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；　so　that　the　north　bank　was　left　open。　Thus　Xu　Huang　and　Zhu　Ling　could　move　there；　and　I　was　able　later　to　cross　over　to　join　them。　Then　I　made　the　raised　road　and　the　mud　rampart　to　deceive　the　enemy　and　cause　them　to　think　I　was　weak　and　thus　embolden　them　up　to　the　point　of　attacking　without　proper　preparation。　Then　I　used　the　clever　device　of　causing　dissension　in　their　ranks　and　was　able　in　one　day　to　destroy　the　stored　up　energy　of　all　their　forces。　'It　was　a　thunder　clap　before　you　could　cover　your　ears。'　Yes；　indeed；　the　mutations　of　the　art　of　war　can　be　called　infinite。〃
〃But　one　thing　more　puzzled　us；〃　said　the　officers；　〃and　we　ask　you　to　explain　it。　When　you　heard　the　enemy　was　reinforced；　you　seemed　to　grow　happier。　Why　was　that？〃
〃Because　Tong　Pass　is　distant　from　Xuchang。　If　the　rebels　had　taken　advantage　of　all　defensible　points　and　held　them；　they　could　not　have　been　quelled　in　less　than　a　couple　of　years。　When　they　came　on　altogether；　they　made　a　multitude　but　they　were　not　unanimous。　They　easily　quarreled　and；　disunited；　were　easily　overe。　So　I　had　reason　to　rejoice　that　they　came　on　altogether。〃
〃Indeed　no　one　can　equal　you　in　strategy；〃　said　his　officers；　bowing　low　before　him。
〃Still；　remember　that　I　rely　on　you；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Then　he　issued　substantial　rewards　to　the　army　and　appointed　Xiahou　Yuan　to　the　mand　at　Changan。　The　soldiers　who　had　surrendered　were　distributed　among　the　various　troops。　Xiahou　Yuan　remended　Zhang　Jia　of　Gaoling；　as　his　aids。
So　the　army　returned　to　Capital　Xuchang　where　it　was　weled　by　the　Emperor　in　state　chariot。　As　a　reward　for　his　service；　Cao　Cao　was　given　the　court　privileges　of　omitting　his　distinctive　name　when　he　was　received　in　audience　and　of　proceeding　toward　the　court　without　assuming　the　appearance　of　frantic　haste。　Further　he　might　go　to　court　armed　and　booted；　as　did　the　Han　Founding　Minister　Xiao　He　of　old。　Whence　his　prestige　and　importance　waxed　mightily。

＇e＇　Pei　was　a　small　ancient　state；　homeland　of　Liu　Bang。
＇e＇　East　River　Land　corresponded　to　the　mountainous　region　of　Hanzhong；　which　means　〃Within　Han〃；　or　the　land　of　the　ancient　state　of　Han。
The　fame　of　these　doings　penetrated　west　into　Hanzhong；　and　one　of　the　first　to　be　moved　to　indignation　was　Zhang　Lu；　Governor　of　Hanning。　This　Zhang　Lu　was　a　native　of　Pei*。　He　was　a　grandson　of　Zhang　Ling　who　retired　to　Mount　Humming；　in　the　East　River　Land*；　where　he　had　posed　a　work　on　Taoism　for　the　purpose　of　deluding　the　multitude。
Yet　all　the　people　respected　Zhang　Ling；　and　when　he　died　his　son；　Zhang　Heng；　carried　on　his　work；　and　taught　the　same　doctrines。　Disciples　had　to　pay　a　fee　in　rice；　five　carts。　The　people　of　his　day　called　him　the　Rice　Thief。
After　Zhang　Heng　passed　away；　his　son　Zhang　Lu　followed　his　step。　Zhang　Lu　styled　himself　Master　Superior；　and　his　disciples　were　called　monly　Devil　Soldiers。　A　headman　was　called　Libationer；　and　those　who　made　many　converts　were　called　Chief　Libationers。　Perfect　sincerity　was　the　ruling　tenet　of　the　cult；　and　no　deceit　was　permitted。　When　anyone　fell　ill；　an　altar　was　set　up　and　the　invalid　was　taken　into　the　Room　of　Silence　where　he　could　reflect　upon　his　sins　and　confess　openly。　Then　he　was　prayed　for。　The　director　of　prayers　was　called　Superintending　Libationer。
When　praying　for　a　person；　they　wrote　his　name　and　his　confession　on　a　slip　and　made　three　copies　thereof；　called　〃The　Writing　of　the　Three　Gods〃。　One　copy　was　burned　on　the　mountain　top　as　a　means　of　informing　Heaven；　another　was　burned　to　inform　Earth；　and　the　third　was　sunk　in　water　to　tell　the　Controller　of　the　Waters。　If　the　sick　person　recovered；　he　paid　as　fee　five　carts　of　rice。
They　had　Public　Houses　of　Charity　wherein　the　poor　found　rice　and　flesh　and　means　of　cooking。　Any　wayfarer　was　allowed　to　take　of　these　according　to　the　measure　of　his　appetite。　Those　who　took　in　excess　would　invite　punishment　from　on　high。　Offenses　were　pardoned　thrice；　afterwards　offenders　were　punished。　They　had　no　officials　but　all　were　subject　to　the　control　of　the　Libationers。
This　sort　of　cult　had　been　spreading　in　Hanzhong　for　some　thirty　years　and　had　escaped　repression　so　far　because　of　the　remoteness　of　the　region。　All　the　Government　did　was　to　give　Zhang　Lu　the　title　of　General　Who　Guards　the　South　and　the　post　of　Governor　of　Hanning　and　take　means　to　secure　from　him　a　full　quota　of　local　tribute。
When　the　reports　of　Cao　Cao's　success　against　the　west；　and　his　prestige　and　influence；　reached　the　Hanzhong　people；　Zhang　Lu　met　with　his　counselors　to　discuss　the　matter。
Said　Zhang　Lu；　〃Ma　Teng　has　died；　and　Ma　Chao　defeated；　thus　the　northwest　has　fallen。　Cao　Cao's　next　ambition　will　be　the　southwest；　and　Hanzhong　will　be　his　first　attack。　I　should　act　first　by　assuming　the　title　of　Prince　of　Hanzhong　and　superintending　the　defense。〃
In　reply　one　Yan　Pu　said；　〃The　army　of　this　region　counts　one　hundred　thousand；　and　there　are　ample　supplies　of　everything。　East　River　Land　is　a　natural　stronghold　with　its　mountains　and　rivers。　Now　Ma　Chao's　soldiers　are　newly　defeated；　and　the　fugitives　from　the　Ziwu　Valley　are　very　numerous。　We　can　add　them　to　our　army　by　several　ten…thousands　more。　My　advice　is　that　as　Liu　Zhang　of　Yizhou　is　weak；　we　should　take　possession　of　the　forty…one　counties　of　West　River　Land；　and　then　you　may　set　up　your　sovereign　as　soon　as　you　like。〃
This　speech　greatly　pleased　Zhang　Lu；　who　then　began　to　concert　measures　with　his　brother；　Zhang　Wei；　to　raise　an　army。

＇e＇　Liu　Yan　had　been　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Youzhou；　where　Liu　Bei　and　his　brother　first　fought　the　Yellow　Scarves。
Stories　of　the　movement　reached　Yizhou；　whose　Imperial　Protector　was　Liu　Zhang。　A　son　of　Liu　Yan*；　a　descendant　from　Prince　Gong　of　the　Imperial　House。　Prince　Gong　had　been　moved　out　to　Jingling　several　generations　ago；　and　the　family　had　settled　there。　Later；　Liu　Yan　became　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou；　and　when　he　died　in　due　course　in　the　first　year　of　Prosperous　Stability　（AD　194）；　his　son　was　remended　for　the　vacant　Protectorship。
There　was　enmity　between　Liu　Zhang　and　Zhang　Lu；　for　Liu　Zhang　had　put　to　death　Zhang　Lu's　mother　and　brother。　After　that　Liu　Zhang　dispatched　Pang　Xi　as　Governor　of　Baxi　to　ward　off　Zhang　Lu。
But　Liu　Zhang　had　always　been　feeble；　and　when　he　received　news　from　his　mander　of　Zhang　Lu's　movements；　his　heart　sank　within　him　for　fear；　and　he　hastily　called　in　his　advisers。
At　the　council　one　haughtily　said；　〃My　Master；　be　not　alarmed。　I　am　no　genius；　but　I　have　a　bit　of　a　healthy　tongue；　and　with　that　I　will　make　Zhang　Lu　afraid　even　to　look　this　way。〃

When　plots　did　grow　about　the　west；
It　suited　Jingzhou's　plans　the　best。

The　speaker's　name　and　lineage　will　be　told　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　60　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　60
　Chapter　60
Zhang　Song　Turns　The　Tables　On　Yang　Xiu；
Pang　Tong　Proposes　The　Occupation　Of　Shu。
The　man　who　proposed　the　plan　spoken　of　in　the　last　chapter　was　Zhang　Song；　who　belonged　to　Yizhou　and　held　the　small　office　of　Supernumerary　Charioteer。　He　had　a　broad　forehead；　protuberant　at　the　temples　like　a　countryman's　hoe；　and　a　pointed　head。　His　nose　was　flat　and　his　teeth　protruded。　He　was　a　dwarf　in　stature　but　had　a　deep　voice　like　a　great　bell。
〃What　proposal　have　you　to　offer　that　may　avert　this　danger？〃　asked　the　Imperial　Protector。
〃My　proposal　is　that　we　gain　the　support　of　Cao　Cao。　As　we　know；　he　has　made　a　clean　sweep　of　the　empire。　Lu　Bu　went　first；　and　both　the　Yuans　followed；　all　exterminated。　Lately　he　has　destroyed　Ma　Chao。　In　short　he　is　the　one　man　against　whom　no　one　can　stand。　Therefore；　my　lord；　prepare　me　worthy　gifts　to　take　to　the　capital；　and　I　will　get　Cao　Cao　to　march　an　army　against　Hanzhong；　which　will　keep　this　Zhang　Lu　occupied　so　that　we　shall　be　left　alone。〃
This　met　Liu　Zhang's　views；　and　so　he　prepared　gold　and　pearls　and　rich　stuffs；　worthy　presents　for　the　man　of　power。　And　when　these　were　ready；　he　appointed　Zhang　Song　his　emissary。　Zhang　Song　in　the　meantime　occupied　his　leisure　in　secretly　copying　maps　and　plans　of　the　west　country。　When　all　was　ready；　he　started　with　a　small　escort。
They　heard　this　in　Jingzhou；　and　Zhuge　Liang　sent　a　trusty　person　to　the　capital　to　keep　him　informed　as　to　all　the　doings。
Zhang　Song　arrived　in　Xuchang；　and；　after　he　had　established　himself　in　his　lodging；　he　made　daily　visits　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace　to　try　to　obtain　an　interview。　But　the　last　success　over　Ma　Chao　had　filled　Cao　Cao　with　insufferable　pride；　and　he　did　nothing　but　give　banquets。　He　never　appeared　except　for　the　most　important　affairs；　and　even　carried　on　the　business　of　the　state　in　his　own　residence。　So　Zhang　Song　waited　many　days。　But　when　he　got　to　know　the　persons　who　were　nearest　the　Prime　Minister；　he　bribed　them　and　obtained　an　audience。
Cao　Cao　was　seated　in　the　high　place；　and　after　his　visitor　had　finished　salutations；　he　said；　〃Your　master　Liu　Zhang　has　sent　no　tribute　for　several　years。　Why？〃
〃Because　the　roads　are　dangerous；　and　thieves　and　robbers　infest　them。　Intercourse　is　restricted。〃
Cao　Cao　interrupted　in　a　loud　harsh　voice；　saying；　〃What　thieves　and　robbers　are　there　when　I　have　cleansed　the　empire？〃
〃How　can　you　say　the　land　is　tranquil　when　one　sees　Sun　Quan　in　the　south；　Zhang　Lu　and　Liu　Bei　in　the　west；　and　everyone　of　these　with　armies　reckoned　in　legions？　The　weakest　of　them　has　one　hundred　thousand　troops。〃
The　extraordinary　appearance　of　the　emissary　had　prejudiced　Cao　Cao　from　the　outset；　and　when　Cao　Cao　heard　these　blunt　words；　he　suddenly　shook　out　his　sleeves；　rose　and　left　the　hall。
Those　in　attendance　were　annoyed　with　Zhang　Song　and　said；　〃How　can　you　behave　so　rudely　when　you　e　on　a　mission？　Your　whole　attitude　was　blunt　and　discourteous。　Happily　for　you；　our　lord　remembered　you　had　e　from　afar　and　did　not　take　open　notice　of　your　fault。　The　best　thing　for　you　is　to　go　home　again　as　quickly　as　you　can。〃
But　Zhang　Song　smiled。
〃We　have　no　plausible　flatterers　and　glib　talkers　in　the　River　Lands；〃　said　he。
At　this；　one　from　below　the　steps　called　out；　〃So　you　call　us　plausible　and　glib　then。　And　you　have　none　such　in　your　country；　eh？〃
Zhang　Song　looked　around　and　saw　the　speaker　was　a　man　with　thin　delicate　eyebrows　crossing　narrow　eyes　set　in　a　pale　spiritual　face。　He　asked　his　name。　It　was　Yang　Xiu；　son　of　the　former　Regent　Marshal　Yang　Biao。　The　young　man　was　then　employed　as　Chair　of　the　Secretariat　of　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。　He　was　deeply　read　and　had　the　reputation　of　being　a　clever　controversialist；　as　Zhang　Song　knew。　So　on　one　side　was　a　desire　to　confound　and　on　the　other　overweening　pride　in　his　own　ability；　with　contempt　for　other　scholars。　Perceiving　the　ridicule　in　Zhang　Song's　speech；　Yang　Xiu　invited　him　to　go　to　the　library　where　they　could　talk　more　freely。　There；　after　they　had　got　settled　in　their　respective　places；　Yang　Xiu　began　to　talk　about　the　west。
〃Your　roads　are　precipitous　and　wearisome；〃　said　Yang　Xiu。
〃But　at　our　lord's　mand　we　travel；　even　through　fire　and　water。　We　never　decline；〃　replied　Zhang　Song。
〃What　sort　of　a　country　is　this　Yizhou？〃
〃Yizhou　is　a　name　for　the　group　of　western　counties　and　territories　known　of　old　as　the　state　of　Shu。　The　roads　are　intersected　by　streams；　and　the　land　bristles　with　steep　mountains。　The　circuit　is　over　two　hundred　stations　and　marches　and　the　area　over　one　hundred　thousand　square　miles。　The　population　is　dense；　villages　being　so　close　that　the　crowings　of　cocks　in　one　waken　the　people　in　the　next；　and　the　dogs　barking　in　this　excite　the　curs　in　that。　The　soil　is　rich　and　well　cultivated；　and　droughts　or　famines　are　equally　unknown。　Prosperity　is　general；　and　the　music　of　pipes　and　strings　can　always　be　heard。　The　produce　of　the　fields　is　piled　mountain　high。　There　is　no　place　its　equal。〃
〃But　what　of　the　people？〃

＇e＇　Liu　Xiangru　was　prime　minister　of　Zhao　in　the　Warring　States　period；　who　did　not　have　the　force　even　to　bind　a　chicken；　but　boldly　behaved　in　the　court　of　the　powerful　Qin。　When　King　Zhaoxiang　of　Qin　tried　to　make　away　the　purest　jadestone　from　Zhao；　Liu　Xiangru　threatened　to　destroy　the　stone；　and　so　King　Zhaoxiang　backed　up　and　let　Liu　Xiangru　to　return　to　Zhao。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Ma　Yuan　was　one　of　the　great