itled　〃Cai　Yan　Returns　to　Her　Homeland〃。　。。。。。

Now　Cao　Cao　and　Cai　Yong　had　been　excellent　friends　at　one　time。　Cai　Yong's　daughter　had　been　first　married　to　Wei　Zhongdao。　Then　she　was　abducted　by　the　frontier　tribes　and　taken　away　to　the　north；　where　she　had　borne　two　sons。　She　had　posed　a　ballad　called　〃Eighteen　Stanzas　for　the　Mongol　Flageolet；〃　which　was　widespread　to　the　empire。　Cao　Cao　had　been　moved　by　pity　for　her　sorrows　and　sent　a　messenger　with　a　thousand　ounces　of　gold　to　ransom　her。　The　Prince　of　the　frontier　Xiongnu　State；　Ce　Xian　the　Khan；　overawed　by　Cao　Cao's　strength；　had　restored　her　to　Cai　Yong。　Then　Cao　Cao　gave　her　in　marriage　to　Dong　Si。*

Ordering　his　escort　to　march　on；　Cao　Cao　went　up　to　the　gate　with　only　a　few　attendants；　dismounted；　and　inquired　after　the　lady　of　the　house。　At　this　time　Dong　Si　was　absent　at　his　post；　and　the　lady　was　alone。　As　soon　as　she　heard　who　her　visitor　was；　she　hastened　to　wele　him　and　led　him　into　the　reception　room。　When　Cao　Cao　was　seated　and　she　had　performed　the　proper　salutations；　she　stood　respectfully　at　his　side。　Glancing　round　the　room；　Cao　Cao　saw　a　rubbing　of　a　tablet　hanging　on　the　wall。　So　he　got　up　to　read　it；　and　asked　his　hostess　about　it。

〃It　is　a　tablet　of　Cao　E；　or　the　fair　Lady　Cao。　In　the　time　of　the　Emperor　He　（AD　100）；　in　the　Xiongnu　State　there　was　a　certain　magician　named　Cao　Xu；　who　could　dance　and　sing　like　the　very　Spirit　of　Music。　On　the　fifth　of　the　fifth　month　he　was　out　in　a　boat；　and　being　intoxicated；　fell　overboard　and　was　drowned。　He　had　a　daughter；　Cao　E；　then　fourteen　years　of　age。　She　was　greatly　distressed　and　sought　the　body　of　her　father　for　seven　days　and　nights；　weeping　all　the　while。　Then　she　threw　herself　into　the　waves；　and　five　days　later　she　float