The plan Mi Zhu proposed was this： 〃I will go to Beihai and beg Governor Kong Rong to help。 Another should go to Qingzhou on a similar mission to get the help from Imperial Protector Tien Kai。 If the armies of these two places march on Cao Cao； he will certainly retire。〃
Tao Qian accepted the plan and wrote two letters。 He asked for a volunteer to go to Qingzhou； and a certain Chen Deng offered himself and； after he had left； Mi Zhu was formally entrusted with the mission to the north。 Meanwhile Tao Qian and his generals would hold the city as they could。
Kong Rong was a native of Qufu in the old state of Lu。 He was one of the twentieth generation in descent from the great Teacher Confucius。 Kong Rong had been noted as a very intelligent lad； somewhat precocious。 When ten years old he had gone to see Li Ying； the Governor of Henan； but the doorkeeper demurred to letting him in。
But when Kong Rong said； 〃I am Minister Li Ying's intimate friend；〃 he was admitted。
Li Ying asked Kong Rong what relations had existed between their families that might justify the term intimate。
The boy replied； 〃Of old my ancestor Confucius questioned your ancestor； the Taoist sage Laozi； concerning ceremonies。 So our families have known each other for many generations。〃
Li Ying was astonished at the boy's ready wit。
Presently High Minister Chen Wei visited； to whom Li Ying told the story of his youthful guest。 〃He is a wonder； this boy；〃 said Li Ying； pointing to Kong Rong。
Chen Wei replied； 〃It does not follow that a clever boy grows up into a clever man。〃
The lad took him up at once saying； 〃By what you say； Sir； you were certainly one of the clever boys。〃
The minister adviser and the governor all laughed； saying； 〃Th