；　I　will　be　their　ghost！　I　am　no　flattering　time…server　as　you　are。　Kill　me！〃

Cao　Cao　gave　the　order。　They　led　him　away　to　put　him　to　death。

On　the　execution　ground　he　said　to　the　executioners；　〃My　lord　is　in　the　north；　I　pray　you　not　to　make　me　face　the　south。〃

So　Shen　Pei　knelt　facing　the　north　and　extended　his　neck　for　the　fatal　stroke。

Who　of　all　the　official　throng

In　the　North　was　true　like　Shen　Pei？

Sad　his　fate！　He　served　a　fool；

But　faithful；　as　the　ancient　humans。

Straight　and　true　was　every　word；

Never　from　the　road　he　swerved。

Faithful　unto　death；　he　died

Gazing　toward　the　lord　he'd　served。

Thus　died　Shen　Pei　and　from　respect　for　his　character　Cao　Cao　ordered　that　he　be　buried　honorably　on　the　north　of　the　city。

The　Prime　Minister　then　entered　the　city　of　Yejun。　As　he　was　starting；　he　saw　the　executioners　hurrying　forward　a　prisoner　who　proved　to　be　Chen　Lin。

〃You　wrote　that　manifesto　for　Yuan　Shao。　If　you　had　only　directed　your　diatribe　against　me；　it　would　not　have　mattered。　But　why　did　you　shame　my　forefathers？〃　said　Cao　Cao。

〃When　the　arrow　is　on　the　string；　it　must　fly；〃　replied　Chen　Lin。

Those　about　Cao　Cao　urged　him　to　put　Chen　Lin　to　death；　but　he　was　spared　on　account　of　his　genius　and　given　a　civil　post。

Now　Cao　Cao's　eldest　son　was　named　Cao　Pi。　At　the　taking　of　the　cities　he　was　eighteen　years　of　age。　When　he　was　born　a　dark　purplish　halo　hung　over　the　house　for　a　whole　day。　One　who　understood　the　meaning　of　such　manifestations　had　secretly　told　Cao　Cao　that　the　halo　belonged　to　the　imperial　class　and　portended　honors　which　could　not　be　put　into　words。

At　eight　the　lad　could　pose　very　skillfully；　and　he　was　well　read　in　an