d； and the old drummers were ordered to wear new clothes。 But the new drummer Mi Heng took his place with the other musicians clad in old and worn garments。 The piece chosen was the 〃Tolling of Yuyang；〃 and from the earliest taps on the drum the effect was exquisite； profound as the notes from metal and stone。 The performance stirred deeply the emotions of every guest； some even shed tears。
Seeing all eyes turned on the shabby performer； the attendants said； 〃Why did you not put on your new uniform？〃
Mi Heng turned to them； slipped off his frayed and torn robe and stood there in full view； naked as he was born。 The assembled guests covered their faces。 Then the drummer posedly drew on his nether garments。
〃Why do you behave so rudely at court？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃To flout one's prince and insult one's superiors is the real rudeness；〃 cried Mi Heng。 〃I bare my natural body as an emblem of my purity。〃
〃So you are pure！ And who is foul？〃
〃You do not distinguish between the wise and the foolish； which is to have foul vision。 You have never read the Odes or the Histories； which is to have foul speech。 You are deaf to honest words； which is to have foul ears。 You are unable to reconcile antiquity with today； which is to be foul without。 You cannot tolerate the nobles； which is to be foul within。 You harbor thoughts of rebellion； which is to have a foul heart。 I am one of the most famous scholars in the empire； and you make me a drummer boy； that is as Yang Huo belittling Confucius or Zang Cang vilifying Mencius。 You desire to be chief and arbitrator of the great nobles； yet you treat me thus！〃
Now Kong Rong who had remended Mi Heng for employment was among the guests； and he feared for the life of his friend。 Wherefore he tried to calm the storm。
〃Mi Heng is only guilty of a misdemeanor；〃 said Kong Rong。 〃He is not a man likely to disturb your dreams like Fu Yue； Illustrious Sir。〃
Pointing to Mi Heng； the Prime Minister said； 〃I will send you to Jingzhou as my messenger； and if Liu Biao surrenders to me； I will give you a post at court。〃
But Mi Heng was unwilling to go。 So Cao Cao bade two of his men prepare three horses； and they set Mi Heng on the middle one and dragged him along the road between them。
It is also related that a great number of officers of all ranks assembled at the East Gate to see the messenger start。
Xun Yu said； 〃When Mi Heng es； we will not rise to salute him。〃
So when Mi Heng came； dismounted； and entered the waiting room； they all sat stiff and silent。 Mi Heng uttered a loud cry。
〃What is that for？〃 said Xun Yu。
〃Should not one cry out when one enters a coffin？〃 said Mi Heng。
〃We may be corpses；〃 shouted they altogether； 〃but you are a wandering headless ghost。〃
〃I am a minister of Han and not a partisan of Cao Cao's；〃 cried Mi Heng。 〃You cannot say I have no head。〃
They were angry enough to kill him； but Xun Yu checked them； saying； 〃He is a paltry fellow。 It is not worth soiling your blades with his blood。〃
〃I am paltry； and yet I have the soul of a man； and you are mere worms；〃 said Mi Heng。
They went their ways； all very angry。 Mi Heng went on his journey and presently reached Jingzhou； where he saw Liu Biao。 After that； under pretense of extolling Liu Biao's virtue； he lampooned Liu Biao who was annoyed and sent him to Jiangxia to see Huang Zu。
〃Why did you not put the fellow to death for lampooning you？〃 said one to Liu Biao。
〃You see he shamed Cao Cao； but Cao Cao did not kill him as Cao Cao feared to lose popular favor。 So Cao Cao sent him to me； thinking to borrow my hand to slay him and so suffer the loss of my good name。 I have sent him on to Huang Zu to let Cao Cao see that I understood。〃
Liu Biao's clever caution met with general praise。 At that time a messenger from Yuan Shao was also there with certain proposals for an alliance； and it was necessary to decide which aide to espouse。 All the advisers came together to consider the question。
Then mander Han Song said； 〃As you have now two offers； you can please yourself and choose your own way to destroy your enemies； for if one refuses； you can follow the other。 Now Cao Cao is an able general and has many capable officers in his train。 It looks as though he may destroy Yuan Shao and then move his armies across the river。 I fear； my lord； you would be unable then to withstand him。 That being so； it would be wise to support Cao Cao； who will treat you with respect。〃
Liu Biao replied； 〃You go to the capital and see how things tend。 That will help me to decide。〃
Han Song said； 〃The positions of master and servant are clearly defined。 Now I am your man prepared to go all lengths for you and obey you to the last； whether in serving the Emperor or in following Cao Cao。 But lest there should be any doubt you must remember that if the Emperor gives me any office； then I shall bee his servant and shall not be ready to face death for you。〃
〃You go and find out what you can。 I have ideas in my mind。〃
So Han Song took his leave and went to the capital； where he saw Cao Cao。 Cao Cao gave him rank and made him Governor of Lingling。
Adviser Xun Yu remonstrated； saying； 〃This man came to spy out how things were moving。 He has done nothing to deserve reward； and yet you give him an office like this。 There were no such suspicious rumors connected with poor Mi Heng； and yet you sent him off and would never test his power。〃
〃Mi Heng shamed me too deeply before all the world。 I am going to borrow Liu Biao's hand to remove him。 And you need say no more；〃 said Cao Cao。
Then Cao Cao sent Han Song back to his former master to tell him what had happened。 Han Song came and was full of praise for the virtues of the court and was keen on persuading Liu Biao to espouse that side。
Then Liu Biao suddenly turned angry； charged him with treachery； put him in prison； and threatened him with death。
〃You turn your back on me；〃 cried Han Song。 〃I did not betray you。〃
Kuai Liang remarked； 〃Han Song had foretold this possibility before he left。 It is only what he expected。〃
Liu Biao； who was just and reasonable； went no further。
Presently came the news that Mi Heng had been put to death by Huang Zu on account of a quarrel begun over the wine cups。 Both being worse for liquor they had begun to discuss the worth of people。
〃You were in Xuchang；〃 said Huang Zu。 〃Who was there of worth？〃
〃The big boy was Kong Rong and the little one Yang Xiu。 There was no one else to count。〃
〃What am I like？〃 said Huang Zu。
〃You are like a god in a temple： You sit still and receive sacrifice； but the lack of intelligence is pitiful。〃
〃Do you regard me as a mere image？〃 cried Huang Zu； angrily。
So Huang Zu put the impudent speaker to death。 Even at the very point of death； Mi Heng never ceased his railing and abuse。
〃Alas！〃 sighed Liu Biao when he heard Mi Heng's fate。 Then Liu Biao had the victim honorably interred near Yingwu； on Parrot Island。
And a later poet wrote of Mi Heng：
Huang Zu could brook no rival； at his word
Mi Heng met death； beneath the cruel sword。
His grave on Parrot Isle may yet be seen；
The river flowing past it； coldly green。
Cao Cao heard of the young man's death with pleasure。
〃The putrid bookworm has just cut himself up with his own sharp