i Ping bit off one of his fingers as a pledge of fidelity。 I saw that。〃
Quin Quington was kept in a secret part of the palace； while his late master； Dong Cheng； only knowing that he had run away； took no special means to find him。
Soon after this Cao Cao feigned a headache and sent for Ji Ping as usual。
〃The rebel is done for；〃 thought Ji Ping； and he made a secret package of poison which he took with him to the palace of the Prime Minister。 He found Cao Cao in bed。 The patient bade the doctor prepare a potion for him。
〃One draught will cure this disease；〃 said Ji Ping。
He bade them bring him a pot； and he prepared the potion in the room。 When it had simmered for some time and was half finished； the poison was added； and soon after the physician presented the draught。 Cao Cao； knowing it was poisoned； made excuses and would not swallow it。
〃You should take it hot；〃 said the doctor。 〃Then there will be a gentle perspiration； and you will be better。〃
〃You are a scholar；〃 said Cao Cao； sitting up； 〃and know what is the correct thing to do。 When the master is ill and takes drugs； the attendant first tastes them； when a man is ill； his son first tastes the medicine。 You are my confidant and should drink first。 Then I will swallow the remainder。〃
〃Medicine is to treat disease。 What is the use of anyone's tasting it？〃 said Ji Ping。
But he guessed now the conspiracy had been discovered； so he dashed forward； seized Cao Cao by the ear； and tried to pour the potion down his throat。 Cao Cao pushed it away； and it spilt。 The bricks upon which it fell were split asunder。 Before Cao Cao could speak； his servants had already seized the assailant。
Said Cao Cao； 〃I am not ill。 I only wanted to test you。 So you really thought to poison me！〃
He sent for a score of sturdy gaolers who carried off the prisoner to the inner apartments to be interrogated。 Cao Cao took his seat in a pavilion； and the hapless physician； tightly bound； was thrown to the ground before him。 The prisoner maintained a bold front。
Cao Cao said； 〃I thought you were a physician。 How dared you try to poison me？ Someone incited you to this crime。 If you tell me； I will pardon you。〃
〃You are a rebel。 You flout your Prince and injure your betters。 The whole empire wishes to kill you。 Do you think I am the only one？〃
Cao Cao again and again pressed the prisoner to tell what he knew； but he only replied that no one had sent him and it was his own desire。
〃I have failed； and I can but die；〃 added Ji Ping。
Cao Cao angrily bade the gaolers give him a severe beating； and they dogged him for two watches。 His skin hung in tatters； the flesh was battered； and the blood from his wounds ran down the steps。 Then fearing he might die and his evidence be lost； Cao Cao bade them cease and remove him。 They took him off to a quiet place where he might recover somewhat。
Having issued orders to prepare a banquet for next day； Cao Cao invited all the courtiers thereto。 Dong Cheng was the only one who excused himself； saying he was unwell。 The other conspirators dared not stay away as they felt they would be suspected。
Tables were laid in the private apartments； and after several courses the host said； 〃There is not much to amuse us today； but I have a man to show you that will sober you。〃
〃Bring him in！〃 Cao Cao said； turning to the gaolers； and the hapless Ji Ping appeared； securely fastened in a wooden collar。 He was placed where all could see him。
〃You officials do not know that this man is connected with a gang of evil doers who desire to overturn the government and even injure me。 However； Heaven has defeated their plans； but I desire that you should hear his evidence。〃
Then Cao Cao ordered the gaolers to beat their prisoner。 They did so till Ji Ping lay unconscious； when they revived him by spraying water over his face。 As soon as he came to； he glared at his oppressor and ground his teeth。
〃Cao Cao； you rebel！ What are you waiting for？ Why not kill me？〃 cried Ji Ping。
Cao Cao replied； 〃The conspirators were only six at first； you made the seventh。 Is that true？〃
Here the prisoner broke in with more abuse； while Wang Zifu and the other three conspirators exchanged glances； looking as though they were sitting on a rug full of needles。 Cao Cao continued his torture of the prisoner； beating him into unconsciousness and reviving him with cold water； the victim disdaining to ask mercy。 Finally Cao Cao realized he would incriminate none of his acplices； and so he told the gaolers to remove Ji Ping。
At the close of the banquet； when the guests were dispersing； four of them； the four conspirators； were invited to remain behind to supper。 They were terrified so that their souls seemed no longer to inhabit their bodies； but there was no saying nay to the invitation。
Presently Cao Cao said； 〃Still there is something I want to speak about； so I have asked you to stay for a time longer。 I do not know what you four have been arranging with Dong Cheng。〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 said Wang Zifu。
〃And what is written on the white silk？〃 asked Cao Cao。
They all said they knew nothing about it。
Then Cao Cao ordered the runaway servant to be brought in。 As soon as Quin Quington came； Wang Zifu said； 〃Well； what have you seen and where？〃
Quin Quington replied； 〃You five very carefully chose retired places to talk in； and you secretly signed a white roll。 You cannot deny that。〃
Wang Zifu replied； 〃This miserable creature was punished for misbehavior with one of Uncle Dong Cheng's maids； and now because of that he slanders his master。 You must not listen to him。〃
〃Ji Ping tried to pour poison down my throat。 Who told him to do that if it was not Dong Cheng？〃 said Cao Cao。
They all said they knew nothing about who it was。
〃So far；〃 said Cao Cao； 〃matters are only beginning； and there is a chance of forgiveness。 But if the thing grows； it will be difficult not to take notice of it。〃
The whole four vigorously denied that any plot existed。 However Cao Cao called up his henchmen； and the four men were put into confinement。
Next day Cao Cao with a large following went to the State Uncle's palace to ask after his health。
Dong Cheng came out to receive his visitor； who at once said； 〃Why did you not e last night？〃
〃I am not quite well yet and have to be very careful about going out；〃 replied Dong Cheng。
〃One might say you were suffering from national sorrow； eh？〃 said Cao Cao。
Dong Cheng started。 Cao Cao continued； 〃Have you heard of the Ji Ping affair？〃
〃No； what is it？〃
Cao Cao smiled coldly； saying； 〃How can it be you do not know？〃
He turned to his attendants and told them to bring in the prisoner； while he went on talking to his host about national illness。
Dong Cheng was much put about and knew not what to do。 Soon the gaolers led in the physician to the steps of the hall。 At once the bound man began to rail at Cao Cao as rebel and traitor。
〃This man；〃 said Cao Cao； pointing to Ji Ping； 〃has implicated Wang Zifu and three others； all of whom are now under arrest。 There is one more whom I have not caught yet。〃
〃Who sent you to poison me？〃 continued Cao Cao； turning toward the physician。 〃Quick； tell me！〃
〃Heaven sent me to slay a traitor！〃
Cao Cao angrily ordered them to beat Ji Ping again； but there was no part of his body that could be beaten。 Dong Cheng sat looking at him； his heart feeling as if transfixed with a dagger。
〃You were born with ten fingers。 How is it you have now only nine？〃
Ji Ping replied； 〃I bit off one as a pledge when I swore to slay a traitor。〃
Cao Cao told them to bring a knife； and they lopped off his other nine fingers。
〃Now they are all off。 That will teach you to make pledges。〃
〃Still I have a mouth that can swallow a traitor and a tongue that can curse him；〃 said Ji Ping。
Cao Cao told them to cut out his tongue。
Ji Ping said； 〃Do not。 I cannot endure any more punishment； I shall have to speak out。 Loosen my bonds。〃
〃Loose them。 There is no reason why not；〃 said Cao Cao。
They loosed him。 As soon as he was free； Ji Ping stood up； turned his face toward the Emperor's palace and bowed； saying； 〃It is Heaven's will that thy servant has been unable to remove the evil。〃
Then he turned and smashed his head into the steps and died。
His body was quartered and exposed。 This happened in the first month of the fifth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 200）； and a certain historian wrote a poem：
There lived in Han a simple physician。
No warrior； yet brave
Enough to risk his very life
His Emperor to save。
Alas！ He failed； but lasting fame
Is his； he feared not death；
He cursed the traitorous Prime Minister
Unto his latest breath。
Seeing his victim had passed beyond the realm of punishment； Cao Cao had Quin Quington led in。
〃Do you know this man； Uncle？〃
〃Yes；〃 cried Dong Cheng。 〃So the runaway servant is here。 He ought to be put to death！〃
〃He just told me of your treachery。 He is my witness；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃Who would dare kill him？〃
〃How can you； the First Minister of State； heed the unsupported tale of an absconding servant？〃
〃But I have Wang Zifu and the others in prison；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃And how can you rebut their evidence？〃
He then called in the remainder of his followers and ordered them to search Dong Cheng's bedroom。 They did so and found the decree that had been given him in the girdle and the pledge signed by the conspirators。
〃You mean rat！〃 cried Cao Cao。 〃You dared do this？〃
He gave orders to arrest the whole household without exception。 Then he returned to his palace with the incriminating documents and called all his advisers together to discuss the dethronement of the Emperor and the setting up of a successor。
Many decrees； blood written； have issued； acplishing nothing；
One inscribed pledge was fraught with mountains of sorrow。
The reader who wishes to how the fate of the Emperor must read the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 24 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Cao Cao Murdered The Consort Dong；
Liu Bei Flees To Yuan Shao。
The last chapter closed with the discovery of the 〃girdle〃 decree and the assembly of Cao Cao's advisers to consider the deposition of Emperor Xian。
Cheng Yu spoke strongly against this； saying； 〃Illustrious Sir； the means by which you impress the world and direct the government is the mand of the House of Han。 In these times of turmoil and rivalry among the nobles； such a step as the deposition of the ruler will certainly bring about civil war and is much to be deprecated。〃
After reflection Cao Cao abandoned the project。 But Dong Cheng's plot was not to go unpunished。 All five of the conspirators with every member of their households； seven hundred at least； were taken and put to death at one or another of the gates of the city。 The people wept at such merciless and wholesale slaughter。
A secret decree in a girdle sewn；
In red blood written； the Emperor's own；
To the staunch and faithful Dong Cheng addressed；
Who had saved him once when enemies pressed。
And who； sore grieved at his Sovereign's fate；
Expressed in dreams his ceaseless hate；
Carried misfortune and death in its train；
But glory to him who died in vain。
Another poet wrote of the sad fate of Wang Zifu and his friends：
Greatheartedly these signed the silken roll；
And pledged themsel