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〃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 Bi will advance to places of great honor。 When that day es； we pray you not forget us； but remend us for employment。 We should feel no shallow gratitude for your kindness。〃
Jin Yi 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 friend？〃 cried he。
〃I have been friends with you because you are descendants of people who have served the Hans faithfully。 Now； 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 Geng Ji。 〃One must accept it。〃
Jin Yi grew still more angry； so that the two visitors were convinced that at heart he was loyal to the dynasty。 Then they began to tell him the true state of the case。
Said they； 〃Our real desire is to destroy this rebel； and we have e 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 Huang。
Said Jin Yi； 〃We desire helpers within and supporters without。 If we could slay Wang Bi； we could use his name and troops to help the Emperor。 With the help of Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； we should be able to destroy the rebel Cao Cao。〃
Hearing Jin Yi's plan； the others clapped their hands in approval。
〃And I have two friends outside of the city who will go with us；〃 said Jin Yi。 〃Both of them have the murder of a father to avenge。 We can get their helps。〃
〃Who are they？〃
〃They are sons of the great physician Ji Ping and are called Ji Mao and Ji Mu。 Cao Cao put their father to death for his connection with the plot organized by Dong Cheng； when Dong Cheng received the secret edict conveyed in the robe and girdle； which was conferred upon him by the Emperor。 The two sons escaped that time by flight； but they have since secretly returned to the capital。 With their help all will go well。〃
Geng Ji and Wei Huang rejoiced at the prospect of further help； and a messenger was sent to call in the two Ji brothers。 Soon they arrived； and the plot was laid before them。 They were deeply affected and shed copious tears。 Their wrath rose to the sky； and they swore to aid in the destruction of the rebel。
〃On the fifteenth day of the first month there will be grand illuminations in the city；〃 said Jin Yi； 〃and felicitations will continue on every side。 Geng Ji and Wei Huang will each lead out their retainers and make their way quickly to Wang Bi's camp to wait till they see the fire begin。 Then they will dash in； slay Wang Bi； and follow me inside the Palace。 We will then request the Emperor to ascend the Tower of the Five Phoenixes； assemble his officers； and issue orders to destroy the rebels。 The two Ji brothers will make their way into the city and set fires going。 Then all will raise their voices and summon the populace to their aid。 They are to hold up any rescue force in the city till the Emperor has issued the edict and disturbance is allayed； when they will rush toward Yejun and seize Cao Cao。 Then a messenger will be dispatched with a summons for Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle。 We will begin our work that night at the second watch； and we will escape the ill success that attended Dong Cheng's attempt。〃
All five swore before Heaven to be true； and they smeared their lips with blood in earnest of their oath。 After this； each returned to his own home to prepare arms and call up their people。
Geng Ji and Wei Huang each had four or five hundred retainers； whom they armed。 Ji Mao and Ji Mu also got together three hundred men。 They gave out a story of a hunting party to explain the gathering。
When the preparations were plete； and before the time fixed for the rising； Jin Yi went to see Wang Bi。
Said Jin Yi； 〃Everything in the world seems now tranquil； and the power of the Prince of Wei extends over all the land。 It is a season of joy and felicitation； and you can organize a lantern festivity； and people shall hang out lanterns and put up decorations for the occasion。〃
So Wang Bi issued guidelines for a Feast of Lanterns in the city。 The night of full moon was very clear； moon and stars most brilliant。 The people of the capital took advantage of the night and thronged the streets and the market places。 The lanterns were hung out in profusion； and all went merrily。
No official interfered with the crowd；
No one thought of the flight of time；
All was simple gaiety。
That night the mander of the Imperial Guards； Wang Bi； and his officers had a feast in their camp。 Just after the second watch had begun； they heard a great shouting in the camp； and someone came in to say that a fire had started in the rear。 Wang Bi hurriedly left the table and went outside。 He saw flames leaping up and rolling by and heard shouts of 〃Kill！〃 rising on every side and echoing to the very sky。 He thought the camp had certainly mutinied； and； jumping on his horse； went out at the south gate。 Just outside he ran against Geng Ji； who loosed an arrow which struck him in the shoulder。 He nearly fell with the shock； but he got away toward the west gate。 He found he was pursued by armed men； so he got flurried； dismounted； and went on foot。 Presently he came to the house of Jin Yi and hammered at the door。
Now the fire that had created such a scare had been raised by Jin Yi's own people sent for that purpose； and Jin Yi had followed them to fight when the time came。 Hence there was no one but the woman folks left in his house。 When the women heard the clamor at the door； they thought Jin Yi had e back。
Jin Yi's wife； from the door of the women's quarter； called out； 〃Have you killed Wang Bi？〃
This was a shock； but it told Wang Bi that his quondam friend was now an enemy。
Wherefore Wang Bi fled further to the house of Cao Xiu and told him； 〃Geng Ji and Jin Yi have raised a disturbance。〃
Cao Xiu immediately armed himself； got to horse； and led out a thousand troops。 He found fires on all sides； and the Tower of the Five Phoenixes was in flames。 The Emperor had fled into the recesses of the Palace； but Cao Cao's friends and partisans were defending the Palace gates like grim death。
In the city the crowd was shouting one to another： 〃Slay Cao Cao and restore the Hans！〃
When Xiahou Dun had received thirty thousand troops and the mand to keep watch and ward over the capital； he had gone into camp three miles from the city。 When he saw the conflagration start； he set the army in motion and surrounded the city。 He also sent reinforcements to Cao Xiu within。
Inside the city the fighting went on all night。 No one joined the conspirators； the small band were left to their own efforts。 Soon it was reported that Jin Yi； Ji Mao； and Ji Mu were slain。 Geng Ji and Wei Huang found their way to one of the gates； but there they met Xiahou Dun's main force and were made prisoners。 The handful of men with them were cut to pieces。
When the fighting subsided； Xiahou Dun went into the city and set his troops to put out the fires。 He also laid hands on the whole households of the five conspirators。 Then he sent a report to Cao Cao； who sent back orders to execute the two conspirators and put to death in public all the members of the five families。 He was also to arrest every official and send the whole batch to Yejun for interrogations。
Xiahou Dun sent his two chief prisoners to the place of execution。 They shouted against Cao Cao。
〃Living we have failed to slay you； Cao Cao。 Dead we will be malicious spirits smiting rebels in all places！〃
The executioner smote Geng Ji on the mouth with his sword； so that the blood gushed out； but he continued to shout as long as he could。
Wei Huang； his fellow…conspirator； dashed his temples on the ground； crying； 〃How I hate him！〃 and ground his teeth till he broke them to fragments。 And they both died of hatred and exhaustion。
Who can with outstretched hands uphold the sky
Or thrones maintain by simple loyalty？
Han's day was done； two would avert the doom；
But failed； and carried anger to the tomb。
Xiahou Dun carried out his chief's orders and sent the officials he had arrested to Yejun。 There Cao Cao set up two flags； one red and one white； in the drill ground and sent all the officials thither。 Then he addressed them。
〃In this late rebellion some of you went out to extinguish the fire； some of you stayed within doors。 Let those who went forth to put out the fire take their stand by the red flag； and those who remained in their houses go to the white flag。〃
The officials thought within themselves； 〃Certainly there can be nothing wrong in trying to put out a fire；〃 so they nearly all placed