to propose, by which the band of conspirators should be utterly exterminated.
Kien-Chhiu repressing his joy at the Emperor's intentions, made his proposal as follows:—
"Your Minister has a plan; if it be followed out, though they make themselves wings, they will not be able to escape. "Wait till the feast of the new year, and then send an Official with a proper escort of soldiers, to pretend that Your Majesty has sent an Imperial gift of wine with which the priests may keep the festival. At the same time, let the escort be provided with sulphur, saltpetre, gunpowder, and all kinds of combustibles. Depend upon it, the priests will take in this scheme. At the same time, a Minister should be sent to Kun-Tat, with the red scarf,[1] as a punishment for his heinous crime of conspiracy to rebel. By thus doing, at one cast of the net we shall secure the whole party."
Kang-hi joyfully expressed his approval, and ordered the scheme to be carried out according to the suggestions of the two men.
These two officials having received the sacred commands, on the morrow arranged their troops, and having put all things in order, each proceeded to his separate Province. Kien-Chhiu went straight to Hok-Kien, towards the Sian-lim monastery; on arriving at a place called the "Yellow Spring," he met on the road, a carter named Ma-ji-hok. Kien-Chhiu availing himself of the opportunity, employed the man's carriage, and quietly questioned him as to the most important road to the monastery. By gradual and careful enquiries, Kien-Chhiu got the most complete information from Ji-Hok, who replied to his questions in a most straightforward manner, and kept nothing back; and besides this, he was quite glad to act as informer and guide, in order to avenge a blow he had received some time before, from an inmate of the monastery.
Kien-Chhiu was extremely pleased to find this out, and he felt very happy at seeing everything progressing so favourably; on approaching the monastery, the priests having received intelligence of his arrival, came forward to pay due respect to the Imperial Envoy, and to reverently receive His Majesty's Sacred Commands. The Abbot brought Kien-Chhiu into the Hall, and having invited him to take his seat in the most honourable
- ↑ To strangle him.
