“How can swallows and sparrows understand the flight of the crane and the wild goose? I am your prisoner and am to be sent to the capital for a reward. Why so many questions?”
The official sent away the attendants and turning to the prisoner said, “Do not despise me. I am no mere hireling, only I have not yet found the lord to serve.”
Said Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, “My ancestors enjoyed the bounty of the Hans and should I differ from a bird or a beast if I did not desire to repay them with gratitude? I have bowed the knee to Tung Cho that thereby I might find an opportunity against him, and so remove this evil from the State. I have failed for this time. Such is the will of heaven.”
“And where are you going?”
“Home to my village. Thence I shall issue a summons calling all the bold spirits to come with forces to kill the tyrant. This is my desire.”
Thereupon the magistrate himself loosened the bonds of the prisoner, led him to the upper seat and bowed saying, “I am called Ch‘ên Kung. My aged mother and family are in the east. I am deeply affected by your loyalty and uprightness and I will abandon my office and follow you.”
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao was delighted with this turn of affairs. The magistrate at once collected some money for the expenses of their journey and gave his prisoner a different dress. Then each took a sword and rode away toward the home of Ts‘ao. Three days later at eventide they reached Ch‘êngkao. Ts‘ao Ts‘ao pointed with his whip to a hamlet deep in the woods and said, “There lives my uncle, Lü Po-shê, a sworn-brother of my father. Suppose we go and ask news of my family and seek shelter for the night?”
“Excellent!” said his companion and they rode over, dismounted at the farm gate and entered.
Their host said, “I hear the government has sent stringent orders on all sides to arrest you. Your father has gone into hiding to Ch‘ên Lu. How has this all come about?”
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao told him and said, “Had it not been for this man here with me I should have been already hacked to pieces.”
Po-shê bowed low to Ch‘ên Kung saying, “You are the salvation of the Ts‘ao family. But be at ease and rest, I will find you a bed in my humble cottage.”
He then rose and went into the inner chamber where he stayed a long time. When he came out, he said, “There is no good wine in the house, I am going over to the village to get some for you.”
And he hastily mounted his donkey and rode away. The two travellers sat a long time. Suddenly they heard at the back of the house the sound of sharpening a knife.
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao said, “He is not my real uncle; I am beginning to doubt the meaning of his going off. Let us listen.”
