〃That　being　so；　how　should　I　reply？〃　asked　Sun　Quan。

＇e＇　Li　Yiji　was　diplomat　and　adviser　of　Liu　Bang。　Li　Yiji　went　on　mission　to　discuss　peace　between　Liu　Bang　and　King　Tian　Guang　of　Qi。　Li　Yiji　demanded　a　ceasefire　as　condition　for　talk。　Tian　Guang　plied。　While　the　discussion　was　going　on；　Liu　Bang　attacked。　Tian　Guang　enraged　and　threw　Li　Yiji　into　boiling　oil。　。。。。。

〃I　will　tell　you。　Set　up　a　large　cauldron　and　pour　therein　a　quantity　of　oil。　Light　a　fire　beneath。　When　the　oil　is　boiling；　choose　a　goodly　pany　of　your　tallest　and　brawniest　fighting　guards；　arm　them　and　draw　them　up　in　lines　between　the　Palace　gate　and　your　throne　room。　Then　summon　Deng　Zhi。　But　before　he　can　say　a　word；　forewarn　him　that　he　will　have　the　same　fate　of　being　boiled　in　oil　if　being　guilty　of　the　same　sort　of　treachery　as　Li　Yiji*　when　he　was　a　persuader　to　the　state　of　Qi。　Then　see　what　Deng　Zhi　will　say。〃

Sun　Quan　followed　this　advice；　and　prepared　the　cauldron　of　oil　and　had　the　strong　guards　ready。　Then　he　bade　them　introduce　the　envoy。

Deng　Zhi　came；　his　ceremonial　dress　in　perfect　order；　and　advanced　as　far　as　the　gate。　Seeing　the　grim　array　of　fighting　men　armed；　some　with　gleaming　swords；　some　with　great　axes；　some　with　long　spears；　and　some　with　short　knives；　he　understood　at　once　what　was　meant；　but　he　never　blenched。　He　advanced　quite　steadily　and　bravely　till　he　reached　the　door　of　the　hall。　Even　when　he　saw　the　boiling　cauldron　of　oil　and　the　savage　executioners　glaring　at　him；　he　only　smiled。

He　was　led　to　the　front　of　the　curtain　behind　which　sat　the　Prince　of　Wu；　and　he　made　the　ordinary　salutation　of　raising　his　extended　arms；　but　he　did　not　bow　in　obeisance。

The　Prince　bade　his　attendants　roll　up　the　curtain；　and　called