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ve you a post at court。〃
But Mi Heng was unwilling to go。 So Cao Cao bade two of his men prepare three horses； and they set Mi Heng on the middle one and dragged him along the road between them。
It is also related that a great number of officers of all ranks assembled at the East Gate to see the messenger start。
Xun Yu said； 〃When Mi Heng es； we will not rise to salute him。〃
So when Mi Heng came； dismounted； and entered the waiting room； they all sat stiff and silent。 Mi Heng uttered a loud cry。
〃What is that for？〃 said Xun Yu。
〃Should not one cry out when one enters a coffin？〃 said Mi Heng。
〃We may be corpses；〃 shouted they altogether； 〃but you are a wandering headless ghost。〃
〃I am a minister of Han and not a partisan of Cao Cao's；〃 cried Mi Heng。 〃You cannot say I have no head。〃
They were angry enough to kill him； but Xun Yu checked them； saying； 〃He is a paltry fellow。 It is not worth soiling your blades with his blood。〃
〃I am paltry； and yet I have the soul of a man； and you are mere worms；〃 said Mi Heng。
They went their ways； all very angry。 Mi Heng went on his journey and presently reached Jingzhou； where he saw Liu Biao。 After that； under pretense of extolling Liu Biao's virtue； he lampooned Liu Biao who was annoyed and sent him to Jiangxia to see Huang Zu。
〃Why did you not put the fellow to death for lampooning you？〃 said one to Liu Biao。
〃You see he shamed Cao Cao； but Cao Cao did not kill him as Cao Cao feared to lose popular favor。 So Cao Cao sent him to me； thinking to borrow my hand to slay him and so suffer the loss of my good name。 I have sent him on to Huang Zu to let Cao Cao see that I understood。〃
Liu Biao's clever caution met with general praise。 At that time a messenger from Yuan Shao was also there with certain proposals for an alliance； and it was necessary to decide which aide to espouse。 All the advisers came together to consider the question。
Then mander Han Song said； 〃As you have now two offers； you can please yourself and choose your own way to destroy your enemies； for if one refuses； you can follow the other。 Now Cao Cao is an able general and has many capable officers in his train。 It looks as though he may destroy Yuan Shao and then move his armies across the river。 I fear； my lord； you would be unable then to withstand him。 That being so； it would be wise to support Cao Cao； who will treat you with respect。〃
Liu Biao replied； 〃You go to the capital and see how things tend。 That will help me to decide。〃
Han Song said； 〃The positions of master and servant are clearly defined。 Now I am your man prepared to go all lengths for you and obey you to the last； whether in serving the Emperor or in following Cao Cao。 But lest there should be any doubt you must remember that if the Emperor gives me any office； then I shall bee his servant and shall not be ready to face death for you。〃
〃You go and find out what you can。 I have ideas in my mind。〃
So Han Song took his leave and went to the capital； where he saw Cao Cao。 Cao Cao gave him rank and made him Governor of Lingling。
Adviser Xun Yu remonstrated； saying； 〃This man came to spy out how things were moving。 He has done nothing to deserve reward； and yet you give him an office like this。 There were no such suspicious rumors connected with poor Mi Heng； and yet you sent him off and would never test his power。〃
〃Mi Heng shamed me too deeply before all the world。 I am going to borrow Liu Biao's hand to remove him。 And you need say no more；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then Cao Cao sent Han Song back to his former master to tell him what had happened。 Han Song came and was full of praise for the virtues of the court and was keen on persuading Liu Biao to espouse that side。
Then Liu Biao suddenly turned angry； charged him with treachery； put him in prison； and threatened him with death。
〃You turn your back on me；〃 cried Han Song。 〃I did not betray you。〃
Kuai Liang remarked； 〃Han Song had foretold this possibility before he left。 It is only what he expected。〃
Liu Biao； who was just and reasonable； went no further。
Presently came the news that Mi Heng had been put to death by Huang Zu on account of a quarrel begun over the wine cups。 Both being worse for liquor they had begun to discuss the worth of people。
〃You were in Xuchang；〃 said Huang Zu。 〃Who was there of worth？〃
〃The big boy was Kong Rong and the little one Yang Xiu。 There was no one else to count。〃
〃What am I like？〃 said Huang Zu。
〃You are like a god in a temple： You sit still and receive sacrifice； but the lack of intelligence is pitiful。〃
〃Do you regard me as a mere image？〃 cried Huang Zu； angrily。
So Huang Zu put the impudent speaker to death。 Even at the very point of death； Mi Heng never ceased his railing and abuse。
〃Alas！〃 sighed Liu Biao when he heard Mi Heng's fate。 Then Liu Biao had the victim honorably interred near Yingwu； on Parrot Island。
And a later poet wrote of Mi Heng：
Huang Zu could brook no rival； at his word
Mi Heng met death； beneath the cruel sword。
His grave on Parrot Isle may yet be seen；
The river flowing past it； coldly green。
Cao Cao heard of the young man's death with pleasure。
〃The putrid bookworm has just cut himself up with his own sharp tongue；〃 said he。
As there was no sign of Liu Biao ing to join him； Cao Cao began to think of coercion。 Xun Yu dissuaded him from this course。
Said he； 〃Yuan Shao is not subjugated； Liu Bei is not destroyed。 To attack Liu Biao would be to neglect the vital to care for the immaterial。 Destroy the two chief enemies first； and the Han River is yours at one blow。〃
And Cao Cao took the advice。
After the departure of Liu Bei； Dong Cheng and his fellow conspirators did nothing else day or night but try to evolve plans for the destruction of Cao Cao。 But they could see no chance to attack。 At the new year audience Cao Cao was odiously arrogant and overweening； and the chief conspirator's disgust was so intense that he fell ill。
Hearing of the State Uncle's indisposition； the Emperor sent the Court Physician to see him。 The Court Physician at this time was a native of Luoyang； named Ji Ping。 A very famous physician； Ji Ping devoted himself wholly to the treatment of his court patient。 Living in Dong Cheng's palace and seeing Dong Cheng at all times； Ji Ping soon found that some secret grief was sorely troubling him。 But Ji Ping dared not ask questions。
One evening of the full moon festival； when the physician was just taking his leave； Dong Cheng kept him； and the two men had supper together。 They eat talking for some time； and Dong Cheng by and by dropped off to sleep dressed as he was。
Presently Wang Zifu and the others were announced。 As they were ing in； Wang Zifu cried； 〃Our business is settled！〃
〃I should be glad to hear how；〃 said Dong Cheng。
〃Liu Biao has joined Yuan Shao； and five hundred thousand troops in fifty legions are on their way here by different routes。 More than this； Ma Teng and Han Sui are ing from the northwest with seven hundred thousand Xiliang troops。 Cao Cao has moved every soldier outside Xuchang to meet the bined armies。 There is a great banquet in his palace tonight。 If we get together our young men and servants； we can muster more than a thousand； and we can surround the palace； while Cao Cao is at the banquet； and finish him off。 We must not miss this。〃
Dong Cheng was more than delighted。 He called his servants and armed them； put on his own armor and mounted his horse。 The conspirators met； as they had arranged； just at the inner gate of the Prime Minister's palace。 It was the first watch。 The small army marched straight in； Dong Cheng leading with his treasured sword drawn。 His intended victim was at table in one of the private rooms。 Dong Cheng rushed in； crying； 〃Cao Cao； you rebel； stay！〃 and dashed at Cao Cao who fell at the first blow。
And just then he woke up and found it was all a dream； but his mouth was still full of curses。
〃Do you really wish to destroy Cao Cao？〃 said Ji Ping； going forward to his half awakened patient。
This brought Dong Cheng to his senses。 He stopped； terror stricken； and made no reply。
〃Do not be frightened； O Uncle；〃 said the doctor。 〃Although I am a physician； I am also a man； and I never forget my emperor。 You have seemed sad for many days； but I have never ventured to ask the reason。 Now you have shown it in your dream； and I know your real feelings。 If I can be of any use； I will help。 Nothing can daunt me。〃
Dong Cheng covered his face and wept。
〃I fear you may not be true to me；〃 cried he。
Ji Ping at once bit off a finger as a pledge of his faith。 And then his host and patient brought forth the decree he had received in the girdle。
〃I am afraid our schemes will e to nought；〃 said Dong Cheng。 〃Liu Bei and Ma Teng are gone； and there is nothing we can do。 That was the real reason I fell ill。〃
〃It is not worth troubling you gentlemen with； for Cao Cao's life lies in these hands of mine；〃 said Ji Ping。
〃How can that be？〃
〃Because he is often ill with deep…seated pain in his head。 When this es on； he sends for me。 When next he calls me； I only have to give him one dose and he will certainly die。 We do not want any weapons。〃
〃If only you could do it！ You would be the savior of the dynasty。 It depends upon you。〃
Then Ji Ping went away leaving