Yok said to Chih"Ching, "I have to-day received the Sacred Edict recalling me to the capital, but I am anxious lest the Kin attempt to cross the Yellow River; yous men will suffice if your longing for wine doesn't ruin matters, you must for my sake agra to abstain from wine until 1 return; swear, if you consent, by this cup of tea," go saying, he hand of tea, Chil took it and conform to my elder brother's commands," and he drank off the tex, Yok then sent a deputy to the Commander-in-chief to announce his recall, and soon after went off accompanied by' his henchman Chang Pao. On the road, a broken down bridge stopped the way. Chang remarked been complete when he had cro Yok on inspection saw it had lately been broken down. A boat was searched for, and one at last emerged from the reeds on the opposite bank. Tt was soon rowed over and the boatman turned out to be a thickset man, with large eyes. purple face and unusual height; a regular rufian. He demanded his money in advance. Taels ten for each man, and another ten for each horse. Yok thought to f the bridge wns broken by this man, Chang suid, "My friend, your business is excellent; abate your price a little." The man refused, and Chang agreed to his terms. 'The ferryman noticed their purse bags had limite, but cast a covetous eye on Yok's white horse, and determined to take Chang, who looked' fierce fellow, over first, and than to bottle the gentle-looking General so he said, "I will take you, but my oat is small and can only carry one man and one horse ata time." Chang said, On more or less was immaterial, he' would sit in the stern." The three then crossed. Half-way the man wanting a weapon, pretended to be hungry and searched in the bottom of the bent for food, asking Chang at same time to row for him. Chang agreed, but suspecting something, kept a sharp look-out and saw the ferryman tuke up dagger. Chang then let out with one foot and Kicked the dayyer out of the ferryman's hand into the river, and was about to let fly with the other foot when the forrsman fell backwards into water. Eh then rowed the boat over, Yok keeping the ferryman off with his spear. On reaching tie shore, the two rode off, but were matsued by the ferryman, demanding his fare. Chang suid the only money he would give was his stoff The ferryman loudly declared there were only two men in the Empire for whom he would abate his price the Emperor himself he would make pay. neither Heaton nor high office, Wealth requiring the ferry must pay up toa myriad Chang "Friend you must make us your third exception." The ferryman then attacked Chang, and a sharp fight ensued. Chang hampered by his bundle was getting the worst of it, when Yok rode up and stopped the fight with his spear. The ferryman declared he would fight them both. Yok said, Don't table, want to know who are your exceptions." The ferryman said, "One is the loyal Minister Li Kang, C would carry him over on my own back} the other is Yok Fei, young P: " Yok then announced who took the Chuang Yuanship from the
himself us Yok Fei on his road to Court, The ferryman apologised profusely and declared his readiness to hold Yok's whip and follow his stirrups, he also related how he had ruined himself by extravagance when and now desiring money to reach Yok Kei'sarmy, had broken down the bridge to make money asa ferryman; his name was Wang Hong. the three then went off to the ital, Chang running in front of Yok's tering the gate of the capital, the chair o 4 Chang passed by; Yok drew hack to let it pass, but Cha ized him and said, Are you not YokFei." Yok dismounted and said with a bow, 'I did not recognize Your Excellency and failed to stand Chang said, "I remember you at the military examination, and have recommended you for post of General; H.M. remembers yon, come with me and have audience." "Yok had to yo, but did not reach the palace gate till dusk. Chang telling Yok toawnit the edict, entered palace to inform H.M. Changthen informed Fragrant Almond, She was with the Emperor, and said she desired to visit some of the palaces. The Emperor agreed to take her. Yok saw the lights of the Imperial chair, and as it passed, said kneeling, 'Tam your Minister Yok Fei." 'The Emperor, half tipsy at the time, thought he was an as-austin, and ¥ragrant Almond urged on by 'Chang persuaded the Emperor to order Yok' i tion, Yok is th a and servants Chang and Wang on asked the reason, Yok said he wns as ignorant as they were. Chang then ordering Wang to see Yok was not moved, rushed out, broke open all the street gates with his staff, baffted every watchman that pursued, burst into the chief Minister's house and: finding HE. had already retired, kicked open his chamber door and seizing the half kim off on ing Yok bou When did you come he had received an edict recalling him, how Chang had taken him to the i palace, &e. The Minister Li Kang then struck the gong and drum and demanded audience. Chang Pang-chang, the traitor, Li, placed a board covered with way. Li Kang stumbled over it over, drawing blood. The sin attendance seeing reported to theFinperorthat Li was in dangerous condition.. Fragrant Almond said it was too Into to trouble H.E. Kao Teung said, "All my mini tera are assembled, how can We remain and he went. On seeing Li covered with blood, he ordered the royal physicians to attend him. Li then asked that Yok be risened till he (Li) could attend his trin Kao Tsung issued an edict accordingly. Linow returns home and instantly sum-mous the President of the Board of Punishments, and told him Yok was being wronged and was to be carefully tended. He then secretly told Chang Pao to post about the streets a placard, declaring that Li was plotting to destroy Yok Fei. This pine ard reaches Nin Kao and the other former comrades of Yok's boyhood, wh had turned robber chiefs on Great Step Hill, where they "enforced virtue on behalf of for widows and orphans. Niu, ing the placard, led his men to within 5 Wi of Phanix Gate of the capital and there encamped. Niu then demanded Yok Fei from the officer sent against him, threatening to attack the capital if his request was refused, The oticer replied by attacking Niu, but is beaten and has to fly back into the city. Nin at the advice of the rest let him go. The officer reverts hi defeat at Court, and how Yok's frien some robbers, had come to relenso him, Kao Teung wae undecided when Li is announced. The Emperor relates the defeat of his officer. Li says, "Send Yok Fei to repulse them and then determi Chang Pang-chang says, bandits are Yok's friends, to send Yok is to play into their hand." Li and Tsung Tsi guaranteed with the lives of themselvon and their families the loyalty of Yok. Yok is ordered in, Li shouts to him to kneel, and asks how he dares to leave his post on the Yellow River and secretly outer the capital to murder the Emperor. Yok says, 'A royal edict ree called me," und relates the whole affair, and Chany'e wicked plot, "His death mattered not, but he would never forget the words mother had marked on his back." Chany accuses Yok of desiring to revenge the affair of the examination. Li then enquired what palace Yok had entered, and finds from the minister on duty how Chang Pang-chan had Jed Yok in, and had given orders not to mention it to the Ewperor. Kao Tsung in great wrath ordered Chang's instant execution. Li begged the punishment might be commuted to degradation and loss of office and rank, in rememberanice of Chang's merit in bringing the great seal. The Kuperor assented giving Chang eight hours to leave the capital, Chang thanks the Imperial bounty, and leaves Ching Ling with his, family. By thin act of clemency the traitors death is postponed till he moots it afterwards at the hands of the Kin barbarians, and thus fulfils the oath took at th amination. Phus by the royal remittance and pardon he afterwards perishes like a sheep or dog in another your. Yok uow n hu orders and Teads out 1,000 men aguinst the bandits, On soeing him, Niu and Tang ery out, " Yok has come," and all dismount and enquire about their elder brother's health. Yok, in great anger anys, & Who is your brother, I am by order of the Emperor come to arrest you." 'They say, "Don't trouble, we will bind ourselves." 'They and await the Imperial Edict. Yok reports this at Court. 'The Emperor orders the pri be brought before him. Tang pr trate, are not bandits, but being in great' straits after the examination affair, and the Empire being masterless without legal chiefs, to restore his rank to Yok Fei, we tonk to helping the distressed. Hearing Yok had been injured, we advanced to save him; and we are ready to dio for our rashness." The Emperor was moved to tears and conferred the rank of Colonel on them, Yok was created assistant Commund: of, and granted 100,000 m.d against the Yok and his friends returned thanks for the Imperial grace; Yok than arranged his Commissariat, and left with his army for the North.
Meanwhile Woo Chao, the fourth son of the Kin Lord, had reached the Yellow River at the head of 300,000 men, A spy sent on in front across the river then reported to him the formidable nature of the defences nent the river, especially the large cannon, causing Woo great anxiety.
Lin Hsiang, Governor of Chan-tung and Prince of Lu, was sitting with great state and dignity in his boat, when he remarked his flags were less ornamental and gaudy than some of the others, He applied to Woo Chao, Woo angrily told ich flags were only granted for distinguished service and belonged to the Royal
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.