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〃Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　is　considerate　to　his　subordinates；　and　I　am　certain　he　will　succeed；　and　so　I　have　forsaken　Liu　Zhang　to　cleave　to　him。　Your　honored　father　joined　him　in　destroying　rebels。　Why　do　you　not　flee　from　darkness　into　the　light？　Thereby　you　would　avenge　your　father　and　bee　famous。〃
Ma　Chao；　convinced　of　the　wisdom　of　the　course　thus　remended；　proved　his　conversion　by　sending　for　Yang　Bo　and　slaying　him　forthwith。　Taking　with　him　the　head　of　his　victim；　Ma　Chao　acpanied　Li　Hui　to　the　Pass　and　tendered　his　submission。　Liu　Bei　weled　him　warmly　and　treated　him　as　a　highly　honored　guest。
Ma　Chao　bowed　his　head；　saying；　〃Meeting　you；　O　Illustrious　Lord；　is　like　seeing　the　clear　sky　when　the　clouds　have　been　swept　aside。〃
When　Sun　Qian　returned　from　Yang　Song's　place；　Liu　Bei　detached　a　force　to　go　to　the　capture　of　Chengdu；　left　two　generals；　Meng　Da　and　Huo　Jun　to　guard　Jiameng　Pass；　and　made　a　triumphant　entry　into　Mianzhu　with　the　wele　of　Zhao　Yun　and　Huang　Zhong。
Two　generals　of　West　River　Land；　Ma　Han　and　Liu　Jun；　came　to　oppose　Liu　Bei；　but　Zhao　Yun　went　out　against　them　while　Liu　Bei　was　entertaining　Ma　Chao　at　a　banquet　on　the　city　wall。　Ere　it　had　concluded；　Zhao　Yun　slew　both　the　generals　and　brought　their　heads　to　the　banquet　chamber。　This　exploit　put　Ma　Chao　on　his　mettle　and　doubled　his　respect　for　the　conquerors。
〃Let　not　my　lord　attack；〃　said　Ma　Chao。　〃I　will　make　Liu　Zhang　surrender　of　his　own　accord。　Should　he　resist；　my　brother　Ma　Dai　and　I　will　take　the　city　and　offer　it　to　you　with　both　hands。〃
Liu　Bei　was　very　pleased　with　the　course　of　events。　The　day　was　indeed　one　of　rejoicing。
But　Liu　Zhang　was　greatly　distressed　at　the　news　of　his　fresh　misfortunes；　which　reached　him　with　the　return　of　his　defeated　soldiers。　He　barred　the　gates　and　stopped　all　exits。　Before　long　came　news　of　the　approach　of　Ma　Chao　with　an　army　of　rescue。　The　Imperial　Protector　then　ventured　to　mount　the　walls；　and　soon　Ma　Chao　and　Ma　Dai　rode　up　and　stood　below　the　ramparts。
And　Ma　Chao　called　out；　〃I　wish　to　speak　with　Liu　Zhang。〃
Then　Liu　Zhang　showed　himself；　and　Ma　Chao　plunged　into　the　matter　without　more　ado。
〃I　took　the　leadership　of　Zhang　Lu's　army　to　rescue　Yizhou；　little　thinking　that；　under　the　calumnious　advice　of　Yang　Song；　Zhang　Lu　would　try　to　slay　me。　However；　now　I　have　gone　over　to　the　side　of　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　and　advise　you；　Sir；　to　do　the　same；　you　and　all　your　officers。　Thereby　you　will　all　escape　harm。　If　anyone　holds　on　a　misguided　course；　I　shall　take　the　city。〃
Such　words　came　as　a　shock；　and　Liu　Zhang　paled。　His　feelings　overcame　him　and　he　swooned。
When　he　came　to　his　senses；　he　muttered；　〃I　am　stupid　and　I　am　sorry。　Better　open　the　gates　and　end　it。　The　city　will　be　saved。〃
〃No；　no；〃　cried　Dong　He。　〃There　are　thirty　thousand　of　good　soldiers　in　the　city　and　ample　money　and　stores　for　a　year　to　e。　Hold　out！〃
But　Liu　Zhang　was　broken；　saying；　〃My　father　and　I　have　ruled　Shu　for　twenty　years　and　have　done　no　particular　good　for　the　people。　We　have　fought　for　three　years：　The　grass　has　been　be　stained　with　the　blood　of　my　people。　The　fault　is　mine。　I　could　not　bear　it；　and　so　I　see　no　better　way　than　to　surrender；　whereby　I　may　bring　peace　to　the　people。〃
Those　about　him　wept。　One　man　spoke；　saying；　〃You　speak　as　Heaven　guides　you。〃
Turning　toward　him　they　recognized　a　man　of　Baxi　named　Qiao　Zhou；　who　had　the　reputation　of　being　an　astrologer。
〃I　have　studied　the　aspect　of　the　heavens　and　a　multitude　of　stars　gathered　over　the　west；　one　of　which　shone　as　the　full　moon：　A　right　royal　star。　And　I　recall　a　popular　couplet　of　last　year：

〃When　es　the　ruler　from　the　east；
Then　may　you　on　new　rice　feast。

〃None　can　withstand　the　decree　of　the　Most　High。〃
Liu　Ba　and　Huang　Quan；　who　heard　these　words；　were　very　angry　at　such　a　speech　and　rose　up；　swords　in　hand；　to　smite　the　speaker。　But　Liu　Zhang　stayed　them。
Next　came　news　that　Xu　Jing；　the　Governor　of　the　Shu　District；　had　climbed　the　wall　and　gone　over　to　the　invaders。　This　was　the　last　blow。　Liu　Zhang　went　home　weeping。
Next　day　they　reported　that　Liu　Bei；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　had　sent　Jian　Yong　as　legate　to　visit　Liu　Zhang　and　he　was　even　then　at　the　city　gate。　Jian　Yong　was　admitted；　and　he　entered；　riding　in　a　carriage　and　looking　about　him　most　haughtily。
Suddenly　he　was　hailed　from　the　street　by　a　man　with　a　sword　in　his　hand；　who　cried；　〃You　have　got　your　wish；　wretched　creature；　and　you　seem　to　think　there　is　no　one　to　pare　with　you。　But　do　not　look　so　contemptuously　at　us　of　Shu！〃
Jian　Yong　quickly　got　out　of　his　carriage　to　speak　to　the　speaker；　who　was　a　man　of　Mianzhu　named　Qin　Mi。
〃Worthy　brother；〃　said　Jian　Yong；　〃I　did　not　recognize　you。　I　pray　you　not　to　be　angry。〃
Both　then　went　to　visit　Liu　Zhang；　and　they　spoke　of　the　liberality　and　broad…mindedness　of　Liu　Bei；　said　he　had　no　intention　to　harm　anyone；　and　praised　him　to　such　effect　that　Liu　Zhang　then　and　there　made　up　his　mind　finally　that　he　would　give　up　the　struggle。　So　he　treated　Jian　Yong　very　honorably　that　day。
And　the　next　day；　taking　his　seal　and　insignia　of　office　and　his　archives；　he　acpanied　Jian　Yong　out　of　the　city　and　went　to　Liu　Bei's　camp。　Liu　Bei　came　out　in　person　to　receive　him。
Taking　Liu　Zhang　by　the　hand；　Liu　Bei　wept；　saying；　〃It　is　not　that　I　wish　to　act　cruelly　or　wrongly。　I　am　the　victim　of　circumstances　and　cannot　help　it。〃
They　entered　the　camp　together；　where　the　seal　of　office　and　the　documents　changed　hands。　Afterwards　they　rode　into　the　city　side　by　side。　The　people　gave　Liu　Bei　a　cordial　wele；　burning　incense　and　illuminating　the　city。　The　victor　went　to　the　residence　of　the　chief　of　the　region；　where　he　took　his　seat　and　was　saluted　by　all　the　subordinate　officials。
However；　Huang　Quan　and　Liu　Ba　stayed　away　from　the　ceremony。　This　annoyed　the　more　violent　of　Liu　Bei's　supporters；　and　they　wished　to　kill　the　delinquents。　But　Liu　Bei　would　not　allow　violence　and　threatened　condign　punishment　to　anyone　who　might　interfere　with　these　two。　When　the　reception　was　over；　Liu　Bei　went　to　visit　the　two　recalcitrants；　whereupon　both　came　out　and　made　their　obeisance。
Said　Zhuge　Liang　to　Liu　Bei；　〃We　have　vanquished；　and　all　opposition　in　Yizhou　is　at　an　end。　But　there　cannot　be　two　rulers；　so　you　must　remove　Liu　Zhang　to　Jingzhou。〃
〃But　I　do　not　wish　to　exile　him；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃He　lost　his　prestige　through　weakness。　If　you　are　weak　and　undecided；　you　also　will　not　last　long。〃
Liu　Bei　saw　his　advice　was　good；　and　so　he　gave　a　great　banquet　whereat　he　begged　Liu　Zhang　to　pack　up　his　treasures　and　prepare　to　move。　He　gave　the　dispossessed　Imperial　Protector　the　title　General　Who　Spreads　Prestige。　Liu　Zhang　went　away　to　Gongan　in　Jingzhou；　taking　with　him　his　family　and　all　his　possessions。
Liu　Bei　thus　became　Imperial　Protector　of　Yizhou。　He　conferred　gifts　on　the　civil　and　military　officers　who　joined　him；　confirming　their　ranks　and　titles。　Yan　Yan　was　made　General　of　the　Front　Army；　Fa　Zheng；　Governor　of　the　Shu　District；　Dong　He　and　Xu　Jing；　Imperial　manders；　Liu　Ba；　General　of　the　Left　Army；　Huang　Quan；　General　of　the　Right　Army；　Wu　Yi；　Fei　Guan；　Peng　Yang；　Zhuo　Ying；　Li　Yan；　Wu　Lan；　Lei　Tong；　Li　Hui；　Zhang　Yi；　Qin　Mi；　Qiao　Zhou；　Lu　Yin；　Huo　Jun；　Deng　Zhi；　Yang　Hong；　Zhou　Qun；　Fei　Yi；　Fei　Shi；　Meng　Da；　and　others　of　Shu　officers　whose　aid　had　been　conspicuous　were　given　high　ranks　and　finer　titles　under　the　new　rule；　and　the　total　of　more　than　sixty　of　them　were　well　rewarded。
Naturally；　honors　were　distributed　freely　to　Liu　Bei's　immediate　helpers；　to　whose　efforts　he　owed　his　position。　Zhuge　Liang　was　held　Directing　Instructor；　Guan　Yu；　General　Who　Destroys　Rebels　and　Lord　of　Hanshou；　Zhang　Fei；　General　Who　Subdues　Rebels　and　Lord　of　Xin；　Zhao　Yun；　General　Who　Guards　the　West；　Huang　Zhong；　General　Who　Conquers　the　West；　Wei　Yan；　General　Who　Wages　Successful　War；　Ma　Chao；　General　Who　Pacifies　the　West。　Sun　Qian；　Jian　Yong；　Mi　Zhu；　Mi　Fang；　Ma　Liang；　Ma　Su；　Jiang　Wan；　Yi　Ji；　Liu　Feng；　Guan　Ping；　Liao　Hua；　Zhou　Cang；　and　others；　many　of　whom　had　e　to　Liu　Bei　from　Jingzhou；　received　promotions　and　rewards。
In　addition；　a　special　gift　of　five　hundred　ounces　of　gold；　a　thousand　ounces　of　silver；　much　copper　money；　and　a　thousand　rolls　of　Xichuan　silk；　was　sent　to　Guan　Yu。　And　all　the　military　and　civil　officers　were　given　appointments　and　rewards。　Huge　numbers　of　oxen　and　horses　were　slaughtered　for　banquets　to　the　army；　and　the　contents　of　the　granaries　were　given　to　the　mon　people。　So　that　there　were　great　rejoicings。
Yizhou　being　settled；　Liu　Bei　next　desired　to　confiscate　the　lands　of　the　more　famous　of　the　inhabitants　about　Capital　Chengdu　and　divide　them　among　his　officers。
But　here　Zhao　Yun　and　others　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃The　sufferings　of　the　people　have　been　severe　and　losses　great。　It　would　be　wise　policy　to　let　them　settle　down　to　their　occupations　as　soon　as　possible。　It　would　be　wrong　to　reward　our　own　people　at　the　expense　of　these　people。〃
Liu　Bei　listened　and　gave　in　with　good　grace。
To　Zhuge　Liang；　Liu　Bei　assigned　the　revision　of　the　laws；　in　which　the　punishments　to　be　made；　on　the　whole；　heavy。
Then　Fa　Zheng　spoke　up；　〃The　founder　of　Han；　Liu　Bang；　drew　up　three　chapters　of　law；　and　the　people　were　all　profoundly　affected　by　his　virtue。　I　would　rather　that　the　laws　be　few　and　liberal　that　people　may　be　forted。〃
Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃You　only　look　at　one　side。　The　laws　of　Qin　were　fiercely　cruel　and　provoked　resentment　among　the　people。　It　was　fitting　that　the　Supreme　Ancestor　should　temper　them　with　kindness。　Under　the　weak　administration　of　Liu　Zhang；　there　has　never　been　an　efficient　government；　and　there　is　a　lack　of　respect　for　the　law。　The　proper　relationship　between　ruler　and　minister　has　been　gradually　obscured。　Favor　has　been　the　means　of　rising；　and　the　highest　in　rank　have　been　the　basest。　Kindness　has　been　extended　into　license；　and　the　most　benefited　have　been　the　most　contemptuous。　And　thereby　have　crept　in　many　evils。　Now　I　mean　to　inculcate　respect　for　the　dignity　of　the　law；　and　kindness　shall　follow　its　attainment：　There　shall　be　moderation　in　conferring　rank；　but　honor　shall　really　follow　on　such　promotion。　In　the　mutual　cooperation　of　kindness　and　honor　and　in　proper　distinction　between　superiors　and　inferiors　lies　the　efficiency　of　a　government。〃
Fa　Zheng　had　no　argument　to　oppose。　In　due　time　all　became　perfectly　tranquil；　and　all　the　forty…one　counties；　with　their　respective　garrisons；　were　peaceful　and　contented。
As　Governor　of　the　Shu　District；　Fa　Zheng　earned　much　hatred；　busying　himself　in　returning　favors　and　avenging　past　deeds　however　small　they　were。　One　person　told　of　the　plaints　to　Zhuge　Liang；　urging　his　reproof。
But　Zhuge　Liang　referred　to　his　meritorious　services；　saying；　〃When　our　lord　was　in　Jingzhou；　fearful　of　Cao　Cao　on　the　north　and　trembling　lest　he　be　attacked　from　the　east　by　Sun　Quan；　it　was　Fa　Zheng　who　supported　him；　gave　him　directions；　and　added　wings　to　him　so　that　he　could　soar　this　high。　In　these　prosperous　days　one　can　hardly　begin　to　discipline　Fa　Zheng。　Could　we　reasonably　forbid　him　following　somewhat　his　own　way？〃
So　no　investigation　was　made；　but　Fa　Zheng　heard　of　the　plaints　and　corrected　his　faults。
One　day；　when　Liu　Bei　and　Zhuge　Liang　were　resting　and　at　leisure；　Guan　Ping　arrived　with　a　letter　from　his　father；　thanking　his　elder　brother　for　the　handsome　gifts。
Making　obeisance　and　handing　in　his　letter；　Guan　Ping　said；　〃My　father　was　anxious　to　e　into　Yizhou　to　try　conclusions　with　Ma　Chao。〃
Said　Liu　Bei；　〃If　he　were　to　e　and　fight；　I　fear　they　would　not　both　survive。〃
〃There　is　nothing　to　be　anxious　about；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。　〃I　will　write　to　Guan　Yu。〃
Liu　Bei　feared　that　his　brother's　impulsive　temperament　might　lead　to　trouble；　so　he　told　Zhuge　Liang　to　pose　a　letter　and　send　back　by　Guan　Ping。
When　Guan　Ping　came　again　to　his　father；　the　first　question　was：　〃Did　you　mention　the　contest　with　Ma　Chao？〃
Then　the　letter　was　produced；　and　this　is　what　it　said：

＇e＇　Ying　Bu　（BC　？…195）　a　general　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　close　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Enobled　as　King　of　Huainan。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Peng　Yue　（BC　？…196）　a　general　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　close　friends