〃Why not？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃My forehead has no lofty fullness； my eyes no steady expression； my nose no bridge； my feet no round； solid heels； my back lacks the triple armor （of shoulder blades and intervening muscles）； and my breast the three marks （like the character indicating wealth）。 I can only control evil spirits securely； I cannot rule living humans。〃
〃What think you of my physiognomy？〃
〃What can a minister of extremely exalted rank like yourself desire further？〃 said Guan Lu。
Cao Cao pressed him to say。 The soothsayer only laughed。 Then Cao Cao asked him to look at the many officers of all kinds standing around。
〃Everyone of them is a servant equal to the administration of the empire；〃 said Guan Lu。
But when Cao Cao asked whether good or bad fortune was to be his； the soothsayer would not give a clear and full reply。
A poem says：
Guan Lu was a seer of old。
Stars to him their secrets told。
Mysteries； occult and dim；
Were as daylight unto him。
His so subtle intellect
Could the shade of death detect；
But the secrets of his skill
Died with him；………are secrets still。
Again Cao Cao asked him to divine concerning his rivals Wu and Shu。
Guan Lu said； 〃The south just lost a famous leader； and the west is encroaching on your territory。〃
Cao Cao's doubts as to the accuracy of one of these events were soon set at rest； for a messenger came from Hefei to report： 〃Lu Su； the Supreme mander of the South Land； has died in Lukou。〃
Then Cao Cao sent hurriedly into Hanzhong； and the scout returned to report： 〃Zhang Fei and Ma Chao have taken the Xiabian Pass and are threatening Hanzhong。〃
Cao Cao was angry and inclined to march at once against the invaders。 But he consulted the great soothsayer； who advised him not to move。
〃Do not act in haste。 In the ing spring there will be a conflagration in Xuchang；〃 said Guan Lu。
Having been witness of the verification of Guan Lu's words； Cao Cao was in no mood to neglect the warning。 He stayed on in his palace； but he sent Cao Hong with fifty thousand troops to assist in the defense of East River Land； while Xiahou Dun； with thirty thousand troops； went to Xuchang to keep careful watch and be ready against any surprises。 He placed High Minister Wang Bi in mand of the Imperial Guard。
Sima Yi warned Cao Cao against this Wang Bi； saying； 〃The man is given to wine； and slack。 He is not a fit person for such a post。〃
Cao Cao replied； 〃He is very fit。 He has followed me through all difficulties and dangers。 He is loyal and diligent； solid as stone or iron。〃
Wang Bi was appointed and led the guard into camp at the capital； outside the East Gate of the Imperial Palace。
Now there was a certain Geng Ji； a Luoyang man； who had long been employed in the Prime Minister's palace in a subordinate capacity and afterward had been promoted to a post of Minister。 He and Minister Wei Huang were close friends。
These two were greatly distressed at Cao Cao's advance to princely rank； and more especially at his use of the imperial chariots。 In the early months of the twenty…third year （AD 218）； Geng Ji and Wei Huang came to a secret exchange of views on Cao Cao's conduct。
Geng Ji said； 〃The man is rebellious and wicked； every day behaving worse。 He intends to go farther； and how can we； as servants of the dynasty； help him in his wickedness？〃
＇e＇ Jin Midi was a High Minister of Emperor Wu。 Jin Midi's descendants had held high offices for several generations。 。。。。。
Wei Huang said； 〃I have a friend named Jin Yi； who also is a servant of Han and an enemy of Cao Cao's。 He is a descendant of the old Great Minister Jin Midi*。 Beside； he is friendly with Wang Bi。 If we all tried our best； we ought to succeed。〃
〃But if he is friendly Wang Bi； he will not assist us！〃 said Geng Ji。
〃Let us go and sound him；〃 said Wei Huang。
So the two went to see Jin Yi； who received them in his private rooms。 There they talked。
Said Wei Huang； 〃O virtuous Jin Yi； we know you are on most friendly terms with mander Wang Bi； and so have e to beg a favor。〃
〃What is it you ask？〃
〃The Prince of Wei will soon receive the abdication of the Emperor and himself ascend to the seat of the mighty。 Then you and your friend Wang Bi will advance to places of great honor。 When that day es； we pray you not forget us； but remend us for employment。 We should feel no shallow gratitude for your kindness。〃
Jin Yi flicked down his sleeves and arose looking very angry。 At that instant arrived the tea for the visitors。 He snatched it away from the serving man and emptied it on the floor。
Wei Huang started up in feigned alarm。
〃How have I offended you； my good friend？〃 cried he。
〃I have been friends with you because you are descendants of people who have served the Hans faithfully。 Now； instead of trying to repay the debt of gratitude you ought to feel； you turn aside to assist one who is their enemy； think you that I can regard you as friends？ How could I look the world in the face？〃
〃But if it be destiny； one cannot help it；〃 said Geng Ji。 〃One must accept it。〃
Jin Yi grew still more angry； so that the two visitors were convinced that at heart he was loyal to the dynasty。 Then they began to tell him the true state of the case。
Said they； 〃Our real desire is to destroy this rebel； and we have e to ask your help in that。 What we said at first was only a test to find out what you thought。〃
〃Think you； with my ancestry； generation after generation in the confidence and service of the Hans； that I would willingly follow a rebel？ If you； Sirs； really think of restoring the dynasty； pray tell me your plans。〃
〃Though we have the desire to prove our gratitude； yet we lack the means to destroy the enemy；〃 said Wei Huang。
Said Jin Yi； 〃We desire helpers within and supporters without。 If we could slay Wang Bi； we could use his name and troops to help the Emperor。 With the help of Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； we should be able to destroy the rebel Cao Cao。〃
Hearing Jin Yi's plan； the others clapped their hands in approval。
〃And I have two friends outside of the city who will go with us；〃 said Jin Yi。 〃Both of them have the murder of a father to avenge。 We can get their helps。〃
〃Who are they？〃
〃They are sons of the great physician Ji Ping and are called Ji Mao and Ji Mu。 Cao Cao put their father to death for his connection with the plot organized by Dong Cheng； when Dong Cheng received the secret edict conveyed in the robe and girdle； which was conferred upon him by the Emperor。 The two sons escaped that time by flight； but they have since secretly returned to the capital。 With their help all will go well。〃
Geng Ji and Wei Huang rejoiced at the prospect of further help； and a messenger was sent to call in the two Ji brothers。 Soon they arrived； and the plot was laid before them。 They were deeply affected and shed copious tears。 Their wrath rose to the sky； and they swore to aid in the destruction of the rebel。
〃On the fifteenth day of the first month there will be grand illuminations in the city；〃 said Jin Yi； 〃and felicitations will continue on every side。 Geng Ji and Wei Huang will each lead out their retainers and make their way quickly to Wang Bi's camp to wait till they see the fire begin。 Then they will dash in； slay Wang Bi； and follow me inside the Palace。 We will then request the Emperor to ascend the Tower of the Five Phoenixes； assemble his officers； and issue orders to destroy the rebels。 The two Ji brothers will make their way into the city and set fires going。 Then all will raise their voices and summon the populace to their aid。 They are to hold up any rescue force in the city till the Emperor has issued the edict and disturbance is allayed； when they will rush toward Yejun and seize Cao Cao。 Then a messenger will be dispatched with a summons for Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle。 We will begin our work that night at the second watch； and we will escape the ill success that attended Dong Cheng's attempt。〃
All five swore before Heaven to be true； and they smeared their lips with blood in earnest of their oath。 After this； each returned to his own home to prepare arms and call up their people。
Geng Ji and Wei Huang each had four or five hundred retainers； whom they armed。 Ji Mao and Ji Mu also got together three hundred men。 They gave out a story of a hunting party to explain the gathering。
When the preparations were plete； and before the time fixed for the rising； Jin Yi went to see Wang Bi。
Said Jin Yi； 〃Everything in the world seems now tranquil； and the power of the Prince of Wei extends over all the land。 It is a season of joy and felicitation； and you can organize a lantern festivity； and people shall hang out lanterns and put up decorations for the occasion。〃
So Wang Bi issued guidelines for a Feast of Lanterns in the city。 The night of full moon was very clear； moon and stars most brilliant。 The people of the capital took advantage of the night and thronged the streets and the market places。 The lanterns were hung out in profusion； and all went merrily。
No official interfered with the crowd；
No one thought of the flight of time；
All was simple gaiety。
That night the mander of the Imperial Guards； Wang Bi； and his officers had a feast in their camp。 Just after the second watch had begun； they heard a great shouting in the camp； and someone came in to say that a fire had started in the rear。 Wang Bi hurriedly left the table and went outside。 He saw flames leaping up and rolling by and heard shouts of 〃Kill！〃 rising on every side and echoing to the very sky。 He thought the camp had certainly mutinied； and； jumping on his horse； went out at the south gate。 Just outside he ran against Geng Ji； who loosed an arrow which struck him in the shoulder。 He nearly fell with the shock； but he got away toward the west gate。 He found he was pursued by armed men； so he got flurried； dismounted； and went on foot。 Presently he came to the house of Jin Yi and hammered at the door。
Now the fire that had created such a scare had been raised by Jin Yi's own people sent for that purpose； and Jin Yi had followed them to fight when the time came。 Hence there was no one but the woman folks left in his house。 When the women heard the clamor at the door； they thought Jin Yi had e back。
Jin Yi's wife； from the door of the women's quarter； called