Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/382



he story says that the diggers at the spot whence the golden light proceeded presently unearthed a bronze bird. Looking at it, Ts‘ao turned to his companion, saying, “What is the portent?”

“You will remember that Shun’s mother dreamed of a jade bird before his birth, so certainly it is a felicitous omen,” said Hsün Yü.

Ts‘ao was very pleased and he ordered forthwith the building of a lofty tower to celebrate the find, and they began to dig foundations and cut timber, to burn tiles and to smooth bricks for the Bronze Bird Tower on the banks of the Chang River. Ts‘ao set a year for the building.

His younger son, Chih, said, “If you build a terraced tower you should add two others, one on each side. The centre tower and the tallest should be called The Bronze Bird Tower; the side towers named Jade Dragon Tower and Golden Phœnix Tower. Then connect these by flying bridges and the effect will be noble.”

"My son, your words are very good and by and bye when the building is complete I can solace my old age therein.”

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao had five sons, but this one Chih was the most clever and his essays were particularly elegant. His father was very fond of him and, seeing that the young man took an interest in the building, Ts‘ao left him with his brother P‘ei at Yehchün to superintend the work, while he led the army that had recently conquered the Yüans back to the capital. When he arrived he distributed rewards liberally and memorialised the throne obtaining the title of “The Pure Marquis” for the late Kuo Chia. And he took Kuo’s son to be brought up in his own family.

Next he began to consider the reduction of Liu Piao’s power. Hsün Yü said, “The Grand Army has only just returned from the north and needs rest. Wait half a year that the men may recover from the fatigue of the campaign and both Liu Piao and Sun Ch‘ûan will fall at the first roll of the drums.”

Presently Ts‘ao approved of this plan and to rest his men he assigned certain lands to them to till while they rested.

Liu Piao had been very generous to Liu Pei ever since he had come, a fugitive seeking shelter. One day at a banquet