Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/217

RV 212 (LI PO) Announce the Morning, Maiden of Blue Glory and daughter of Tai Shan. Perhaps it was sacrilege but all these delectable titles served only to make Ming Huang think of Yang Kuei-fei.

Near by was the inevitable Temple of Confucius.

They talked only in whispers. Li Po told a story:

"Once at the foot of Tai Shan, Confucius met a woman weeping. He said to her, 'Why do you weep?'

"'My husband was killed by a tiger,' she sobbed, 'my brother was killed by a tiger, and now I am afraid that a tiger will devour my son.'

"'Why do you not leave this neighborhood?' the Master asked.

"'Because here,' said she, 'there is no cruel government.'

"'It is true,' said the Master, 'a cruel government is more to be feared than tigers.'"

In Changan, Li Lin-fu beamed with satisfaction. He was rich, he held the Emperor's confidence. Occasionally he used the Imperial Seal for his own purposes. It had been largely through his influences that Chang Shou-kuei, Generalissimo of the Empire and Governor of Kuo-chow had been dismissed from high office. The pretext for his removal was ridiculous. He had protected the Empire well. Neighboring states feared him. Whenever there was an uprising, it was quickly subdued. But it was impossible to be in a hundred places RV 212 (212)