ut　a　story　of　a　hunting　party　to　explain　the　gathering。

When　the　preparations　were　plete；　and　before　the　time　fixed　for　the　rising；　Jin　Yi　went　to　see　Wang　Bi。

Said　Jin　Yi；　〃Everything　in　the　world　seems　now　tranquil；　and　the　power　of　the　Prince　of　Wei　extends　over　all　the　land。　It　is　a　season　of　joy　and　felicitation；　and　you　can　organize　a　lantern　festivity；　and　people　shall　hang　out　lanterns　and　put　up　decorations　for　the　occasion。〃

So　Wang　Bi　issued　guidelines　for　a　Feast　of　Lanterns　in　the　city。　The　night　of　full　moon　was　very　clear；　moon　and　stars　most　brilliant。　The　people　of　the　capital　took　advantage　of　the　night　and　thronged　the　streets　and　the　market　places。　The　lanterns　were　hung　out　in　profusion；　and　all　went　merrily。

No　official　interfered　with　the　crowd；

No　one　thought　of　the　flight　of　time；

All　was　simple　gaiety。

That　night　the　mander　of　the　Imperial　Guards；　Wang　Bi；　and　his　officers　had　a　feast　in　their　camp。　Just　after　the　second　watch　had　begun；　they　heard　a　great　shouting