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wooden　clogs；　not　far　ahead　but　striding　along　quickly。　Xu　Chu　rode　after　Zuo　Ci；　but　in　spite　of　all　his　horse　could　do；　he　could　not　e　up　with　Zuo　Ci。　Xu　Chu　kept　up　the　chase　right　to　the　hills；　when　he　met　a　shepherd　lad　with　a　flock　of　sheep。　And　there　walked　the　Taoist　among　the　sheep。　The　Taoist　disappeared。　The　angry　warrior　slew　the　whole　flock　of　sheep；　while　the　shepherd　lad　looked　on　weeping。
Suddenly　the　boy　heard　a　voice　from　one　of　the　severed　heads；　telling　him　to　replace　the　heads　on　the　bodies　of　his　sheep。　Instead　of　doing　so；　he　fled　in　terror；　covering　his　face。
Then　he　heard　a　voice　calling　to　him；　〃Do　not　run　away。　You　shall　have　your　sheep　again。〃
He　turned；　and　lo！　the　sheep　were　all　alive　again；　and　Zuo　Ci　was　driving　them　along。　The　boy　began　to　question　him；　but　the　Taoist　made　no　reply。　With　a　flick　of　his　sleeves；　he　was　gone。
The　shepherd　lad　went　home　and　told　all　these　marvels　to　his　master；　who　could　not　conceal　such　a　story；　and　it　reached　Cao　Cao。　Then　sketches　of　the　Taoist　were　sent　everywhere　with　orders　to　arrest　him。　Within　three　days　were　arrested　in　the　city　and　outside　three　or　four　hundred　persons　all　blind　of　one　eye；　lame　of　one　leg；　and　wearing　a　rattan　headdress；　a　black　loose　robe　and　wooden　clogs。　They　were　all　alike　and　all　answered　to　the　description　of　the　missing　Taoist。
There　was　a　great　hubbub　in　the　street。　Cao　Cao　ordered　his　officer　to　sprinkle　the　crowd　of　Taoists　with　the　blood　of　pigs　and　goats　in　order　to　exorcise　the　witchcraft　and　take　them　away　to　the　drill　ground　on　the　south　of　the　city。　Thither　he　followed　them　with　his　guards；　who　surrounded　the　crowd　of　arrested　persons　and　slew　everyone。　But　from　the　neck　of　each　one；　after　the　head　was　severed；　there　floated　up　into　the　air　a　wreath　of　black　vapor；　and　all　these　wreaths　drifted　toward　a　center　where　they　joined　up　into　the　image　of　another　Zuo　Ci；　who　presently　beckoned　to　him　a　white　crane　out　of　the　sky；　mounted　it　and　sat　as　on　a　horse。
Clapping　his　hands；　the　Taoist　cried　merrily；　〃The　rats　of　the　earth　follow　the　golden　tiger；　and　one　morning　the　doer　of　evil　shall　be　no　more。〃
The　soldiers　shot　arrows　at　both　bird　and　man。　At　this　a　tremendous　storm　burst　over　the　city。　Stones　were　driven　along；　sand　was　whirled　about；　and　all　the　corpses　arose　from　the　ground；　each　holding　his　own　head　in　his　hands。　They　rushed　toward　Cao　Cao　as　if　to　strike　him。　The　officials　covered　their　eyes；　and　none　dared　to　look　another　in　the　face。

The　power　of　a　bold　man　will　overturn　a　state；
The　art　of　a　necromancer　also　produces　wonders。

Read　the　next　chapter　and　you　will　know　the　fate　of　Cao　Cao。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　69　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　69
　Chapter　69
Guan　Lu　Sees　Things　In　The　Book　Of　Changes；
Five　Loyal　Subjects　Die　For　Their　State。
The　sight　of　the　corpses　of　his　victims　rising　to　their　feet　in　the　storm　and　running　toward　him　was　too　much　for　Cao　Cao；　and　he　swooned。　However；　the　wind　quickly　fell　and　the　corpses　disappeared。　His　followers　assisted　Cao　Cao　to　his　palace；　but　he　was　very　ill。
A　poet　celebrated　the　episode　of　the　murdered　Taoist：

He　studied　his　magical　books；
He　was　learned　in　mystical　lore；
And　with　magical　fleetness　of　foot
He　could　travel　the　wide　world　over。
The　magical　arts　that　he　knew；
He　employed　in　an　earnest　essay
To　reform　the　bad　heart　of　Cao　Cao。
But　in　vain；　Cao　Cao　held　on　his　way。

Cao　Cao's　illness　seemed　beyond　the　art　of　the　physicians；　and　drugs　seemed　of　no　avail。　It　happened　that　Minister　Xu　Zhi　came　from　the　capital　to　visit　the　prince；　who　bade　the　latter　take　a　cast　from　the　〃Book　of　Changes〃。
〃Have　you　ever　heard　of　Guan　Lu？　He　is　more　than　human　in　his　skill　at　divination；〃　said　Xu　Zhi。
〃I　have　heard　a　lot　about　him；　but　I　do　not　know　how　clever　he　is。　You　tell　me　about　him；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
〃He　is　from　Pingyuan。　His　face　is　ugly　and　coarse；　he　drinks　to　excess　and　is　rather　dissipated。　His　father　was　an　elder　of　Langye。　Since　a　lad　Guan　Lu　loved　to　study　the　stars；　staying　up　all　night　to　watch　them；　in　spite　of　the　prohibition　of　his　father　and　mother。　He　used　to　say　that　if　domestic　fowls　and　wild　geese　knew　the　seasons　naturally；　how　much　more　should　humans。　He　often　used　to　play　with　other　children　at　drawing　pictures　of　the　sky　on　the　ground；　putting　in　the　sun；　moon；　and　stars。　When　he　grew　older　he　studied　the　'Book　of　Changes'　very　deeply　and　observed　the　winds。　He　was　a　marvelous　calculator　and　excellent　physiognomist。
〃His　fame　reached　the　ears　of　Shan　Zichun；　the　Governor　of　Langye；　who　called　him　to　his　residence　for　an　interview。　There　were　present　some　hundred　or　so　other　guests；　everyone　of　whom　could　be　called　able　of　speech。
〃'I　am　young　and　not　over…bold；'　said　Guan　Lu　to　the　Governor。　'I　pray　you　give　me　three　flasks　of　wine　to　loosen　my　tongue。'　The　request　was　astonishing；　but　the　wine　was　brought　in；　and　when　he　had　drunk　it；　Guan　Lu；　looking　contemptuously　at　the　other　guests；　said；　'Now　I　am　ready。　Are　these　the　opponents　you　have　got　together　for　me　to　contend　with？　Are　these　gentlemen　sitting　around　me　disputants？'
〃'I　myself　am　anxious　for　a　match　with　you；'　said　Shan　Zichun。　Then　they　began　upon　the　meaning　of　the　Book　of　Changes。　Guan　Lu's　words　poured　forth　like　a　torrent；　and　his　ideas　were　most　recondite。　The　Governor　replied；　stating　difficulties；　Guan　Lu　swept　them　away　in　a　stream　of　eloquence。　So　it　went　on　the　whole　day　without　a　pause　even　for　refreshment。　Neither　Shan　Zichun　nor　his　other　guests　could　help　praising　Guan　Lu　and　agreeing　with　him。
〃His　fame　spread　wide　after　this　encounter；　and　people　spoke　of　him　as　the　'Supernatural　Boy。'　After　this　he　became　famous　in　another　way。　There　was　a　certain　Guo　En；　a　mon　man；　who　had　two　brothers。　All　three　became　lame；　and　they　called　in　Guan　Lu　to　cast　lots　and　discover　the　reason。　Guan　Lu　said；　'By　the　lots　there　is　a　female　demon　in　your　family　tomb；　an　aunt；　the　wife　of　one　of　your　father's　brothers。　Some　years　ago；　in　a　time　of　famine；　for　the　sake　of　a　few　carts　of　grain；　she　was　pushed　into　a　well　and　a　great　stone　was　thrown　in　on　her；　crushing　her　head　so　that　she　suffered　intensely。　She　plained　to　the　Most　High；　and　your　lameness　is　the　retribution　for　that　crime。　No　prayers　will　avert　the　evil。'　The　three　brothers　wept　and　acknowledged　their　guilt。
〃Governor　Wang　Ji　of　Anping；　heard　of　the　diviner's　fame　and　invited　him　to　e　on　a　visit；　and　he　went。　It　happened　that　another　guest　of　the　Governor　was　the　magistrate　of　Xindu；　whose　wife　suffered　from　headaches　and　his　son　from　pains　in　the　heart。　Guan　Lu　was　asked　to　discover　the　reason。　He　cast　lots　and　said　that　at　the　west　corner　of　the　main　hall　there　were　buried　two　corpses；　one　of　a　man　who　held　a　spear；　the　other　of　a　man　who　had　a　bow　and　arrows。　The　wall　was　built　across　them。　The　spearman's　master　had　gashed　his　head；　and　so　his　head　pained。　The　archer's　master　had　stabbed　him　in　the　heart；　and　so　his　heart　suffered　anguish。　They　dug　where　Guan　Lu　indicated　and；　about　eight　spans　down；　found　two　coffins；　one　with　a　spear　inside　and　the　other　with　a　strung　bow　and　wooden　arrows。　All　were　much　decayed。　Guan　Lu　bade　them　remove　the　bones　and　bury　them　three　miles　outside　the　walls。　Thereafter　the　woman　and　her　son　suffered　no　more。
〃A　certain　Zhuge　Yuan；　Magistrate　of　Guantao；　newly　promoted　to　Governor；　was　leaving　for　his　new　post；　and　Guan　Lu　went　to　see　him　off。　One　of　the　guests　mentioned　that　Guan　Lu　could　divine　what　was　hidden　from　sight。　The　Governor　doubted　such　powers　and　said　he　would　put　a　test。　He　got　a　swallow's　egg；　a　wasp's　nest；　and　a　spider；　and　concealed　them　in　three　separate　boxes。　He　asked　Guan　Lu　to　guess　the　contents。　The　divination　made；　Guan　Lu　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　is　a　long…legged；　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。　The　woman　went　and　found　the　seven　men　hidden　behind　a　small　shanty；　boiling　beef。　Most　of　the　cow's　flesh　was　still　there。　She　told　Governor　Liu　Bin；　who　arrested　the　seven　men　and　punished　them。　Then　the　Governor　asked　the　old　lady　how　she　got　to　know　exactly　who　the　offenders　were；　and　she　told　him。
〃Governor　Liu　Bin　was　dubious；　too。　He　sent　for　Guan　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　colors　here　abound；
The　jewel　within　is　held　secure
And　what　it　witnesses　is　sure。
Is　not　this　a　seal　in　its　bag？
'There's　a　bird　on　the　precipice　steep；
Its　body　with　flame　seems　aglow。
Its　wings　are　barred　yellow　and　black。
At　sunrise　it　never　fails　to　crow。
And　I　think　this　hints　at　a　pheasant　feather。

〃Governor　Liu　Bin　treated　the　marvelous　diviner　with　great　honor。
〃One　day　Guan　Lu　saw　a　youth　plowing　a　field。　After　watching　him　for　a　long　time；　Guan　Lu　suddenly　asked　his　name　and　age。　The　young　man　said；　'My　name　is　Zhao　Yang；　and　I　am　nineteen。　Pray；　who　may　you　be；　Sir？'
〃'I　am　Guan　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。'
〃Zhao　Yang　forsook　his　plow；　hurried　home　and　told　his　father。　The　father　at　once　set　out　to　find　Guan　Lu；　and；　having　found　Guan　Lu；　threw　himself　on　the　ground　and　besought　the　diviner　to　save　his　son。
〃'How　can　I　avert　the　doom？　It　is　fate；'　said　Guan　Lu。
〃'Alas！　I　have　but　this　one　son；　I　pray　you　save　him。'
〃And　the　son　added　his　tears　and　prayers　to　those　of　his　father。　Guan　Lu　was　deeply　touched。　Then　he　turned　to　the　lad　and　said；　'You　get　ready　some　good　wine　and　some　venison。　Tomorrow　go　into　the　forest　on　the　south　there；　and　underneath　a　lofty　tree　you　will　see　two　men　seated　on　boulders　playing　chess。　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　handsome。　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　Guan　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　chess。　They　seemed　oblivious　to　all　around　them。　Zhao　Yang　presented　the　wine　and　the　food；　and　the　two　men　ate　absent…mindedly；　for　the　game　went　on。　But　when　Zhao　Yang　threw　himself　on　the　ground　and　implored　the　gift　of　long　life；　they　seemed　startled。
〃'This　must　be　some　of　Guan　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　are　nineteen　this　year；'　said　White　Dress　to　Zhao　Yang。　'You　ought　to　die。　But　we　will　insert　a　number　nine　over　the　number　one　and　so　make　it　read　ninety…nine；　and　that　is　the　age　you　will　attain。　But　when　you　go　back；　tell　Guan　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。　Zhao　Yang　came　back　home　and　told　what　he