watch。　The　small　army　marched　straight　in；　Dong　Cheng　leading　with　his　treasured　sword　drawn。　His　intended　victim　was　at　table　in　one　of　the　private　rooms。　Dong　Cheng　rushed　in；　crying；　〃Cao　Cao；　you　rebel；　stay！〃　and　dashed　at　Cao　Cao　who　fell　at　the　first　blow。

And　just　then　he　woke　up　and　found　it　was　all　a　dream；　but　his　mouth　was　still　full　of　curses。

〃Do　you　really　wish　to　destroy　Cao　Cao？〃　said　Ji　Ping；　going　forward　to　his　half　awakened　patient。

This　brought　Dong　Cheng　to　his　senses。　He　stopped；　terror　stricken；　and　made　no　reply。

〃Do　not　be　frightened；　O　Uncle；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Although　I　am　a　physician；　I　am　also　a　man；　and　I　never　forget　my　emperor。　You　have　seemed　sad　for　many　days；　but　I　have　never　ventured　to　ask　the　reason。　Now　you　have　shown　it　in　your　dream；　and　I　know　your　real　feelings。　If　I　can　be　of　any　use；　I　will　help。　Nothing　can　daunt　me。〃

Dong　Cheng　covered　his　face　and　wept。

〃I　fear　you　may　not　be　true　to　me；〃　cried　he。

Ji　Ping　at　once　bit　off　a　finger　as　a　pledge　of　his　faith。　And　then　his　host　and　patient　brought　forth　the　decree　he　had　received　in　the　girdle。

〃I　am　afraid　our　schemes　will　e　to　nought；〃　said　Dong　Cheng。　〃Liu　Bei　and　Ma　Teng　are　gone；　and　there　is　nothing　we　can　do。　That　was　the　real　reason　I　fell　ill。〃

〃It　is　not　worth　troubling　you　gentlemen　with；　for　Cao　Cao's　life　lies　in　these　hands　of　mine；〃　said　Ji　Ping。

〃How　can　that　be？〃

〃Because　he　is　often　ill　with　deep…seated　pain　in　his　head。　When　this　es　on；　he　sends　for　me。　When　next　he　calls　me；　I　only　have　to　give　him　one　dose　and　he　will　certainly　die。　We　do　not　want　any　weapons。〃

〃If　only　you　could　do　it！　You　would　be　the　savior　of　the　dynasty。　It　depends　upon　you。〃

Then　Ji　Ping　wen