〃How can you get fish five hundred miles away？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Not at all difficult。 Tell someone to get a rod and hook； and fish in the pond just below this banquet hall。〃
They did so； and very soon several beautiful perches lay on the steps。
〃I have always kept some of these in my ponds； of course；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃O Prince； do you think to deceive me？ All perches have two gills except the River Song perch； which has two pairs。 That is the distinguishing feature。〃
The guests crowded round to look； and； surely enough； the fish had four gills。
〃To cook this perch one needs purple sprout ginger though；〃 said the Taoist。
〃Can you also produce that？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃Easily。〃
Zuo Ci told them to bring in a silver bowl； which the magician filled with water。 Very soon the ginger filled the bowl； and he presented it to the host。 Cao Cao put out his hand to pick some； when suddenly a book appeared in the bowl and the title was Cao Cao's New Treatise on the Art of War 。 He took it out and read it over。 Not a word of his treatise was missing。
Cao Cao became more mystified。 Zuo Ci took up a jade cup that stood on the table； filled it with fine wine； and presented it to Cao Cao。
〃Drink this； O Prince； and you will live a thousand years。〃
〃Drink of it first yourself；〃 said Cao Cao。
The Taoist took the jade pin from his headdress and drew it across the cup as if dividing the wine into two portions。
Then he drank one half and handed the cup with the other half to Cao Cao。 But Cao Cao angrily refused it。 The Taoist then threw the cup into the air； where it was transformed into a white dove which circled round the banquet hall and then flew away。
All faces were turned upward following the flight of the dove； and so no one had noticed the going of the Taoist。 But he was gone； and soon the gate warden reported that he had left the Palace。
Said Cao Cao； 〃A magician like this ought to be put to death； or he will do some mischief。〃
The redoubtable Xu Chu and a pany of three hundred armed men were sent to arrest the Taoist。 They saw the Taoist； still wearing his wooden clogs； not far ahead but striding along quickly。 Xu Chu rode after Zuo Ci； but in spite of all his horse could do； he could not e up with Zuo Ci。 Xu Chu kept up the chase right to the hills； when he met a shepherd lad with a flock of sheep。 And there walked the Taoist among the sheep。 The Taoist disappeared。 The angry warrior slew the whole flock of sheep； while the shepherd lad looked on weeping。
Suddenly the boy heard a voice from one of the severed heads； telling him to replace the heads on the bodies of his sheep。 Instead of doing so； he fled in terror； covering his face。
Then he heard a voice calling to him； 〃Do not run away。 You shall have your sheep again。〃
He turned； and lo！ the sheep were all alive again； and Zuo Ci was driving them along。 The boy began to question him； but the Taoist made no reply。 With a flick of his sleeves； he was gone。
The shepherd lad went home and told all these marvels to his master； who could not conceal such a story； and it reached Cao Cao。 Then sketches of the Taoist were sent everywhere with orders to arrest him。 Within three days were arrested in the city and outside three or four hundred persons all blind of one eye； lame of one leg； and wearing a rattan headdress； a black loose robe and wooden clogs。 They were all alike and all answered to the description of the missing Taoist。
There was a great hubbub in the street。 Cao Cao ordered his officer to sprinkle the crowd of Taoists with the blood of pigs and goats in order to exorcise the witchcraft and take them away to the drill ground on the south of the city。 Thither he followed them with his guards； who surrounded the crowd of arrested persons and slew everyone。 But from the neck of each one； after the head was severed； there floated up into the air a wreath of black vapor； and all these wreaths drifted toward a center where they joined up into the image of another Zuo Ci； who presently beckoned to him a white crane out of the sky； mounted it and sat as on a horse。
Clapping his hands； the Taoist cried merrily； 〃The rats of the earth follow the golden tiger； and one morning the doer of evil shall be no more。〃
The soldiers shot arrows at both bird and man。 At this a tremendous storm burst over the city。 Stones were driven along； sand was whirled about； and all the corpses arose from the ground； each holding his own head in his hands。 They rushed toward Cao Cao as if to strike him。 The officials covered their eyes； and none dared to look another in the face。
The power of a bold man will overturn a state；
The art of a necromancer also produces wonders。
Read the next chapter and you will know the fate of Cao Cao。
Main Next to Chapter 69 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Guan Lu Sees Things In The Book Of Changes；
Five Loyal Subjects Die For Their State。
The sight of the corpses of his victims rising to their feet in the storm and running toward him was too much for Cao Cao； and he swooned。 However； the wind quickly fell and the corpses disappeared。 His followers assisted Cao Cao to his palace； but he was very ill。
A poet celebrated the episode of the murdered Taoist：
He studied his magical books；
He was learned in mystical lore；
And with magical fleetness of foot
He could travel the wide world over。
The magical arts that he knew；
He employed in an earnest essay
To reform the bad heart of Cao Cao。
But in vain； Cao Cao held on his way。
Cao Cao's illness seemed beyond the art of the physicians； and drugs seemed of no avail。 It happened that Minister Xu Zhi came from the capital to visit the prince； who bade the latter take a cast from the 〃Book of Changes〃。
〃Have you ever heard of Guan Lu？ He is more than human in his skill at divination；〃 said Xu Zhi。
〃I have heard a lot about him； but I do not know how clever he is。 You tell me about him；〃 replied Cao Cao。
〃He is from Pingyuan。 His face is ugly and coarse； he drinks to excess and is rather dissipated。 His father was an elder of Langye。 Since a lad Guan Lu loved to study the stars； staying up all night to watch them； in spite of the prohibition of his father and mother。 He used to say that if domestic fowls and wild geese knew the seasons naturally； how much more should humans。 He often used to play with other children at drawing pictures of the sky on the ground； putting in the sun； moon； and stars。 When he grew older he studied the 'Book of Changes' very deeply and observed the winds。 He was a marvelous calculator and excellent physiognomist。
〃His fame reached the ears of Shan Zichun； the Governor of Langye； who called him to his residence for an interview。 There were present some hundred or so other guests； everyone of whom could be called able of speech。
〃'I am young and not over…bold；' said Guan Lu to the Governor。 'I pray you give me three flasks of wine to loosen my tongue。' The request was astonishing； but the wine was brought in； and when he had drunk it； Guan Lu； looking contemptuously at the other guests； said； 'Now I am ready。 Are these the opponents you have got together for me to contend with？ Are these gentlemen sitting around me disputants？'