ABSTRACT

Attached to the garrison in the capital Kai fong fu, before the Tartar invasions, were two noblemen, a certain Captain Pao and his comrade Captain Pien. Both these gentlemen belonged to wealthy families and were founder members of a social club for the senior officers. When the Kin Tartars invaded the northern plains, Captains Pao and Pien were both selected for field service, and they were appointed to different frontier garrisons, far distant from each other. It can well be imagined how bitter was the parting between the two families. Li Kiao was the Tartar Field-Marshal Walipu's favourite and was temporarily living at his head- quarters in Kai fong fu. The proclamation brought to her mind her niece Cinnamon Bud in distant Tsing ho hsien. The lovely Cinnamon Bud and her talented brother Li Ming had both been brought up in the flourishing flower-garden known all over the town as Mother Li's.