Liu Pei bade Kuan Yü check him. Next day Lü Pu came to take leave of his host. “You, O Prince, kindly received me but I fear your brothers and I cannot agree. So I will seek some other asylum.” “General, if you go, my brother’s fault becomes grave. My rude brother has offended and must eventually apologise. In the meantime what think you of a temporary sojourn at the town where I was encamped for some time, Hsiaopʻei? The place is small and mean, but it is near and I will see to it that you are supplied with all you need.” Lü Pu thanked him and accepted this offer. He led his men there and took up residence. After he had gone Liu Pei buried his annoyance and Chang Fei did not again refer to the matter. That Tsʻao Tsʻao had subdued Shantung has been stated before. He memorialised the throne and was rewarded with the title of General with the epithet “Firm Virtue” and a marquisate. At this time the rebellious Li Tsʻui had made himself Ta-ssŭ-ma, or Minister of War, and his colleague styled himself Grand Commander. Their conduct was abominable but no one dared to criticise them. The Tai-yü Yang Piao and the Minister of Agriculture, Chu Chien, privately talked with the Emperor Hsien and said, “Tsʻao Tsʻao has twenty legions of soldiers and many capable advisers and leaders; it would be well for the Empire if he would lend his support to the imperial family and help to rid the government of this evil party.” His Majesty wept, “I am weary of the insults and contempt of these wretches and should be very glad to have them removed,” said he. “I have thought of a plan to estrange Li and Kuo and so make them destroy each other. Then Tsʻao could come and cleanse the Court,” said Piao. “How will you manage it?” asked the Emperor. “Kuo’s wife is very jealous and we can take advantage of her weakness to bring about a quarrel.” So Yang Piao received instruction to act, with a secret edict to support him. Piao’s wife made an excuse to visit Madam Kuo at her palace and, in the course of conversation, said “There is talk of secret liaison between the General, your husband, and the wife of the Minister Li. It is a great secret, but if the Minister knew it he might try to harm your husband. I think you ought to have very little to do with that family.” Madam Kuo was surprised but said, “I have wondered why he has been sleeping away from home lately, but I did not think there was anything shameful connected with it. I should never have known if you had not spoken. I must put a stop to it.” By and by, when Madam Yang took her leave, her hostess thanked her warmly for the information she had given. Some days passed and Kuo Ssŭ was going over to the dwelling of his colleague to a dinner. His wife did not wish him to go and she said, “This Tsʻui is very deep and one cannot fathom his designs. You two are not of equal rank and if he made away with you, what would become of your poor handmaid?”