〃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 pi