Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/63

 “If all the officers of the government weep till dawn, and from dawn weep till dark, will that slay Tung Cho?” said he.

His host turned on him angrily.

“Your forbears ate of the bounty of the Hans; do you feel no gratitude? You can laugh?”

“I laughed at the absurdity of an assembly like this being unable to compass the death of one man. Foolish and incapable as I am I will cut off his head and hang it at the gate as an offering to the people.”

The host left his seat and went over to Tsʻao Ts‘ao.

“These later days,” Ts‘ao continued, “I have bowed my head to Tung Cho with the sole desire of finding a chance to destroy him. Now he begins to trust me and so I can approach him sometimes. You have a ‘seven precious’ sword which I would borrow and I will go into his palace and kill him. I care not if I die for it.”

“What good fortune for the world that this is so!” said the host.

With this he himself poured out a goblet for his guest who drained it and swore an oath. After this the sword was brought out and given to Ts‘ao Ts‘ao who hid it under his dress. He finished his wine, took leave of the guests and left the hall. Before long the others dispersed.

Soon after Tsʻao Ts‘ao, with this short sword girded on, came to the palace of the minister.

“Where is the minister?” asked he.

“In the small guest room,” replied the attendants.

So Ts‘ao Ts‘ao went in and found his host seated on a couch, Lü Pu was at his side.

“Why so late, Meng-tê?” said Tung Cho.

“My horse is out of condition and slow,” replied Ts‘ao.

Cho turned to his henchman.

“Some good horses have come in from the west. You go and pick out a good one as a present for him.” And Lü Pu left.

“He is doomed,” thought Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. He ought to have struck then, but Ts‘ao knew Cho was very powerful and he was afraid; he wanted to make sure of his blow.

Now Tung Cho’s corpulence was such that he could not remain long sitting, so he rolled over and lay face inwards. “Now is the time,” thought the assassin, and he gripped the good sword firmly. But just as he was going to strike, his victim happened to look up and in a mirror he saw the reflection of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao behind him with a sword in his hand.

“What are you doing, Meng-tê?” said he turning suddenly. And at that moment Lü Pu came along leading a horse.

Ts‘ao Tsʻao in a flurry dropped on his knees and said, “I have a choice sword here which I wish to present to Your Benevolence.”