〃I； Fu Gan； understand that inspiring fear is the chief consideration in war； as inculcating virtue is in government。 These two bined in one person fit him to be a prince。 Formerly； in the days of disturbance； you； Illustrious Sir； attacked the rebels and restored tranquillity almost everywhere； the only regions unsubdued and not under your control being Wu and Shu。 The former of these is protected by the Great River； the latter secured by its mountains； and both difficult to conquer by force of arms。
〃My humble opinion is that it is more fitting to increase the authority of civil government； to lay aside arms and rest weapons； to cease from war and train your soldiers until the times shall be favorable。 If your mighty legions be now sent to camp on the river bank and the rebels should take refuge behind their natural defenses； your soldiers will be unable to prove their prowess； and should extraordinary strategies be planned； the rebels will not be available。 In such a case your high prestige would be impaired。 I trust； Illustrious Sir； you will deign to examine this。〃
After reading this； Cao Cao ceased to think of an expedition against the south。 Instead； he established schools and set himself to attract people of ability。
About the same time four of his officers………Wang Can； Du Xi； Wei Kai； and He He………conceived the idea of getting for Cao Cao the honor of 〃Prince of Wei〃。
But Xun You opposed this course； saying； 〃The Prime Minister's rank is already that of 〃Duke〃； and he has received the additional honor of the Nine Dignities； so that his position is extremely high。 If he advances to the rank of kingship； it will be inconsistent with reasonableness。〃
But Cao Cao was annoyed at this opposition and said； 〃Does the man wish to emulate Xun Yu？〃
When Xun You heard of Cao Cao's anger； he was grieved and fell ill； so that in a few days he died。 He was fifty…eight years of age。 Cao Cao had his remains interred honorably； and he stayed his ambition for princely rank。
But there came a day when Cao Cao entered the Palace wearing his sword and made his way to the apartment where the Emperor and the Empress were seated。 The Empress rose in a fright； and the Emperor gazed at his minister in terror。
〃Sun Quan and Liu Bei have each seized a portion of the empire and no longer respect the court。 What is to be done？〃
To this abrupt speech the Emperor replied； 〃The matter lies within your province。〃
Cao Cao answered； angrily； 〃If such a remark be known outside； they will say I treat my prince without respect！〃
〃If you will help me； I shall be most happy；〃 said His Majesty。 〃If not； then I trust to your kindness to let me alone。〃
At this Cao Cao glared at the Emperor and went out full of resentment。
The courtiers said； 〃It is said that the Duke of Wei desires to bee Prince of Wei； and soon he will aspire to the throne。〃
Both the Emperor and his consort wept。
Presently Her Majesty said； 〃My father； Fu Wan； has long nourished a desire to slay this man。 Now I will indite a secret letter to my father to acplish his end。〃
〃Remember the former attempt with Dong Cheng。 The plot was discovered and great misery ensued。 I fear that this will leak out also； and both of us will be undone。〃
Said the Empress； 〃We pass our days in constant disfort； like sitting on a rug full of needles。 If life is to be like this； one were better dead。 But I know one loyal man among the attendants to whom I may entrust the letter。 That one is Mu Shun； and he will deliver it。〃
Thereupon Empress Fu summoned Mu Shun within； and having sent away all others； they told their distress to the faithful one。
Emperor Xian said； 〃That fellow Cao Cao desires the dignity of a prince； and soon he will aspire to the throne itself。 I； the Emperor； wish to order the father of my consort to make away with the man； but the difficulty is that all the courtiers are his creatures and there is none whom I can trust save yourself。 I desire you to convey this secret letter to Fu Wan。 I know your loyalty and am sure you will prove no betrayer。〃
〃I am the recipient of much graciousness for which not even death would prove my gratitude。 Thy servant prays that he may be allowed to undertake this。〃
The letter was given to Mu Shun； who hid it in his hair； made his way out of the precincts and handed it to its owner。 Fu Wan recognized the handwriting of his daughter and read it。
Turning to the messenger； Fu Wan said； 〃You know the fellow's creatures are many； and one must act with extreme caution against him。 Unless we have the aid of Sun Quan's and Liu Bei's armies； Cao Cao will certainly attain his ends。 In this matter we must gain the support of every loyal and faithful one in the court so that within and without there may be a simultaneous attack。〃
〃Then； O Father of the Empress； write a letter in reply asking for a secret edict； so that we may send to the south and the west to join in the attack。〃
So Fu Wan posed a reply； which he gave to Mu Shun to take into the Palace。 This time also the letter was concealed in his hair。
But there was a traitor； and Cao Cao heard of the letters。 So he waited at a Palace gate for Mu Shun to e out。
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Cao Cao； when Mu Shun appeared。
〃The Empress is indisposed and has bidden me call a physician。〃
〃Where is the summon for the physician？〃
〃There is no summon。〃
Cao Cao bade his guards search Mu Shun； but they did not find the letter。
So he was allowed to go。 But just then a gust of wind blew off his hat； and it struck Cao Cao that that had not been examined。 So Mu Shun was called back。 Nothing was found in the hat； but when it was given back Mu Shun put it on with both hands。 There was something suspicious about the movement； and Cao Cao bade the searchers examine his hair。
Therein the letter of Fu Wan was found。 Cao Cao read it； which said that Sun Quan and Liu Bei were to be induced to help。 The unhappy Mu Shun was taken away into a secret place and interrogated； but he would confess nothing。
That night three thousand soldiers surrounded the dwelling of Fu Wan； who was arrested with all his family。 Searching the house； they found the first letter in the handwriting of the Empress。 Fu Wan and his family were then consigned to a gaol。
At dawn； a party of Imperial Guards； under Chi Lu； bearing ensigns of authority； entered the Forbidden City with orders to take away the seal of the Empress。 On the way they met the Emperor； who asked the reason for a pany of armed guards being in the Palace。
〃I have orders from the Duke of Wei to get the Empress's seal；〃 said Chi Lu。
The Emperor grew alarmed。 When Chi Lu reached the apartments of the Empress； she had just risen。 Chi Lu ordered to take the seal of the Empress and went away。
As soon as the Empress knew of this； she recognized her danger and hid herself in the hollow walls of her private apartments behind one of the ceremonial halls。 She had not been long in hiding when Hua Xin with a pany of five hundred armed soldiers appeared and asked where she was。 The Palace people said they did not know。 The red doors of the hall were burst open； and Hua Xin looked in； but he saw no lady there。 It occurred to him where she might be hidden； and he ordered his men to break open the wall。 With his own hands； he laid hold of the lady's hair and dragged her forth。
〃Spare my life！〃 pleaded she。
〃You may say what you have to say to the Duke！〃 cried he。
She pulled down her hair and kicked off her shoes； but a couple of soldiers pushed her along in front of them outside。
It may be said here that this Hua Xin had a reputation for learning。 He and two others； Bing Yuan and Guan Ning； all good friends； made a little coterie which was known as 〃The Dragon〃。 Hua Xin was the 〃head〃； Bing Yuan； the 〃belly〃； and Guan Ning； the 〃tail〃。 One day Guan Ning and Hua Xin were hoeing in their garden to grow some vegetables； when they turned up an ingot of gold。 Guan Ning went on with his labors without giving a second glance at the find； but Hua Xin picked it up。 After regarding it a moment； he threw it away again。
Another day Guan Ning and Hua Xin were reading together when there arose a great shouting outside the window of the study。 A minister from the Palace was passing。 Guan Ning took no notice； b