Now Chêng Kʻang-chʻêng’s ming was Yüan. He was a student and a man of great talent, who had long studied under Ma Jung. Ma Jung was peculiar as a teacher. Whenever he lectured he let fall a curtain behind which were a circle of singing girls. The students were assembled in front of this curtain. Chêng Yüan attended these lectures for three years and never once let his eyes wander to the curtain. Naturally the master admired his pupil. After Chêng Yüan had finished his studies and gone home Ma Jung praised him to the others, saying, “Only one man has penetrated the inner meaning of my instructions and that one is Chêng Yüan.” In the Chêng household the waiting maids were familiar with Mao’s edition of the Odes. Once one of the maids opposed Yüan’s wishes, so as punishment she was made to kneel in front of the steps. Another girl made fun of her, quoting from an ode;— “What are you doing there in the mire?” The kneeling girl capped the verse from another ode; quoth she:— “’Twas but a simple word I said, Yet brought it wrath upon my head.” Such was the family in which he had been born. In the reign of the Emperor Huan he rose to the rank of President of a Board, but when the Ten Eunuchs began to control the government he gave up office and retired into the country to Hsüchou. Liu Pei had known him before, had consulted him on many occasions and greatly respected him. Liu Pei was glad that he had remembered this man and without loss of time, in company with Chʻên Têng, he went to his house to ask him to draft this letter, which he generously consented to do. Sun Chʻien was entrusted with the task of delivery and set out at once. Shao read it and considered the matter long before speaking. “Liu Pei destroyed my brother and I ought not to help him, but out of consideration for the writer of this letter I must.” Whereupon he assembled his officers to consider an attack upon Tsʻao Tsʻao. Tʻien Fêng said, “Do not raise an army. The people are worn out and the granaries are empty with these constant wars. Let us rather report the recent victory of Kungsun Tsan to the Throne. If that does not reach the Emperor, then memorialise that Tsʻao Tsʻao is hindering the government. Then raise an army: occupy Liyang, assemble a fleet in Honan, prepare weapons, send out your various divisions and within three years you will win all round.” The adviser Shên Pʻei replied, “I do not agree. The military genius of our illustrious lord having overcome the hordes of the north, to dispose of Tsʻao is as simple as turning one’s hand; it is not a matter of months.”