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〃Not　so；　indeed；〃　said　Zhang　Song。　〃Illustrious　Sir；　you　are　of　the　lineage　of　Han。　Your　noble　character　is　widely　known。　No　one　could　say　that　your　fate　excludes　all　thoughts　of　occupying　territory；　where　you　might　begin　to　set　up　authority　and　take　an　emperor's　position。〃
Liu　Bei　deprecated　such　a　suggestion；　〃Sir；　you　go　too　far。　This　really　is　too　much。〃
The　next　three　days　were　spent　in　banquets　and　wine　parties；　but　all　the　time　no　mention　was　made　of　West　River　Land。　And　when；　at　the　end　of　that　time；　Zhang　Song　took　leave；　his　host　was　at　the　three…mile　〃parting　road〃　to　bid　him　farewell　and　offer　refreshment。
When　the　moment　came　for　the　parting；　Liu　Bei　raised　his　wine…cup　and　said；　〃I　am　sincerely　grateful　that　you　deigned　to　e　here。　You　have　prolonged　your　visit　to　three　days；　but　now　the　moment　of　parting　has　e。　Who　knows　when　I　may　have　the　privilege　of　receiving　your　instructions　again？〃
As　Liu　Bei　said　this；　the　tears　flowed；　but　he　hid　them　while　Zhang　Song；　willing　to　believe　that　this　emotion　was　on　his　account；　thought　how　wonderfully　kind　and　noble　his　host　must　be　to　be　thus　affected。　Quite　overe；　Zhang　Song　decided　to　speak　about　the　west。
So　he　said；　〃I　have　thought　that　I；　too；　would　e　to　you　one　day；　but　so　far　I　have　found　no　way。　In　Jingzhou　I　see　Sun　Quan　on　the　east；　always　ready　to　pounce；　I　see　Cao　Cao　on　the　north；　greedy　to　swallow。　So　this　is　not　a　wholly　desirable　place　for　you　to　remain　in。〃
〃I　know　this　but　too　well；〃　said　Liu　Bei；　〃but　I　have　no　secure　place　to　go　to。〃
〃Yizhou　is　well　protected；　has　much　fertile　soil；　is　populous　and　well　governed。　Its　scholars　are　attracted　by　your　virtue。　If　you　marched　your　armies　westward；　you　could　easily　bee　a　real　power　there　and　restore　the　glory　of　the　Hans。〃
〃But　how　dare　I　attempt　this？　The　ruler　is　also　of　the　Imperial　House。　The　whole　region　is　devoted　to　him　for　his　good　deeds；　and　no　other　person　could　attain　such　a　hold。〃
〃I　am　no　traitor；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃but　in　your　presence　I　feel　constrained　to　be　perfectly　open　and　plain。　Liu　Zhang；　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou；　is　naturally　weak　and　can　neither　use　the　wise　nor　employ　the　capable。　Then　again　Zhang　Lu　threatens　on　the　north。　People　are　distracted　and　would　gladly　wele　an　appreciative　ruler。　The　journey　I　have　just　made　was　to　propose　to　support　Cao　Cao　and　place　the　region　under　him；　but　I　found　him　rebellious　and　set　on　evil；　proud　and　arrogant。　So　I　have　turned　aside　to　you。　If　you　will　take　Yizhou；　you　will　have　a　base　from　which　to　deal　with　Hanzhong　when　you　will；　and　the　whole　empire　beside。　You　will　continue　the　rightful　line；　and　your　name　will　live　in　history。　Would　not　that　be　real　fame？　If　then　you　think　of　taking　our　region；　I　am　willing　to　do　what　little　I　can　as　an　ally　within。　But　do　you　contemplate　such　a　step？〃
〃I　am　deeply　grateful　that　you　think　so　well　of　me。　But　the　Imperial　Protector　being　a　member　of　the　family；　I　should　lay　myself　open　to　general　execration；　were　I　to　attack　him。〃
〃When　a　hero　finds　himself　in　the　world；　his　duty　is　to　work　out　his　destiny；　to　exert　himself　and　perform　his　task　as　best　as　he　can；　to　press　forward　among　the　foremost。　At　the　moment　the　position　is　that；　if　you　fail　to　seize　this　opportunity；　some　other　will　take　possession　of　Yizhou；　and　you　will　regret　when　too　late。〃
〃And　I　have　heard　much　of　the　difficult　nature　of　the　country；　its　many　high　mountains　and　numerous　streams；　and　its　narrow　roads。　How　could　such　a　country　be　invaded？〃
Then　Zhang　Song　drew　the　map　from　his　sleeve；　saying；　〃I　am　so　deeply　affected　by　your　virtue　that　I　offer　you　this　map　of　the　country；　whereby　its　roads　and　rivers　may　be　known。〃
Liu　Bei　unrolled　the　map。　It　was　covered　with　notes；　on　the　lie　of　the　land；　lengths　and　widths；　and　such　matters。　Strategic　points　on　rivers　and　hills　were　shown；　and　store…houses　and　granaries　and　treasuries。　Everything　was　plainly　stated。
Zhang　Song　went　on；　〃Sir；　you　can　prepare　your　plans　promptly。　I　have　two　friends　who　will　certainly　help　you。　And　when　they　e　to　see　you；　you　may　be　perfectly　frank　with　them。　Their　names　are　Fa　Zheng　and　Meng　Da。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　with　joined　hands。
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃As　the　blue　mountains　grow　not　old　and　the　green　waters　always　remain；　so　shall　I　never　forget。　And　when　I　shall　have　acplished　my　task；　you　shall　have　no　mean　reward。〃
Replied　Zhang　Song；　〃I　look　for　no　reward。　Having　met　with　an　enlightened　lord；　I　felt　pelled　to　unbosom　myself　to　him。〃
Zhang　Song　left　soon　after；　and　Guan　Yu　escorted　him　for　several　miles。
After　arrival　in　Yizhou；　Zhang　Song　lost　no　time　in　visiting　his　close　friend　Fa　Zheng；　who　was　from　Fufeng。　Fa　Zheng　was　told　of　Cao　Cao's　arrogance　and　haughtiness　toward　scholars　and　good　people。
〃As　for　the　man　himself；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　〃he　is　a　man　to　grieve　with　but　not　a　person　to　rejoice　with。　I　have　promised　Yizhou　to　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　I　want　your　especial　advice　and　assistance。〃
〃I　think　Liu　Zhang　is　incapable；〃　said　Fa　Zheng；　〃and　I　have　felt　drawn　to　Liu　Bei　for　some　time　past。　So　we　are　in　sympathy　here。〃
Shortly　after　Meng　Da　arrived。　Meng　Da　and　Fa　Zheng　were　fellow　townsmen。　When　Meng　Da　entered　the　room；　he　saw　the　other　two　in　earnest　and　secret　conversation。
And　he　said；　〃I　know　what　you　two　are　about。　You　are　scheming　to　hand　over　Yizhou　to　somebody。〃
〃It　is　really　so。　You　have　guessed　right；〃　said　Zhang　Song。
〃But　to　whom　ought　it　to　go？〃　said　Fa　Zheng。
〃There　is　but　one：　Liu　Bei；〃　said　Meng　Da。
All　three　clapped　their　hands　and　laughed。
Then　said　Fa　Zheng　to　Zhang　Song；　〃You　will　see　our　lord　tomorrow。　What　about　that？〃
〃I　shall　remend　that　you　two　be　sent　to　Jingzhou　on　a　mission。〃
They　thought　that　a　suitable　scheme。
And　when　the　lately　arrived　messenger　saw　his　master　and　was　asked　how　he　had　fared；　Zhang　Song　said；　〃Cao　Cao　is　a　rebel　who　desires　to　get　the　whole　empire　into　his　hands。　I　need　hardly　tell　you　that。　But　he　also　hankers　after　this　region。〃
〃Then　what　will　bee　of　us？〃　said　Liu　Zhang。
〃I　have　a　plan　to　check　both　our　enemies。　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　now　in　Jingzhou；　is　a　relative　of　yours；　and　he　is　generous　and　well　disposed。　This　is　a　matter　of　mon　knowledge。　Cao　Cao　was　simply　overwhelmed　at　the　result　of　the　battle　at　the　Red　Cliffs；　and　Zhang　Lu　more　so。　Now　my　plan　is　that　you　ally　yourself　with　your　distinguished　relative　against　Cao　Cao　and　Zhang　Lu。〃
〃I　have　been　thinking　thus　for　a　long　time。　Can　you　remend　a　suitable　emissary？〃
〃The　only　ones　are　Fa　Zheng　and　Meng　Da。〃
These　two　were　summoned　and；　meanwhile；　a　letter　was　prepared。　Fa　Zheng　was　to　proceed　as　emissary　to　open　up　friendly　relations；　and　Meng　Da　would　follow　in　due　course　with　an　army　to　wele　Liu　Bei　into　the　West　River　Land。
While　still　discussing　the　details　of　the　policy；　a　person　forced　his　way　in；　his　face　all　running　with　sweat；　and　cried　out；　〃My　lord；　your　land　of　forty…one　counties　will　be　lost　to　you　and　pass　to　another　if　you　listen　to　Zhang　Song！〃
Zhang　Song　turned　a　startled　look　on　the　intruder；　who　was　Huang　Quan　of　Xiliang；　First　Secretary　in　the　Imperial　Protector's　palace。
The　Imperial　Protector　said；　〃Why　do　you　use　such　language？　Liu　Bei　is　of　my　family；　and　so　I　am　seeking　his　support。〃
Said　Huang　Quan；　〃I　know　all　about　him。　He　is　liberal　minded　to　gain　people　to　his　side；　and　his　softness　can　overe　the　hardest。　He　is　bolder　than　any　other。　He　gains　humans'　hearts　from　afar　off；　and　those　near　him　look　up　to　him。　He　also　has　the　wisest　advisers　in　Zhuge　Liang　and　Pang　Tong；　and　the　boldest　warriors　such　as　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Huang　Zhong；　and　Wei　Yan。　But　if　you　call　him　here　as　a　soldier；　think　you　that　he　will　be　content　to　remain　in　a　lowly　condition？　And　if　you　treat　him　as　an　honored　guest；　can　a　state　stand　two　rulers？　Hear　me；　my　lord；　and　you　stand　secure　as　Taishan　Mountains；　be　deaf　to　my　words；　and　your　position　is　as　precarious　as　a　pile　of　eggs。　This　Zhang　Song　has　lately　e　home　through　Jingzhou；　where　he　has　certainly　been　plotting　with　Liu　Bei。　Slay　this　man；　and　make　an　end　of　Liu　Bei。　That　will　be　for　the　happiness　of　this　land。〃
〃But　how　else　am　I　to　fend　off　my　two　enemies？〃
〃Fortify　your　country；　dig　out　your　moats；　and　raise　your　ramparts。　Then　you　can　wait　on　events。〃
〃If　these　rebels　invade　this　land；　the　position　will　be　critical；　as　when　fire　singes　one's　eyebrows。　It　is　idle　talk　to　tell　me　to　wait　on　events。〃
No　notice　was　taken　of　Huang　Quan；　and　Fa　Zheng　was　about　to　set　out　when　another　interfered；　crying；　〃No；　no！〃
This　was　a　secretary；　Wang　Lei。
With　bowed　head　Wang　Lei　stood　and　said；　〃My　lord　will　bring　misfortune　upon　himself　if　he　listens　to　this　Zhang　Song。〃
〃Not　so；　I　make　an　alliance　with　Liu　Bei　in　order　to　withstand　Zhang　Lu。〃
〃Zhang　Lu's　invasion　would　be　but　a　skin　disease。　Liu　Bei's　entry　into　this　country　would　be　a　mortal　malady。　Liu　Bei　is　an　unscrupulous　brave。　He　was　once　in　Cao　Cao's　service　and　plotted　against　him。　Then　he　hung　on　to　Sun　Quan　and　seized　Jingzhou。　This　shows　his　character　and　his　designs。　Think　you　that　you　two　can　dwell　together？　If　you　invite　him；　then　Shu　is　lost！〃
〃No　more　wild　talk！〃　cried　Liu　Zhang　angrily。　〃Liu　Bei　is　of　my　clan　and　family　and　will　not　ravish　me　of　my　possessions。〃
He　bade　the　guards　escort　both　men　outside　and　ordered　Fa　Zheng　to　set　out。　So　he　did；　and　before　long　came　to　Jingzhou。　When　the　salutations　were　over；　Fa　Zheng　presented　his　letter；　which　Liu　Bei　opened　and　read：
〃I；　Liu　Zhang；　a　younger　brother　of　our　family；　now　write　to　General　Liu　Bei。　From　my　humble　place　long　have　I　gazed　in　your　direction；　but　the　roads　of　the　West　River　Land　are　precipitous；　and　I　have　failed　to　send　my　tribute。　This　is　to　my　shame。　The　victims　of　misfortune　aid　each　other；　and　those　in　trouble　support　each　other。　If　friends　act　thus；　how　much　more　should　members　of　the　same　family？　Now　Zhang　Lu　is　mustering　an　army　of　invasion　on　my　northern　frontier；　much　to　the　injury　of　my　tranquillity。　Wherefore　I　send　this　letter　that　you　may　know　of　my　distress。　And　if　you　remember　the　kindly　bonds　of　family　and　will　play　a　brotherly　part　and　lead　your　armies　to　destroy　these　ruffians；　you　will　be　my　eternal　protector　and　I　shall　be　ever　grateful。　This　letter　leaves　much　unsaid；　but　I　await　your　ing。〃
This　letter　greatly　pleased　Liu　Bei。　He　made　a　banquet　for　the　bearer　thereof；　and　when　they　had　mellowed　themselves　with　wine；　he　dismissed　the　attendants　and　spoke　to　Fa　Zheng　in　confidence。
〃Friend；　I　have　long　admired　you；　and　Zhang　Song　extolled　your　virtues。　I　shall　always　feel　grateful　for　this　opportunity　of　hearing　you。〃
Fa　Zheng　bowed；　saying；　〃That　is　too　great　praise　for　a　humble　emissary　from　Shu。　But　they　say　that　horses　always　neighed　in　recognition　of　Bo　Le；　the　supreme　judge　of　horses；　and　when　a　person　has　found　his　lord；　he　dies　for　him。　Have　you　thought　further　of　Zhang　Song's　proposals；　General？〃
〃I　have　always　been　a　wanderer；　often　in　suffering　and　sorrow。　I　have　often　thought　of　the　wren　for　even　that　tiny　bird　has　a　twig　to　rest　on；　and　of　the　cunning　hare；　that　secures　safety　with　three　openings　to　its　burrow。　Does　not　a　person　need　at　least　a　shelter？　Your　land　of　the　west　is　fertile　and　a　temptation；　but　its　ruler　is　of　my　family；　and　I　cannot　plot　against　him。〃
〃Yes；　Yizhou　is　a　very　paradise。　But　without　a　ruler　it　cannot　exist。　Liu　Zhang　knows　not　how　to　use　the　wise　people；　and　his　heritage　must　speedily　pass　to　another。　Today　it　is　offered　to　your　hands；　and　you　must　not　miss　the　opportunity。　You　know　the　saying；　that　the　leader　in　the　hunt　gets　the　quarry。　If　you　will　only　consent；　I　will　serve　you　to　the　death。〃
Liu　Bei　signified　his　gratitude。　Said　he；　〃Let　me　reflect　for　a　time　and　take　advice。〃
The　banquet　terminated　and　the　guest　left。　Zhuge　Liang　conducted　Fa　Zheng　to　his　lodging　while　his　master　sat　thinking。
Then　Pang　Tong　said；　〃You　must　decide………not　to　decide　is　foolish。　You　are　of　high　intelligence；　my　lord；　and　why　do　you　hesitate？〃
〃What　should　my　reply　be？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃You　know　these　surroundings………Sun　Quan　in　the　east　and　Cao　Cao　in　the　north………；　and　with　them　you　cannot　attain　your　ends。　Now　before　you　lies　a　populous；　fertile；　and　rich　land；　a　base　with　the　greatest　possibilities。　You　have　the　promise　of　assistance　from　two　men　within；　and　i