ed him to share the seat with her。 He mounted； but sat rigidly upright； never even glancing in her direction。 They traveled thus for some miles when she thanked him and alighted。
Just as she left she said； 〃I am the Goddess of Fire from the Southern Land。 I am on my way to execute a decree of the Supreme God 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 tonight。〃
Thereupon she disappeared。 Mi Zhu 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 forting the afflicted。 Tao Qian gave him the magistracy office he then held。
The plan Mi Zhu proposed was this： 〃I will go to Beihai and beg Governor Kong Rong to help。 Another should go to Qingzhou on a similar mission to get the help from Imperial Protector Tien Kai。 If the armies of these two places march on Cao Cao； he will certainly retire。〃
Tao Qian accepted the plan and wrote two letters。 He asked for a volunteer to go to Qingzhou； and a certain Chen Deng offered himself and； after he had left； Mi Zhu was formally entrusted with the mission to the north。 Meanwhile Tao Qian and his generals would hold the city as they could。
Kong Rong was a native of Qufu in the old state of Lu。 He was one of the twentieth generation in descent from the great Teacher Confucius。 Kong Rong had been noted as a very intelligent lad； somewhat precocious。 When ten years old he had gone to see Li Ying； the Governor of Henan； but the doorkeeper demurred to letting him in。
But when Kong Rong said； 〃I am Minister Li Ying's intimate friend；〃 he was admitted。
Li Ying asked Kong Rong what relations had existed between their families that might justify the term intimate。
The boy replied； 〃Of old my ancestor Confucius questioned your ancestor； the Taoist sage Laozi； concerning ceremonies。 So our families have known each other for many generations。〃
Li Ying was astonished at the boy's ready wit。
Presently High Minister Chen Wei visited； to whom Li Ying told the story of his youthful guest。 〃He is a wonder； this boy；〃 said Li Ying； pointing to Kong Rong。
Chen Wei replied； 〃It does not follow that a clever boy grows up into a clever man。〃
The lad took him up at once saying； 〃By what you say； Sir； you were certainly one of the clever boys。〃
The minister adviser and the governor all laughed； saying； 〃The boy is going to be a noble vessel。〃
Thus from boyhood Kong Rong was famous。 As a man he rose to be an Imperial mander and was sent as Governor to Beihai； where he was renowned for hospitality。 He used to quote the lines：
〃Let the rooms be full of friends；
And the cups be full of wine。
That is what I like。〃
After six years at Beihai the people were devoted to him。 The day that Mi Zhu arrived； Kong Rong was； as usual； seated among his guests； and the messenger was ushered in without delay。 In reply to a question about the reason of the visit； Mi Zhu presented Tao Qian's letter which said that Cao Cao was pressing on Xuzhou City and the Imperial Protector prayed for help。
Then said Kong Rong； 〃Your master and I are good friends； and your presence here constrains me to go to his aid。 However； I have no quarrel with Cao Cao either； so I will first write to him to try to make peace。 If he refuses my offer； then I must set the army in motion。〃
〃Cao Cao will not listen to proposals of peace： He is too certain of his strength；〃 said Mi Zhu。
Kong Rong wrote his letter and also gave orders to muster his troops。 Just at this moment happened another rising of the Yellow Scarves； ten thousand of them； and the ruffians began to rob and murder at Beihai。 It was necessary to deal with them first； and Kong Rong led his army outside the city。
The rebel leader； Guan Hai； rode out to the front； saying； 〃I know this county is fruitful and can well spare ten thousand carts of grain。 Give me that and we retire； refuse； and we will batter down the city walls and destroy every soul。〃
Kong Rong shouted back； 〃I am a servant of the great Hans； entrusted with the safety of their land。 Think you I will feed rebels ？〃
Guan Hai whipped his steed； whirled his sword around his head and rode forward。 Zong Bao； one of Kong Rong's generals； set his spear and rode out to give battle； but after a very few bouts Zong Bao was cut down。 Soon the soldiers fell into panic and rushed pell…mell into the city for protection。 The rebels then laid siege to the city on all sides。 Kong Rong was very down…hearted； and Mi Zhu； who now saw no hope for the success of his mission； was grieved beyond words。
The sight from the city wall was exceeding sad； for the rebels were there in enormous numbers。 One day standing on the wall； Kong Rong saw afar a man armed with a spear riding hard in among the Yellow Scarves and scattering them before him like chaff before the wind。
Before long the man had reached the foot of the wall and called out； 〃Open the gate！〃
But the defenders would not open to an unknown man； and in the delay a crowd of rebels gathered round the rider along the edge of the moat。 Suddenly wheeling about； the warrior dashed in among them and bowled over a dozen at which the others fell back。 At this Kong Rong ordered the wardens to open the gates and let the stranger enter。 As soon as he was inside； he dismounted； laid aside his spear； ascended the wall； and made humble obeisance to the Governor。
〃My name is Taishi Ci； and I am from the county of Laihuang。 I only returned home yesterday from the north to see my mother； and then I heard that your city was in danger from a rebel attack。 My mother said you had been very kind to her and told me I should try to help。 So I set out all alone； and here I am。〃
This was cheering。 Kong Rong already knew Taishi Ci by reputation as a valiant fighting man； although they two had never met。 The son being far away from his home； Kong Rong had taken his mother； who dwelt a few miles from the city； under his especial protection and saw that she did not suffer from want。 This had won the old lady's heart and she had sent her son to show her gratitude。
Kong Rong showed his appreciation by treating his guest with the greatest respect； making him presents of clothing and armor； saddles and horses。
Presently said Taishi Ci； 〃Give me a thousand soldiers； and I will go out and drive off these fellows。〃
〃You are a bold warrior； but they are very numerous。 It is a serious matter to go out among them；〃 said Kong Rong。
〃My mother sent me because of your goodness to her。 How shall I be able to look her in the face if I do not raise the siege？ I would prefer to conquer or perish。〃
〃I have heard Liu Bei is one of the heroes in the world。 If we could get his help； there would be no doubt of the result。 But there is no one to send。〃
〃I will go as soon as I have received your letter。〃
So Kong Rong wrote letters and gave them to his helper。
Taishi Ci put on his armor； mounted his steed； attached his bow and quiver to his girdle； took his spear in his hand； tied his packed haversack firmly to his saddle bow； and rode out at the city gate。 He went quite alone。
Along the moat a large party of the besiegers were gathered； and they came to intercept the solitary rider。 But Taishi Ci dashed in among them and cut down several and so finally fought his way through。
Guan Hai； hearing that a rider had left the city； guessed what his errand would be and followed Taishi Ci with a party of horsemen。 Guan Hai spread them out so that the messenger rider was entirely surrounded。 Then Taishi Ci laid aside his spear； took his bow； adjusted his arrows one by one and shot all round him。 And as a rider fell from his steed with every twang of Taishi Ci's bowstring； the pursuers dared not close in。
Thus he got clear away and rode in hot haste to Liu Bei。 Taishi Ci reached Pingyuan； and after greeting his host in proper form he told how Kong Rong was surrounded and had sent him for help。 Then he presented the letter which Liu Bei read。
〃And who are you？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃I am Taishi Ci； a fellow from Laihuang。 I am not related by ties of kin to Kong Rong； nor even by ties of neighborhood； but I am by the bonds of sentiment and I share his sorrows and misfortunes。 The Yellow Scarves have invested his city； and he is distressed with none to turn to； and destruction is very near。 You are known as humane； righteous； and eager to help the distressed。 Therefore at his mand I have braved all dangers and fought my way through his enemies to pray you save him。〃
Liu Bei smiled； saying； 〃And does he know there is a Liu Bei in this world？〃
So Liu Bei； together with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； told off three thousand troops and set out to help raise the siege。 When the rebel leader Guan Hai saw these new forces arriving； he led out his army to fight them； thinking he could easily dispose of so small a force。
The brothers and Taishi Ci with them sat on their horses in the forefront of their array。 Guan Hai hastened forward。 Taishi Ci was ready to fight； but Guan Yu had opened the bat。 He rode forth and the two steeds met。 The soldiers set up a great noise。 After a few bouts Guan Yu's green…dragon saber rose and fell； and with the stroke fell the rebel leader。
This was the signal for Zhang Fei and Taishi Ci to take a share； and they advanced side by side。 With their spears ready they dashed in； and Liu Bei urged forward his force。 The besieged Governor saw his doughty rescuers laying low the rebels as tigers among a flock of sheep。 None could withstand them； and he then sent out his own troops to join in the battle so that the rebels were between two armies。 The rebels' force was pletely broken and many troops surrendered； while the remainder scattered in all directions。
The victors were weled into the city； and as soon as possible a banquet was prepared in their honor。 Mi Zhu was presented to Liu Bei。 Mi Zhu related the story of the murder of Cao Song by Zhang Kai； Cao Cao's vengeful attack on Xuzhou； and his ing to beg for assistance。
Liu Bei said； 〃Imperial Protector Tao Qian is a kindly man of high character； and it is a pity that he should suffer this wrong for no f