Scenes:
Opener:
It was about two weeks after the beginning of the fifth year of Jian An (A.D. 200). Yuan Shao invited all eminent court officials to a banquet. Liu Bei and the rest felt compelled to attend so as not to arouse Yuan's suspicions. The banquet was laid in Yuan's private apartment. After several rounds of win, Yuan said, "Our feast wants entertainment. We do have one man, though, who may sber you all up." At Yuan's command twenty jailers dragged in Ji Ping, secured in movable stocks. Yuan ordered the jailers to begin alternately beating and reviving the prisoner.
"You officials," Yuan cried, "may not be aware that this fellow is associated with an evil faction that tried to rebel against the court and kill me. But today Heaven has ruined him, and the rest will soon follow. This court will be sequestered here in my palace and investigated by my heads of staff until the conspirators are found and surrendered to me. Any man attempting to flee the premises will be cut down." With a gesture, Yuan Shao turned and left. Elite soldiers began taking positions outside every door and window of the palace, while the chief steward began barring every available exit.
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Start-of-Day Scenes:
After Huang Zhong left the capital, Liu Bei continued to meet night and day with Jian Yong and other members of his cabal, but they were unable to concert any action against Yuan Shao. At the New Year's court ceremonies for the fifth year of Jian An, Liu Bei watched Yuan Shao's arrogant and ruthless behaviour with growing indignation until his health was affected. The Emperor noticed that the imperial uncle looked unwell and ordered court physician Ji Ping of Luoyang to treat him. Ping called on Liu Bei at his residence and applied various remedies. He stayed with his patient day and night, noting his mournful sighs but refraining from expressing his concern.
On the fifteenth of the first month, the time of the first full moon festival, the physician was ready to take his leave, but Liu Bei detained him, and the two men began drinking. After several hours Liu Bei felt fatigue; loosening his clothes, he drifted into a dream in which Jian Yong and three other comrades were announced. As Liu Bei received them, Jian Yong said "Everything is going smoothly." "Let me hear the details," Bei answered. "Huan Zhong," Yong began, "has joined with Ma Teng. They have half a million men marching here in ten field armies. In the northeast Gongsun Zan has mobilized seven hundred thousand troops; they are advancing now. Yuan Shao has mustered his last man and horse, dividing his fronts to meet his enemies. The capital is undefended. If we marshal a thousand servants and young attendants from our five households, we can surround the prime minister's residence this evening while the full moon festival is being held, and charge in and kill him. We have a unique opportunity." Enthusiastically Liu Bei gathered the men of the household. Arms were collected. Liu Bei was mounted and dressed for battle, spear couched for action. They were to assemble at Shao's inner gate and storm his quarters. Night, the second watch: all advanced. Liu Bei raised his jeweled sword and strode into the banquet hall, where Shao was presiding. "Don't move, traitor!" Liu Bei cried to Shao, chopping at him with his blade. Shao crumpled in the wake of the blow, as Bei repeated the words "traitor, traitor," until he had awoke from the empty dream.
Liu Bei had just awoken from his dream. Ji Ping, the physician, leaned forward. "So you intend to murder Lord Yuan?" he asked. Liu Bei was too stunned to reply. "Calm yourself, " Ji Ping went on. "Though a mere physician myself, I have never forgotten how much I owe the Han. Day after day I have listened to your deep-drawn sighs but hesitated to question you. Now, by chance, the words you spoke in your dreams have disclosed the actual situation. Please do not keep the truth from me. If there is any way I can help, even if it means clan-wide extermination, I shall do it without regret." Than, as a pledge, Ji Ping bit off the top of his finger.
Ji Ping had just bitten off the tip of his finger to show Liu Bei his loyalty to removing the Prime Minister. "I only hope you are sincere," Liu Bei said, covering his face; then he handed Ji Ping the Emperor's secret edict, adding, "Our prospects are poor now, with Huang Zhong and Ma Teng gone. My worries over our inability to act have made me ill." "You have nothing to worry about," the physician replied. "The traitor's life is in these hands. He suffers from chronic headaches, with pain that pierces his marrow. The moment one comes on, he calls fr me; and the next time he does, I will administer a treatment sure to kill him. Why bother with weapons?" "If we succeed in this," Liu Bei answered, "the sacred shrines of the Han will owe their salvation to you." Ji Ping then took his leave.
Liu Bei had recruited Ji Ping and the physician had expressed his plan to assassinate the Prime Minister before retiring for the night. Liu Bei suppressed his excitement and was walking to his room when he came upon a house servant, Qin Qingtong, whispering in a secluded corner with the concubine Mi Shi. Liu Bei had them seized. Only on his wife's appeal did he spare their lives. Each was given forty strokes with a staff, and the man was locked in an empty room. During the night Qin Qington, burning with resentment, forced open the metal lock and bounded over the wall. He went straight to Shao's residence, offering valuable information. Questioned in a side room, the man said, "Jian Yong, Ma Teng and three other officials held a secret talk with my master - I am sure there is a plot against you - and my master brought out a roll of silk with something written on it. And yesterday Ji Ping bit off his fingertip to seal an oath. That much I saw myself." Yuan Shao kept the man in his house. Liu Bei thought he had simply run away and made no attempt to locate him.
The runaway, Qin Qintong, had informed Yuan Shao of the secret conspiracy. The next day Yuan Shao feigned headache and called for Ji Ping. "A traitor meets his end," the physician thought, entering Shao's residence with the poison. From his bed Shao ordered Ji Ping to prepare the drug. "One dose and you'll be over it," Ping said. He called for a pot and decocted the brew in front of Shao. When the contents were half boiled down, he added the poison and handed the drink to Shao. But Shao, knowing the truth, was slow to drink it. "Take it while it is hot," Ji Ping urged. "A brief sweat and your headache will pass." Shao sat up and said, "You are versed in the Confucian texts and familiar with the proprieties. The servant must taste the lord's medicine; the son, the father's. As one of my closest, most trusted servants, shouldn't you taste the medicine before offering it?"
Yuan Shao had just suggested Ji Ping drink his own medicinal concoction. "Medicine is for the sick," the physician responded. "What's the use of my tasting it?" But Ji Ping knew he had been exposed and yanked Shao's ear in an attempt to pour the potion into him. Shao forced it aside, and the liquid spattered on the ground, causing the bricks to crack and split. Before Shao could give the order, his guards had pinned Ji Ping to the ground. "You really thought I was ill?" Shao said. "It was all arranged to test you, to see if you actually meant to do me harm." Twenty husky jailers whisked Ji Ping to a rear yard for interrogation. He lay bound on the ground, impassive, showing no fear; Yuan Shao sat on a raised platform. "A mere physician," he said, "wouldn't have the nerve to poison me. Who put you up to it? Talk and you'll be spared." "Traitor who has wronged the sovereign!" Ji Ping retorted. "Te entire realm would see you dead - not I alone." Shao hammered him with questions, but Ji Ping replied vehemently, "I meant to kill you for myself alone. No one sent me. My mission failed. I'm ready to die." Yuan Shao ordered Ji Ping beaten without mercy. After several hours his skin split open and the stairs before Yuan Shao were covered with blood. Finally, rather than lose the man and his testimony, Yuan Shao ordered a respite.
Yuan Shao had been informed of Liu Bei's conspiracy and had apprehended the physician Ji Ping in the act of attempted assassination. However, the testimony of a mere house servant was insufficient to bring forth accusations against the Imperial Uncle, himself.
This post has been edited by Path-Shaper: 24 April 2010 - 10:37 PM
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