AN OFFICIAL IS THRASHED;
UNCLE HO PLOTS TO KILL THE EUNUCHS.
It must here be told who this Tung Cho was. Cho, or Chung-ying, was
born in the west at Lintʻao in modern Shênsi. His father was a prefect.
He himself was arrogant and overbearing. But the day he had treated the
three brothers with contumely had been his last had not the two elders
restrained their wrathful brother.
“Remember he has the government commission;” said Yüan-tê, “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 an you wish to, but I will seek some other
place.”
“We three are one in life and in death; there is no parting for us. We
will all go hence.”
So spake Yüan-tê and his brother was satisfied. Wherefore all three set
out and lost no time in travelling till they came to Chu Chien, who
received them well and accepted their aid in attacking Chang Pao.
At this time Tsʻao Tsʻao had joined himself to Huangfu Sung and they
were trying to destroy Chang Liang and there was a great battle at
Chuyang. At the same time Chang Pao was attacked. The rebel had led his
men to a strong position in the rear of the hills. An attack being
decided upon Yüan-tê was hsien-fêng, or leader of the van. On the rebel
side a subordinate leader, Kao Hsing, came out to offer battle. Chang
Fei was sent to smite him. Out rode Fei at full speed, his spear ready
set. After a few bouts he wounded Kao, who was unhorsed. At this the
main army had the signal to advance. Then Chang Pao, 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 horse and footmen innumerable, who swept to attack
the imperial troops. Fear came upon them and Yüan-tê led off his men,
but they were in disorder and returned defeated.
Chu Chien and Yüan-tê considered the matter. “He uses magic,” said
Chien. “To-morrow, then, will I prepare counter magic in the shape of
the blood of slaughtered swine and goats and dogs. This blood shall be
sprinkled upon their hosts from the precipices above by men whom they
see not. Thus shall we be able to break the power of their black art.”
So it was done. The two younger brothers took each a company of men and
hid them on the high cliffs behind the hills, and they had a plentiful
supply of the blood of swine and goats and dogs and all manner of
filthy things. And so next day, when the rebels with fluttering banners
and rolling drums came out to challenge, Yüan-tê rode forth to meet
them. At the same moment that the armies met, again Chang Pao began his
magic and again the elements began to struggle together. Sand flew in
clouds, pebbles were swept along the ground, black masses of vapour
filled the sky and rolling masses of foot and horse descended from on
high. Yüan-tê 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 men 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.
Chang Pao quickly saw his magic had been countered and turned to
retire. Then he was attacked on the flanks by the two younger brothers,
and in rear by Yüan-tê and Chu Chien. The rebels were routed. Yüan-tê,
seeing from afar the banner of the “Duke of Earth,” galloped toward it
but only succeeded in wounding the “Duke” with an arrow in the left
arm. Wounded though he was, he got away into Yangchʻêng, where he
fortified himself and was besieged by Chu Chien.
Scouts, sent out to get news of Huangfu, reported that he had been very
successful and Tung Cho had suffered many reverses. Therefore the Court
had put Huangfu in the latter’s place. Chang Chio had died before his
arrival. Chang Liang had added his brother’s army to his own but no
headway could be made against Huangfu, whose army gained seven
successive victories. And Chang Liang had been slain at Chüyang. Beside
this Chang Chio’s coffin had been exhumed, the corpse beheaded and the
head, after exposure, had been sent to the capital. The common crowd
had surrendered. For these services Huangfu had been promoted and now
ruled in Ichou.
He had not forgotten his friends. His first act after he had attained
to power was to memorialise concerning the case of Lu Chih, who was
then restored to his former rank.
Tsʻao Tsʻao also had received advancement for his services and was
preparing to go south to his new post.
Hearing these things Huangfu Sung pressed harder yet upon Yangchʻêng
and the approaching break-up of the rebellion became evident. Then one
of Chang Pao’s officers killed his leader and brought his head in token
of submission. Thus rebellion in that part of the country was stamped
out and Chu Chien made his report to the government.
However, the embers still smouldered. Three of the rebels Chao Hung,
Han Chung and Sun Chung, began to murder and rob and burn, calling
themselves the avengers of Chang Chio. The successful Chu Chien was
commanded to lead his veteran and successful troops to destroy them. He
at once marched toward Wanchʻêng, which the rebels were attacking. When
Chu arrived Han Chung was sent to oppose him. Chu Chien sent the three
brothers, our heroes, to attack the south west angle of the city. Han
Chung at once led the best of his men to beat them off. Meanwhile Chu
Chien himself led two companies of armoured horsemen to attack the
opposite corner. The rebels, thinking the city lost, abandoned the
south west and turned back. The three brothers 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 the offer was refused.
Said Yüan-tê, “Seeing that the founder of the Han Dynasty could welcome
the submissive and receive the favourable why reject these?”
“The conditions are different,” replied Chu Chien. “In those days
disorder was universal and the people had no fixed lord. Wherefore
submission was welcomed and support rewarded to encourage people to
come over. Now the Empire is united and the Yellow Turbans are the only
malcontents. To receive their surrender is not to encourage the good.
To allow brigands, when successful, to give way to every licence, and
to let them surrender when they fail is to encourage brigandage. Your
plan is not a good one.”
Yüan-tê replied, “Not to let brigands surrender is well. But the city
is surrounded as by an iron barrel. If the rebels’ request be refused
they will be desperate and fight to the death and a myriad such men
cannot be withstood. In the city there are many times that number, all
doomed to death. Let us withdraw from one corner and only attack the
opposite. They will all assuredly flee and have no desire to fight. We
shall take them.”
Chu Chien saw that the advice was good and followed it. As predicted
the rebels ran out, led by Han Chung. The besiegers fell upon them as
they fled and their leader was slain. They scattered in all directions.
But the other two rebels came with large reinforcements, and as they
appeared very strong, the government soldiers retired and the new body
of rebels entered Wanchʻêng.
Chu Chien encamped ten li from the city and prepared to attack. Just
then there arrived a body of horse and foot from the east. They were
led by one Sun Chien.
Sun Chien had a broad open face, was lithe and yet powerfully built. He
was a native of Wu, a descendant of Sun Wu. His minor name was Wên-tai.
When he was seventeen he was with his father on the Chʻientang River
and saw a party of pirates, who had been plundering a merchant,
dividing their booty on the river bank.
“We can capture these,” said he to his father.
So, gripping his sword, he ran boldly up the bank and cried out to this
side and that as if he was calling his men to come on. This made the
pirates believe the soldiers were on them and they fled, leaving their
booty behind them. He actually killed one of the pirates.
In this way be became known and was recommended for official rank.
Then, in collaboration with the local officials, he raised a band and
helped to quell the rebellion of one Hsü Chʻang, who called himself the
Yangming Emperor. The rebel’s son was also slain. For this he was
commended in a memorial to the throne and received further promotion.
When the Yellow Turban rebellion began he gathered together the young
men of his village, some of the merchant class, got a company and a
half of veteran soldiers and took the field. Now he had reached the
fighting area.
Chu Chien welcomed him gladly and ordered him to attack the south gate.
Other gates were simultaneously attacked, but the east gate was left
free to give the rebels a chance of exit. Sun Chien was the first to
mount the wall and cut down a score of men with his own hand. The
rebels ran, but Chao Hung their leader, rode directly at Sun Chien with
his spear ready to thrust. Sun Chien leaped down from the wall,
snatched away the spear and with it knocked the rebel from his horse.
Then mounting the horse he rode hither and thither, slaying as he went.
The rebels fled north. Meeting Yüan-tê they declined to fight and
scattered. But Yüan-tê drew his bow, fitted an arrow and wounded their
leader Sun Chung, who fell to the ground. The main army came up, and
after tremendous slaughter, the others surrendered. Thus was peace
brought to the country about Nanyang.
Chu Chien led his army to the capital, was promoted to a General of
Cavalry and received the governorship of Honan. He did not forget those
who had helped him to win victory.
Sun Chien, having influential friends to support him, quickly got an
appointment and went to it. But Yüan-tê, in spite of Chu Chien’s
memorial, waited in vain for preferment and the three brothers became
very sad.
Walking along one day Yüan-tê met a Court official, Chang Chün by name,
to whom he related his services and told his sorrows. Chang was much
surprised at this neglect and one day at Court spoke to the Emperor
about it.
Said he, “The Yellow Turbans rebelled because the eunuchs sold offices
and bartered ranks. There was employment only for their friends,
punishment only for their enemies. This led to rebellion. Wherefore it
would be well to slay the eunuchs and expose their heads and proclaim
what had been done throughout the whole empire. Then reward the worthy.
Thereby the land would be wholly tranquil.”
But the eunuchs fiercely opposed this and said the memorialist was
insulting the Emperor and they bade the guard thrust him without.
However, the eunuchs took counsel together and one said, “Surely some
one who rendered some service against rebels resents being passed
over.”
So they caused a list of unimportant people to be prepared for
preferment by and by. Among them was Yüan-tê, who received the post of
magistrate of the Anhsi district, to which he proceeded without delay
after disbanding his men and sending them home to their villages. He
retained a score or so as escort.
The three brothers reached Anhsi, and soon the administration of the
district was so reformed and the rule so wise that in a month there was
no law-breaking. The three brothers lived in perfect harmony, eating at
the same table and sleeping on the same couch. But when Yüan-tê was in
the company of others, the two younger brothers would stand in
attendance, were it even a whole day.
Four months after their arrival there came out a general order for the
reduction of the number of military officers holding civil posts, and
Yüan-tê began to fear that he would be among those thrown out. In due
course the inspecting official arrived and was met at the boundary, but
to the polite obeisance of Yüan-tê he made no return, save a wave of
his whip as he sat on his horse. This made the younger brothers
furious; but worse was to follow.
When the inspector had arrived at his lodging, he took his seat on the
daïs leaving Yüan-tê standing below. After a long time he addressed
him.
“Magistrate Liu, what was your origin?”
Liu Pei replied, “I am descended from Prince Ching. Since my first
fight with the Yellow Turban rebels at Chochün I have been in some
score of battles, wherein I gained some trifling merit. My reward was
this office.”
“You lie about your descent and your statement of services is false,”
roared the inspector. “Now the Court has ordered the reduction of your
sort of low class officials.”
Yüan-tê muttered to himself and withdrew. On his return to the
magistracy he took council with his secretaries.
“This pompous attitude only means he wants a bribe,” said they.
“I have never wronged the people to the value of a single stalk of
stubble; then where is a bribe to come from?”
Next day the inspector had the minor officials before him and forced
them to bear witness that their master had oppressed the people.
Yüan-tê time after time went to rebut this charge, but the doorkeepers
drove him away and he could not enter.
Now Chang Fei had been all day drowning his sorrow in wine and had
drunk far too much. Calling for his horse he rode out past the lodging
of the inspector, and at the gate saw a small crowd of white-haired men
weeping bitterly. He asked why. They said, “The inspector has compelled
the underlings to bear false witness against our magistrate, with the
desire to injure the noble Liu. We came to beg mercy for him, but are
not permitted to enter. Moreover, we have been beaten by the
doorkeepers.”
This provoked the irascible and half intoxicated man to fury. His eyes
opened till they became circles; he ground his teeth; in a moment he
was off his steed, had forced his way past the scared doorkeepers into
the building and was in the rear apartments. There he saw the inspector
sitting on high with the official underlings in bonds at his feet.
“Oppressor of the people, robber!” cried Fei, “do you know me?”
But before he could reply Fei had him by the hair and had dragged him
down. Another moment he was outside and firmly lashed to the hitching
post in front of the building. Then breaking off a switch from a willow
tree Fei gave his victim a severe thrashing, only staying his hand when
the switch was too short to strike with.
Yüan-tê was sitting alone, communing with his sorrow, when he heard a
shouting before his door. He asked what was the matter. They told him
General Chang had bound somebody to a post and was thrashing him.
Hastily going outside he saw who the unhappy victim was and asked the
reason.
“If we do not beat this sort of wretch to death what may we expect?”
said Fei.
“Noble Sir, save me,” cried the victim.
Now Yüan-tê had always been kindly and gracious, wherefore he bade his
brother release the officer and go his way.
Then Kuan Yü came up saying, “Brother, after your magnificent services
you only got this petty post and even here you have been insulted by
this fellow. A thorn bush is no place for a phoenix. Let us slay this
fellow, leave here and go home till we can evolve a bigger scheme.”
Yüan-tê contented himself with hanging the official seal about the
inspector’s neck saying, “If I hear that you injure the people I will
assuredly kill you. I now spare your life and I return to you the seal.
We are going.”
The inspector went to the Prefect and complained, and orders were
issued for the arrest of the brothers, but they got away to Taichou and
sought refuge with Liu Hui, who sheltered them because of Liu Pei’s
noble birth.
But nothing will be here related of this. By this time the Ten Eunuchs
had everything in their hands and they put to death all who did not
stand in with them. From every officer who had helped to put down the
rebels they demanded presents, and if these were not forthcoming he was
removed from office. Huangfu and Chu both fell victims to these
intrigues, while on the other hand the eunuchs received the highest
honours. Thirteen of them were ennobled. The government grew worse and
worse and every one was irritated.
Rebellion broke out in Changsha led by one Ou Hsing, and in other
places. Memorials were sent up in number as snow flakes in winter, but
the eunuchs suppressed them all. One day the Emperor was at a feast in
one of the gardens with the eunuchs when a certain high minister Liu
Tʻao suddenly appeared showing very great distress. The Emperor asked
what was the matter.
“Sire, how can you be feasting with these when the Empire is at the
last gasp?” said Liu Tʻao.
“All is well,” said the Emperor, “Where is anything wrong?”
Said Tʻao, “Robbers swarm on all sides and plunder the cities. And all
is the fault of the Ten Eunuchs who sell offices and injure the people,
oppress the prince and deceive their superiors. All virtuous men have
left the services and misfortune is before our very eyes.”
At this the eunuchs pulled off their hats and threw themselves at their
master’s feet.
“His Excellency disapproves of us,” they said, “and we are in danger.
We pray that our lives be spared and we may go to our homes. Lo! we
yield our property to help defray military expenses.”
And they wept bitterly. The Emperor turned angrily to the minister,
saying, “You also have servants; why can you not bear with mine?”
And thereupon he called to the guards to eject Tʻao and put him to
death. Liu Tʻao cried aloud, “My death matters nothing. The pity is
that the Hans, after four centuries of reign, are falling fast.”
The guards hustled him away and were just about to carry cut their
orders when another minister stopped them, saying, “Strike not! Wait
till I have spoken with His Majesty.”
It was the Ssŭ-tu, Chên Tan. He went in to the Emperor, to whom he
said, “For what fault is Liu the Censor to be put to death?” “He has
vilified my servants; and has insulted me,” said the Emperor.
“All the Empire would eat the flesh of the eunuchs if they could, and
yet, Sire, you respect them as if they were your parents. They have no
merit, but they are created nobles. Moreover, Fêng Hsü was in league
with the late rebels. Unless Your Majesty looks to it the State will
fall.”
“There was no proof against Fêng,” replied the Emperor. “Are there none
faithful among the eunuchs?”
The minister beat his forehead on the steps of the throne and did not
desist from remonstrance. Then the Emperor grew angry and commanded his
removal and imprisonment with Liu Tʻao. That night he was murdered.
Then a forged edict went forth making Sun Chien Prefect of Changsha,
with orders to suppress the rebellion, and in less than two months he
reported the district all tranquil. For this he was created Marquis of
Wuchʻêng. Further Liu Yü was made magistrate of Yuchow to move against
Yüyang and suppress Chang Chü and Chang Shun. The Prefect of Taichou
recommended Yüan-tê to Liu Yü, who welcomed him and gave him rank and
sent him against the rebels. He fought with and worsted them, and
entirely broke their spirit. Chang Shun was cruel and his men turned
against him. One of his officers then slew him and brought in his head,
after which the others submitted. The other leader Chang Chü saw that
all was lost and committed suicide.
Yüyang being now tranquil Liu Pei’s services were reported to the
throne and he received full pardon for the insult to the inspector. He
also became an official in Michʻêng. Then Sun Chien stated his previous
good services and he was made Pieh-pu Ssŭ-ma and sent to Pʻingyüan.
This place was very prosperous and Yüan-tê recovered something of his
old manner before the days of adversity. Liu Yü also received
preferment.
In the summer of the year A.D. 189 the Emperor became seriously ill and
summoned Ho Chin into the palace to arrange for the future. This man Ho
had sprung from a humble family of butchers, but a sister had become a
concubine of rank and borne a son to the Emperor, named Pien. After
this she became Huang-hou or Empress and Ho Chin became powerful. The
Emperor had also greatly loved a beautiful girl named Wang who had
borne him a son named Hsieh. The Empress Ho had poisoned the girl from
jealousy, and the babe had been given into the care of the Empress
Dowager Tung, who was the mother of the Emperor Ling. She was the wife
of Liu Chang, the Marquis of Tu-ting. As time went on and the Emperor
Huan had no son of his own he adopted the son of the marquis, who
succeeded as the Emperor Ling. After his accession he had taken his own
mother into the palace to live and had conferred upon her the title of
Tʻai-hou, or Empress Dowager.
The Dowager Empress had always tried to persuade her son to name Hsieh
as the Heir Apparent, and in fact the Emperor greatly loved the boy and
was disposed to do as his mother desired. When he fell ill one of the
eunuchs said, “If Hsieh is to succeed, Ho Chin must be killed.” The
Emperor saw this too and commanded Ho Chin to come to him. But at the
very gates of the palace Ho had been warned of his danger and had
secreted himself. Ho had then called many of the ministers to his side
and they met to consider how to put the eunuchs to death.
At this assembly Tsʻao Tsʻao had spoken saying, “The influence of the
eunuchs dates back half a century and has spread like a noxious weed in
all directions. How can we hope to destroy it? Above all keep this plot
secret or you will be exterminated.”
Ho Chin was very angry at this speech and cried, “What do inferiors
like you know of the ways of government?”
And in the midst of the confusion a messenger came to say the Emperor
was no more. He also told them the eunuchs had decided to keep the
death a secret and forge a command to Ho, the ‘State Uncle,’ to come
into the palace to settle the succession. Meanwhile to prevent trouble
they had inscribed the name of Hsieh on the roll. And as he finished
speaking the edict arrived.
“The matter for the moment is to set up the rightful heir,” said Tsʻao
Tsʻao. “The other affair can wait.”
“Who dares to join me?” asked Ho Chin.
At once one stood forward saying, “Give me five companies of veterans
and we will break into the palace, set up the true heir, slay the
eunuchs and sweep clean the government. Then will follow peace.”
The energetic speaker was Yüan Shao, who then held the rank of
Hsiao-yü.
Ho Chin mustered five companies of the guards. Shao put on complete
armour and took command. Ho Chin, supported by a large number of
ministers, went into the palace and in the hall where lay the coffin of
the late Emperor they placed Pien on the throne. After the ceremony was
over and all had bowed before the new Ruler, Yüan Shao went in to
arrest the eunuch Chien Shih. Shih in terror fled into the palace
garden and hid among the shrubs, where he was discovered and murdered
by another eunuch. The guards under his command went over to the other
side. Shao thought the moment most opportune to slay all the eunuchs
and it had been well if his advice had been taken. But the eunuchs
scented the danger and went to the Empress Dowager Ho.
They said, “The originator of the plan to injure your brother was Chien
Shih; only he was concerned and no other. Now General Ho, on his
lieutenant’s advice, wishes to slay every one of us. We implore thy
pity, O Grandmother.”
“Fear not,” said she, “I will protect you.”
She sent for her brother, and said, “I and you are of lowly origin and
we owe our good fortune to the eunuchs. The misguided Chien Shih is now
dead and need you really put all the others to death as Yüan Shao
advises?”
And Ho Chin obeyed her wish. He explained to his party that the real
offender having met his fate they need not exterminate the whole party
nor injure his colleagues.
“Slay them, root and branch,” cried Shao, “or they will ruin you.”
“I have decided;” said Ho, coldly, “say no more.”
Within a few days Ho became a President of a Board and his friends
received offices.
Tung Tʻai-hou summoned the eunuch Chang Jang and his party to a
council. Said she, “It was I who first brought forward the sister of Ho
Chin. To-day her son is on the throne and all the officials are her
friends and her influence is enormous. What can we do?”
Jang replied, “Madam should administer the state from ‘behind the
veil’; create the Emperor’s son Hsieh a prince; give ‘Uncle’ Tung high
rank and place him over the army and use us. That will do it.”
Tung Tʻai-hou approved. Next day she held a court and issued an edict
in the sense proposed. When Ho Tʻai-hou saw this she prepared a banquet
to which she invited her rival. In the middle of the feast, when all
were well warmed with wine, she rose and offered a cup to her guest
saying, “It is not fitting that we two women should meddle in state
affairs. Of old when Lü Tʻai-hou laid hands upon the government all her
clan were put to death. We ought to remain content, immured in our
palaces, and leave state affairs to the statesmen. That would be well
for the country and I trust you will act thus.”
But the Empress Tung only got angry. “You poisoned the lady Wang out of
jealousy. Now, relying upon the fact that your son sits on the throne
and that your brother is powerful, you speak these wild words. I will
command that your brother be beheaded and that can be done as easily as
I turn my hand.”
Then Empress Ho in her turn waxed wroth and said, “I tried to persuade
you with fair words; why get so angry?”
“You low born daughter of a butcher, what do you know of offices?”
cried her rival.
And the quarrel waxed hot.
The eunuchs persuaded the ladies to retire. But in the night Ho
Tʻai-hou summoned her brother into the palace and told him what had
occurred. He went out and took counsel with the principal officers of
state. Next morn a court was held and a memorial was presented saying
that Tung Tʻai-hou, being the consort of a “frontier” prince—only a
collateral—could not properly occupy any part of the palace. She was to
be removed into Hochien and was to depart immediately. And while they
sent an escort to remove the lady a strong guard was placed about her
brother’s dwelling. They took away his seal of office and he, knowing
this was the end, committed suicide in his private apartments. His
dependents, who wailed his death, were driven off by the guards.
Two of the eunuchs having lost their patroness, sent large gifts to Ho
Chin’s younger brother Miao and his mother, and thus got them to put in
a good word to the Empress Dowager Ho so as to gain her protection. And
so they gained favour once more at court.
A few months later the secret emissaries of Ho Chin murdered Tung
Tʻai-hou in her residence in the country. Her remains were brought to
the capital and buried. Ho Chin feigned illness and did not attend the
funeral.
Yüan Shao went one day to see Ho Chin to tell him that two eunuchs,
Chang Jang and Tuan Kuei, were spreading the report outside that Ho
Chin had caused the death of the late empress dowager and was aiming at
the throne. He urged Ho to make this an excuse to put them finally out
of the way. Shao pointed out how Tou Wu had missed his chance because
the secret had not been kept and urged upon him the ease with which
they could be destroyed under the then favourable conditions. It was a
heaven-sent opportunity.
But Ho Chin replied, “Let me think it over.”
His servants secretly told the intended victims, who sent further gifts
to the younger brother. Corrupted by these he went in to speak with his
sister and said, “The General is the chief support of the new Emperor,
yet he is not gracious and merciful but thinks wholly of slaughter. If
he slay the eunuchs without cause, it may bring about revolution.”
Soon after her brother entered and told her of his design to put the
eunuchs to death. She argued with him. She said that they looked after
palace affairs and were old servants. To kill the old servants just
after the death of their master would appear disrespectful to the
Dynasty. And as Ho was of a vacillating mind he murmured assent and
left her.
“What about it?” said Shao on meeting him.
“She will not consent; what can be done?”
“Call up an army and slay them; it is imperative. Never mind her
consent.”
“That is an excellent plan,” said Ho.
And he sent orders all round to march soldiers to the capital.
But the Recorder, Chʻên Lin, said, “Nay; do not act blindly. The
proverb says ‘To cover the eyes and snatch at swallows is to fool one’s
self.’ If in so small a matter you cannot attain your wish, what of
great affairs? Now by virtue of the imperial prestige and with the army
under your hand you may do as you please. To use such enormous powers
against the eunuchs would resemble lighting up a furnace to burn a
hair. But act promptly; use your powers and smite at once and all the
Empire will be with you. But to summon forces to the capital, to gather
many bold men into one spot, each with his own schemes, is to turn
one’s weapons against one’s own person, to place one’s self in the
power of another. Nothing but failure can come of it, nothing but
confusion.”
“The view of a mere bookworm,” said Ho with a smile.
Then one of those about him suddenly clapped his hands, crying,
“It is as easy as turning over one’s hand! why so much talk?”
The speaker was Tsʻao Tsʻao.
Wouldst thou withdraw wicked men from thy prince’s side
Then seek counsel of the wise men of the State.
What Tsʻao Tsʻao said will be disclosed in later chapters.