“He is a mere semblance, a man of vain reputation. No; not he.”
“Sun Ts‘ê is a sturdy sort, the chief of all in the east. Is he a hero?”
“He has profited by his father’s reputation; he is no hero.”
“What of Liu Chang?”
“Though he is of the reigning family, he is nothing more than a watch dog. How could you make a hero of him?”
“What about Chang Hsiu, Chang Lu, Han Sui and all those?”
Ts‘ao clapped his hands and laughed very loudly. “Paltry people like them are not worth mentioning.”
“With these exceptions I really know none.”
“Now heroes are men who cherish lofty designs in their bosoms and have plans to achieve them; they have all-eMbracing schemes and the whole world is at their mercy.”
“Who is such a man?” said Yüan-tê.
Ts‘ao pointed his finger first at his guest and then at himself, saying, “The only heroes in the world are you and I.”
Yüan-tê gasped and the spoon and chopsticks rattled to the flooor. Now just at that moment the storm burst with a tremendous peal of thunder and rush of rain. Yüan-tê stooped down to recover the fallen articles, saying, “What a shock! and it was quite close.”
“What! are you afraid of thunder?” said Ts‘ao.
Yüan-tê replied, “The wise man paled at a sudden peal of thunder or fierce gust of wind. Why should one not fear?”
Thus he glossed over the real fact, that it was the words he had heard that had so startled him.
Constrained to lodge in a tiger’s lair,
He played a waiting part,
But when Ts‘ao talked of breaking men,
Then terror gripped his heart.
But he cleverly used the thunder peal
As excuse for turning pale;
O quick to seize occasions thus!
He surely must prevail.
The shower had passed and there appeared two men rushing through the garden, both armed. In spite of the attendants they forced their way to the pavilion where sat the two friends. They were Kuan Yü and Chang Fei.
The two brothers had been outside the city at archery practice when Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s invitation had come so peremptorily. On their return they heard that two officers had arrived and led away Yüan-tê to the Minister. They hastened to his palace and were told their brother was with his host in the grounds and they feared something had happened. So they rushed in. Now when they saw their brother quietly talking with Ts‘ao and enjoying a cup of wine, they took up their usual places and meekly stood waiting.
