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 tongue；〃 said he。
As there was no sign of Liu Biao ing to join him； Cao Cao began to think of coercion。 Xun Yu dissuaded him from this course。
Said he； 〃Yuan Shao is not subjugated； Liu Bei is not destroyed。 To attack Liu Biao would be to neglect the vital to care for the immaterial。 Destroy the two chief enemies first； and the Han River is yours at one blow。〃
And Cao Cao took the advice。
After the departure of Liu Bei； Dong Cheng and his fellow conspirators did nothing else day or night but try to evolve plans for the destruction of Cao Cao。 But they could see no chance to attack。 At the new year audience Cao Cao was odiously arrogant and overweening； and the chief conspirator's disgust was so intense that he fell ill。
Hearing of the State Uncle's indisposition； the Emperor sent the Court Physician to see him。 The Court Physician at this time was a native of Luoyang； named Ji Ping。 A very famous physician； Ji Ping devoted himself wholly to the treatment of his court patient。 Living in Dong Cheng's palace and seeing Dong Cheng at all times； Ji Ping soon found that some secret grief was sorely troubling him。 But Ji Ping dared not ask questions。
One evening of the full moon festival； when the physician was just taking his leave； Dong Cheng kept him； and the two men had supper together。 They eat talking for some time； and Dong Cheng by and by dropped off to sleep dressed as he was。
Presently Wang Zifu and the others were announced。 As they were ing in； Wang Zifu cried； 〃Our business is settled！〃
〃I should be glad to hear how；〃 said Dong Cheng。
〃Liu Biao has joined Yuan Shao； and five hundred thousand troops in fifty legions are on their way here by different routes。 More than this； Ma Teng and Han Sui are ing from the northwest with seven hundred thousand Xiliang troops。 Cao Cao has moved every soldier outside Xuchang to meet the bined armies。 There is a great banquet in his palace tonight。 If we get together our young men and servants； we can muster more than a thousand； and we can surround the palace； while Cao Cao is at the banquet； and finish him off。 We must not miss this。〃
Dong Cheng was more than delighted。 He called his servants and armed them； put on his own armor and mounted his horse。 The conspirators met； as they had arranged； just at the inner gate of the Prime Minister's palace。 It was the first watch。 The small army marched straight in； Dong Cheng leading with his treasured sword drawn。 His intended victim was at table in one of the private rooms。 Dong Cheng rushed in； crying； 〃Cao Cao； you rebel； stay！〃 and dashed at Cao Cao who fell at the first blow。
And just then he woke up and found it was all a dream； but his mouth was still full of curses。
〃Do you really wish to destroy Cao Cao？〃 said Ji Ping； going forward to his half awakened patient。
This brought Dong Cheng to his senses。 He stopped； terror stricken； and made no reply。
〃Do not be frightened； O Uncle；〃 said the doctor。 〃Although I am a physician； I am also a man； and I never forget my emperor。 You have seemed sad for many days； but I have never ventured to ask the reason。 Now you have shown it in your dream； and I know your real feelings。 If I can be of any use； I will help。 Nothing can daunt me。〃
Dong Cheng covered his face and wept。
〃I fear you may not be true to me；〃 cried he。
Ji Ping at once bit off a finger as a pledge of his faith。 And then his host and patient brought forth the decree he had received in the girdle。
〃I am afraid our schemes will e to nought；〃 said Dong Cheng。 〃Liu Bei and Ma Teng are gone； and there is nothing we can do。 That was the real reason I fell ill。〃
〃It is not worth troubling you gentlemen with； for Cao Cao's life lies in these hands of mine；〃 said Ji Ping。
〃How can that be？〃
〃Because he is often ill with deep…seated pain in his head。 When this es on； he sends for me。 When next he calls me； I only have to give him one dose and he will certainly die。 We do not want any weapons。〃
〃If only you could do it！ You would be the savior of the dynasty。 It depends upon you。〃
Then Ji Ping went away leaving his late patient a happy man。 Dong Cheng strolled into the garden and there he saw one of his servants； Quin Quington； whispering with one of the concubines； Yun Ying； in a dark corner。 This annoyed him； and he called his attendants to seize them。 He would have put them to death but for the intervention of his wife。 At her request he spared their lives； but both were beaten forty canes； and the lad was thrown into a dungeon。 Sulky at this treatment； Quin Quington broke out of the cell in the night； climbed over the wall； and went straight to Cao Cao's palace； where he betrayed the conspiracy。
Cao Cao at once had him taken into a secret chamber and questioned him。
Quin Quington gave the names of the conspirators； saying； 〃Wang Zifu； Wu Zilan； Chong Ji； Wu Shi； Ma Teng； and my master have been meeting secretly。 My master has a roll of white silk； with writing on it； but I do not know what it means。 Yesterday； Ji 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 dare