The whole four vigorously denied that any plot existed. However Tsʻao called up his henchmen and the four men were put into confinement. Next day Tsʻao Tsʻao with a large following went to the State Uncle’s Palace to ask after his health. Chʻêng came out to receive his visitor, who at once said, “Why did you not come last night?” “I am not quite well yet and have to be very careful about going out,” replied Chʻêng. “One might say you were suffering from national sorrow, eh?” said Tsʻao. Chʻêng started. Tsʻao continued, “Have you heard of the Chi Pʻing affair?” “No; what is it?” Tsʻao smiled coldly. “How can it be you do not know?” Tsʻao turned to his attendants and told them to bring in the prisoner while he went on talking to his host about his illness. Tung Chʻêng was much put about and knew not what to do. Soon the gaolers led in the physician to the steps of the hall. At once the bound man began to rail at Tsʻao as rebel and traitor. “This man,” said Tsʻao, pointing to Chi Pʻing, “has implicated Wang Tzŭ-fu and three others, all of whom are now under arrest. There is one more whom I have not caught yet.” “Who sent you to poison me?” continued he, turning toward the physician. “Quick, tell me.” “Heaven sent me to slay a traitor.” Tsʻao angrily ordered them to beat him again, but there was no part of his body that could be beaten. Tung Chʻêng sat looking at him, his heart feeling as if transfixed with a dagger. “You were born with ten fingers; how is it you have now only nine?” Chi Pʻing replied, “I bit off one as a pledge when I swore to slay a traitor.” Tsʻao told them to bring a knife and they lopped off his other nine fingers. “Now they are all off; that will teach you to make pledges.” “Still I have a mouth that can swallow a traitor and a tongue that can curse him,” said Chi Pʻing. Tsʻao told them to cut out his tongue. Chi Pʻing said, “Do not. I cannot endure any more punishment. I shall have to speak out. Loosen my bonds.” “Loose them. There is no reason why not,” said Tsʻao. They loosed him. As soon as he was free Chi Pʻing stood up, turned his face toward the Emperor’s Palace and bowed, saying, “It is Heaven’s will that thy servant has been unable to remove the evil,” then he turned and fell dead on the steps. His body was quartered and exposed. This happened in the first month of the fifth year of “Established Tranquillity” and a certain historian wrote a poem:— There lived in Han a simple leech. No warrior, yet brave Enough to risk his very life His Emperor to save. Alas! he failed; but lasting fame Is his; he feared not death; He cursed the traitorous Minister Unto his latest breath. Seeing his victim had passed beyond the realm of punishment Tsʻao had the slave led in. “Do you know this man, Uncle?” “Yes,” cried Tung Chʻêng. “So the runaway slave is here; he ought to be put to death.”