l　and　military　officers　took　their　places。　Civil　officers　of　repute　and　generals　of　renown　drank　one　to　another；　and　hearty　felicitations　were　exchanged。

Cao　Cao　looked　around　to　those　about　him；　saying；　〃Since　the　military　officers　have　peted　in　mounted　archery　for　our　enjoyment　and　displayed　their　boldness　and　their　skill；　you；　Gentlemen　Scholars；　stuffed　full　of　learning　as　you　are；　can　surely　mount　the　terrace　and　present　some　plimentary　odes　to　make　the　occasion　a　perfect　success。〃

〃We　are　most　willing　to　obey　your　mands；〃　they　replied；　all　bowing　low。

At　that　time　there　was　a　band　of　four　scholars　named　Wang　Lang；　Zhong　Yao；　Wang　Can；　and　Chen　Lin；　and　each　of　them　presented　a　poem。　Every　poem　sang　the　praises　of　Cao　Cao's　valuable　services　and　great　merits　and　said　he　was　worthy　to　receive　the　highest　trust　of　all。

When　Cao　Cao　had　read　them；　he　laughed；　saying；　〃You　gentlemen　are　really　too　flattering。　As　a　fact　I　am　but　an　ignoramus　who　began　life　with　a　simple　bachelor's　degree　and　remendations　for　filial　devotion。　And　when　the　troubles　began；　I　built　for　myself　a　little　cottage　in　the　country　near　Qiao；　where　I　could　study　in　spring　and　summer　and　spend　the　rest　of　the　year　in　hunting　till　the　empire　was　once　more　tranquil　and　I　could　emerge　and　take　office。

〃To　my　surprise；　I　was　chosen　for　a　small　military　office　which　changed　my　intentions；　and　I　determined　to　repress　the　rebellion　and　so　make　a　name　for　myself。　I　thought　that　I　might　win　an　inscription　on　my　tomb　to　the　effect　that　it　covered　the　remains　of　the　'Lord　Cao　Cao　Who　Restores　Order　in　the　West。'　That　would　have　been　ample　for　a　life's　work。　I　recall　now　how　I　destroyed　Dong　Zhuo　and　smote　the　Yellow　Scarves；　then　I　made　away　with　Yuan　Shu　and　broke　the　po