nothing to fear。 The man I fear is Yang Biao； who is a relative of the two Yuan brothers。 Should Yang Biao conspire with them； he is an enemy within and might do much harm。 He will have to be removed。〃
Hence Cao Cao sent a secret emissary to say that Imperial Guardian Yang Biao was intriguing with Yuan Shu； and on this charge Yang Biao was arrested and imprisoned。 And his death would have been passed had his enemy dared。
But just then the Governor of Beihai； Kong Rong； was at the capital； and he remonstrated with Cao Cao； saying； 〃Yang Biao es from a family famed for virtue for at least four generations。 You cannot trump up so foolish a charge as that against him。〃
〃It is the wish of His Majesty！〃 retorted Cao Cao。
〃If the child Emperor Cheng of Zhou Dynasty had put Duke Chao to death； could the people have believed Duke Zhou； the Regent Marshal； had nothing to do with it？〃
So Cao Cao had to relinquish the attempt； but he took away Yang Biao's offices and banished him to his family estate in the country。
Court Counselor Zhao Yan； an opponent of the Prime Minister； sent up a memorial impeaching Cao Cao for having removed a minister of state from office without a decree。 Cao Cao's reply to this was the arrest of Zhao Yan and his execution； a bold stroke which terrified the bulk of officers and reduced them to silence。
Cheng Yu advised Cao Cao to assume a more definite position。 He said； 〃Illustrious Sir； your prestige grows daily。 Why not seize the opportunity to take the position of Chief of the Feudatory Princes？〃
〃There are still too many supporters of the court；〃 was the reply。 〃I must be careful。 I am going to propose a royal hunt to try to find out the best line to follow。〃
This expedition being decided upon they got together fleet horses； famous falcons； and pedigree hounds； and prepared bows and arrows in readiness。 They mustered a strong force of guards outside the city。
When the Prime Minister proposed the hunting expedition； the Emperor said he feared it was an improper thing to do。
Cao Cao replied； 〃In ancient times rulers made four expeditions yearly at each of the four seasons in order to show their strength。 They were called Sou； Miao； Xien； and Shou； in the order of spring； summer； autumn； and winter。 Now that the whole country is in confusion； it would be wise to inaugurate a hunt in order to train the army。 I am sure Your Majesty will approve。〃
So the Emperor with the full paraphernalia for an imperial hunt joined the expedition。 He rode a saddled horse； carried an inlaid bow； and his quiver was filled with gold…tipped arrows。 His chariot followed behind。 Liu Bei and his brothers were in the imperial train； each with his bow and quiver。 Each party member wore a breastplate under the outer robe and held his especial weapon； while their escort followed them。 Cao Cao rode a dun horse called 〃Flying…Lightning；〃 and the army was one hundred thousand strong。
The hunt took place in Xutian； and the legions spread out as guards round the hunting arena which extended over some one hundred square miles。 Cao Cao rode even with the Emperor； the horses' heads alternating in the lead。 The imperial attendants immediately following were all in Cao Cao's confidence。 The other officers； civil and military； lagged behind； for they dared not press forward into the midst of Cao Cao's partisans。
One day the Emperor was riding toward the hunting grounds and noticed his newly found uncle respectfully standing by the roadside。
〃I should like to see my uncle display his hunting skill；〃 said the Emperor。
Liu Bei mounted his steed at once。 Just then a hare started from its form。 Liu Bei shot and hit it with the first arrow。
The Emperor； much struck by this display； rode away over a slope。 Suddenly a deer broke out of the thicket。 He shot three arrows at it but all missed。
〃You try；〃 said the Emperor turning to Cao Cao。
〃Lend me Your Majesty's bow；〃 Cao Cao replied。
Taking the inlaid bow and the golden…tipped arrows； Cao Cao pulled the bow and hit the deer in the shoulder at the first shot。 It fell in the grass and could not run。
Now the crowd of officers seeing the golden…barbed arrow sticking in the wound concluded at once that the shot was the Emperor's； so they rushed up and shouted 〃Wan shui！ O King！ Live forever！〃
Cao Cao rode out pushing past the Emperor and acknowledged the congratulations。
They all turned pale。 Guan Yu； who was behind Liu Bei； was especially angry。 The silkworm eyebrows stood up fiercely； and the red phoenix eyes glared as； sword in hand； he rode hastily forth to cut down the audacious Prime Minister for his impertinence。
However； Liu Bei hastily waved him back and shot at him a meaning glance so that Guan Yu stopped and made no further move。
Liu Bei bowing toward Cao Cao said； 〃Most sincere felicitations！ A truly supernatural shot； such as few have achieved！〃
〃It is only the enormous good fortune of the Son of Heaven！〃 said Cao Cao with a smile。
Then he turned his steed and felicitated the Emperor。 But he did not return the bow； he hung it over his own shoulder instead。
The hunt finished with banqueting； and when the entertainments were over； they returned to the capital； all glad of some repose after the expedition。
Guan Yu was still angry of the Prime Minister's breach of decorum。
One day Guan Yu said to Liu Bei； 〃Brother； why did you prevent me from killing that rebel and so ridding the world of a scoundrel？ He insults the Emperor and ignores everybody else。〃
〃When you throw stones at a rat； beware of the vase；〃 quoted Liu Bei。 〃Cao Cao was only a horse's head away from Our Lord； and in the midst of a crowd of his partisans。 In that momentary burst of anger； if you had struck and failed； and harm had e to the Emperor； what an awful crime would have been laid to us！〃
〃If we do not rid the world of him today； a worse evil will e of it；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃But be discreet； my brother。 Such matters cannot be lightly discussed。〃
The Emperor sadly returned to his palace。 With tears in his eyes； he related what had occurred in the hunt to his consort； Empress Fu。
〃Alas for me！〃 said he。 〃From the first days of my accession； one vicious minister has succeeded another。 I was the victim of Dong Zhuo's evil machinations。 Then followed the rebellion of Li Jue and Guo Si。 You and I had to bear sorrows such as no others have borne。 Then came this Cao Cao as one who would maintain the imperial dignity； but he has seized upon all real authority and does as he wishes。 He works continually for his own glorification； and I never see him but my back pricks。 These last few days in the hunting field； he went in front of me and acknowledged the cheers of the crowd。 He is so extremely rude that I feel sure he has sinister designs against me。 Alas； my wife； we know not when our end may e！〃
〃In a whole court full of nobles； who have eaten the bread of Han； is there not one who will save his country？〃 said she。
Thus spoke the Empress； and at the same moment there stepped in a man who said； 〃Grieve not； O Imperial Pair！ I can find a savior for the country。〃
It was none other than the father of the Empress； Fu Wan。
〃Have you heard of Cao Cao's wanton and perverse behavior？〃 said the Emperor； drying his eyes。