y the whole population； Chen Gong came in haste to see his former panion*。 Cao Cao； knowing Chen Gong's errand； put him off at first and would not see him。 But then Cao Cao could not forget the kindness he had formerly received from Chen Gong； and presently the visitor was called to his tent。
Chen Gong said； 〃They say you go to avenge your father's death on Xuzhou； to destroy its people。 I have e to say a word。 Imperial Protector Tao Qian is humane and a good man。 He is not looking out for his own advantage； careless of the means and of others。 Your worthy father met his unhappy death at the hands of Zhang Kai。 Tao Qian is guiltless。 Still more innocent are the people； and to slay them would be an evil。 I pray you think over it。〃
Cao Cao retorted angrily； 〃You once abandoned me and now you have the impudence to e to see me！ Tao Qian slew my whole family； and I will tear his heart out in revenge。 I swear it！ You may speak for your friend and say what you will。 I shall be as if I heard not。〃
Intercession had failed。 Chen Gong sighed and took his leave。
He said； 〃Alas！ I cannot go to Tao Qian and look upon his face。〃
So Chen Gong rode off to the county of Chenliu to give service to Governor Zhang Miao。
Cao Cao's army of revenge laid waste whatever place it passed through； slaying the people and desecrating their cemeteries。
When Tao Qian heard the terrible tidings； he looked up to heaven； saying； 〃I must be guilty of some fault before Heaven to have brought this evil upon my people！〃
He called together his officials to consult。
One of them； Cao Bao； said； 〃Now the enemy is upon us： We cannot sit and await death with folded hands。 I for one will help you to make a fight。〃
Tao Qian reluctantly sent the army out。 From a distance he saw Cao Cao's army spread abroad like frost and rushed far and wide like snow。 In their midst was a large white flag and on both sides was written Vengeance 。
When he had ranged his troops； Cao Cao rode out dressed in mourning white and abused Tao Qian。
But Tao Qian advanced； and from beneath his ensign he bowed low and said； 〃I wished to make friends with you； Illustrious Sir； and so I sent Zhang Kai to escort your family。 I knew not that his rebel heart was still unchanged。 The fault does not lie at my door as you must see。〃
〃You old wretch！ You killed my father； and now you dare mumble this nonsense；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he asked who would go out and seize Tao Qian。
Xiahou Dun undertook this service and rode out。 Tao Qian fled to the inner portion of his array； and as Xiahou Dun came on； Cao Bao went to meet him。 But just as the two horses met； a hurricane burst over the spot； and the flying dust and pebbles threw both sides into the utmost confusion。 Both drew off。
Tao Qian retired into the city and called his officers to council。
〃The force against us is too strong；〃 said he。 〃I will give myself up as a prisoner and let him wreak his vengeance on me。 I may save the people。〃
But a voice was heard saying； 〃You have long ruled here； and the people love you。 Strong as the enemy are； they are not necessarily able to break down our walls； especially when defended by you and your people。 I have a scheme to suggest that I think will make Cao Cao die in a place where he will not find burial。〃
These bold words startled the assembly； and they eagerly asked what the scheme was。
Making overtures for friendship； Tao Qian encountered deadly hate。
But； where danger seemed most threatening； he discovered safety's gate。
The next chapter will disclose who the speaker was。
Main Next to Chapter 11 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Liu Bei Rescues Kong Rong At Beihai；
Lu Bu Defeats Cao Cao Near Puyang。
It was one Mi Zhu who said he knew how to defeat Cao Cao utterly。 Mi Zhu came of a wealthy family of merchants in Donghai and trading in Luoyang。 One day traveling homeward from that city in a carriage； he met an exquisitely beautiful lady trudging along the road； who asked him to let her ride。 He stopped and yielded his place to her。 She invited him to share the seat with her。 He mounted； but sat rigidly upright； never even glancing in her direction。 They traveled thus for some miles when she thanked him and alighted。
Just as she left she said； 〃I am the Goddess of Fire from the Southern Land。 I am on my way to execute a decree of the Supreme God to burn your dwelling； but your extreme courtesy has so deeply touched me that I now warn you。 Hasten homeward； remove your valuables； for I must arrive tonight。〃
Thereupon she disappeared。 Mi Zhu hastily finished his journey and； as soon as he arrived； moved everything out of his house。 Sure enough that night a fire started in the kitchen and involved the whole house。 After this he devoted his wealth to relieving the poor and forting the afflicted。 Tao Qian gave him the magistracy office he then held。
The plan Mi Zhu proposed was this： 〃I will go to Beihai and beg Governor Kong Rong to help。 Another should go to Qingzhou on a similar mission to get the help from Imperial Protector Tien Kai。 If the armies of these two places march on Cao Cao； he will certainly retire。〃
Tao Qian accepted the plan and wrote two letters。 He asked for a volunteer to go to Qingzhou； and a certain Chen Deng offered himself and； after he had left； Mi Zhu was formally entrusted with the mission to the north。 Meanwhile Tao Qian and his generals would hold the city as they could。
Kong Rong was a native of Qufu in the old state of Lu。 He was one of the twentieth generation in descent from the great Teacher Confucius。 Kong Rong had been noted as a very intelligent lad； somewhat precocious。 When ten years old he had gone to see Li Ying； the Governor of Henan； but the doorkeeper demurred to letting him in。
But when Kong Rong said； 〃I am Minister Li Ying's intimate friend；〃 he was admitted。
Li Ying asked Kong Rong what relations had existed between their families that might justify the term intimate。
The boy replied； 〃Of old my ancestor Confucius questioned your ancestor； the Taoist sage Laozi； concerning ceremonies。 So our families have known each other for many generations。〃
Li Ying was astonished at the boy's ready wit。
Presently High Minister Chen Wei visited； to whom Li Ying told the story of his youthful guest。 〃He is a wonder； this boy；〃 said Li Ying； pointing to Kong Rong。
Chen Wei replied； 〃It does not follow that a clever boy grows up into a clever man。〃
The lad took him up at once saying； 〃By what you say； Sir； you were certainly one of the clever boys。〃
The minister adviser and the governor all laughed； saying； 〃The boy is going to be a noble vessel。〃
Thus from boyhood Kong Rong was famous。 As a man he rose to be an Imperial mander and was sent as Governor to Beihai； where he was renowned for hospitality。 He used to quote the lines：
〃Let the rooms be full of friends；
And the cups be full of wine。
That is what I like。〃
After six years at Beihai the people were devoted to him。 The day that Mi Zhu arrived； Kong Rong was； as usual； seated among his guests； and the messenger was ushered in without delay。 In reply to a question about the reason of the visit； Mi Zhu presented Tao Qian's letter which said that Cao Ca