〃In our day Lu Cui and Yan Xiang； remarkable for their talents； have been appointed among the secretaries。 And Mi Heng is no less capable。 Should he be got； then all possibilities may be realized： The dragon may curvet through the celestial streets and soar along the Milky Way； fame will extend to the poles of the universe and hang in the firmament with rainbow glory。 He would be the glory of all the present Ministers and enhance the majesty of the Palace itself。 The Music will acquire new beauties； and the Palace will contain an excellent treasure。 People like Mi Heng are but few。 As in the recitation of 'Ji Chu Songs' and the singing of 'Yang E Poems'； the most skillful performers are sought； and such fleet horses as 'Fei Tu Broncos' and 'Yao Niao Mustangs' were looked for by the famous judges of horses； Wang Liang and Bo Le。 So I； the humble one； dare not conceal this man。 Your Majesty is careful in the selection of servants and should try him。 Let him be summoned as he is； simply clad in his serge dress； and should he not appear worthy； then may I be punished for the fault of deception。〃
The Emperor read the memorial and passed it to his Prime Minister； who duly summoned Mi Heng。 He came； but after his formal salutations were over； he was left standing and not invited to sit down。
Looking up to heaven； Mi Heng sighed deeply； saying； 〃Wide as is the universe； it cannot produce the person。〃
〃Under my orders are scores of people whom the world call heroes。 What do you mean by saying there is not the person；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃I should be glad to hear who they are；〃 said Mi Heng。
＇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。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Chen Ping （BC ？…178） a master strategist of Liu Bang。 He first served Xiang Yu but then became a follower in Liu Bang's camp。 Served as Liu Bang's prime minister and Empress Lu's left minister。 After the death of Empress Lu； Chen Ping played an important role in returning royal authority to the Liu clan。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Cen Peng was a general of Liu Xiu。 Cen Peng was loyal and contributed much to Liu Xiu's success。 He； together with Yao Qi； Deng Yu； Chen Jun； and Du Mao； was executed by Liu Xiu by mistake when Liu Xiu was drunk。 Liu Xiu later died of this grief。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Ma Wu was a general of Liu Xiu。 Also contributed much to Liu Xiu's success。 Ma Wu mitted suicide after Liu Xiu executed several ministers by mistake when Liu Xiu was drunk。 Liu Xiu later died of this grief。 。。。。。
〃Xun Yu； Xun You； Guo Jia； and Cheng Yu are all people of profound skill and long views； superior to Xiao He* and Chen Ping*。 Zhang Liao； Xu Chu； Li Dian； and Yue Jing are bravest of the brave； better than Cen Peng* and Ma Wu*。 Lu Qian and Man Chong are my secretaries； Yu Jin and Xu Huang are my van leaders； Xiahou Dun is one of the world's marvels； Cao Ren is the most successful leader of the age。 Now say you there are not the people？〃
〃Sir； you are quite mistaken；〃 said Mi Heng with a smile。 〃I know all these things you call people。 Xun Yu is qualified to pose at a funeral or ask after a sick man； Xun You is fit to be a tomb guardian； Cheng Yu might be sent to shut doors and bolt windows； and Guo Jia is a reciter of poems； Zhang Liao might beat drums and clang gongs； Xu Chu might lead cattle to pasture； Yue Jing would make a fair reader of elegy； Li Dian could carry dispatches and notices； Lu Qian would be a fair armorer； Man Chong could be sent to drink wine and eat brewers' grains； Yu Jin might be of use to carry planks and build walls； Xu Huang might be employed to kill pigs and slay dogs； Xiahou Dun should be styled 'Whole Body General；' and Cao Ren should be called 'Money…grubbing Governor。' As for the remainder； they are mere clothes shelves； rice sacks； wine vases； flesh bags。〃
〃And what special gifts have you？〃 said Cao Cao angrily。
＇e＇ Kings Yao and Shun are two ideal rulers； while Confucius and Mencius are two great philosophers。
〃I know everything in heaven above and the earth beneath。 I am conversant with the Three Religions and the Nine Systems of Philosophy。 I could make my prince the rival of Kings Yao and Shun； and I myself could pare in virtue with Confucius and Mencius。* Can I discuss on even terms with mon people？〃
Now Zhang Liao was present； and he raised his sword to strike down the impudent visitor who spoke thus to his master； but Cao Cao said； 〃I want another drummer boy to play on occasions of congratulation in the court。 I will confer this office upon him。〃
Instead of indignantly declining this； Mi Heng accepted the position and went out。
〃He spoke very impertinently；〃 said Zhang Liao。 〃Why did you not put him to death？〃
〃He has something of a reputation； empty； but people have heard of him and so； if I put him to death； they would say I was intolerant。 As he thinks he has ability； I have made him a drummer to mortify him。〃
Soon after Cao Cao instituted a banquet in the capital at which the guests were many。 The drums were to be played； and the old drummers were ordered to wear new clothes。 But the new drummer Mi Heng took his place with the other musicians clad in old and worn garments。 The piece chosen was the 〃Tolling of Yuyang；〃 and from the earliest taps on the drum the effect was exquisite； profound as the notes from metal and stone。 The performance stirred deeply the emotions of every guest； some even shed tears。
Seeing all eyes turned on the shabby performer； the attendants said； 〃Why did you not put on your new uniform？〃
Mi Heng turned to them； slipped off his frayed and torn robe and stood there in full view； naked as he was born。 The assembled guests covered their faces。 Then the drummer posedly drew on his nether garments。
〃Why do you behave so rudely at court？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃To flout one's prince and insult one's superiors is the real rudeness；〃 cried Mi Heng。 〃I bare my natural body as an emblem of my purity。〃
〃So you are pure！ And who is foul？〃
〃You do not distinguish between the wise and the foolish； which is to have foul vision。 You have never read the Odes or the Histories； which is to have foul speech。 You are deaf to honest words； which is to have foul ears。 You are unable to reconcile antiquity with today； which is to be foul without。 You cannot tolerate the nobles； which is to be foul within。 You harbor thoughts of rebellion； which is to have a foul heart。 I am one of the most famous scholars in the empire； and you make me a drummer boy； that is as Yang Huo belittling Confucius or Zang Cang vilifying Mencius。 You desire to be chief and arbitrator of the great nobles； yet you treat me thus！〃
Now Kong Rong who had remended Mi Heng for employment was among the guests； and he feared for the life of his friend。 Wherefore he tried to calm the storm。
〃Mi Heng is only guilty of a misdemeanor；〃 said Kong Rong。 〃He is not a man likely to disturb your dreams like Fu Yue； Illustrious Sir。〃
Pointing to Mi Heng； the Prime Minister said； 〃I will send you to Jingzhou as my messenger； and if Liu Biao surrenders to me； I will give you a post at court。〃
But Mi Heng was unwilling to go。 So Cao Cao bade two of his men prepare three horses； and they set Mi Heng on the middle one and dragged him along the road between them。
It is also related that a great number of officers of all ranks assembled at the East Gate to see the messenger start。
Xun Yu said； 〃When Mi Heng es； we will not rise to salute him。〃
So when Mi Heng came； dismounted； and entered the waiting room； they all sat stiff and silent。 Mi Heng uttered a loud cry。
〃What is that for？〃 said Xun Yu。
〃Should not one cry out when one enters a coffin？〃 said Mi Heng。
〃We may be corpses；〃 shouted they altogether； 〃but you are a wandering headless ghost。〃
〃I am a minister of Han and not a partisan of Cao Cao's；〃 cried Mi Heng。 〃You cannot say I have no head。〃
They were angry enough to kill him； but Xun Yu checked them； saying； 〃He is a paltry fellow。 It is not worth soiling your blades with his blood。〃
〃I am paltry； and yet I have the soul of a man； and you are mere worms；〃 said Mi Heng。
They went their ways； all very angry。 Mi Hen