The two leaders looked up and said, "Tung Cho, Your Majesty's Minister, has been slain by Wang Yün and we are here to avenge him. We are no rebels, Sire. Let us only have Wang Yün and we draw off our men."

Wang Yün was actually among the courtiers and at the Emperor's side. Hearing this demand he said, "The plan was made for the benefit of the Throne, but as this evil has grown therefrom Your Majesty will not grudge losing me. I have brought about evil and I will go down to these rebels."

The Emperor was torn with sorrow and wavered. But the faithful Minister leaped from the wall crying, "Wang Yün is here."

The two leaders drew their swords, crying, "For what crime was our master slain?

"His crimes filled the heavens and covered the earth; no tongue can tell them. The day he died was a day of rejoicing in the whole city as you well know," said Wang.

"And if he was guilty of some crime what had we done not to be forgiven?"

"Seditious rebels, why bandy words? I am ready to die." And he was slain at the foot of the tower.

Moved by the people's sufferings,

Vexed at his prince's grief,

Wang Yün compassed the traitor's death,

That they might find relief.

Every one knows him a hero,

Leal to the State alway:

Living he guarded the princely towers,

His soul keeps guard to-day.

Having done the loyal Minister to death at his master's feet they proceeded to exterminate also his whole family. Every one mourned.

Then said the ruffians to each other, "Having gone so far what could be better than to make away with the Emperor and complete our scheme?"

The traitor condoned his crime,

Rebellion ought to cease;

But his licentious followers
Disturb the Empire's peace.

The fate of the Emperor will be disclosed in the next chapter.

CHAPTER X.

MA T'ENG SERVES HIS COUNTRY WELL:

TS'AO TS'AO AVENGES HIS FATHER'S MURDER.

In the last chapter the two arch rebels proposed to murder

the Emperor Hsien, but their followers Chang and Fan opposed this.

"No; the people will not approve of his death now. Restore him to power and get the leaguers inside the gates. his supporters and then we can compass his death. shall be able to do what we wish."

Remove
And we

So they ceased the attack. The Emperor again spoke from the tower, saying, "Why do you still remain? You have slain Wang Yün now withdraw these soldiers."

Then Li and Kuo replied, "Your servants desire rank us a reward for their good service to your dynasty."

"And what rank, Sirs?"

All four wrote their wishes and handed them up to the Emperor who had no choice but to accede to the request and they were created "Generals" (Chiang-chün) and received ranks of nobility and thereupon they went away and camped at Ssŭnung. The inferior leaders also were gratified with ranks. And once more the capital was free of troops.

Tung Cho's followers having so far succeeded did not forget their late leader. They sought his corpse for burial, but only a few fragments were discoverable. Then they graved an image of fragrant wood in his likeness, laid that out in proper form and instituted a noble's sacrifices and prayers. The remains were dressed in the robes of a prince laid in a princely coffin for burial. They selected Meiwu for his tomb and having found an auspicious day conveyed the coffin thither.

But a terrific thunder storm came on at the time of inhumation and the ground was flooded. The coffin was riven asunder and the poor remains thrown out. A second time they buried the coffin, but a similar thing happened in the night. And yet a third time in another place but the earth rejected the remains. Meanwhile the thunder-fire had entirely consumed them. So it may be said justly that Heaven was exceeding angry with Tung Cho.

So now Li Ts'ui and Kuo Ssŭ wielded the real power of the sceptre and they were hard upon the people. They also removed the attendants from the palace and replaced them by their own creatures, who maintained a most perfect watch

over every movement of the Emperor so that he was greatly hampered and embarrassed. | All appointments were made by the late rebels. For the sake of popularity they especially summoned Chu Chien to court, made him a High Chamberlain and associated him with the government.

One day came a report that Ma T'êng, the Prefect of Hsiliang, and Han Sui, with ten legions, were rapidly approaching the capital with the intention of attacking the rebels.

Now these men from the west had laid careful plans. They had sent trusty friends to the capital to find out who would support them. They had conspired with three officials to be their inside allies and plot against the rebels. These three obtained from the throne two secret edicts conferring the ranks of Commander, "Conqueror of the West," on Ma T'êng and Commander, "Warden of the West," on Han Sui. With these powers the two officials joined forces and began their march.

The four leaders of the party in power held a consultation as to how to meet the attack. The adviser, Chia Hsü, said, "Since the attackers are coming from a distance our plan is to fortify and wait till shortage of food shall work for us. In a hundred days their supplies will be consumed and they must retire. We can pursue and we shall capture them."

Li Mêng and Wang Fang rose and said, "This plan is bad. Give us a legion and we will put an end to both of them and offer their heads before your ensign.'

"To fight forthwith means defeat," said the adviser. The other two cried with one voice, "If we fail we are willing to lose our heads, but if we win then your head is forfeit."

Chia Hsü then said, "Two hundred li west of the capital stand the Chouchih Hills. The passes are narrow and difficult. Send Generals Chang and Fan to occupy this point of vantage and fortify themselves so that they may support Li and Wang. Li Ts'ui and Kuo Ssu accepted this advice. They told off a legion and a half of horse and foot and Li and Wang left. They made a camp two hundred and eighty li from Ch'angan.

The force from the west arrived and the two officers led out their men to the attack. They found their opponents in battle array. The two leaders, Ma T'êng and Han Sui, rode to the front side by side. Pointing to the rebel leaders they abused them, calling them traitors and asking who would capture them.

Hardly were the words spoken when there came out a youth with a clear, white complexion, eyes like shooting stars, lithe of body and strong of limb. He was armed with a long spear and bestrode an excellent steed. This young leader was Ma Ch'ao, son of Ma T'êng, then seventeen years of age.

Though young he was valiant and skilful. Wang Fang, despising him on account of his youth, galloped forth to fight him. Before they had exchanged many passes Wang Fang was

disabled and fell to a thrust of the young man's spear. The victor turned to retire into the formation, but Li Mêng rode after him to avenge his fallen colleague. Ma Ch'ao did not see him, but his father called out "You are followed!" Hardly had he spoken when he saw that the pursuer was a prisoner seated on his son's steed.

Now Ma Ch'ao had known he was followed, but pretended not to see, waiting till his enemy should have come close and lifted his spear to strike. Then he suddenly wheeled about. The spear thrust met only empty air, and as the horses passed Ma Ch'ao's powerful arm shot out and pulled Wang Fang from the saddle. Thus the soldiers were left leaderless and fled in all directions. The army dashed in pursuit and a complete victory was scored. They pressed into the pass and made a camp. They decapitated Li Mêng and exposed his head.

When Li Ts'ui and Kuo Ssu heard that both the boastful captains had fallen under the hand of one young man they knew that Chia Hsü had given good advice and was gifted with clear prescience. So they valued his plans the more highly and decided to act on the defensive. They refused all challenges to combat.

Surely enough after a couple of months the supplies of the Hsiliang men were all exhausted and the leaders began to consider retreat.

Just at this juncture a household servant of Ma Yü's family betrayed his master and told of the conspiracy of the three men to assist the attackers. The two chief rebels in revenge seized the three conspirators, with every member of their households, and beheaded them in the market place. The heads of the three were exposed at the gate.

Being short of food and hearing of the destruction of their three adherents in the city, the only course for Ma and Han was to retreat. At once Chang Chi went in pursuit of Ma T'êng and Fan Ch'ou followed Han Sui. The retreating army under Ma was beaten and only by Ma Ch'ao's desperate efforts were the pursuers driven off.

Fan Ch'ou pursued the other army and when he had come close Han Sui rode boldly up and addressed him, saying "You and I, Sir, are fellow villagers. Why then behave so unfriendly?"

Ch'ou replied, "I must obey the commands of my chief." "I am here for the service of the State; why do you press me so hard?" said Han.

At this Fan Ch'ou turned his horse, called in his men and left him in peace. Unwittingly a nephew of Li Ts'ui had been a witness of this scene and when he saw the enemy allowed to go free he returned and told his uncle. Angry that his enemy had escaped, Li would have wreaked vengeance on his lieutenant, but his adviser again came in saying it was dangerous

to provoke another war. He proposed inviting the defaulting officer to a banquet and, while the feast was in progress, executing him for dereliction of duty. This seemed good to Li so the banquet was prepared. The two officers accepted their invitations and went cheerfully. Toward the latter part of the entertainment a sudden change came over their host and he suddenly asked Fan Ch'ou, "Why have you been intriguing with Han Sui? You are turning traitor, eh?"

The unhappy guest was taken aback and before he could frame his words to reply he saw the assassins rush out with swords and axes. In a moment all was over and his head lay beneath the table.

Scared beyond measure his fellow-guest grovelled on the floor. "He was a traitor," said the host, raising him by the arm. "and he has his deserts; you are my friend and need not fear."

He gave Chang Chi command of the murdered man's troop with which he returned to Hungnung. No one of the nobles among the leaguers dared attempt an attack on the party newly risen from Tung Cho's disaffection, while on the other hand Chia Hsü never ceased to urge his masters to exert themselves for the welfare of the people and thus to tempt wise men to join them. And by these means the government began to prosper.

However, a new trouble arose in the shape of a resurgence of Yellow Turbans. They came, without apparent head or leader, in large numbers and plundered any place they reached. Chu Chien said he knew of one who could destroy this sedition, and when asked who was the man he proposed he said, "You want to destroy this horde of rebels; you will fail unless you get the services of Ts'ao Mêng-tê."

"And where is he?" asked Li Ts'ui.

"He is Prefect of Tung Chün. He has a large army and you have only to order him to act; the rising will be broken."

A messenger went post haste with a command for Ts'ao Ts'ao and Pao Hsin to act together in quelling the rebellion. As soon as Ts'ao Ts'ao received the court command he arranged with his colleague first to attack the rebels at Shouyang. Pao Hsin made a dash right into their midst, inflicting damage wherever he could, and Ts'ao Ts'ao pursued them as they fled. So many surrendered. Then he put his quondam enemies in the van and when his army reached any place many more surrendered and joined him. After three months of these tactics they had won over many thousands, both of soldiers and ordinary folk.

Of these new adherents the strongest and boldest were made soldiers and the others were sent home to their fields. In consequence of these successes Ts'ao Ts'ao's prestige and fame became very great and increased daily. He reported his