Page:Romance of the Three Kingdoms - tr. Brewitt-Taylor - Volume 1.djvu/64

 Tung Cho took it. It was a fine blade, over a foot in length, inlaid with the seven precious signs and very keen; a fine sword in very truth. He handed the weapon to Lü Pu while Ts‘ao Ts‘ao took off the sheath which he also gave to Lü Pu.

Then they went out to look at the horse. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao was profuse in his thanks and said he would like to try him. So Cho bade them bring saddle and bridle. Ts‘ao led the creature outside, lept into the saddle, laid on his whip vigorously and galloped away eastward.

Lü Pu said, “Just as I was coming up it seemed to me as if that fellow was going to stab you, only a sudden panic seized him and he presented the weapon instead.”

“I suspected him too,” said Cho. Just then Li Ju came in and they told him.

“He has no family here but lodges quite alone and not far away,” said he. “Send for him. If he comes forthwith the sword was meant as a gift, but if he makes any excuses he had bad intentions. And you can arrest him.”

They sent four prison warders to call Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. They were absent a long time and then came back saying Ts‘ao Ts‘ao had not returned to his lodging but had ridden in hot haste out of the eastern gate. To the gate-warden’s questions he had replied that he was on a special message for the minister. He had gone off at full speed.

“His conscience pricked him and so he fled; there is no doubt that he meant assassination,” said Li Ju.

“And I trusted him so well!” said Tung Cho in a rage.

"There must be a conspiracy afoot: when we catch him we shall know all about it,” said Li Ju.

Letters and pictures of the fugitive were sent everywhere with orders to catch him. A large reward in money was offered and a patent of nobility, while those who sheltered him would be held to share his guilt.

Ts‘ao Ts‘ao travelled in hot haste toward Ch‘iaochün. On the road at Chungmou he was recognised by the guards at the gate and made prisoner. They took him to the magistrate. Ts‘ao declared he was a merchant, named Huangfu. The magistrate scanned his face most closely and remained in deep thought.

Presently he said, “When I was at the capital seeking a post I knew you as Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, why do you try to conceal your identity?”

He ordered him to the prison till the morrow when he could be sent to the capital and the reward claimed. He gave the soldiers wine and food as a reward.

About midnight he sent a trusty servant to bring the prisoner into his private rooms for interrogation.

“They say the Minister treated you well; why did you try to harm him?” said he.