And thereupon the executioners came in and strangled Xu Gong。 The family of the victim scattered； but three of his clients determined to avenge him if only they could find some means of attacking Sun Ce。
One day Sun Ce went hunting in the hills to the west of Dantu。 A stag was started； and Sun Ce pressed after it at topmost speed and followed it deep into the forest。 Presently he came upon three armed men standing among the trees。 Rather surprised to see them there； he reined in and asked who they were。
〃We belong to Han Dang's army and are shooting deer；〃 was the reply。
So Sun Ce shook his bridle to proceed。 But just as he did so； one of the men thrust at him with a spear and wounded his thigh。 Sun Ce drew the sword at his side； dashed forward； and tried to cut down the aggressor。 The blade of his sword suddenly fell to the ground； only the hilt remaining in his hand。 Then one of the assassins drew his bow； and an arrow wounded Sun Ce in the cheek。 Sun Ce plucked out the arrow and shot at the offender； who fell； but the other two attacked him furiously with their spears； shouting； 〃We are Xu Gong's men and his avengers！〃
Sun Ce then understood。 But he had no weapons save his bow against them。 He tried to draw off； keeping them at bay striking with his bow。 But the fight was getting too much for him； and both he and his steed were wounded in several places。 However； just at the critical moment； Cheng Pu and some of his own officers came up； and they minced the assassins into pieces。
But their lord was in a sorry plight。 His face was streaming with blood； and some of the wounds were very severe。 They tore up his robe and therewith bound up his wounds； and they carried him home。
A poem in praise of the three avengers says：
O Sun Ce was a warrior and a stranger he to fear。
But he was basely murdered while hunting of the deer。
Yet were they leal who slew him； to avenge a murdered lord。
Self immolated like Yu Rang； they dreaded not the sword。
Badly wounded； Sun Ce was borne to his home。 They sent to call the famous physician Hua Tuo； but he was far away and could not be found。 However； a disciple of his came； and the wounded man was mitted to his care。
〃The arrowheads were poisoned；〃 said the physician； 〃and the poison has penetrated deep。 It will take a hundred days of perfect repose before danger will be past。 But if you give way to passion or anger； the wounds will not heal。〃
Sun Ce's temperament was hasty and impatient； and the prospect of such a slow recovery was very distasteful。 However； he remained quiet for some twenty of the hundred days。 Then came Zhang Hong from the capital； and Sun Ce insisted on seeing and questioning him。
〃Cao Cao fears you； my lord； very greatly；〃 said Zhang Hong； 〃and his advisers have exceeding respect for you………all except Guo Jia。〃
〃What did Guo Jia say？〃 asked the sick chieftain。
Zhang Hong remained silent； which only irritated his master and caused him to demand to be told。 So Zhang Hong had to speak the truth。
He said； 〃The fact is Guo Jia told Cao Cao that he needed not fear you； that you were frivolous and unready； impulsive and shallow； just a stupid swaggerer who would one day e to his death at the hands of some mean person。〃
This provoked the sick man beyond endurance。
〃The fool； how dare he say this of me？〃 cried Sun Ce。 〃I will take Xuchang from Cao Cao； I swear。〃
It was no more a question of repose。 Ill as he was； he wanted to begin preparations for an expedition at once。 They remonstrated with him； reminded him of the physician's orders and urged him to rest。
〃You are risking your priceless self in a moment's anger；〃 said Zhang Zhao。
Then arrived Chen Zhen； the messenger from Yuan Shao； and Sun Ce would have him brought in。
He said； 〃My master wishes to ally himself with the South Land in an attack on Cao Cao。〃
Such a proposal was just after Sun Ce's heart。 At once he called a great meeting of his officers in the wall tower and prepared a banquet in honor of the messenger。 While this was in progress； Sun Ce noticed many of his officers whispering to each other； and they all began to go down from the banquet chamber。 He could not understand this and inquired of the attendants near him what it meant。
They told him； 〃Saint Yu Ji has just gone by； and the officers have gone down to pay their respects to him。〃
Sun Ce rose from his place and went and leaned over the railing to look at the man。 He saw a Taoist priest in snowy garb leaning on his staff in the middle of the road； while the crowd about him burnt incense and made obeisance。
〃What wizard fellow is this？ Bring him here！〃 said Sun Ce。
〃This is Yu Ji；〃 said the attendants。 〃He lives in the east and goes to and fro distributing charms and draughts。 He has cured many people as everybody will tell you； and they say he is a saint。 He must not be profaned。〃
This only angered Sun Ce the more； and he told them to arrest the man at once or disobey at their peril。 So there being no help for it； they went down into the road and hustled the saint up the steps。
〃You madman！ How dare you incite people to evil？〃 said Sun Ce。
〃I am but a poor priest of the Langye Mountains。 More than half a century ago； when gathering simples in the woods； I found near the Yangqu Spring a book called 'The Way of Peace。' It contains a hundred and more chapters and taught me how to cure the diseases of humans。 With this in my possession I had only one thing to do： To devote myself to spreading its teachings and saving humankind。 I have never taken any thing from the people。 Can you say I incite people to evil deeds？〃
〃You say you take nothing： Whence came your clothes and your food？ The fact is you are one of the Yellow Scarves； and you will work mischief if you are left alive。〃
Then turning to his attendants； Sun Ce ordered； 〃Take him away and put him to death。〃
Zhang Zhao interceded； 〃The Taoist Saint has been here in the east these many years。 He has never done any harm and does not deserve death or punishment。〃
〃I tell you I will kill these wizard fellows just as I would cattle。〃
The officials in a body interceded； even the guest of honor； Chen Zhen； but in vain。 Sun Ce refused to be placated。 He ordered Yu Ji to be imprisoned。
The banquet came to an end； and Chen Zhen retired to his lodging。 Sun Ce also returned to his palace。
His treatment of the Taoist Holy Man was theme of general conversation and soon reached the ears of his mother。
Lady Wu sent for her son to the ladies' apartments and said to him； 〃They tell me you have put Saint Yu Ji in bonds。 He has cured many sick people； and the mon folk hold him in great reverence。 Do not harm him！〃
〃He is simply a wizard who upsets the multitude with his spells and craft。 He must be put to death；〃 replied Sun Ce。
Lady Wu entreated him to stay his hand； but he was obstinate。
〃Do not heed the gossip of the streets； Mother；〃 said he。 〃I must be judge of these matters。〃
However； Sun Ce sent to the prison for Yu Ji in order to interrogate him。 Now the gaolers； having a great respect for Yu Ji and faith in his powers； were very indulgent to him and did not keep him in the collar。 However when Sun Ce sent for him； they put on him with collar and fetters all plete。
Sun Ce had heard of their indulgence and punished the gaolers； and ordered the prisoner thereafter to be put in constant torture。 Zhang Zhao and many others； moved by pity； made a petition which they humbly presented； and they offered to bee surety for him。
Sun Ce said to them； 〃Gentlemen； you are all great scholars； but why do you not understand reason？ Formerly in Jiaozhou was Imperial Protector Zhang Jing； who was deluded by these vicious doctrines into beating drums； twanging lyres； burning incense； and such things。 He wore a red turban and represented himself as able to ensure victory to an army。 But he was slain by the enemy。 There is nothing in all this； only none of you will see it。 I am going to put this fellow to death in order to stop the spread of this pernicious doctrine。〃
Lu Fan interposed； saying； 〃I know very well this Yu Ji can control the weather。 It is very dry just now； why not make him pray for rain as an amercement？〃
〃We will see what sort of witchcraft he is equal to；〃 said Sun Ce。
Thereupon he h