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　sound　of　beating　drums；　and　arrows　and　crossbow　bolts　began　to　fall　like　raindrops　around　Cao　Cao。　He　turned　to　retire；　and　the　archers　and　bowmen　followed　him。　However；　presently　appeared　Xu　Chu；　with　the　Tiger　Guards；　who　rescued　Cao　Cao　and　took　him　back　to　his　camp。　The　army　of　the　South　Land　had　scored　a　victory；　and　they　marched　back　to　River　Ruxu。
Alone　in　his　camp；　Cao　Cao　thought；　〃This　Sun　Quan　certainly　is　no　ordinary　man；　and　by　the　presage　of　the　sun　in　my　dream　he　will　bee　an　emperor。〃
He　began　to　think　it　would　be　well　to　retire　from　the　expedition；　only　that　he　feared　the　troops　of　the　South　Land　would　exult　over　him。　So　the　two　armies　remained　facing　each　other　a　whole　month；　fighting　occasional　skirmishes　and　battles　in　which　victory　fell　sometimes　to　the　one　and　sometimes　to　the　other。
And　so　it　went　on　till　the　new　year；　and　the　spring　rains　filled　the　watercourses　to　overflowing；　and　the　soldiers　were　wading　in　deep　mud。　Their　sufferings　were　extreme；　and　Cao　Cao　became　sad　at　heart。　At　the　council　board　his　officers　were　divided；　some　being　for　retirement　and　others　anxious　to　hold　on　till　the　warm　weather。　Their　chief　could　not　make　up　his　mind。
Then　there　came　a　messenger　from　the　South　Land　bearing　a　letter　of　Sun　Quan；　which　read：
〃You　and　I；　O　Prime　Minister；　are　both　servants　of　Han；　but　you　are　careless　for　the　tranquillity　of　the　people　and　think　only　of　battle；　thereby　causing　great　suffering。　Is　this　conduct　worthy　of　a　kindly　person？
〃But　spring　with　its　heavy　rains　is　at　hand；　and　you　would　be　wise　to　retire　while　you　can。　If　not；　you　may　expect　a　repetition　of　the　misfortune　at　the　Red　Cliffs。　It　would　be　well　to　consider　this。〃
And　on　the　back　of　the　letter　was　a　note　in　a　line　running　thus：　〃No　tranquillity　for　me　while　you　live！〃
Cao　Cao　read　the　letter　and　laughed。
〃Sun　Quan　speaks　the　truth！〃　said　he。
He　rewarded　the　messenger　and　issued　orders　to　retreat。　The　Governor　of　Lujiang；　Zhu　Guang；　was　left　to　guard　Huancheng。　The　army　marched　for　the　capital。
Sun　Quan　returned　to　Jianye。
At　a　meeting　of　his　advisers　Sun　Quan　said；　〃Cao　Cao　has　marched　north；　Liu　Bei　is　at　Jiameng　Pass。　Why　should　I　not　lead　the　army　that　has　just　repulsed　the　northern　forces　to　take　Jingzhou？〃
Thereupon　Zhang　Zhao　offered　another　plan；　saying；　〃Do　not　move　a　soldier。　I　know　how　to　keep　Liu　Bei　from　returning　to　Jingzhou。〃

Cao　Cao's　army　march　away；
Sun　Quan's　thoughts　then　southward　stray。

The　scheme　proposed　by　Zhang　Zhao　will　be　unfolded　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　62　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　62
　Chapter　62
Taking　Of　River　Fu　Pass；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei　Are　Slain；
Siege　Of　Luocheng；　Huang　Zhong　and　Wei　Yan　Rival。
Zhang　Zhao　proceeded　to　unfold　his　device：　〃If　you　undertake　any　expedition　farther　west；　Cao　Cao　will　undoubtedly　return　to　the　attack。　Rather　write　two　letters；　one　to　Liu　Zhang　saying　that　Liu　Bei　has　leagued　himself　with　you　against　the　west；　which　will　raise　suspicions　in　the　mind　of　Liu　Zhang　and　cause　him　to　attack　his　guest；　and　another　letter　persuading　Zhang　Lu　to　march　upon　Jingzhou；　which　will　uproot　Liu　Bei。　Between　these　two　conflicting　matters；　Liu　Bei　cannot　give　supports　to　all　fronts；　and　we　can　march　against　Jingzhou。〃
Sun　Quan　approved；　wrote　the　two　letters；　and　sent　them　by　two　messengers。
In　the　meantime；　Liu　Bei　had　been　winning　the　hearts　of　the　people　about　Jiameng　Pass；　where　his　army　lay。　When　he　received　the　news　of　his　wife's　flight　and　of　Cao　Cao's　attack　on　Ruxu；　he　called　in　Pang　Tong　and　laid　the　matter　before　him。
〃The　victor　of　Ruxu；　whoever　it　is；　will　assuredly　possess　himself　of　our　region　of　Jingzhou；〃　said　Liu　Bei　at　the　close。
〃You　need　not　trouble　about　that　region；〃　said　Pang　Tong。　〃I　do　not　think　the　South　Land　or　the　Middle　Land　will　try　to　take　it　so　long　as　Zhuge　Liang　is　there。　But；　my　lord；　write　to　Liu　Zhang　telling　him　you　wish　to　return　on　account　of　this　threatening　danger。　It　will　be　a　plausible　excuse。　You　may　say　that　on　account　of　Cao　Cao's　attack；　Sun　Quan　has　sent　to　you　for　help；　and　that　as　his　country　and　yours　are　neighbors　and　dependent　upon　each　other　for　safety　you　cannot　refuse。　Further；　you　will　assure　him　that　there　is　no　danger　of　any　invasion　by　Zhang　Lu。　However；　we　have　too　few　troops　for　our　purpose　and　insufficient　grain；　so　you　must　also　urge　your　relative　to　send　you　thirty　or　forty　thousand　of　veterans　and　a　plentiful　supply　of　food。　He　will　not　refuse；　and　with　more　soldiers　and　provisions　we　can　do　as　we　please。〃
Liu　Bei　agreed　to　this　and　sent　a　messenger　to　Chengdu。　When　his　messenger　reached　the　River　Fu　Pass；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei；　who　manded　the　garrison；　already　knew　of　the　design；　and　the　former　of　the　two　generals　went　with　him　to　the　city。
After　reading　the　letter；　the　Imperial　Protector　asked　Yang　Huai；　〃Why　did　you　e　with　the　messenger？〃
〃Only　because　of　that　letter；〃　Yang　Huai　replied。　〃This　Liu　Bei；　from　the　day　he　first　entered　Yizhou；　has　been　trying　to　win　over　the　hearts　of　your　people　by　a　display　of　kindness　and　virtue。　He　certainly　intends　no　good；　and　I　think　you　should　refuse　both　the　troops　and　the　supplies　he　asks。　To　help　him　is　like　adding　fuel　to　a　fire。〃
〃We　are　affectionate　brothers；　and　I　must　help　him；〃　said　the　Imperial　Protector。
〃Liu　Bei　is　nothing　but　a　vagabond　swashbuckler；〃　someone　cried；　〃and　if　you　keep　him　here　in　the　west；　you　are　loosing　a　tiger　in　your　household。　If　you　give　him　the　troops　and　supplies　he　asks；　you　are　adding　wings　to　your　tiger。〃
Turning　whence　the　voice　proceeded；　they　recognized　the　speaker　as　one　Liu　Ba；　a　native　of　Lingling。　His　words　threw　the　Imperial　Protector　into　a　state　of　doubt　and　hesitation。　Huang　Quan　also　dissuaded　him　most　earnestly；　and　finally　Liu　Zhang　actually　decided　to　send　only　four　thousand　of　worn…out　soldiers　and　a　paltry　supply　of　grain。　At　the　same　time　fresh　orders　enjoining　a　diligent　watchfulness　were　sent　to　the　guardians　of　the　passes。
When　Liu　Bei　read　the　letter　that　acpanied　the　Imperial　Protector's　miserable　contribution　to　his　strength；　he　was　furious　and　cried；　〃I　have　been　spending　myself　in　your　defense；　and　this　is　my　reward！　You　are　mean　and　greedy　enough　to　stint　my　supplies。　How　can　you　expect　generous　service？〃
Liu　Bei　tore　the　letter　to　fragments　and　execrated　the　writer　thereof。　The　bearer　of　the　letter　fled　back　to　the　capital。
Then　said　Pang　Tong；　〃You　have　hitherto　laid　too　much　stress　on　humanity　and　righteousness。　However；　that　is　all　over　now；　and　all　affection　between　you　two　is　at　an　end；　now　that　you　have　torn　up　that　letter。〃
〃Yes。　And　since　that　is　so；　what　next？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃I　have　three　schemes　ready　in　my　mind。　You　may　choose　which　pleases　you。〃
〃What　are　your　three　schemes？〃
〃The　first；　and　best；　is　to　send　an　army　forthwith　and　seize　Chengdu。　The　second　is　to　capture　and　put　to　death　the　two　generals　of　the　River　Fu　Pass。　They　are　the　two　most　famous　fighting　men　in　this　land。　If　you　give　out　that　you　are　returning　to　Jingzhou；　they　will　assuredly　e　to　say　farewell。　Seize　and　put　them　to　death；　and　the　Pass　and　Fucheng　are　both　yours。　Chengdu　will　follow　soon。　The　third　plan　is　to　drop　this　role　you　have　been　playing；　go　back　to　Jingzhou　and　make　a　regular　invasion。　But　if　you　ponder　these　schemes　too　long；　you　will　get　into　such　straits　that　nothing　can　save　you。〃
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Of　your　three　schemes；　O　Instructor；　I　find　the　first　too　summary　and　the　last　too　slow。　I　choose　the　second　scheme；　which　is　neither。〃
So　a　letter　was　written　to　Liu　Zhang　saying　that　Cao　Cao　was　sending　an　army　against　Qingni；　and　since　the　generals　there　were　unequal　to　the　defense；　Liu　Bei　had　to　go　to　help。　As　the　matter　was　pressing；　there　could　be　no　personal　leave…taking。
〃I　knew　that　the　real　desire　of　Liu　Bei　was　to　return　to　Jingzhou；〃　said　Zhang　Song；　when　he　heard　of　the　letter　to　Liu　Zhang。
Zhang　Song　then　also　posed　a　letter　to　Liu　Bei。　While　he　was　looking　about　for　a　trusty　person　to　take　it；　his　brother　Zhang　Su；　who　was　the　Governor　of　Guanghan；　came　to　see　him。　Zhang　Song　hid　the　letter　in　his　sleeve　while　he　talked　with　his　brother。　Zhang　Su　noticed　his　anxious　inquietude；　which　he　could　not　explain。　Wine　was　brought　in　and；　as　the　two　brothers　chatted　over　it；　the　letter　dropped　to　the　floor　unnoticed　by　Zhang　Song。　One　of　Zhang　Su's　servants　saw　it；　picked　it　up；　and　gave　it　to　his　master；　who　opened　and　read　it。
This　is　about　how　it　ran：
〃What　I　said　to　you　lately　was　not　mere　meaningless　talk。　Why；　then；　postpone　action？　The　ancients　valued　the　person　who　took　by　force　and　held　by　conciliation。　If　you　act　at　once；　the　whole　matter　is　in　your　hand。　Why　abandon　all　and　return　to　Jingzhou？　Surely　I　do　not　hear　aright！　When　you　get　this　letter；　attack　without　a　moment's　delay　and　remember　that　I　am　your　ally　on　the　inside。　Above　all；　no　delay！〃
〃This　plot　of　my　brother's　will　end　in　the　destruction　of　the　whole　family；〃　said　Zhang　Su。　〃I　must　get　in　the　first　word。〃
So　at　once　he　went　in　and　laid　the　whole　matter　before　the　Imperial　Protector。
〃I　have　always　treated　your　brother　so　well！〃　said　Liu　Zhang；　very　angry。
Liu　Zhang　issued　orders　to　arrest　Zhang　Song　and　behead　him　and　all　his　household　in　the　market　place。

Zhang　Song；　such　as　he　have　been　but　few；
Little　thought　he　that　a　letter　would　betray
When　he　plotted　for　another。　But　success　he　never　knew；
For　himself　there　opened　out　a　gory　way。

Having　thus　learned　of　a　real　conspiracy　to　deprive　him　of　his　heritage；　Liu　Zhang　assembled　his　officers　and　asked　their　advice。
Huang　Quan　spoke　out；　saying；　〃Prompt　action　is　needed。　Send　to　every　strategic　point　telling　them　to　increase　the　garrisons　and　keep　careful　guard　and；　above　all；　prevent　the　entrance　of　any　person　from　Jingzhou。〃
Such　orders　were　sent　to　all　points　of　vantage　where　were　garrisons。
In　the　meantime；　carrying　out　Pang　Tong's　scheme；　Liu　Bei　had　marched　down　to　Fucheng；　where　he　halted　and　sent　in　a　messenger　to　invite　the　two　generals　to　e　forth　and　say　farewell。　But　they　did　not　respond　immediately　to　this　invitation。
〃What　is　the　real　meaning　of　this　retirement？〃　said　one　to　the　other。
〃This　Liu　Bei　ought　to　die；〃　said　Gao　Pei。　〃Let　us　hide　daggers　under　our　dress　and　stab　him　at　the　place　of　farewell。　That　will　end　all　our　lord's　troubles。〃
〃A　most　excellent　plan；〃　said　Yang　Huai。
So　they　two；　taking　only　a　small　escort　of　two　hundred；　went　down　out　of　the　Pass　to　say　goodbye。　Most　of　their　forces　were　left　in　the　camp。
On　the　way　down　to　River　Fu；　Pang　Tong　had　said　to　his　master；　〃You　have　need　to　be　on　your　guard　against　those　two　if　they　e　to　bid　you　farewell。　If　they　do　not　e；　then　the　Pass　must　be　attacked　without　delay。〃
Just　as　he　said　this；　a　violent　gust　of　wind　overthrew　the　leading　flag　of　the　army；　and　Liu　Bei　asked　what　this　portended。
〃That　means　a　surprise。　Those　two　intend　to　assassinate　you；　so　be　on　your　guard。〃
Accordingly；　Liu　Bei　put　on　double　armor　and　girded　on　his　sword　in　readiness。　When　the　two　generals　arrived；　the　army　halted　while　the　generals　should　pay　the　farewell　visit。
Then　Pang　Tong　said　to　his　two　generals；　Wei　Yan　and　Huang　Zhong；　〃However　many　soldiers　e　down　from　the　Pass；　see　to　it　that　none　return。〃
The　two　generals　of　West　River　Land；　Yang　Huai　and　Gao　Pei；　armed　with　hidden　daggers；　came　up；　their　escort　bearing　gifts　of　sheep　and　wine。　They　marked　no　precautions　being　taken　against　an　attack　and　began　to　think　their　task　of　murder　would　be　an　easy　one。　They　were　led　in　to　where　Liu　Bei　sat　under　a　tent；　his　adviser　with　him。
They　said；　〃We　hear；　O　Imperial　Uncle；　that　you　contemplate　a　long　march；　and　therefore　we　e　to　offer　a　few　poor　gifts　to　speed　you　on　your　way。〃
The　cups　of　farewell　were　duly　filled。
Then　Liu　Bei　replied；　〃You　have　a　heavy　responsibility　to　defend　the　Pass；　Generals。　I　pray　you　drink　first。〃
They　drank。　Then　Liu　Bei　said；　〃I　have　a　secret　matter　to　talk　over　with　you。〃
So　all　the　two　hundred　soldiers　of　the　escort　were　sent　away　and　led　to　the　midst　of　the　camp。
As　soon　as　they　had　gone；　Liu　Bei　shouted；　〃My　generals；　lay　hands　upon　these　two　rebels！〃
Thereupon　Liu　Feng　and　Guan　Ping　rushed　out　from　behind　the　tent。　The　two　generals　of　the　Pass　were　taken　aback；　but　began　to　struggle。　However；