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　from　the　wars　in　the　central　plain。　Wars　between　Qin　and　Jin　were　not　few；　but　intermarriages　between　the　two　houses　were　frequent；　and　this　alliance　strengthened　both　states。　。。。。。
Lu　Fan　said；　〃A　man　without　a　wife　is　like　a　house　without　a　ridge　pole。　At　your　age；　one　should　not　live　an　inplete　life。　I　am　e　on　the　part　of　Marquis　Sun　Quan；　who　has　a　sister；　beautiful　as　she　is；　acplished　and　well　fitted　to　be　a　mate　for　you。　Should　the　two　families　bee　allied　as　formerly　were　Qin　and　Jin*；　then　that　ruffian　Cao　Cao　would　never　dare　so　much　as　look　this　way。　Such　an　alliance　would　be　to　the　benefit　of　both　our　houses　and　of　the　state。　I　hope；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　that　you　will　fairly　consider　the　proposal。　However；　since　the　young　girl's　mother　is　dotingly　fond　of　her；　the　mother　does　not　wish　her　to　go　far　away；　and　so　I　must　ask　you　to　e　into　our　country　for　the　wedding。〃
〃Does　the　Marquis　know　of　your　ing？〃
〃How　dare　I　e　without　his　knowledge？〃
〃I　am　no　longer　young；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃I　am　fifty　and　grizzled。　This　fair　damsel；　the　sister　of　the　Marquis；　is　now　in　the　flower　of　her　youth　and　no　mate　for　me。〃
〃Although　the　damsel　is　a　woman；　yet　in　mind　she　surpasses　many　a　man；　and　she　has　said　she　will　never　wed　anyone　who　is　unknown　to　fame。　Now；　Sir；　you　are　renowned　throughout　the　four　seas。　Marriage　with　you　would　be　the　chaste　maiden　mating　with　the　born　gentleman。　Of　what　consequence　is　the　difference　in　age？〃
〃Sir；　stay　here　awhile；　and　I　will　give　you　a　reply　tomorrow；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　that　day　the　envoy　was　entertained　at　a　banquet　and　then　conducted　to　the　guest…house　to　repose；　while；　late　as　it　was；　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　discussed　their　plans。
〃I　knew　what　he　had　e　about；〃　said　the　adviser。　〃While　he　was　talking；　I　consulted　the　oracle　and　obtained　an　excellent　sign。　Wherefore　you　may　accept　the　proposal　and　send　Sun　Qian　back　with　this　envoy　to　arrange　the　details。　When　the　promise　has　been　ratified；　we　will　choose　a　day　and　you　shall　go　to　plete　the　ceremony。〃
〃How　can　I　thus　go　into　enemy　territory？　Zhou　Yu　has　wanted　to　slay　me　for　a　long　time。〃
〃Let　Zhou　Yu　employ　all　his　ruses。　Think　you　he　can　get　beyond　me？　Let　me　act　for　you；　and　his　calculations　will　always　fail　halfway。　Once　Sun　Quan's　sister　is　in　your　power；　there　will　be　no　fear　for　Jingzhou。〃
Still　Liu　Bei　doubted　in　his　mind。　However；　Sun　Qian　was　sent　to　the　South　Land；　with　definite　instructions；　and　traveled　thither　with　Lu　Fan。
At　the　interview　Sun　Quan　said；　〃I　wish　my　sister　could　induce　Liu　Bei　to　live　here　with　us。　He　would　e　to　no　harm。〃
Sun　Qian　took　his　leave。　And　returning　to　Jingzhou；　he　told　the　bridegroom　elect；　saying；　〃Sun　Quan's　sole　desire　is　for　our　lord　to　go　over　and　plete　the　marriage。〃
However；　Liu　Bei　feared　and　would　not　go。
Zhuge　Liang　said；　〃I　have　prepared　three　plans；　but　I　need　Zhao　Yun　to　carry　them　out。　He　will　be　sent　as　your　guard。〃
So　Zhuge　Liang　called　in　Zhao　Yun；　gave　him　three　silken　bags；　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　saying；　〃Here　are　three　schemes　enclosed　in　three　bags。　When　you　escort　our　lord　to　the　South　Land；　you　will　take　these　with　you　and　act　as　they　direct。〃
Zhao　Yun　hid　the　three　silken　bags　in　his　breast　so　that　they　should　be　at　hand　when　required。
Zhuge　Liang　next　sent　the　wedding　gifts；　and　when　these　had　been　received；　the　preliminaries　were　settled。
It　was　then　the　early　winter　of　the　fourteenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　（AD　209）。　The　bridegroom　elect；　his　escort；　and　the　intermediary　left　the　city　of　Jingzhou　with　a　fleet　of　ten　fast　ships　to　sail　down　the　river　to　Nanxu。　Zhuge　Liang　remained　to　guard　and　rule　the　region。
But　Liu　Bei　was　far　from　feeling　fortable。　They　arrived　and　the　ships　were　made　fast。　This　done；　the　time　had　e　for　the　first　of　the　silken　bags　to　be　opened。　And　so　it　was。　Thereupon　Zhao　Yun　gave　each　of　his　five　hundred　guards　his　instructions；　and　they　went　their　several　ways。　Next　Zhao　Yun　told　Liu　Bei　what　he　was　to　do：　To　pay　his　visit　first　to　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao；　who　was　the　father…in…law　of　Sun　Ce　and　of　Zhou　Yu。
The　State　Patriarch　Qiao　resided　in　Nanxu　and　to　his　house；　leading　sheep　and　bearing　wine　jars；　went　the　bridegroom　elect。　Having　made　his　obeisance；　Liu　Bei　explained　that　as　Lu　Fan　had　arranged；　he　had　e　to　marry　a　wife。
In　the　meantime　the　five　hundred　guards；　all　in　gala　dress；　had　scattered　over　the　city　place　buying　all　sorts　of　things；　as　they　said；　for　the　wedding　of　Liu　Bei　with　the　daughter　of　the　Sun　House。　They　spread　the　news　far　and　wide　and　the　whole　town　talked　about　it。
When　Sun　Quan　heard　of　Liu　Bei's　arrival；　he　bade　Lu　Fan　wait　upon　him　and　take　him　to　the　guest…house。　Meanwhile　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao　went　to　the　Dowager　Marchioness；　mother　of　Sun　Quan；　to　congratulate　her　on　the　happy　event。
〃What　happy　event？〃　ejaculated　the　old　lady。
〃The　betrothal　of　your　beloved　daughter　to　Liu　Bei。　And　he　has　arrived　too；　as　surely　you　know。〃
〃My　poor　old　self　does　not　know；〃　said　the　Dowager。　〃I　have　heard　nothing　of　all　this。〃
She　at　once　summoned　her　son　and　also　sent　her　servants　out　into　the　town　to　see　what　was　going　about。
They　quickly　returned　to　say：　〃The　whole　city　know　of　the　ing　wedding；　and　the　bridegroom　is　now　at　the　guest…house。　Moreover；　he　has　e　with　a　large　escort；　and　they　are　spending　freely；　buying　pork　and　mutton　and　fruits；　all　in　readiness　for　the　wedding　feasting。　Lu　Fan　and　Sun　Qian　are　the　intermediaries　on　each　side；　and　they　are　in　the　guest…house　too。〃
The　Dowager　Marchioness　was　terribly　taken　aback　and　upset　so　that；　when　Sun　Quan　arrived；　he　found　his　mother　beating　her　breast　and　weeping　bitterly。
〃What　has　disturbed　you；　Mother？〃　asked　he。
〃What　you　have　just　done；〃　said　she。　〃You　have　treated　me　as　a　nonentity。　When　my　elder　sister　lay　dying；　what　did　she　tell　you？〃
Sun　Quan　began　to　be　frightened；　but　he　said　boldly；　〃Please　speak　out　plainly；　Mother。　What　is　this　great　sorrow？〃
〃When　a　son　is　grown；　he　takes　a　wife；　and　when　a　girl　is　old　enough；　she　goes　to　her　husband。　And　that　is　right　and　proper。　But　I　am　the　mother；　and　you　ought　to　have　told　me　that　your　sister　was　to　bee　the　wife　of　Liu　Bei。　Why　did　you　keep　me　in　the　dark？　It　was　my　place　to　promise　her　in　marriage。〃
〃Whence　es　this　story？〃　said　the　Marquis；　really　much　frightened。
〃Do　you　pretend　ignorance？　There　is　not　a　soul　in　the　city　who　does　not　know！　But　you　have　succeeded　in　keeping　me　in　the　dark。〃
〃I　heard　it　several　days　ago；〃　said　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao。　〃And　I　came　just　now　to　offer　my　felicitations。〃
〃There　is　no　such　thing；〃　said　Sun　Quan。　〃It　is　just　one　of　the　ruses　of　Zhou　Yu　to　get　hold　of　Jingzhou。　He　has　used　this　means　to　inveigle　Liu　Bei　here　and　hold　him　captive　till　Jingzhou　is　restored　to　us。　And　if　they　will　not　give　it　back；　then　Liu　Bei　will　be　put　to　death。　That　is　the　plot。　There　is　no　real　marriage。〃
But　the　Dowager　was　in　a　rage　and　vented　her　wrath　in　abusing　Zhou　Yu。
She　said；　〃Zhou　Yu　is　a　pretty　sort　of　governor　over　the　six　territories　and　eighty…one　counties；　if　he　cannot　find　any　means　of　recovering　one　region　except　making　use　of　my　child　as　a　decoy。　Truly　this　is　a　fine　deed；　to　spoil　the　whole　of　my　child's　life　and　condemn　her　to　perpetual　widowhood；　because　he　wants　to　use　the　fair　damsel　ruse　to　slay　a　man！　Who　will　ever　e　to　talk　of　marriage　with　her　after　this？〃
Said　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao；　〃By　this　means　you　may　indeed　recover　Jingzhou；　but　you　will　be　a　shameful　laughing　stock　to　all　the　world。　What　can　be　done？〃
Sun　Quan　had　nothing　to　say。　He　could　only　hang　his　head；　while　the　Dowager　abused　his　general。
The　State　Patriarch　Qiao　tried　to　soothe　her；　saying；　〃After　all　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　is　a　scion　of　the　reigning　family。　You　can　do　nothing　better　now　than　to　wele　him　as　a　son…in…law　and　not　let　this　ugly　story　get　abroad。〃
〃I　am　afraid　their　ages　do　not　match；〃　interposed　Sun　Quan。
〃Liu　Bei　is　a　very　famous　man；〃　said　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao。　〃There　can　be　no　shame　in　having　such　a　son…in…law。〃
〃I　have　never　seen　him；〃　said　the　Dowager。　〃Arrange　that　I　may　get　a　look　at　him　tomorrow　at　the　Sweet　Dew　Temple。　If　he　displeases　me；　you　may　work　your　will　on　him。　But　if　I　am　satisfied　with　him；　then　I　shall　simply　let　the　girl　marry　him。〃
Now　Sun　Quan　was　above　all　things　filial　and　at　once　agreed　to　what　his　mother　said。　He　went　out；　called　in　Lu　Fan；　and　told　him　to　arrange　a　banquet　for　the　morrow　at　the　temple　so　that　the　Dowager　Marchioness　might　see　the　bridegroom。
〃Why　not　order　Jia　Hua　to　station　some　men　in　the　wings　of　the　temple？　Then　if　the　Dowager　be　not　pleased；　we　can　call　them　out　and　fall　upon　him；〃　said　Lu　Fan。
Accordingly　the　ambush　was　prepared　and　five　hundred　ruffians　posted　to　act　as　the　Dowager's　attitude　might　determine。
When　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao　took　his　leave　and　had　reached　his　house；　he　sent　to　tell　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃Tomorrow　the　Marquis　and　the　Dowager　Marchioness　wished　to　see　you。　So　be　careful！〃
Liu　Bei　and　his　faithful　henchman　discussed　their　plans。
Zhao　Yun　said；　〃The　morrow　bodes　rather　ill　than　well。　However；　your　escort　shall　be　there。〃
Next　day　the　Dowager　Marchioness　and　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao　went　to　the　Temple　of　Sweet　Dew　as　had　been　arranged。　Sun　Quan　came　with　a　number　of　his　strategists；　and　when　all　were　assembled；　Lu　Fan　was　sent　to　the　guest…house　to　request　Liu　Bei　to　e。　He　obeyed　the　summons；　but　as　a　precaution　he　put　on　a　light　coat　of　mail　under　his　brocaded　robe。　His　followers　too　took　their　swords　upon　their　backs　and　followed　close。　He　mounted　his　steed；　and　the　cavalcade　set　out　for　the　temple。　At　the　door　of　the　temple　he　met　Sun　Quan　on　whom　the　visitor's　brave　demeanor　was　not　lost。　After　they　had　exchanged　salutations；　Sun　Quan　led　Liu　Bei　into　the　presence　of　his　mother。
〃Just　the　son…in…law　for　me！〃　said　the　Dowager　delighted　with　the　appearance　of　Liu　Bei。
〃He　has　the　air　of　an　emperor　and　a　look　like　the　sun；〃　remarked　the　State　Patriarch　Qiao。　〃When　one　remembers　also　that　his　fair　fame　has　spread　over　the　whole　earth；　you　may　well　be　congratulated　on　getting　such　a　noble　son…in…law。〃
Liu　Bei　bowed；　in　acknowledgment　of　his　reception。　Soon　after　they　were　all　seated　at　the　banquet　in　the　temple；　Zhao　Yun　entered　and　took　his　place　beside　Liu　Bei。
〃Who　is　this？〃　asked　the　Dowager。
〃This　is　Zhao　Yun　of　Changshan。〃
〃Then　he　must　be　the　hero　of　Dangyang；　who　saved　the　little　Liu　Shan。〃
〃Yes；　this　is　he；〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
〃A　fine　general！〃　said　the　Dowager；　and　she　gave　him　wine。
Presently　Zhao　Yun　said　to　his　master；　〃I　have　seen　a　lot　of　armed　ruffians　hidden　away　in　the　purlieus　of　the　temple。　They　can　be　there　for　no　good；　and　you　should　ask　the　Dowager　to　get　them　sent　away。〃
Thereupon　Liu　Bei　knelt　at　the　feet　of　the　Dowager　and；　weeping；　said；　〃If　you　would　slay　me；　let　it　be　here。〃
〃Why　do　you　say　this？〃　asked　she。
〃Because　there　are　assassins　in　hiding　in　the　wings　of　the　temple。　What　are　they　there　for　if　not　to　kill　me？〃
The　Dowager　wrathfully　turned　on　Sun　Quan；　〃What　are　armed　men　doing　there　today；　when　Liu　Bei　is　to　bee　my　son…in…law　and　the　pair　are　my　son　and　daughter？〃
Sun　Quan　said　he　did　not　know　and　sent　Lu　Fan　to　inquire。　Lu　Fan　put　the　blame　on　Jia　Hua。　The　Dowager　summoned　him　and　upbraided　him　severely。　He　had　nothing　to　say；　and　she　told　them　to　put　him　to　death。
But　Liu　Bei　interceded；　saying；　〃The　general's　death　will　do　me　harm　and　make　it　hard　for　me　to　stay　at　your　side。〃
The　State　Patriarch　Qiao　also　interceded；　and　she　only　ordered　the　general　out　of　her　presence。　His　subordinates　also　scattered　and　ran　like　frightened　rats。
By　and　bye；　strolling　out　of　the　banquet　room　into　the　temple　grounds；　Liu　Bei　came　to　a　boulder。　Drawing　his　sword　he　looked　up　to　heaven　and　prayed；　saying；　〃If　I　am　to　return　to　Jingzhou　and　achieve　my　intent　to　bee　a　chief　ruler；　then　may　I　cleave　this　boulder　asunder　with　my　sword。　But　if　I　am　to　meet　my　doom　in　this　place；　then　may　the　sword　fail　to　cut　this　stone。〃
Raising　his　sword　he　smote　the　boulder。　Sparks　flew　in　all　directions；　and　the　boulder　lay　split　in　twain。
It　happened　that　Sun　Quan　had　seen　the　blow；　and　he　said；　〃Why　do　you　thus　hate　that　stone？〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　am　near　my　fifth　decade　and　have　so　far　failed　to　rid　the　state　of　evil。　I　greatly　regret　my　failure。　Now　I　have　been　acce