The Prefect retired into the city and called his officers to council. “The force against us is too strong,” said he. “I will give myself up as a prisoner and let him wreak his vengeance on me. I may save the people.” But a voice was heard saying, “You have long ruled here and the people love you. Strong as the enemy are they are not necessarily able to break down our walls, especially when defended by you and your people. I have a scheme to suggest that I think will make Tsʻao Tsʻao die in a place where he will not find burial.” These bold words startled the assembly and they eagerly asked what the scheme was. Making overtures for friendship he encountered deadly hate, But, where danger seemed most threatening, he discovered safety’s gate. The next chapter will disclose who the speaker was. CHAPTER XI. LIU, THE EMPEROR’S UNCLE, RESCUES KʻUNG JUNG: LU, MARQUIS OF WEN, DEFEATS TSʻAO TSʻAO. It was one Mi Chu who said he knew how to defeat Tsʻao Tsʻao utterly. He came of a wealthy family of merchants trading in Loyang. One day travelling homeward from that city in a carriage he met an exquisitely beautiful lady trudging along the road, who asked him to let her ride. He stopped and yielded his place to her. She invited him to share the seat with her. He mounted, but sat rigidly upright never even glancing in her direction. They travelled thus for some miles when she thanked him and alighted. Just as she left she said, “I am the embodied spirit of the Southern Heat. I am on my way to execute a decree of the Supreme to burn your dwelling, but your extreme courtesy has so deeply touched me that I now warn you. Hasten homeward, remove your valuables for I must arrive to-night.” Thereupon she disappeared. Mi Chu hastily finished his journey and as soon as he arrived moved everything out of his house. Sure enough that night a fire started in the kitchen and involved the whole house. After this he devoted his wealth to relieving the poor and comforting the afflicted. Tʻao Chʻien gave him the office he then held. The plan he proposed was this. “I will go to Pohai and beg Kʻung Jung to help; another should go to Chʻingchow on a similar mission, and if the armies of these two places march on our enemy he will certainly retire.” The Prefect accepted the plan and wrote letters. He asked for a volunteer to go to Chʻingchow and a certain Chʻên Têng offered himself and, after he had left, Mi Chu was formally entrusted with the mission to the north. Meanwhile they would hold the city as they could.