"Besides which," added the Heir Apparent, "the swordsmen he is accustomed to see have all dishevelled hair hanging over their temples. They wear slouching caps with coarse tangled tassels, and short-tailed coats. They glare with their eyes and talk in a fierce tone. This is what my father likes. But if you go to him dressed in your ordinary scholar's dress, the result is sure to be disastrous." "I will accustom myself to the dress," replied Chuang Tzŭ; and after practising for three days, he went again to see the young prince, who accompanied him into his father's presence. The latter drew a sharp sword and awaited Chuang Tzŭ's approach. But Chuang Tzŭ, when he entered the door of the audience chamber, did not hurry forward, neither did he prostrate himself before the prince. "What have you to say to me," cried the prince, "that you have obtained your introduction through the Heir Apparent?" "I have heard," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "that your Highness loves sword-play. Therefore I have come to exhibit my skill." "What can you do in that line?" asked the prince. "Were I to meet an opponent," said Chuang Tzŭ, "at every ten paces, I could go on for a thousand _li_ without being stopped." "Bravo!" cried the prince. "There is not your match in the empire." "When I fight," continued Chuang Tzŭ, "I make a show of being weak but push a vigorous attack. The last to start, I am the first to arrive. I should like your Highness to make trial of me." "Rest awhile," replied the prince. "Stay here and await orders. I will arrange a day for you." Thereupon the prince spent seven days in trying his swordsmen. Some sixty of them were either killed or wounded, but at length he selected five or six and bade them attend in the audience-chamber with their swords. He then summoned Chuang Tzŭ and said, "Now I will see what your swordsmanship is worth." "I have been longing for this," replied Chuang Tzŭ. "Does it matter to you," asked the prince, "of what length your weapon may be?" "Not at all," replied Chuang Tzŭ. "I have three swords, of which I will ask your Highness to choose one. We will then proceed to the trial." "Which are your three swords?" enquired the prince. "There is the sword of the Son of Heaven," said Chuang Tzŭ, "the sword of the Princes, and the sword of the People." "What is the sword of the Son of Heaven?" asked the prince. "The stone wall of Yen-ch'i is its point," replied Chuang Tzŭ. Some take "stone wall" as the name of a place.