cealed them in three separate boxes. He asked Kuan to guess the contents. The divination made, he wrote three quatrains:

'The latent life will declare itself;
It will cling to your lordly hall,
Or male or female, flung into space,
Wide wings will prevent its fall.

"This seems to indicate a swallow's egg.

'A many-chambered dwelling

Is hanging to your eaves,

Each room has a poisonous tenant;
Who'll be flying when he leaves.

"This answers to a wasp's nest.

'Therein 's a long-shanked, trembling thing,
Who spins a thread from his inside
And spreads a fine spun net for flies;
He profits most at eventide.

'And this it a spider.'

"The guests were amazed.

"An old woman in his village having lost a cow, came to consult him. After the divination he told her that seven men had taken away the cow and were cooking and eating it on the bank of a certain mountain stream. She had better go there quickly and see who they were. If she went with all speed she would find the skin and the flesh. She went and found the seven men hidden behind a small shanty, boiling beef. Most of the cow's flesh was still there. She told the Prefect, who arrested the seven mon and punished them. Then he asked the old lady how she got to know exactly who the offenders were, and she told him.

"He was dubious, too. He sent for Kuan Lu and put him to the following test. He placed his seal and a pheasant feather in a box and asked what were the contents. The reply

was:

'Square within, without so round,
Beauteous colours here abound;
The jewel within is held secure
And what it witnesses is sure.

'Is not this a seal in its bag?'

"With regard to the other thing, Kuan Lu said:

'And I think this hints at a pheasant feather.'

"The Prefect Liu treated the marvellous diviner with great honour.

"One day Kuan Lu saw a youth ploughing a field. After watching him for a long time, Kuan Lu suddenly asked his name and age.

"My name is Chao Yen, and I am nineteen,' said the young man. 'Pray, who may you be, Sir?'

“I am Kuan Lu; you may have heard of me. I see an air of early death about you, and you will be done with life in three days. It is a pity that one so handsome should die so young.'

"Chao Yen forsook his plough, hurried home and told his father. The father at once set out to find Kuan Lu, and, having found him, threw himself on the ground and besought him to save his son.

"How can I avert the doom? It is fate,' said Kuan Lu. "Alas! I have but this one son, I pray you to save him.' "And the son added his tears and prayers to those of his father. Kuan Lu was deeply touched. Then he turned to the lad and said, 'You get ready some good wine and some venison. To-morrow go into the forest on the south there, and underneath a lofty tree you will see two men seated on boulders playing wei-ch'i. One of them will be dressed in white, and he will be facing the south. He is very evil looking. The other will be seated opposite, dressed in red. He is very handhome. They will be deeply absorbed in their game and will not notice who offers them food and wine, which you will humbly present on your knees. When they have eaten and drunk, you will prostrate yourself and with tears pray them to grant you length of days. You will gain an increased span of life, but, above all things, do not mention that I told you what to do.'

"The father kept Kuan Lu as a guest, and the next day the son followed out his instructions. He entered the forest and soon came upon the two men seated beneath a pine, playing wei-ch'i. They seemed oblivious to all around them. Chao Yen presented the wine and the food, and the two men ate absent-mindedly, for the game went on.

"But when Chao Yen threw himself on the ground and implored the gift of long life, they seemed startled.

"This must be some of Kuan Lu's doing,' said Red Robe. 'Still, as we have accepted a gift at his hand we must have pity on him.'

"He who was dressed in white then lifted up a book that hung at his side and looked therein.

'You

"You are nineteen this year,' said he to Chao Yen. ought to die. But we will insert a 'nine' over the 'ten' and so make it read ninety and nine, and that is the age you will attain. But when you go back, tell Kuan Lu he is not to betray the secrets of fate, or Heaven will surely punish him.'

"Then Red Robe took out a pen and added the figure. A gust of wind passed, and the two old men were transformed into two cranes that rose into the sky and flew away.

"Chao Yen came back home and told what he had seen. Kuan Lu told him the red-robed man was the Southern Dipper Constellation, and the white-robed, the Northern Dipper.

"But the Northern Dipper consists of nine stars, and there was only one man,' objected the lad.

66

"Separately they are nine, but they combine to form one. The Northern Dipper records deaths; the Southern Dipper, births. Now the extra figure has been added you need have no anxiety; you will live long.'

"Father and son both thanked him most sincerely, but thereafter Kuan Lu was very careful how he divined for people lest he should betray celestial secrets.

"Now, this man is at P'ingyüan, and you, O Prince, can seek your fate of him. Why not call him?"

Kuan Lu was sent for and came. As soon as the salutations were over, Ts'ao Ts'ao asked him to cast lots for him.

Kuan Lu at once found that the illness was only due to magical machinations, and said so; at which Ts'ao Ts'ao was much relieved in his mind, and his health began to improve.

Next Ts'ao Ts'ao wished to know about the conditions in the world's affairs. After the necessary calculations the prophet said, "Three-eight crosswise; the yellow boar meets the tiger: stop the southern expedition with the loss of one limb."

Then Ts'ao Ts'ao asked him to enquire whether his life should be long or not.

He replied, "Lion in the Palace to preserve the talents of ancestors: the Prince's way is securely renewed and his son and grandson shall come to high honour."

Then Ts'ao Ts'ao asked concerning himself.

"Divinations concerning the fate of the universe may not be foreknown; wait a time and I will look into it."

Ts'ao Ts'ao was pleased and would like to keep such a man near him, so he offered him the post of historiographer (who was also soothsayer) at his court, but it was declined.

"My destiny is mean, my luck despicable; I am not equal to such an office and dare not undertake it."

"Why not?" said Ts'ao Ts'ao.

"My forehead has no lofty fullness; my eyes no steady expression; my nose no bridge; my feet no round, solid heels; my back lacks the triple armour (of shoulder blades and intervening muscles); and my breast the three marks (like the character jên, which indicates wealth). I can only control evil spirits securely; I cannot rule living men."

"What think you of my physiognomy?"

"What can a minister of extremely exalted rank like yourself desire further?" said Kuan Lu.

Ts'ao Ts'ao pressed him to say: the soothsayer only laughed. Then Ts'ao asked him to look at the many officers of all kinds standing around.

"Every one of them is a servant equal to the administration of the world," said Kuan Lu.

But when Ts'ao Ts'ao asked whether good or bad fortune was to be his, the soothsayer would not give a clear and full reply.

A poem says:

Kuan Lu was a seer of old,

Stars to him their secrets told.
Mysteries, occult and dim,
Were as daylight unto him.
His so subtle intellect

Could the shade of death detect,
But the secrets of his skill

Died with him,-are secrets still.

Again Ts'ao Ts'ao asked him to divine concerning his rivals Wu and Shu. He said the former had just lost a famous leader and the latter had encroached on his territory. Ts'ao's doubts as to the accuracy of one of these events were soon set at rest, for a messenger came from Hofei to say that Lu Su had died. Then Ts'ao sent hurriedly into Hanchung, and the scout returned to say that Chang Fei and Ma Ch'ao had taken the Pass at Hsiapien. Ts'ao Ts'ao was angry and inclined to march at once against the invaders; but he consulted the great soothsayer, who advised him not to move.

"In the coming spring there will be a conflagration in Hsütu,” said he.

Having been witness of the verification of Kuan Lu's words, Ts'ao Ts'ao was in no mood to neglect the warning. He stayed on in his palace, but he sent Ts'ao Hung with five legions to assist in the defence of East Ch'uan, while Hsiahou Tun, with three legions, went to Hsütu to keep careful watch and be ready against any surprises. He placed Chang Shih and Wang Pi in command of the Imperial Guard.

Ssuma I warned him against this Wang Pi. Said he, "The man is given to wine, and slack. He is not a fit man for such a post."

Ts'ao Ts'ao replied, "He is very fit. He has followed me through all difficulties and dangers. He is loyal and diligent, solid as stone or iron."

Wang Pi was appointed and led the guard into camp at the capital, outside the Tung-hua Gate of the Imperial Palace.

Now there was a certain Kêng Chi, a Loyang man, who had long been employed in the minister's palace in a subordinate capacity and afterward had been promoted to a rather better post. He, Ssùma Chih and Wei Huang were close friends.

These three were greatly distressed at Ts'ao Ts'ao's advance to princely rank, and more especially at his use of the imperial

chariots. In the early months of the twenty-third year Kêng and Wei came to a secret exchange of views on Ts'ao's conduct. Kêng Chi said, "The man is a rebel and wicked, every day behaving worse. He intends to go farther, and how can we, as servants of the dynasty, help him in his wickedness? have a friend named Chin I, who also is a servant of Han and an enemy of Ts'ao Ts'ao's. He is a descendant of Chin Jih-ti, one-time minister. Beside, he is friendly with Wang Pi. If we all tried our best we ought to succeed."

"But if he is friendly with Wang Pi he will not assist us!" said Kêng.

"Let us go and sound him," said Wei Huang.

So the two went to see Chin I, who received them in his private rooms. There they talked.

Said Wei Huang, "O virtuous I, we know you are on most friendly terms with Commander Wang Pi, and so have come to beg a favour."

"What is it you ask?"

"The Prince of Wei will soon receive the abdication of the Emperor and himself ascend to the seat of the mighty. Then you and your friend Wang will advance to places of great honour; and when that day comes, we pray you not to forget us. but to recommend us for employment. We should feel no shallow gratitude for your kindness."

Chin I flicked down his sleeves and arose looking very angry. At that instant arrived the tea for the visitors. He snatched it away from the serving-man and emptied it on the floor. Wei Huang started up in feigned alarm.

"How have I offended you, my good old friend?" cried he. "I have been friends with you because you are descendants of men who have served Han faithfully. Now, if instead of trying to repay the debt of gratitude you ought to feel, you turn aside to assist one who is their enemy, think you that I can regard you as friends? How could I look the world in the face?"

"But if it be destiny, one cannot help it," said Kêng. "One must accept it."

Chin grew still more angry, so that the two visitors were convinced that at heart he was still loyal to the dynasty. Then they began to tell him the true state of the case.

"Our real desire is to destroy this rebel, and we have come to ask your help in that. What we said at first was only a test

to find out what you thought."

"Think you, with my ancestry, generation after generation in the confidence and service of the Hans, that I would willingly follow a rebel? If you, Sirs, really think of restoring the dynasty, pray tell me your plans."

"Though we have the desire to prove our gratitude, yet we lack the means to destroy the enemy," said Wei.