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'Square within； without so round；
Beauteous colors here abound；
The jewel within is held secure
And what it witnesses is sure。
Is not this a seal in its bag？
'There's a bird on the precipice steep；
Its body with flame seems aglow。
Its wings are barred yellow and black。
At sunrise it never fails to crow。
And I think this hints at a pheasant feather。
〃Governor Liu Bin treated the marvelous diviner with great honor。
〃One day Guan Lu saw a youth plowing a field。 After watching him for a long time； Guan Lu suddenly asked his name and age。 The young man said； 'My name is Zhao Yang； and I am nineteen。 Pray； who may you be； Sir？'
〃'I am Guan Lu； you may have heard of me。 I see an air of early death about you； and you will be done with life in three days。 It is a pity that one so handsome should die so young。'
〃Zhao Yang forsook his plow； hurried home and told his father。 The father at once set out to find Guan Lu； and； having found Guan Lu； threw himself on the ground and besought the diviner to save his son。
〃'How can I avert the doom？ It is fate；' said Guan Lu。
〃'Alas！ I have but this one son； I pray you save him。'
〃And the son added his tears and prayers to those of his father。 Guan Lu was deeply touched。 Then he turned to the lad and said； 'You get ready some good wine and some venison。 Tomorrow go into the forest on the south there； and underneath a lofty tree you will see two men seated on boulders playing chess。 One of them will be dressed in white； and he will be facing the south。 He is very evil looking。 The other will be seated opposite； dressed in red。 He is very handsome。 They will be deeply absorbed in their game and will not notice who offers them food and wine； which you will humbly present on your knees。 When they have eaten and drunk； you will prostrate yourself and with tears pray them to grant you length of days。 You will gain an increased span of life； but； above all things； do not mention that I told you what to do。'
〃The father kept Guan Lu as a guest； and the next day the son followed out his instructions。 He entered the forest and soon came upon the two men seated beneath a pine； playing chess。 They seemed oblivious to all around them。 Zhao Yang presented the wine and the food； and the two men ate absent…mindedly； for the game went on。 But when Zhao Yang threw himself on the ground and implored the gift of long life； they seemed startled。
〃'This must be some of Guan Lu's doing；' said Red Robe。 'Still； as we have accepted a gift at his hand； we must have pity on him。'
〃He who was dressed in white then lifted up a book that hung at his side and looked therein。
〃'You are nineteen this year；' said White Dress to Zhao Yang。 'You ought to die。 But we will insert a number nine over the number one and so make it read ninety…nine； and that is the age you will attain。 But when you go back； tell Guan Lu he is not to betray the secrets of fate； or Heaven will surely punish him。'
〃Then Red Robe took out a pen and added the figure。 A gust of wind passed； and the two old men were transformed into two cranes that rose into the sky and flew away。 Zhao Yang came back home and told what he had seen。 Guan Lu told him the red…robed man was the Southern Dipper Constellation； and the white…robed； the Northern Dipper。
〃'But the Northern Dipper consists of nine stars； and there was only one man；' objected the lad。
〃'Separately they are nine； but they bine to form one。 The Northern Dipper records deaths； the Southern Dipper； births。 Now the extra figure has been added； you need have no anxiety。 You will live long。
〃Father and son both thanked him most sincerely； but thereafter Guan Lu was very careful how he divined for people lest he should betray celestial secrets。
〃Now； this man is at Pingyuan； and you； O Prince； can seek your fate of him。 Why not call him？〃
Cao Cao was greatly glad。 Guan Lu was sent for and came。 As soon as the salutations were over； Cao Cao asked him to cast lots for him。
Guan Lu at once found the cause and said； 〃Your illness is only due to magical machinations。 It should not create anxiety。〃
Cao Cao was much relieved in his mind； and his health began to improve。 Next Cao Cao wished to know about the conditions in the empire's affairs。
After the necessary calculations the prophet said：
〃Three and eight cross；
Where the army halt；
The yellow boar meets the tiger；
It causes the loss of one limb。〃
Then Cao Cao asked him to inquire whether his life should be long or not。
Guan Lu replied：
〃In the Lion Palace
The talents of ancestors are preserved。
The Prince's way is securely renewed；
And his son and grandson shall e to high honor。〃
Then Cao Cao asked concerning himself。
〃Divination concerning the fate of the universe may not be foreknown。 Wait a time and I will look into it。〃
Cao Cao was pleased and would like to keep such a man near him； so he offered him the post of Historiographer （who was also soothsayer） at his court； but it was declined。
〃My destiny is mean； my luck despicable。 I am not equal to such an office and dare not undertake it；〃 said Guan Lu。
〃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 y