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But　Cao　Cao　made　equal　to　the　occasion。　One　day；　seeing　his　uncle　ing；　he　fell　to　the　ground　in　a　pretended　fit。　The　uncle　alarmed　ran　to　tell　his　father；　who　came；　and　there　was　the　youth　in　most　perfect　health。
〃But　your　uncle　said　you　were　in　a　fit。　Are　you　better？〃　said　his　father。
〃I　have　never　suffered　from　fits　or　any　such　illness；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃But　I　have　lost　my　uncle's　affection；　and　he　has　deceived　you。〃
Thereafter；　whatever　the　uncle　might　say　of　his　faults；　his　father　paid　no　heed。　So　the　young　man　grew　up　licentious　and　uncontrolled。
A　man　of　the　time　named　Qiao　Xuan　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃Rebellion　is　at　hand；　and　only　a　man　of　the　greatest　ability　can　succeed　in　restoring　tranquillity。　That　man　is　yourself。〃
And　He　Yong　of　Nanyang　said　of　him；　〃The　dynasty　of　Han　is　about　to　fall。　He　who　can　restore　peace　is　this　man　and　only　he。〃
Cao　Cao　went　to　inquire　his　future　of　a　wise　man　of　Runan　named　Xu　Shao。
〃What　manner　of　man　am　I？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
The　seer　made　no　reply；　and　again　and　again　Cao　Cao　pressed　the　question。
Then　Xu　Shao　replied；　〃In　peace　you　are　an　able　subject；　in　chaos　you　are　a　crafty　hero！〃
Cao　Cao　greatly　rejoiced　to　hear　this。

＇e＇　One　of　the　Ten　Regular　Attendants
Cao　Cao　graduated　at　twenty　and　earned　a　reputation　of　piety　and　integrity。　He　began　his　career　as　manding　Officer　in　a　county　within　the　Capital　District。　In　the　four　gates　of　the　city　he　guarded；　he　hung　up　clubs　of　various　sorts；　and　he　would　punish　any　breach　of　the　law　whatever　the　rank　of　the　offender。　Now　an　uncle　of　Eunuch　Jian　Shuo*　was　found　one　night　in　the　streets　with　a　sword　and　was　arrested。　In　due　course　he　was　beaten。　Thereafter　no　one　dared　to　offend　again；　and　Cao　Cao's　name　became　heard。　Soon　he　became　a　magistrate　of　Dunqiu。
At　the　outbreak　of　the　Yellow　Scarves；　Cao　Cao　held　the　rank　of　General　and　was　given　mand　of　five　thousand　horse　and　foot　to　help　fight　at　Yingchuan。　He　just　happened　to　fall　in　with　the　newly　defeated　rebels　whom　he　cut　to　pieces。　Thousands　were　slain　and　endless　banners　and　drums　and　horses　were　captured；　together　with　huge　sums　of　money。　However；　Zhang　Ba　and　Zhang　Lian　got　away；　and　after　an　interview　with　Huangfu　Song；　Cao　Cao　went　in　pursuit　of　them。
Meanwhile　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　were　hastening　toward　Yingchuan；　when　they　heard　the　din　of　battle　and　saw　flames　rising　high　toward　the　sky。　But　they　arrived　too　late　for　the　fighting。　They　saw　Huangfu　Song　and　Zhu　Jun　to　whom　they　told　the　intentions　of　Lu　Zhi。
〃The　rebel　power　is　quite　broken　here；〃　said　the　manders；　〃but　they　will　surely　make　for　Guangzong　to　join　Zhang　Jue。　You　can　do　nothing　better　than　hasten　back。〃
The　three　brothers　thus　retraced　their　steps。　Half　way　along　the　road　they　met　a　party　of　soldiers　escorting　a　prisoner　in　a　cage…cart。　When　they　drew　near；　they　saw　the　prisoner　was　no　other　than　Lu　Zhi；　the　man　they　were　going　to　help。　Hastily　dismounting；　Liu　Bei　asked　what　had　happened。
Lu　Zhi　explained；　〃I　had　surrounded　the　rebels　and　was　on　the　point　of　smashing　them；　when　Zhang　Jue　employed　some　of　his　supernatural　powers　and　prevented　my　victory。　The　court　sent　down　Eunuch　Zhuo　Feng　to　inquire　into　my　failure；　and　that　official　demanded　a　bribe。　I　told　him　how　hard　pressed　we　were　and　asked　him　where；　in　the　circumstances；　I　could　find　a　gift　for　him。　He　went　away　in　wrath　and　reported　that　I　was　hiding　behind　my　ramparts　and　would　not　give　battle　and　that　I　disheartened　my　army。　So　I　was　superseded　by　Dong　Zhuo；　and　I　have　to　go　to　the　capital　to　answer　the　charge。〃
This　story　put　Zhang　Fei　into　a　rage。　He　was　for　slaying　the　escort　and　setting　free　Lu　Zhi。　But　Liu　Bei　checked　him。
〃The　government　will　take　the　due　course；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃You　must　not　act　hastily！〃
And　the　escort　and　the　three　brothers　went　two　ways。
It　was　useless　to　continue　on　that　road　to　Guangzong；　so　Guan　Yu　proposed　to　go　back　to　Zhuo；　and　they　retook　the　road。　Two　days　later　they　heard　the　thunder　of　battle　behind　some　hills。　Hastening　to　the　top；　they　beheld　the　government　soldiers　suffering　great　loss；　and　they　saw　the　countryside　was　full　of　Yellow　Scarves。　On　the　rebels'　banners　were　the　words　Zhang　Jue　the　Lord　of　Heaven　written　large。
〃We　will　attack　this　Zhang　Jue！〃　said　Liu　Bei　to　his　brothers；　and　they　galloped　out　to　join　in　the　battle。
Zhang　Jue　had　worsted　Dong　Zhuo　and　was　following　up　his　advantage。　He　was　in　hot　pursuit　when　the　three　brothers　dashed　into　his　army；　threw　his　ranks　into　confusion；　and　drove　him　back　fifteen　miles。　Then　the　brothers　returned　with　the　rescued　general　to　his　camp。
〃What　offices　have　you？〃　asked　Dong　Zhuo；　when　he　had　leisure　to　speak　to　the　brothers。
〃None；〃　replied　they。
And　Dong　Zhuo　treated　them　with　disrespect。　Liu　Bei　retired　calmly；　but　Zhang　Fei　was　furious。
〃We　have　just　rescued　this　menial　in　a　bloody　fight；〃　cried　Zhang　Fei；　〃and　now　he　is　rude　to　us！　Nothing　but　his　death　can　slake　my　anger。〃
Zhang　Fei　stamped　toward　Dong　Zhuo's　tent；　holding　firmly　a　sharp　sword。

As　it　was　in　olden　time　so　it　is　today；
The　simple　wight　may　merit　well；
Officialdom　holds　sway；
Zhang　Fei；　the　blunt　and　hasty；
Where　can　you　find　his　peer？
But　slaying　the　ungrateful　would
Mean　many　deaths　a　year。

Dong　Zhuo's　fate　will　be　unrolled　in　later　chapters。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　2　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　2
　Chapter　2
Zhang　Fei　Whips　The　Government　Officer；
He　Jin　Plots　To　Kill　The　Eunuchs。
Dong　Zhuo　was　born　in　the　far　northwest　at　Lintao　in　the　West　Valley　Land。　As　the　governor　of　Hedong；　Dong　Zhuo　himself　was　arrogant　and　overbearing。　But　the　day　he　had　treated　Liu　Bei　with　contumely　had　been　his　last；　had　not　Liu　Bei　and　Guan　Yu　restrained　their　wrathful　brother　Zhang　Fei。
〃Remember　he　has　the　government　mission；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃Who　are　we　to　judge　and　slay？〃
〃It　is　bitter　to　take　orders　from　such　a　wretch。　I　would　rather　slay　him！　You　may　stay　here　if　you　wish　to；　but　I　will　seek　some　other　place；〃　said　Zhang　Fei。
〃We　three　are　one　in　life　and　in　death；　there　is　no　parting　for　us。　We　will　all　go　hence。〃
So　spoke　Liu　Bei；　and　his　brother　was　satisfied。　Wherefore　all　three　set　out　and　lost　no　time　in　traveling　until　they　came　to　Zhu　Jun；　who　received　them　well　and　accepted　their　aid　in　attacking　Zhang　Ba。　At　this　time　Cao　Cao　had　joined　himself　to　Huangfu　Song；　and　they　were　trying　to　destroy　Zhang　Lian；　and　there　was　a　great　battle　at　Quyang。
Zhang　Ba　was　manding　some　eighty　thousand　troops。　The　rebel　had　led　his　army　to　a　strong　position　in　the　rear　of　the　hills。　An　attack　being　decided　upon；　Liu　Bei　was　the　van　leader。　On　the　rebel　side　a　general　of　Zhang　Ba；　Gao　Sheng；　came　out　to　offer　battle。　Liu　Bei　sent　Zhang　Fei　to　smite　Gao　Sheng。　Out　rode　Zhang　Fei　at　full　speed；　his　spear　ready　set。　After　a　few　bouts　Zhang　Fei　wounded　Gao　Sheng；　who　was　unhorsed。　At　this　Liu　Bei　signaled　the　main　army　to　advance。
Then　Zhang　Ba；　while　still　mounted；　loosened　his　hair；　grasped　his　sword；　and　uttered　his　incantations。　Thereupon　began　the　wind　to　howl　and　the　thunder　to　roll；　while　a　dense　black　cloud　from　the　heavens　settled　upon　the　field。　And　therein　seemed　to　be　horsemen　and　footmen　innumerable；　who　swept　to　attack　the　imperial　troops。　Fear　came　upon　them；　and　Liu　Bei　led　off　his　troops；　but　they　were　in　disorder　and　returned　defeated。
Zhu　Jun　and　Liu　Bei　considered　the　matter。
〃Zhang　Ba　uses　magic；〃　said　Zhu　Jun。　〃Tomorrow；　then；　will　I　prepare　counter　magic　in　the　shape　of　the　blood　of　slaughtered　swine　and　goats。　This　blood　shall　be　sprinkled　upon　their　hosts　from　the　precipices　above　by　soldiers　in　ambush。　Thus　shall　we　be　able　to　break　the　power　of　their　shamanic　art。〃
So　it　was　done。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　took　each　a　thousand　troops　and　hid　them　on　the　high　cliffs　behind　the　hills；　and　they　had　a　plentiful　supply　of　the　blood　of　swine　and　goats　and　all　manners　of　filthy　things。　And　so　next　day；　when　the　rebels　with　fluttering　banners　and　rolling　drums　came　out　to　challenge；　Liu　Bei　rode　forth　to　meet　them。　At　the　same　moment　that　the　armies　met；　again　Zhang　Ba　began　his　magic　and　again　the　elements　began　to　struggle　together。　Sand　flew　in　clouds；　pebbles　were　swept　along　the　ground；　black　masses　of　vapor　filled　the　sky；　and　rolling　masses　of　foot　and　horse　descended　from　on　high。　Liu　Bei　turned；　as　before；　to　flee　and　the　rebels　rushed　on。　But　as　they　pressed　through　the　hills；　the　trumpets　blared；　and　the　hidden　soldiers　exploded　bombs；　threw　down　filth　and　spattered　blood。　The　masses　of　soldiers　and　horses　in　the　air　fluttered　to　the　earth　as　fragments　of　torn　paper；　the　wind　ceased　to　blow；　the　thunder　subsided；　the　sand　sank；　and　the　pebbles　lay　still　upon　the　ground。
Zhang　Ba　quickly　saw　his　magic　had　been　countered　and　turned　to　retire。　Then　he　was　attacked　on　the　flanks　by　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　and　in　rear　by　Liu　Bei　and　Zhu　Jun。　The　rebels　were　routed。　Liu　Bei；　seeing　from　afar　the　banner　of　Zhang　Ba　The　Lord　of　Earth　；　galloped　toward　it　but　only　succeeded　in　wounding　Zhang　Ba　with　an　arrow　in　the　left　arm。　Wounded　though　he　was；　Zhang　Ba　got　away　into　the　city　of　Yangcheng；　where　he　fortified　himself　and　was　besieged　by　Zhu　Jun。

＇e＇　General　of　the　Flying　Chariots　was　the　second　highest　military　office；　just　below　Regent　Marshal。
＇e＇　Imperial　Protector　was　the　highest　office　in　an　administrative　region　or　zhou　。　Ancient　China　was　divided　into　nine　regions。　Each　region　had　a　capital　city；　often　of　the　same　name。　The　nine　regions　were　Bingzhou；　Jingzhou；　Jizhou；　Liangzhou；　Qingzhou；　Xuzhou；　Yizhou；　Youzhou；　and　Yuzhou。　Over　the　time　more　regions　were　created。　During　the　Three　Kingdoms　period；　there　were　already　more　than　nine　regions。　A　few　of　the　new　regions　were　Xizhou；　Yangzhou；　and　Yongzhou。　（see　map　）
Scouts；　sent　out　to　get　news　of　Huangfu　Song；　reported：　〃mander　Huangfu　Song　had　been　very　successful；　and　Dong　Zhuo　had　suffered　many　reverses。　Therefore　the　court　put　Huangfu　Song　in　the　latter's　place。　Zhang　Jue　had　died　before　Huangfu　Song's　arrival。　Zhang　Lian　had　added　his　brother's　army　to　his　own；　but　no　headway　could　be　made　against　Huangfu　Song；　whose　army　gained　seven　successive　victories。　And　Zhang　Lian　was　slain　at　Quyang。　Beside　this；　Zhang　Jue's　coffin　was　exhumed；　the　corpse　beheaded；　and　the　head；　after　exposure；　was　sent　to　Capital　Luoyang。　The　mon　crowd　had　surrendered。　For　these　services　Huangfu　Song　was　promoted　to　General　of　the　Flying　Chariots*　and　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Jizhou*。
〃Huangfu　Song　did　not　forget　his　friends。　His　first　act　after　he　had　attained　to　power　was　to　memorialize　the　Throne　concerning　the　case　of　Lu　Zhi；　who　was　then　restored　to　his　former　rank　for　his　meritorious　conducts。　Cao　Cao　also　received　advancement　for　his　services　and　is　preparing　to　go　to　Jinan　to　his　new　post。〃
Hearing　these　things　Zhu　Jun　pressed　harder　yet　upon　Yangcheng；　and　the　approaching　break…up　of　the　rebellion　became　evident。　Then　one　of　Zhang　Ba's　officers；　Yan　Zheng；　killed　his　leader　and　brought　the　head　in　token　of　submission。　Thus　rebellion　in　that　part　of　the　country　was　stamped　out；　and　Zhu　Jun　made　his　report　to　the　government。
However；　the　embers　of　the　Yellow　Scarves　still　smoldered。　Three　other　rebels；　Zhao　Hong；　Han　Zhong；　and　Sun　Zhong；　gathered　some　thirty　thousand　rebels　and　began　to　murder　and　rob　and　burn；　calling　themselves　the　avengers　of　Master　Zhang　Jue。
The　court　manded　the　successful　Zhu　Jun　to　lead　his　veteran　and　successful　troops　to　destroy　the　rebels。　He　at　once　marched　toward　the　city　of　Wancheng　which　the　rebels　were　holding。　When　Zhu　Jun　arrived；　Han　Zhong　went　to　oppose　him。　Zhu　Jun　sent　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　to　attack　the　southwest　corner　of　the　city。　Han　Zhong　at　once　led　the　best　of　his　troops　to　defend　the　city。　Meanwhile　Zhu　Jun　himself　led　two　thousand　of　armored　horsemen　to　attack　the　opposite　corner。　The　rebels；　thinking　the　city　being　lost；　abandoned　the　southwest　and　turned　back　into　the　city　to　help　the　defenders。　Liu　Bei　pressed　hotly　in　their　rear；　and　they　were　utterly　routed。　They　took　refuge　in　the　city　which　was　then　invested。　When　famine　pressed　upon　the　besieged；　they　sent　a　messenger　to　offer　to　surrender；　but　Zhu　Jun　refused　the　offer。
Said　Liu　Bei　to　Zhu　Jun；　〃Seeing　that　the　founder　of　the　Han　Dynasty；　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor；　could　wele　th