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Wu the Gaoler rejoiced greatly, thinking that he would throw away the menial position of gaoler and travel about the country healing sick folks, and so he told Hua Tuo to write the letter and promised to carry on his work.

The letter was written and given to Wu the Gaoler, who lost no time in traveling to Jincheng to meet with Hua Tuo's wife, and she gave him the Black Bag to bring back to Hua Tuo. After Hua Tuo had read through the book carefully, he presented it to Wu the Gaoler, who took it home and hid it away.

Ten days after this, Hua Tuo died in prison. Wu the Gaoler bought a coffin and had him buried. This done, he quitted the prison and went home. But when he asked for the book, he found that his wife had discovered it and was using it to light the fire. He snatched away what was left of it, but a whole volume was missing, and what was left amounted only to a few pages. He vented his anger in cursing his wife, and she retorted, saying, “If you become such a learned person as Hua Tuo, you will only die in prison like him. What good did it all do him?”

It struck Wu the Gaoler that there was something in what she said, and he ceased grumbling at her. But the upshot of all this was that the learning in the “Treatise of the Black Bag” was finally lost to the world, for what was left only contained a few recipes relating to domestic animals.

Hua Tuo was the ablest of physician,

Seeing what diseases were lurking within beings.

Alas! That he died, and his writings

Followed him to the Nine Golden Springs.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao became worse, the uncertainty of the intentions of his rivals aggravating his disease not a little. Then they said an envoy had come with letters from Wu, the gist of which was satisfactory, as it ran like this:

“Thy servant, Sun Quan, has long seen whom destiny indicates as master of all, and looks forward with confidence

to his early accession to the dignity of the Son of God. If he will send his armies to destroy Liu Bei and sweep rebellion from the two Lands of Rivers, his servant at the head of his armies will submit and accept his land as a fief.”

Cao Cao laughed as he read this, and he said to his officers, “Is this youth trying to put me on a furnace?”

But Minister Chen Qun and the attendants seriously replied, “O Prince, the Hans have been feeble too long, while your virtues and merits are like the mountains. All the people look to you, and when Sun Quan acknowledged himself as your minister, he is but responsive to the will of God and the desire of humans. It is wrong that you oppose when such contrary influences work to a common end, and you must soon ascend to the high place.” Cao Cao smiled. “I have served the Hans for many years; and if I have acquired some merit, yet I have been rewarded with a princedom and high rank. I dare not aspire to greater things. If the finger of heaven points to me, then shall I be as King Wen of Zhou.”

“As Sun Quan acknowledges himself your servant and promises obedience, you, my lord, can confer a title upon him and assign to him the duty of attacking Liu Bei,” said Sima Yi.

Approving of the suggestion, Cao Cao gave Sun Quan the titles of General of the Flying Cavalry and Lord of Nanzhang, and appointed him to the Imperial Protectorship of Jingzhou. Forthwith this command was sent away to Sun Quan.

Cao Cao's condition grew worse daily. One night he had a dream of three horses feeding out of the same manger. Next day he told it to Jia Xu, saying, “I saw three horses feeding on the same manger before the family of Ma Teng was harmed. Last night I saw the same dream again. How do you interpret it?”

“It is auspicious to dream of dignity,” replied Jia Xu. “And naturally such an honor comes to the Caos. I do not think you need feel any misgivings.”

Cao Cao was comforted.

Cao Cao dreamed three steeds together fed,

The vision seers could not explain,

None guessed how soon, when Cao Cao was dead,

One dynasty would rule again.

Ah, yes; Cao Cao had vainly wrought;

Of none avail each wicked wile,

For, later, in Wei court, there fought

Against him one with equal guile.