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〃Were　you　not　angry　at　that？〃　said　Chong　Ji。
Dong　Cheng　answered；　〃Though　we　be　angry；　what　can　we　do？〃
Wu　Shi　struck　in；　saying；　〃I　would　slay　this　fellow；　I　swear；　but　I　cannot　get　anyone　to　back　me　up。〃
〃One　should　perish　for　one's　country；　one　should　not　mind；〃　said　Chong　Ji。
At　this　moment　Wang　Zifu　appeared　from　behind　the　screen；　saying；　〃You　two　want　to　kill　Cao　Cao！　I　shall　have　to　let　him　know　this。　And　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　is　my　witness。〃
〃A　loyal　minister　does　not　mind　death。　If　we　are　killed；　we　will　be　Han　ghosts；　which　is　better　than　being　sycophants　of　a　traitor；〃　said　Chong　Ji；　angrily。
Dong　Cheng　said；　〃We　were　just　saying　we　wanted　to　see　you　two　on　this　matter。　Wang　Zifu　is　only　joking。〃
Then　he　drew　forth　the　decree　and　showed　it　to　the　two　newers；　who　also　wept　as　they　read　it。　They　were　asked　to　add　their　names　to　the　silk　roll。
Wang　Zifu　said；　〃Wait　here　a　few　moments　till　I　get　Wu　Zilan　to　e。〃
He　left　the　room　and　very　soon　returned　with　his　friend；　who　also　wrote　his　name　in　the　presence　of　all　the　others。
After　this　they　went　into　one　of　the　inner　chambers　to　drink　success　to　the　new　plot。　While　there；　a　new　visitor；　Ma　Teng；　Governor　of　Xiliang；　was　announced。
〃Say　I　am　indisposed；〃　said　the　host；　〃and　cannot　receive　visitors。〃
The　doorkeeper　took　the　message；　whereat　Ma　Teng　angrily　said；　〃Last　night　at　the　Donghua　Gate；　I　saw　him　e　out　in　robe　and　girdle。　How　can　he　pretend　illness　today？　I　am　not　e　from　mere　idleness；　why　does　he　refuse　to　see　me？〃
The　doorkeeper　went　in　again　and　told　his　master　what　the　visitor　had　said　and　that　he　was　very　angry。　Then　Dong　Cheng　rose；　excused　himself　saying　he　would　soon　return；　and　went　to　receive　Ma　Teng。
After　the　visitor　had　saluted　and　they　were　both　seated；　Ma　Teng　said；　〃I　have　just　e　from　a　farewell　audience　and　wished　to　bid　you　good　bye。　Why　did　you　want　to　put　me　off？〃
〃My　poor　body　was　taken　suddenly　ill。　That　is　why　I　was　not　waiting　to　wele　you；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
〃You　do　not　look　as　if　you　were　ill。　Your　face　wears　the　very　bloom　of　health；〃　said　Ma　Teng　bluntly。
His　host　could　say　no　more　and　was　silent。　The　visitor　shook　out　his　sleeves　and　rose　to　depart。
He　sighed　deeply　as　he　walked　down　the　steps；　saying　to　himself；　〃Not　one　of　them　is　any　good。　There　is　no　one　to　save　the　country。〃
This　speech　sank　deeply　into　Dong　Cheng's　heart。　He　stopped　his　guest；　saying；　〃Who　is　no　good　to　save　the　country？　Whom　do　you　mean？〃
〃That　incident　at　the　hunt　the　other　day；　the　shooting　of　the　stag；　filled　my　breast　with　anger。　But　if　you；　a　near　relative　of　the　Emperor；　can　pass　your　time　in　wine　and　idle　dalliance　without　a　thought　of　doing　away　with　rebellion；　where　can　anyone　be　found　who　will　save　the　dynasty？〃
However；　Dong　Cheng　doubts　were　not　set　at　rest。　Pretending　great　surprise；　he　replied；　〃The　Prime　Minister　is　of　high　rank　and　has　the　confidence　of　the　court。　Why　then　do　you　utter　such　things？〃
〃So　you　find　that　wretch　Cao　Cao　a　good　man；　eh？〃
〃Pray　speak　lower：　There　are　eyes　and　ears　very　near　us。〃
〃The　sort　of　people　who　covet　life　and　fear　death　are　not　those　to　discuss　any　great　undertaking。〃
So　saying；　Ma　Teng　rose　to　go　sway。　By　this　time　his　host's　doubts　were　set　at　rest。　He　felt　that　Ma　Teng　was　loyal。
So　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃Do　not　be　angry　any　more。　I　will　show　you　something。〃
Whereupon　he　invited　Ma　Teng　to　go　into　the　room　where　the　others　were　seated　and　then　showed　him　the　decree。　As　Ma　Teng　read　it；　his　hair　stood　on　end；　he　ground　his　teeth　and　bit　his　lips　till　the　blood　came。
〃When　you　move；　remember　the　whole　force　of　my　army　is　ready　to　help；〃　said　Ma　Teng。
Dong　Cheng　introduced　him　to　the　other　conspirators；　and　then　the　pledge　was　produced；　and　Ma　Teng　was　told　to　sign　his　name。　He　did　so；　at　the　same　time　smearing　the　blood　as　a　sign　of　the　oath　and　saying；　〃I　swear　to　die　rather　than　betray　this　pledge！〃
Pointing　to　the　five　he　said；　〃We　require　ten　for　this　business；　and　we　can　acplish　our　design。〃
〃We　cannot　get　many　true　and　loyal　people。　One　of　the　wrong　sort　will　spoil　all；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
Ma　Teng　told　them　to　bring　in　the　list　of　officials。　He　read　on　till　he　came　to　the　name　Liu；　of　the　imperial　clan；　when　clapping　his　hands　he　cried；　〃Why　not　consult　him？〃
〃Whom？〃　cried　they　altogether。
Ma　Teng　very　slowly　and　deliberately　spoke　his　name。

To　a　very　trusty　servant　es　an　Emperor's　decree；
And　a　scion　of　the　ruling　house　can　prove　his　loyalty。

If　the　readers　turns　to　the　next　chapter；　they　will　see　whom　Ma　Teng　talked　about。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　21　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　21
　Chapter　21
In　A　Plum　Garden；　Cao　Cao　Discusses　Heroes；
Using　The　Host's　Forces；　Guan　Yu　Takes　Xuzhou。
〃Who　is　it？〃　was　the　question　on　the　lips　of　the　conspirators。
Ma　Teng's　reply　was；　〃The　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou；　Liu　Bei。　He　is　here　and　we　will　ask　him　to　help。〃
〃Though　he　is　an　uncle　of　the　Emperor；　he　is　at　present　a　partisan　of　our　enemy；　and　he　will　not　join；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
〃But　I　saw　something　at　the　hunt；〃　said　Ma　Teng。　〃When　Cao　Cao　advanced　to　acknowledge　the　congratulations　due　to　the　Emperor；　Liu　Bei's　sworn　brother　Guan　Yu　was　behind　him；　and　grasped　his　sword　as　if　to　cut　down　Cao　Cao。　However；　Liu　Bei　signed　to　him　to　hold　his　hand　and　Guan　Yu　did。　Liu　Bei　would　willingly　destroy　Cao　Cao；　only　he　thinks　Cao　Cao's　teeth　and　claws　are　too　many。　You　must　ask　Liu　Bei；　and　he　will　surely　consent。〃
Here　Wu　Shi　urged　caution；　saying；　〃Do　not　go　too　fast。　Let　us　consider　the　thing　most　carefully。〃
They　dispersed。　Next　day　after　dark　Dong　Cheng　went　to　Liu　Bei's　lodging　taking　with　him　the　decree。　As　soon　as　Dong　Cheng　was　announced；　Liu　Bei　came　to　greet　him　and　led　him　into　a　private　room　where　they　could　talk　freely。　The　two　younger　brothers　were　there　as　well。
〃It　must　be　something　unusually　important　that　has　brought　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　here　tonight；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃If　I　had　ridden　forth　by　daylight；　Cao　Cao　might　have　suspected　something；　so　I　came　by　night。〃
Wine　was　brought　in；　and　while　they　were　drinking；　Dong　Cheng　said；　〃Why　did　you　check　your　brother　the　other　day　at　the　hunt；　when　he　was　going　to　attack　Cao　Cao？〃
Liu　Bei　was　startled　and　said；　〃How　did　you　know？〃
〃Nobody　noticed　but　I　saw。〃
Liu　Bei　could　not　prevaricate　and　said；　〃It　was　the　presumption　of　the　man　that　made　my　brother　so　angry。　Guan　Yu　could　not　help　it。〃
The　visitor　covered　his　face　and　wept。
〃Ah；〃　said　he；　〃if　all　the　court　ministers　were　like　Guan　Yu；　there　would　be　no　sighs　for　lack　of　tranquillity。〃
Now　Liu　Bei　felt　that　possibly　Cao　Cao　had　sent　his　visitor　to　try　him；　so　he　cautiously　replied；　〃Where　are　the　sighs　for　lack　of　tranquillity　while　Cao　Cao　is　at　the　head　of　affairs？〃
Dong　Cheng　changed　color　and　rose　from　his　seat。
〃You；　Sir；　are　a　relative　of　His　Majesty；　and　so　I　showed　you　my　inmost　feelings。　Why　did　you　mislead　me？〃
But　Liu　Bei　said；　〃Because　I　feared　you　might　be　misleading　me；　and　I　wanted　to　find　out。〃
At　this　Dong　Cheng　drew　out　the　decree　he　had　received　and　showed　it。　His　host　was　deeply　moved。　Then　Dong　Cheng　produced　the　pledge。　There　were　only　six　names　to　it；　and　these　were　Dong　Cheng；　Wang　Zifu；　Chong　Ji；　Wu　Shi；　Wu　Zilan；　and　Ma　Teng。
〃Since　you　have　a　decree　like　this；　I　cannot　but　do　my　share；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　and　at　Dong　Cheng's　request　he　added　his　name　and　signature　to　the　others　and　handed　it　back。
〃Now　let　us　but　get　three　more；　which　will　make　ten；　and　we　shall　be　ready　to　act。〃
〃But　you　must　move　with　great　caution　and　not　let　this　get　abroad；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
The　two　remained　talking　till　an　early　hour　in　the　morning　when　the　visitor　left。
Now　in　order　to　put　Cao　Cao　quite　off　the　scent　that　any　plot　against　him　was　in　progress；　Liu　Bei　began　to　devote　himself　to　gardening；　planting　vegetables；　and　watering　them　with　his　own　hands。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　ventured　to　remonstrate　with　him　for　taking　to　such　an　occupation　when　great　matters　needed　attention。
〃The　reason　for　this　you　may　not　know；〃　replied　he。
And　they　said　no　more。
One　day　when　the　two　brothers　were　absent；　and　Liu　Bei　was　busy　in　his　garden；　two　generals　of　Cao　Cao；　Xu　Chu　and　Zhang　Liao；　with　an　escort　came　from　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃The　mand　of　the　Prime　Minister　is　that　you　e　at　once。〃
〃What　important　affair　is　afoot？〃　asked　Liu　Bei　nervously。
〃We　know　nothing。　We　were　ordered　to　e　and　request　your　presence。〃
All　he　could　do　was　to　follow。
When　Liu　Bei　arrived；　Cao　Cao　met　him　and　laughingly　said；　〃That　is　a　big　business　you　have　in　hand　at　home。〃
This　remark　made　Liu　Bei　turn　the　color　of　clay。　Cao　Cao　took　him　by　the　hand　and　led　him　straight　to　the　private　garden；　saying；　〃The　growth　of　vegetables　that　you　are　trying　to　learn　is　very　difficult。〃
Liu　Bei　breathed　again。　He　said；　〃That　is　hardly　a　business。　It　is　only　a　solace。〃
Cao　Cao　said；　〃I　happened　to　notice　the　green　plums　on　the　trees　today；　and　suddenly　my　thoughts　went　back　to　a　year　ago　when　we　were　thrashing　Zhang　Xiu。　We　were　marching　through　a　parched　county；　and　everyone　was　suffering　from　thirst。　Suddenly　I　lifted　my　whip；　and　pointing　at　something　in　the　distance　I　said；　'Look　at　those　fruitful　plum　trees　in　the　forest　ahead。'　The　soldiers　heard　it；　and　it　made　their　mouths　water。　Seeing　the　plums　kindles　my　appreciation。　I　owe　something　to　the　plums；　and　we　will　repay　it　today。　I　ordered　the　servants　to　heat　some　wine　very　hot　and　sent　to　invite　you　to　share　it。〃
Liu　Bei　was　quite　posed　by　this　time　and　no　longer　suspected　any　sinister　design。　He　went　with　his　host　to　a　small　spring　pavilion　in　a　plum　garden；　where　the　wine　cups　were　already　laid　out　and　green　plums　filled　the　dishes。　They　sat　down　to　a　confidential　talk　and　free　enjoyment　of　their　wine。
As　they　drank；　the　weather　gradually　changed；　clouds　gathering　and　threatening　rain。　The　servants　pointed　out　a　mass　of　cloud　that　looked　like　a　dragon　hung　in　the　sky。　Both　host　and　guest　leaned　over　the　balcony　looking　at　it。
〃Do　you　understand　the　evolution　of　dragons？〃　asked　Cao　Cao　of　the　guest。
〃Not　in　detail。〃
〃A　dragon　can　assume　any　size；　can　rise　in　glory　or　hide　from　sight。　Bulky；　it　generates　clouds　and　evolves　mist；　attenuated；　it　can　scarcely　hide　a　mustard　stalk　or　conceal　a　shadow。　Mounting；　it　can　soar　to　the　empyrean；　subsiding；　it　lurks　in　the　uttermost　depths　of　the　ocean。　This　is　the　midspring　season；　and　the　dragon　chooses　this　moment　for　its　transformations　like　a　person　realizing　his　own　desires　and　overrunning　the　world。　The　dragon　among　animals　pares　with　the　hero　among　people。　You；　General；　have　traveled　all　lakes　and　rivers。　You　must　know　who　are　the　heroes　of　the　present　day；　and　I　wish　you　would　say　who　they　are。〃
〃I　am　just　a　mon　dullard。　How　can　I　know　such　things？〃
〃Do　not　be　so　modest；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Thanks　to　your　kindly　protection　I　have　a　post　at　court。　But　as　to　heroes　I　really　do　not　know　who　they　are。〃
〃You　may　not　have　looked　upon　their　faces；　but　you　must　have　heard　their　names。〃
〃Yuan　Shu　of　the　South　of　River　Huai；　with　his　strong　army　and　abundant　resources：　Is　he　one？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
His　host　laughed；　〃A　rotting　skeleton　in　a　graveyard。　I　shall　put　him　out　of　the　way　shortly。〃
〃Well；　Yuan　Shao　then。　The　highest　offices　of　state　have　been　held　in　his　family　for　four　generations；　and　his　clients　are　many　in　the　empire。　He　is　firmly　posted　in　Jizhou；　and　he　mands　the　services　of　many　able　people。　Surely　he　is　one。〃
〃A　bully；　but　a　coward。　He　is　fond　of　grandiose　schemes；　but　is　devoid　of　decision。　He　makes　for　great　things　but　grudges　the　necessary　sacrifice。　He　loses　sight　of　everything　else　in　view　of　a　little　present　advantage。　He　is　not　one。〃
〃There　is　Liu　Biao　of　Jingzhou。　He　is　renowned　as　a　man　of　perfection；　whose　fame　has　spread　on　all　sides。　Surely　he　is　a　hero。〃
〃He　is　a　mere　semblance；　a　man　of　vain　reputation。　No；　not　he。〃
〃Sun　Ce　is　a　sturdy　sort；　the　chief　of　all　in　the　South　Land。　Is　he　a　hero？〃
〃He　has　profited　by　the　reputation　of　his　father　Sun　Jian。　Sun　Ce　is　not　a　real　hero。〃
〃What　of　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou？〃
〃Though　he　is　of　the　reigning　family；　he　is　nothing　more　than　a　watch　dog。　How　could　you　make　a　hero　of　him？〃
〃What　about　Zhang　Xiu；　Zhang　Lu；　Han　Sui；　and　all　those　leaders？〃
Cao　Cao　clapped　his　hands　and　laughed　very　loudly；　saying；　〃Paltry　people　l