flew in clouds. Sun was hit by several arrows and a huge stone crushed in his head. Both he and his steed were killed. And so his life ended at the age of thirty seven.

His escort was overpowered and every man of them slain. Then Lü let off a series of bombs, the sign of success, as agreed. At this signal three armies came out of the city and fell upon the Chiangtung men, throwing them into the utmost confusion. When Huang Kai heard the sound of battle he led up the men from the ships. He met Huang Tsu and took him prisoner after a brief fight.

Ch'êng P'u set out to bear the sad news to Sun Ts'ê. While he was seeking a way out he came across Lü Kung. He at once put his horse at full speed and engaged him. After a few bouts Lü went down under a spear thrust. The battle became general and continued till daylight broke, when each drew off his army. Liu Piao withdrew into the city and when Sun Ts'ê returned to the river he heard that his father had perished in the fight, and his body had been carried within the enemy's walls. He uttered a great cry and the army joined him with wailing and tears.

"How can I return home leaving my father's corpse with them?" cried Sun Ts'ê.

Huang Kai said, "We have Huang Tsu as our prisoner. Let one enter the city and discuss peace, giving up our prisoner for our lord's body."

He had barely finished speaking when Huang K'ai offered himself as messenger saying he was an old friend of Liu Piao. So he went and peace was discussed. Liu Piao told him the body was already laid in a coffin and ready to be delivered as soon as Huang Tsu returned. "Let us both cease fighting and never again invade each other's district," said he.

Huan K'ai thanked him and took his leave. But as he went down the steps K'uai Liang suddenly broke in, saying, "No, No! Let me speak and I will see to it that not a single breastplate returns. I pray you first put this man to death and then employ my means.'

Pursuing his enemy, Sun Chien dies;

Even on a peaceful mission Huang K'ai is threatened.

The fate of the ambassador will be disclosed in a later chapter.

CHAPTER VIII.

GOVERNOR WANG PREPARES THE "CHAIN" SCHEME:

TUNG CHO'S RAGES AT THE FENGI PAVILION.

This is what K'uai Liang said, "Sun Chien is now gone and his sons are but youths. Seize this moment of weakness to break into Chiangtung and it is yours in one beat of the drum. If you return the corpse and make peace, you give them time to grow powerful and evil will ensue to this district."

"How can I leave Huang Tsu in their hands?" said the Prefect.

"Why not sacrifice this blundering warrior for a district?" "But he is my dear friend and to abandon him is wrong."

So Huan K'ai was allowed to return to his own side with the understanding that Sun Chien's dead body should be given in exchange. Sun Ts'ê freed his prisoner, brought away his father's coffin and the fighting ceased. Sun Chien was interred in the border of Chüa and when the ceremonies were over Sun Ts'ê led his army home again.

In his district Sun Ts'ê set himself to the task of ruling well. He invited to his side men of wisdom and valour and so bore himself that all the best and bravest of the country gathered about him.

But this part of his story will not be told here. Tung Cho at the capital, when he heard of the death of the turbulent prefect, said, "An evil that pressed hard upon my heart has been removed." He asked what sons he had left and when they told him the eldest was but seventeen he dismissed all anxiety from his thoughts.

From this time forward his arrogance and domineering spirit waxed worse and worse. He styled himself Shang Fu or "Imperial Rector," a name full of honour, and in all his behaviour aped imperial state. He created his younger brother a marquis and made him Generalissimo of the Left. A nephew was placed in command of the Palace guards and everyone of his clan, young or old, was ennobled. At some distance from the capital he laid out a city, an exact replica of Ch'angan, with its palaces, granaries, treasuries and magazines, and employed a quarter of a million people to build it. Here he accumulated supplies sufficient for twenty years. He selected eight hundred of the most beautiful maidens and sent them to dwell in his new city. The stores of wealth in every form were incalculable.

All his family and retainers found quarters in this new city named Meiwu.

Tung Cho visited his city at intervals of a month or so and every visit was like an imperial progress, with booths by the roadside to refresh the officials and courtiers who attended him to the Hêngmên and saw him start.

On one occasion he spread a great feast for all those assembled to witness his departure and while it was in progress there arrived a large number of malcontents from the north who had voluntarily surrendered. The tyrant had them

brought before him as he sat at table and meted out to them wanton cruelties. The hands of this one were lopped off, the feet of that; one had his eyes gouged out; another lost his tongue. Some were boiled to death. Shrieks of agony arose to the very heavens and the courtiers were faint with terror, but the author of the miscry atc and drank, chatted and smiled as if nothing was going on.

Another day Tung Cho was presiding at a great gathering of officers who were seated in two long rows. After the wine had gone up and down several times Lü Pu entered and whispered a few words in his master's ear. Cho smiled and said, "He was always so. Take Chang Wên outside." The others all turned pale. In a little time a serving man brought the head of their fellow guest on a red dish and showed it to their host. They nearly died with fright.

"Do not fear," said Cho smiling. "He was in league with Yüan Shu to assassinate me. A letter he wrote fell by mistake into the hands of my son so I have had him put to death. rentlemen, who have no reason, need have no fear."

You

The officials hastened to disperse. One of them, Governor Wang Yün, who had witnessed all this, returned to his palace very pensive and much distressed. The same evening, a bright moonlight night, he took his staff and went strolling in his private garden. Standing near one of the creeper trellises he gazed up at the sky and the tears rolled down his cheeks. Suddenly he heard a rustle in the peony pavilion and some

sighing deeply. Stealthily creeping near he saw there one of the household singing girls named Tiaoch'an or Sable Cicada.

This maiden had been brought up in his palace, where she had been taught to sing and dance. She was then just bursting into womanhood, a pretty and clever girl whom Wang Yün regarded more as a daughter than a dependant.

After listening for some time he suddenly called out, "What mischief are you up to there, you naughty girl?"

The maiden dropped on her knees in terror, "Would thy unworthy handmaid dare to do anything wrong?" said she. "Then what are you sighing about out here in the darkness?" "May thy handmaid speak from the bottom of her heart?"

"Tell me the whole truth; do not conceal anything."

And the girl said, "Thy handmaid has been the recipient of bountiful kindness. She has been taught to sing and dance and been treated so kindly that were she torn in pieces for her lord's sake it would not repay a thousandth part. She has noticed lately that her lord's brows have been knit in distress and knows it is on account of the State troubles. But she has not dared to ask. This evening he seemed more sad than ever and she was miserable on her lord's account. But she did not know she would be seen. Could she be of any use she would not shrink from a myriad deaths."

A sudden idea came to Wang and he stuck the ground with his staff. "Who would think that the fate of the Hans lay on your palm? Come with me!"

The girl followed him into the house. Then he summoned all the waiting women and girls, placed Sable Cicada on a chair and bowed before her. She was frightened and threw herself on the ground, asking in terror what it all meant.

Said he, "You can sympathise with the people of Han," and the fount of his tears opened afresh.

"As I said just now, use me in any way; I will never shrink," said the girl.

Wang Yün knelt saying, "The people are on the brink of destruction, the prince and his officers are in jeopardy, and you, you are the only saviour. That wretch Tung Cho wants to depose the Emperor and not a man among us can find means to stop him. Now he has a son, a bold warrior it is true, but both father and son have a weakness for beauty and I am going to use what I may call the "chain" plan. I shall first propose you in marriage to Lü Pu and then, after you are betrothed, I shall present you to Tung Cho and you will take every opportunity to force them asunder and turn away their countenances from each other, cause the son to kill his adopted father and so put an end to the great evil. Thus you may restore the altars of the land that it may live again. All this lies within your power; will you do it?"

"Thy handmaid has promised not to recoil from death itself. You may use my poor self in any way and I must do my best." "But if this gets abroad then we are all lost!"

"Fear not," said she, "if thy handmaid does not show gratitude, may she perish beneath a myriad swords!"

"Thank you; thank you!" said Wang Yün.

Then they took from the family treasury many pearls and bade a cunning jeweler make therewith a fine golden headdress which was sent as a present to Lü Pu. He was delighted and came to thank the donor. When he arrived he was met at the gate by the host himself and within found a table full of dainties for his delectation. He was conducted into the private apartments and placed in the seat of honour.

He said, "I am but a simple officer in the palace of a minister; you are an exalted officer of State, why am I treated thus?" "Because in the whole land there is no warrior your equal. Poor Yün bows not to an officer's rank; he bows to his ability."

This gratified Lü Pu mightily and his host continued to praise and flatter and ply him with wine and to talk of the virtues of the minister and his henchman.

Lü Pu laughed and drank huge goblets.

Presently most of the attendants were sent away, only a few kept to press the guest to drink. When the guest was very mellow Wang Yün suddenly said, "Let the child come in!"

Soon appeared two attendants, dressed in black, leading between them the exquisite and fascinating Sable Cicada. "Who is this?" said Lü Pu startled into sobriety.

"This is my little girl, Cicada. You will not be annoyed at my familiarity, will you? But you have been so very friendly, I thought you would like to see her."

He bade the girl present a goblet of wine and her eyes met those of the warrior.

The host feigning intoxication said, "The little one begs you, Commandant, to take a cup or two. We all depend upon you, all our house."

Lü Pu begged the girl to sit down. She pretended to wish to retire. Her master pressed her to remain, saying that she might do so since the guest was a dear friend. So she took a seat modestly near her master.

Lü Pu kept his gaze fixed upon the maid while he swallowed cup after cup of wine.

"I should like to present her to you as a handmaid; would you accept?"

The guest started up. "If that is so you may rely upon my abject gratitude," said he.

"We will choose a propitious day ere long and send her to the palace."

Lü Pu was over-joyed. He could not keep his eyes off the girl and loving glances flashed from her liquid orbs.

However the time came for the guest to leave and Wang said, "I would ask you to remain the night but the Minister might suspect something."

The guest thanked him again and again and departed. Some few days later when Wang Yün was at court and Lü Pu was absent he bowed low before Tung Cho and said, "I would that you would deign to come to dine at my lowly cottage, could your noble thought bend that way!"

"Should you invite me I would certainly hasten," was the reply.

Wang Yün thanked him. He went home and prepared in the reception hall a feast in which figured every delicacy from land and sea. Beautiful embroideries surrounded the chief