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〃Alas　for　me！〃　said　he。　〃From　the　first　days　of　my　accession；　one　vicious　minister　has　succeeded　another。　I　was　the　victim　of　Dong　Zhuo's　evil　machinations。　Then　followed　the　rebellion　of　Li　Jue　and　Guo　Si。　You　and　I　had　to　bear　sorrows　such　as　no　others　have　borne。　Then　came　this　Cao　Cao　as　one　who　would　maintain　the　imperial　dignity；　but　he　has　seized　upon　all　real　authority　and　does　as　he　wishes。　He　works　continually　for　his　own　glorification；　and　I　never　see　him　but　my　back　pricks。　These　last　few　days　in　the　hunting　field；　he　went　in　front　of　me　and　acknowledged　the　cheers　of　the　crowd。　He　is　so　extremely　rude　that　I　feel　sure　he　has　sinister　designs　against　me。　Alas；　my　wife；　we　know　not　when　our　end　may　e！〃
〃In　a　whole　court　full　of　nobles；　who　have　eaten　the　bread　of　Han；　is　there　not　one　who　will　save　his　country？〃　said　she。
Thus　spoke　the　Empress；　and　at　the　same　moment　there　stepped　in　a　man　who　said；　〃Grieve　not；　O　Imperial　Pair！　I　can　find　a　savior　for　the　country。〃
It　was　none　other　than　the　father　of　the　Empress；　Fu　Wan。
〃Have　you　heard　of　Cao　Cao's　wanton　and　perverse　behavior？〃　said　the　Emperor；　drying　his　eyes。
〃You　mean　the　deer　shooting？　Who　did　not　see　that；　indeed？　But　the　whole　court　is　full　of　his　clan　or　his　creatures。　With　the　exception　of　the　relatives　of　your　Consort；　there　is　not　one　loyal　enough　to　deal　with　a　rebel。　I　have　no　authority　and　can　do　nothing；　but　there　is　General　Dong　Cheng；　the　State　Uncle；　who　could　do　it。〃
〃Could　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　e　in　to　consult　about　this？　I　know　he　has　had　much　experience　of　state　troubles。〃
Fu　Wan　replied；　〃Everyone　of　your　attendants　is　a　partisan　of　Cao　Cao；　and　this　sort　of　thing　must　be　kept　most　profoundly　secret　or　the　consequence　will　be　most　serious。〃
〃Then　what　can　be　done？〃　said　the　Emperor。
〃The　only　plan　I　can　think　of　is　to　send　gifts　of　a　robe　and　a　jade　girdle　to　Dong　Cheng；　and　in　the　lining　of　the　girdle　hide　a　secret　edict　authorizing　him　to　take　certain　steps。　When　he　gets　home　and　has　read　the　edict；　he　can　elaborate　plans　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　neither　the　spirits　above　nor　the　demons　below　will　know　anything　about　them。〃
The　Emperor　approved；　and　Fu　Wan　went　out。　The　Emperor　then　with　his　own　hand　drew　up　a　decree；　writing　it　with　blood　drawn　by　biting　his　finger。　He　gave　the　document　to　Empress　Fu　to　sew　into　the　purple　lining　of　the　girdle。　When　all　was　done；　he　put　on　the　robe　and　girded　it　with　the　girdle。　Next　he　bade　one　of　the　attendants　summon　State　Uncle　Dong　Cheng　to　the　Palace。
Dong　Cheng　came；　and　after　the　ceremonies　were　finished；　the　Emperor　said；　〃A　few　nights　ago　I　was　talking　with　the　Empress　of　the　terrible　days　of　the　rebellion；　and　we　thought　of　your　good　services　then；　therefore　we　have　called　you　in　to　reward　you。〃
The　minister　bowed　his　head　in　thanks。　Then　the　Emperor　led　Dong　Cheng　out　of　the　Reception　Hall　to　the　Temple　of　Ancestors；　and　they　went　to　the　gallery　of　Worthy　Ministers；　where　the　Emperor　burned　incense　and　performed　the　usual　ceremonies。　After　this　they　went　to　see　the　portraits；　and　among　them　was　one　of　the　founder　of　the　dynasty；　Liu　Bang　the　Supreme　Ancestor。
〃Whence　sprang　our　great　ancestor；　and　how　did　he　begin　his　great　achievement？〃　said　the　Emperor。
〃Your　Majesty　is　pleased　to　joke　with　thy　servant；〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　rather　startled　at　the　question。　〃Who　does　not　know　the　deeds　of　the　Sacred　Ancestor？　He　began　life　as　a　minor　official　in　Sishang。　There　gripping　his　sword；　he　slew　a　white　serpent；　the　beginning　of　his　struggle　for　the　right。　Speedily　he　mastered　the　empire：　In　three　years　had　destroyed　Qin　and；　in　five；　also　Chu。　Thus　he　set　up　a　dynasty　that　shall　endure　forever！〃
〃Such　heroic　forefathers！　Such　weakling　descendants！　How　sad　it　is！〃　said　the　Emperor。

＇e＇　Zhang　Liang；　aka　Zhang　Zifang；　the　master　strategist　for　Liu　Bang。　His　family　had　served　the　state　of　Han　as　chief　ministers　during　the　Warring　States　period。　It　is　said　that　he　received　the　strategy　book　of　Lu　Wang　from　a　mysterious　old　man。　When　he　was　young；　Zhang　Liang　plotted　to　assasinate　the　First　Emperor；　but　failed。　He　later　rebeled　against　Qin。　Joined　Liu　Bang　（BC　206）　to　fight　against　Qin　and　then　Chu。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Zhang　Liang's　insights　had　earned　him　the　name　〃The　Teacher　of　Emperor〃。　After　Liu　Bang　won　the　empire；　Zhang　Liang　was　enobled　as　Lord　of　Liu；　but　did　not　take　office；　instead　he　resigned　from　political　life　and　traveled。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Xiao　He　（BC　？…193）　a　close　adviser　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Became　Han's　prime　minister。　Enobled　as　the　Lord　of　Cuo。　。。。。。
Pointing　to　the　portraits　right　and　left；　he　continued；　〃Are　not　these　two　Zhang　Liang*；　Lord　of　Liu；　and　Xiao　He*；　Lord　of　Cuo？〃
〃Certainly。　The　Supreme　Ancestor　was　greatly　assisted　by　these　two。〃
The　Emperor　glanced　right　and　left。　His　attendants　were　rather　far　away。　Then　he　whispered　to　Dong　Cheng；　〃You；　like　these　two；　must　stand　by　me。〃
〃My　poor　services　are　of　no　worth。　I　do　not　pare　with　those　men；〃　said　the　Uncle。
〃I　remember　that　you　saved　me　at　the　western　capital；　Changan。　I　have　never　forgotten；　and　I　could　never　reward　you　properly。〃
Then　pointing　to　his　own　robe；　the　Emperor　continued；　〃You　must　wear　this　robe　of　mine；　girded　with　my　own　girdle；　and　it　will　be　as　though　you　are　always　near　your　Emperor。〃
Dong　Cheng　bowed　his　gratitude　while　the　Emperor；　taking　off　the　robe；　presented　it　to　his　faithful　minister。　At　the　same　time　he　whispered；　〃Examine　it　closely　when　you　get　home；　and　help　your　Emperor　carry　out　his　intention。〃
Dong　Cheng　understood。　He　put　on　the　robe　and　the　girdle；　took　leave　and　left　the　chamber。
The　news　of　the　audience　for　Dong　Cheng　had　been　taken　to　the　Prime　Minister；　who　at　once　went　to　the　Palace　and　arrived　as　Dong　Cheng　was　passing　out　at　the　Donghua　Gate。　They　met　face　to　face；　and　Dong　Cheng　could　in　nowise　avoid　him。　Dong　Cheng　went　to　the　side　of　the　road　and　made　his　obeisance。
〃Where　are　you　from；　State　Uncle？〃　asked　Cao　Cao。
〃His　Majesty　summoned　me　into　the　Palace　and　has　given　me　this　robe　and　beautiful　girdle。〃
〃Why　did　he　give　you　these？〃
〃He　had　not　forgotten　that　I　saved　his　life　in　the　old　days。〃
〃Take　it　off　and　let　me　see　it。〃
Dong　Cheng　who　knew　that　a　secret　decree　was　hidden　away　somewhere　in　the　garments　was　afraid　Cao　Cao　would　notice　a　breach　somewhere　in　the　material；　so　he　hesitated　and　did　not　obey。　But　Cao　Cao　called　his　guards；　and　they　took　off　the　girdle。　Then　Cao　Cao　looked　it　over　carefully。
〃It　certainly　is　a　very　handsome　girdle；〃　said　he。　〃Now　take　off　the　robe　and　let　me　look　at　that。〃
Dong　Cheng's　heart　was　melting　with　fear；　but　he　dared　not　disobey。　So　he　handed　over　the　robe。　Cao　Cao　took　it　and　held　it　up　against　the　sun　with　his　own　hand　and　minutely　examined　every　part　of　it。
When　he　had　done　this；　he　put　it　on；　girded　it　with　the　girdle　and　turning　to　his　attendants　said；　〃How　is　it　for　length？〃
〃Beautiful！〃　they　chorused。
Turning　to　Dong　Cheng；　he　said；　〃Will　you　give　these　to　me？〃
〃My　Prince's　presents　to　me　I　dare　not　give　to　another。　Let　me　give　you　another　robe　in　its　stead；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
〃Is　there　not　some　intrigue　connected　with　these　presents？　I　am　sure　there　is；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃How　could　I　dare？〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　trembling。　〃If　you　are　so　set　upon　it；　then　I　must　give　it　up。〃
〃How　could　I　take　away　what　our　Prince　has　given　you？　It　was　all　a　joke；〃　said　the　Prime　Minister。
Cao　Cao　returned　both　robe　and　girdle；　and　their　owner　made　the　best　of　his　way　home。　When　night　came　and　he　was　alone　in　his　library；　he　took　out　the　robe　and　looked　over　every　inch　of　it　most　carefully。　He　found　nothing。
〃He　gave　me　a　robe　and　a　girdle　and　bade　me　look　at　them　carefully。　That　means　there　is　something　to　be　looked　for　but　I　can　find　no　trace　of　it。　What　does　it　mean？〃　he　soliloquized。
Then　he　lifted　the　girdle　and　examined　that。　The　jade　plates　were　carved　into　the　semblance　of　small　dragons　interlaced　among　flowers。　The　lining　was　of　purple　silk。　All　was　sewn　together　most　carefully　and　neatly；　and　he　could　find　nothing　out　of　the　mon。　He　was　puzzled。　He　laid　the　belt　on　the　table。　Presently　he　picked　it　up　and　looked　at　it　again。　He　spent　long　hours　over　it　but　in　vain。　He　leaned　over　on　the　small　table；　his　head　resting　on　his　hands　and　was　almost　asleep；　when　a　candle　snuff　fell　down　upon　the　girdle　and　burned　a　hole　in　the　lining。　He　hastily　shook　it　off；　but　the　mischief　was　done：　A　small　hole　had　been　burned　in　the　silken　lining；　and　through　this　there　appeared　something　white　with　blood　red　marks。　He　hastily　ripped　it　open　and　drew　out　the　decree　written　by　the　hand　of　the　Emperor　himself　in　characters　of　blood。　It　read：
〃Of　human　relationships；　that　between　parents　and　children　stands　first。　Of　the　various　social　ties　that　between　prince　and　minister　stands　highest。　Today　Cao　Cao；　the　wicked；　is　a　real　tyrant；　treating　even　his　Prince　with　indignity。　With　the　support　of　his　faction　and　his　army；　he　has　destroyed　the　principles　of　government。　By　conferring　rewards　and　inflicting　punishments；　he　has　reduced　the　Emperor　to　a　nonentity。　I　have　grieved　over　this　day　and　night。　I　have　feared　the　empire　would　be　ruined。
〃You　are　a　high　minister　of　state　and　my　own　relative。　You　must　recall　the　difficulties　of　the　Great　Founder's　early　days　and　draw　together　the　loyal　and　right…minded　to　destroy　this　evil　faction　and　restore　the　prerogatives　of　the　Throne。　Such　a　deed　would　be　indeed　an　extreme　joy　to　the　spirits　of　my　ancestors。
〃This　decree；　written　in　blood　drawn　from　my　own　veins；　is　confided　to　a　noble　who　is　to　be　most　careful　not　to　fail　in　executing　his　Emperor's　design。
〃Given　in　the　era　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity；　fourth　year　and　the　third　month　of　spring。〃　（AD　199）
So　ran　the　decree；　and　Dong　Cheng　read　it　with　streaming　eyes。　There　was　no　sleep　for　him　that　night。　Early　in　the　morning　he　returned　to　his　library　and　reread　it。　No　plan　suggested　itself。　He　laid　the　decree　down　on　the　table　and　sought　in　the　depths　of　his　mind　for　some　scheme　to　destroy　Cao　Cao；　but　could　not　decide　upon　any。　And　he　fell　asleep　leaning　over　his　table。
It　happened　that　Minister　Wang　Zifu；　with　whom　Dong　Cheng　was　on　terms　of　great　intimacy；　came　to　visit　him　and；　as　usual；　walked　into　the　house　unannounced　and　went　straight　to　the　library。　His　host　did　not　wake；　and　Wang　Zifu　noticed；　hardly　hidden　by　his　sleeve；　the　Emperor's　writing。
Wondering　what　this　might　be；　Wang　Zifu　drew　it　out；　read　it；　and　put　it　in　his　own　sleeve。
Then　he　called　out　loud；　〃Uncle　Dong　Cheng；　are　you　not　well？　Why　are　you　asleep　at　this　time　of　day？〃
Dong　Cheng　started　up　and　at　once　missed　the　decree。　He　was　aghast；　he　almost　fell　to　the　ground。
〃So　you　want　to　make　away　with　Cao　Cao？　I　shall　have　to　tell　him；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。
〃Then；　brother；　that　is　the　end　of　the　Hans；〃　said　his　host；　with　tears。
〃I　was　joking；〃　said　Wang　Zifu。　〃My　forefathers　also　served　the　Hans　and　ate　of　their　bounty。　Am　I　devoid　of　loyalty？　I　would　help　you；　brother；　as　far　as　lies　in　my　power。〃
〃It　is　well　for　the　country　that　you　think　like　this；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。
〃But　we　ought　to　have　a　more　private　place　than　this　to　talk　over　such　plans　and　pledge　ourselves　to　sacrifice　all　in　the　cause　of　Han。〃
Dong　Cheng　began　to　feel　very　satisfied。　He　produced　a　roll　of　white　silk　and　wrote　his　own　name　at　the　top　and　signed　it；　and　Wang　Zifu　followed　suit。
Then　the　visitor　said；　〃General　Wu　Zilan　is　one　of　my　best　friends。　He　ought　to　be　allowed　to　e　in。〃
Dong　Cheng　replied；　〃Of　all　the　officials　of　the　court；　mander　Chong　Ji　and　Court　Counselor　Wu　Shi　are　my　best　friends。　Certainly　they　would　back　me　up。〃
So　the　discussion　proceeded。　Presently　a　servant　announced　no　other　than　these　very　two　men　Dong　Cheng　just　mentioned。
〃This　is　providential；〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　and　he　told　Wang　Zifu　to　hide　behind　a　screen。
The　two　guests　were　led　into　the　library；　and　after　the　exchange　of　the　ordinary　civilities　and　a　cup　of　tea；　Chong　Ji　referred　to　the　incident　at　the　hunt　and　the　shooting　of　the　stag。
〃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