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west　end　of　the　temple。　His　brother；　Cao　De；　drawing　his　sword；　went　out　to　see　what　it　was　about；　and　Cao　De　was　at　once　cut　down。　Cao　Song　seized　one　of　the　concubines　by　the　hand；　rushed　with　her　through　the　passage　toward　the　back　of　the　temple　so　that　they　might　escape。　But　the　lady　was　stout　and　could　not　get　through　the　narrow　doors；　so　the　two　hid　in　one　of　the　small　outhouses　at　the　side。　However；　they　were　seen　and　slain。
The　unhappy　Governor　Ying　Shao　fled　for　his　life　to　Yuan　Shao。　The　murderers　fled　into　the　South　of　River　Huai　with　their　plunder　after　having　set　fire　to　the　old　temple。

Cao　Cao；　whom　the　ages　praise；
Slew　his　hosts　on　his　former　flight；
Nemesis　never　turns　aside；
Murdered　too　his　family　died。

Some　of　the　escort　escaped　and　took　the　evil　tidings　to　Cao　Cao。　When　he　heard　it　he　fell　to　the　earth　with　a　great　cry。　They　raised　him。
With　set　teeth　he　muttered；　〃Tao　Qian's　people　have　slain　my　father：　No　longer　can　the　same　sky　cover　us。　I　will　sweep　Xuzhou　off　the　face　of　the　earth。　Only　thus　can　I　satisfy　my　vengeance。〃
Cao　Cao　left　one　small　army　of　thirty　thousand　under　Xun　Yu　and　Cheng　Yu　to　guard　the　east　headquarters　and　the　three　counties　of　Juancheng；　Fanxia；　and　Dongjun。　Then　he　set　forth　with　all　the　remainder　to　destroy　Xuzhou　and　avenge　his　father。　Xiahou　Dun；　Yu　Jin；　and　Dian　Wei　were　Van　Leaders　with　Cao　Cao's　orders　to　slaughter　all　the　inhabitants　of　each　captured　city。
Now　the　Governor　of　Jiujiang；　Bian　Rang；　was　a　close　friend　of　Tao　Qian。　Hearing　Xuzhou　was　threatened；　Bian　Rang　set　out　with　five　thousand　troops　to　his　friend's　aid。　Angered　by　this　move；　Cao　Cao　sent　Xiahou　Dun　to　stop　and　kill　Bian　Rang　while　still　on　the　march。

＇e＇　Chen　Gong　is　the　magistrate　who　spared　Cao　Cao　after　Cao　Cao　failed　to　assassinate　Dong　Zhuo。　Chen　Gong　and　Cao　Cao　then　traveled　as　fugitives　to　Qiao；　but　they　parted　haft　way。　（chapter　4）
At　this　time　Chen　Gong　was　in　office　in　Dongjun；　and　he　was　also　on　friendly　terms　with　Tao　Qian。　Hearing　of　Cao　Cao's　design　to　destroy　the　whole　population；　Chen　Gong　came　in　haste　to　see　his　former　panion*。　Cao　Cao；　knowing　Chen　Gong's　errand；　put　him　off　at　first　and　would　not　see　him。　But　then　Cao　Cao　could　not　forget　the　kindness　he　had　formerly　received　from　Chen　Gong；　and　presently　the　visitor　was　called　to　his　tent。
Chen　Gong　said；　〃They　say　you　go　to　avenge　your　father's　death　on　Xuzhou；　to　destroy　its　people。　I　have　e　to　say　a　word。　Imperial　Protector　Tao　Qian　is　humane　and　a　good　man。　He　is　not　looking　out　for　his　own　advantage；　careless　of　the　means　and　of　others。　Your　worthy　father　met　his　unhappy　death　at　the　hands　of　Zhang　Kai。　Tao　Qian　is　guiltless。　Still　more　innocent　are　the　people；　and　to　slay　them　would　be　an　evil。　I　pray　you　think　over　it。〃
Cao　Cao　retorted　angrily；　〃You　once　abandoned　me　and　now　you　have　the　impudence　to　e　to　see　me！　Tao　Qian　slew　my　whole　family；　and　I　will　tear　his　heart　out　in　revenge。　I　swear　it！　You　may　speak　for　your　friend　and　say　what　you　will。　I　shall　be　as　if　I　heard　not。〃
Intercession　had　failed。　Chen　Gong　sighed　and　took　his　leave。
He　said；　〃Alas！　I　cannot　go　to　Tao　Qian　and　look　upon　his　face。〃
So　Chen　Gong　rode　off　to　the　county　of　Chenliu　to　give　service　to　Governor　Zhang　Miao。
Cao　Cao's　army　of　revenge　laid　waste　whatever　place　it　passed　through；　slaying　the　people　and　desecrating　their　cemeteries。
When　Tao　Qian　heard　the　terrible　tidings；　he　looked　up　to　heaven；　saying；　〃I　must　be　guilty　of　some　fault　before　Heaven　to　have　brought　this　evil　upon　my　people！〃
He　called　together　his　officials　to　consult。
One　of　them；　Cao　Bao；　said；　〃Now　the　enemy　is　upon　us：　We　cannot　sit　and　await　death　with　folded　hands。　I　for　one　will　help　you　to　make　a　fight。〃
Tao　Qian　reluctantly　sent　the　army　out。　From　a　distance　he　saw　Cao　Cao's　army　spread　abroad　like　frost　and　rushed　far　and　wide　like　snow。　In　their　midst　was　a　large　white　flag　and　on　both　sides　was　written　Vengeance　。
When　he　had　ranged　his　troops；　Cao　Cao　rode　out　dressed　in　mourning　white　and　abused　Tao　Qian。
But　Tao　Qian　advanced；　and　from　beneath　his　ensign　he　bowed　low　and　said；　〃I　wished　to　make　friends　with　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　and　so　I　sent　Zhang　Kai　to　escort　your　family。　I　knew　not　that　his　rebel　heart　was　still　unchanged。　The　fault　does　not　lie　at　my　door　as　you　must　see。〃
〃You　old　wretch！　You　killed　my　father；　and　now　you　dare　mumble　this　nonsense；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
And　he　asked　who　would　go　out　and　seize　Tao　Qian。
Xiahou　Dun　undertook　this　service　and　rode　out。　Tao　Qian　fled　to　the　inner　portion　of　his　array；　and　as　Xiahou　Dun　came　on；　Cao　Bao　went　to　meet　him。　But　just　as　the　two　horses　met；　a　hurricane　burst　over　the　spot；　and　the　flying　dust　and　pebbles　threw　both　sides　into　the　utmost　confusion。　Both　drew　off。
Tao　Qian　retired　into　the　city　and　called　his　officers　to　council。
〃The　force　against　us　is　too　strong；〃　said　he。　〃I　will　give　myself　up　as　a　prisoner　and　let　him　wreak　his　vengeance　on　me。　I　may　save　the　people。〃
But　a　voice　was　heard　saying；　〃You　have　long　ruled　here；　and　the　people　love　you。　Strong　as　the　enemy　are；　they　are　not　necessarily　able　to　break　down　our　walls；　especially　when　defended　by　you　and　your　people。　I　have　a　scheme　to　suggest　that　I　think　will　make　Cao　Cao　die　in　a　place　where　he　will　not　find　burial。〃
These　bold　words　startled　the　assembly；　and　they　eagerly　asked　what　the　scheme　was。

Making　overtures　for　friendship；　Tao　Qian　encountered　deadly　hate。
But；　where　danger　seemed　most　threatening；　he　discovered　safety's　gate。

The　next　chapter　will　disclose　who　the　speaker　was。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　11　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　11
　Chapter　11
Liu　Bei　Rescues　Kong　Rong　At　Beihai；
Lu　Bu　Defeats　Cao　Cao　Near　Puyang。
It　was　one　Mi　Zhu　who　said　he　knew　how　to　defeat　Cao　Cao　utterly。　Mi　Zhu　came　of　a　wealthy　family　of　merchants　in　Donghai　and　trading　in　Luoyang。　One　day　traveling　homeward　from　that　city　in　a　carriage；　he　met　an　exquisitely　beautiful　lady　trudging　along　the　road；　who　asked　him　to　let　her　ride。　He　stopped　and　yielded　his　place　to　her。　She　invited　him　to　share　the　seat　with　her。　He　mounted；　but　sat　rigidly　upright；　never　even　glancing　in　her　direction。　They　traveled　thus　for　some　miles　when　she　thanked　him　and　alighted。
Just　as　she　left　she　said；　〃I　am　the　Goddess　of　Fire　from　the　Southern　Land。　I　am　on　my　way　to　execute　a　decree　of　the　Supreme　God　to　burn　your　dwelling；　but　your　extreme　courtesy　has　so　deeply　touched　me　that　I　now　warn　you。　Hasten　homeward；　remove　your　valuables；　for　I　must　arrive　tonight。〃
Thereupon　she　disappeared。　Mi　Zhu　hastily　finished　his　journey　and；　as　soon　as　he　arrived；　moved　everything　out　of　his　house。　Sure　enough　that　night　a　fire　started　in　the　kitchen　and　involved　the　whole　house。　After　this　he　devoted　his　wealth　to　relieving　the　poor　and　forting　the　afflicted。　Tao　Qian　gave　him　the　magistracy　office　he　then　held。
The　plan　Mi　Zhu　proposed　was　this：　〃I　will　go　to　Beihai　and　beg　Governor　Kong　Rong　to　help。　Another　should　go　to　Qingzhou　on　a　similar　mission　to　get　the　help　from　Imperial　Protector　Tien　Kai。　If　the　armies　of　these　two　places　march　on　Cao　Cao；　he　will　certainly　retire。〃
Tao　Qian　accepted　the　plan　and　wrote　two　letters。　He　asked　for　a　volunteer　to　go　to　Qingzhou；　and　a　certain　Chen　Deng　offered　himself　and；　after　he　had　left；　Mi　Zhu　was　formally　entrusted　with　the　mission　to　the　north。　Meanwhile　Tao　Qian　and　his　generals　would　hold　the　city　as　they　could。
Kong　Rong　was　a　native　of　Qufu　in　the　old　state　of　Lu。　He　was　one　of　the　twentieth　generation　in　descent　from　the　great　Teacher　Confucius。　Kong　Rong　had　been　noted　as　a　very　intelligent　lad；　somewhat　precocious。　When　ten　years　old　he　had　gone　to　see　Li　Ying；　the　Governor　of　Henan；　but　the　doorkeeper　demurred　to　letting　him　in。
But　when　Kong　Rong　said；　〃I　am　Minister　Li　Ying's　intimate　friend；〃　he　was　admitted。
Li　Ying　asked　Kong　Rong　what　relations　had　existed　between　their　families　that　might　justify　the　term　intimate。
The　boy　replied；　〃Of　old　my　ancestor　Confucius　questioned　your　ancestor；　the　Taoist　sage　Laozi；　concerning　ceremonies。　So　our　families　have　known　each　other　for　many　generations。〃
Li　Ying　was　astonished　at　the　boy's　ready　wit。
Presently　High　Minister　Chen　Wei　visited；　to　whom　Li　Ying　told　the　story　of　his　youthful　guest。　〃He　is　a　wonder；　this　boy；〃　said　Li　Ying；　pointing　to　Kong　Rong。
Chen　Wei　replied；　〃It　does　not　follow　that　a　clever　boy　grows　up　into　a　clever　man。〃
The　lad　took　him　up　at　once　saying；　〃By　what　you　say；　Sir；　you　were　certainly　one　of　the　clever　boys。〃
The　minister　adviser　and　the　governor　all　laughed；　saying；　〃The　boy　is　going　to　be　a　noble　vessel。〃
Thus　from　boyhood　Kong　Rong　was　famous。　As　a　man　he　rose　to　be　an　Imperial　mander　and　was　sent　as　Governor　to　Beihai；　where　he　was　renowned　for　hospitality。　He　used　to　quote　the　lines：

〃Let　the　rooms　be　full　of　friends；
And　the　cups　be　full　of　wine。
That　is　what　I　like。〃

After　six　years　at　Beihai　the　people　were　devoted　to　him。　The　day　that　Mi　Zhu　arrived；　Kong　Rong　was；　as　usual；　seated　among　his　guests；　and　the　messenger　was　ushered　in　without　delay。　In　reply　to　a　question　about　the　reason　of　the　visit；　Mi　Zhu　presented　Tao　Qian's　letter　which　said　that　Cao　Cao　was　pressing　on　Xuzhou　City　and　the　Imperial　Protector　prayed　for　help。
Then　said　Kong　Rong；　〃Your　master　and　I　are　good　friends；　and　your　presence　here　constrains　me　to　go　to　his　aid。　However；　I　have　no　quarrel　with　Cao　Cao　either；　so　I　will　first　write　to　him　to　try　to　make　peace。　If　he　refuses　my　offer；　then　I　must　set　the　army　in　motion。〃
〃Cao　Cao　will　not　listen　to　proposals　of　peace：　He　is　too　certain　of　his　strength；〃　said　Mi　Zhu。
Kong　Rong　wrote　his　letter　and　also　gave　orders　to　muster　his　troops。　Just　at　this　moment　happened　another　rising　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　ten　thousand　of　them；　and　the　ruffians　began　to　rob　and　murder　at　Beihai。　It　was　necessary　to　deal　with　them　first；　and　Kong　Rong　led　his　army　outside　the　city。
The　rebel　leader；　Guan　Hai；　rode　out　to　the　front；　saying；　〃I　know　this　county　is　fruitful　and　can　well　spare　ten　thousand　carts　of　grain。　Give　me　that　and　we　retire；　refuse；　and　we　will　batter　down　the　city　walls　and　destroy　every　soul。〃
Kong　Rong　shouted　back；　〃I　am　a　servant　of　the　great　Hans；　entrusted　with　the　safety　of　their　land。　Think　you　I　will　feed　rebels　？〃
Guan　Hai　whipped　his　steed；　whirled　his　sword　around　his　head　and　rode　forward。　Zong　Bao；　one　of　Kong　Rong's　generals；　set　his　spear　and　rode　out　to　give　battle；　but　after　a　very　few　bouts　Zong　Bao　was　cut　down。　Soon　the　soldiers　fell　into　panic　and　rushed　pell…mell　into　the　city　for　protection。　The　rebels　then　laid　siege　to　the　city　on　all　sides。　Kong　Rong　was　very　down…hearted；　and　Mi　Zhu；　who　now　saw　no　hope　for　the　success　of　his　mission；　was　grieved　beyond　words。
The　sight　from　the　city　wall　was　exceeding　sad；　for　the　rebels　were　there　in　enormous　numbers。　One　day　standing　on　the　wall；　Kong　Rong　saw　afar　a　man　armed　with　a　spear　riding　hard　in　among　the　Yellow　Scarves　and　scattering　them　before　him　like　chaff　before　the　wind。
Before　long　the　man　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　wall　and　called　out；　〃Open　the　gate！〃
But　the　defenders　would　not　open　to　an　unknown　man；　and　in　the　delay　a　crowd　of　rebels　gathered　round　the　rider　along　the　edge　of　the　moat。　Suddenly　wheeling　about；　the　warrior　dashed　in　among　them　and　bowled　over　a　dozen　at　which　the　others　fell　back。　At　this　Kong　Rong　ordered　the　wardens　to　open　the　gates　and　let　the　stranger　enter。　As　soon　as　he　was　inside；　he　dismounted；　laid　aside　his　spear；　ascended　the　wall；　and　made　humble　obeisance　to　the　Governor。
〃My　name　is　Taishi　Ci；　and　I　am　from　the　county　of　Laihuang。　I　only　returned　home　yesterday　from　the　north　to　see　my　mother；　and　then　I　heard　that　your　city　was　in　danger　from　a　rebel　attack。　My　mother　said　you　had　been　very　kind　to　her　and　told　me　I　should　try　to　help。　So　I　set　out　all　alone；　and　here　I　am。〃
This　was　cheering。　Kong　Rong　already　knew　Taishi　Ci　by　reputation　as　a　valiant　fighting　man；　although　they　two　had　never　met。　The　son　being　far　away　from　his　home；　Kong　Rong　had　taken　his　mother；　who　dwelt　a　few　miles　from　the　city；　under　his　especial　protection　and　saw　that　she　did　not　suffer　from　want。　This　had　won　the　old　lady's　heart　and　she