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　twe