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＇e＇　Peng　Yue　（BC　？…196）　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。　Ennobled　as　King　of　Liang。　。。。。。
〃I　hear　you　are　anxious　to　decide　whether　of　the　twain；　Ma　Chao　or　yourself；　is　the　better　man。　Now　I　can　measure　Ma　Chao。　He　may　be　unusually　brave　and　bold；　but　he　is　only　of　the　class　of　Ying　Bu*　and　Peng　Yue*　of　old。　He　might　be　a　worthy　rival　of　your　younger　brother；　but　he　is　far　from　the　standard　set　by　you；　O　Lord　of　the　Beautiful　Beard。　You　have　a　most　important　charge。　If　you　e　into　the　West　River　Land；　and　Jingzhou　should　be　lost；　would　you　not　be　guilty　of　a　terrible　failure？　I　think　you　will　see　this。〃
Guan　Yu　stroked　his　long　beard　and　smiled　as　he　read　the　letter。
〃The　Instructor　knows　me　thoroughly；〃　said　he　to　himself。
He　showed　the　letter　to　his　clients　and　friends　and　thought　no　more　of　going　westward。
The　successes　of　Liu　Bei　in　the　west　had　been　duly　noted　by　Sun　Quan；　who　thought　he　was　surely　now　going　to　obtain　the　much…coveted　Jingzhou。　So　he　called　in　Zhang　Zhao　and　Gu　Yong　to　ask　advice。
Sun　Quan　said；　〃When　Liu　Bei　occupied　Jingzhou　temporarily；　he　pledged　he　would　return　the　region　to　the　South　Land　when　he　would　possess　Yizhou。　Now　he　has　taken　the　forty…one　counties　of　West　River　Land。　If　Jingzhou　is　not　returned；　I　will　take　it　by　force。〃
Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃I　have　already　a　scheme　that　will　need　no　fighting。　Liu　Bei　will　offer　the　place　to　you　with　both　hands。〃

In　Shu　there　shine　new　sun　and　moon；
Wu　dreams　Jingzhou　will　be　his　soon。

We　shall　see　in　the　next　chapter　the　scheme　to　recover　the　much…desired　region。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　66　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　66
　Chapter　66
Armed　With　Sword；　Guan　Yu　Goes　To　A　Feast　Alone；
For　The　State；　Empress　Fu　Offers　Her　Life。
The　scheme；　which　Zhang　Zhao　had　in　mind；　he　laid　before　his　master　thus：　〃The　one　man　upon　whom　Liu　Bei　relies　most　is　Zhuge　Liang。　Now　his　brother　is　in　your　service　and　in　your　power。　All　you　have　to　do　is　to　seize　Zhuge　Jin's　family　and　send　him　west　to　see　Zhuge　Liang　and　make　Zhuge　Liang　persuade　Liu　Bei　to　return　Jingzhou。　If　Liu　Bei　refuses；　the　family　of　Zhuge　Jin　will　suffer；　and　Zhuge　Liang　will　not　be　able　to　resist　the　claims　of　brotherhood。〃
〃But　Zhuge　Jin　is　a　loyal　and　true　gentleman。　I　could　not　lay　hands　upon　his　family！〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃Explain　the　ruse　to　him。　That　will　set　his　mind　at　rest；〃　said　Zhang　Zhao。
Sun　Quan　consented　and　issued　the　mand　to　confine　the　family　of　his　retainer　in　the　palace　but　not　really　imprison　them。　Then　he　wrote　a　letter　for　Zhuge　Jin　to　take　with　him　on　his　mission。　Before　many　days　Zhuge　Jin　reached　Chengdu　and　sent　to　inform　Liu　Bei　of　his　arrival。
Liu　Bei　at　once　sought　the　advice　of　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Why　think　you　your　brother　has　e？〃
〃He　has　e　to　force　the　return　of　Jingzhou。〃
〃How　shall　I　answer　him？〃
〃You　must　do　so　and　so；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
The　plan　of　action　being　prepared；　Zhuge　Liang　went　out　of　the　city　to　wele　his　brother。　But　instead　of　taking　him　to　his　own　residence；　Zhuge　Liang　took　him　to　the　guest…house。　When　the　greetings　were　over；　the　visitor　suddenly　lifted　up　his　voice　and　wept。
〃If　you　have　any　trouble；　my　brother；　pray　tell。　Why　do　you　weep　thus？〃　asked　Zhuge　Liang。
〃Alas！　My　family　are　lost！〃　cried　he。
〃I　suppose　it　is　in　the　matter　of　the　return　of　Jingzhou？　If　your　family　have　been　seized　on　my　account；　how　can　I　bear　it　calmly？　But　do　not　be　anxious；　my　brother。　I　shall　certainly　find　some　way　out　of　the　difficulty。〃
This　reply　pleased　Zhuge　Jin；　and　the　two　brothers　went　to　visit　Liu　Bei。
The　letter　of　Sun　Quan　was　presented；　but　when　Liu　Bei　had　read　it　he　said；　angrily；　〃He　is　related　to　me　by　marriage；　and　he　has　profited　by　my　absence　from　Jingzhou　to　steal　away　his　sister。　That　is　a　sort　of　kindliness　I　find　it　hard　to　bear。　When　I　am　just　going　to　lead　my　army　to　the　South　Land　to　take　vengeance；　is　it　likely　he　will　get　Jingzhou　out　of　me？〃
At　this　point　Zhuge　Liang　prostrated　himself　weeping　at　his　lord's　feet　and　said；　〃The　Marquis　of　Wu　has　seized　my　brother's　family；　and　he　will　put　them　all　to　death　if　the　land　be　not　given　up。　Can　I　remain　alive　if　such　a　fate　befall　them？　I　pray　my　lord　for　my　sake　to　give　back　the　region　and　prevent　any　breach　between　my　brother　and　me。〃
But　Liu　Bei　refused。　He　seemed　obdurate；　but　Zhuge　Liang　persisted　in　his　entreaty。　Finally　Liu　Bei　reluctantly　consented。
〃Since　things　are　so；　and　the　Instructor　pleads　for　it；　I　will　return　half；〃　said　he。　〃I　will　give　up　three　territories………Changsha；　Lingling；　and　Guiyang。〃
〃Then；　as　you　have　consented；　prepare　letters　ordering　Guan　Yu　to　yield　these　three　territories；〃　said　Zhuge　Jin。
Liu　Bei　said；　〃When　you　see　my　brother；　you　must　use　most　gracious　words　to　him；　for　his　nature　is　as　a　fierce　fire；　and　even　I　fear　what　he　may　do。　So　be　very　careful。〃
Zhuge　Jin；　having　got　the　letter；　took　his　leave　and　went　straightway　to　Jingzhou。　He　asked　for　an　interview；　and　was　received　in　the　grand　reception　hall。
When　both　were　seated　in　their　respective　places；　the　emissary　produced　the　letter　of　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃The　Imperial　Uncle　has　promised　to　return　three　territories　to　my　master；　and　I　hope；　General；　you　will　hand　them　over　at　once　and　let　me　return。〃
Guan　Yu's　countenance　changed；　and　he　said；　〃The　oath　sworn　in　the　Peach　Garden　bound　me　and　my　brother　to　support　the　dynasty　of　Han。　Jingzhou　is　a　portion　of　their　domain；　and　how　can　any　part　be　given　to　another？　When　a　leader　is　in　the　field；　he　receives　no　orders；　not　even　those　of　his　prince。　Although　you　have　brought　letters　from　my　brother；　yet　will　I　not　yield　the　territories。〃
〃But　the　Marquis　of　Wu　has　laid　hands　upon　my　family；　and　they　will　be　slain　if　the　land　be　not　given　up。　I　crave　your　pity；　O　General！〃
〃This　is　but　a　ruse　on　his　part；　but　it　does　not　deceive　me！〃
〃Why　are　you　so　pitiless？〃
Guan　Yu　drew　his　sword；　saying；　〃Let　us　have　no　more。　This　sword　is　pitiless！〃
〃It　will　put　the　Instructor　to　shame；〃　said　Guan　Ping。　〃I　pray　you　not　to　be　angry；　my　father。〃
〃Were　it　not　for　my　respect　for　the　Instructor；　you　would　never　go　back　to　the　South　Land；〃　said　Guan　Yu　to　Zhuge　Jin。
Zhuge　Jin；　overwhelmed　with　shame；　took　his　leave；　sought　his　ship；　and　hastily　returned　to　Chengdu　to　see　his　brother。　But　Zhuge　Liang　had　gone　away　upon　a　journey。　However；　he　saw　Liu　Bei　and　related　what　had　happened；　and　said　that　Guan　Yu　was　going　to　slay　him。
〃My　brother　is　hasty；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃It　is　difficult　to　argue　with　him。　But　return　home　for　the　present；　and　when　I　have　finished　my　conquest　of　Hanzhong；　I　will　transfer　Guan　Yu　to　another　post；　and　then　I　may　be　able　to　return　Jingzhou。〃
Zhuge　Jin　had　no　choice　but　to　accept　this　reply　and　carry　the　unsatisfactory　news　to　his　master。
Sun　Quan　was　greatly　annoyed　and　said；　〃This　running　to　and　fro　was　nothing　more　than　one　of　your　brother's　tricks。〃
The　unhappy　messenger　denied；　saying；　〃No；　no！　Zhuge　Liang　had　interceded　with　many　tears　and　obtained　the　promise　to　return　three　territories　from　Liu　Bei。　It　was　the　obstinacy　of　Guan　Yu　that　spoiled　all。〃
〃Since　Liu　Bei　said　he　would　return　three　territories；　we　may　send　officials　to　take　over　their　administration。　Think　you　that　might　be　done？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃What　you　say；　my　lord；　seems　most　proper。〃
The　family　of　Zhuge　Jin　were　restored　to　liberty；　and　officers　were　sent　to　take　charge　of　the　three　territories　of　Changsha；　Lingling；　and　Guiyang。
But　they　quickly　returned；　saying；　〃Guan　Yu　would　have　none　of　us；　but　had　chased　us　away　at　once　with　threats　to　kill　us　if　we　did　not　hasten！〃
Sun　Quan　then　summoned　Lu　Su　and　laid　the　blame　on　him。
〃You　are　Liu　Bei's　guarantor　in　this　matter。　How　can　you　sit　quietly　looking　on　while　Liu　Bei　fails　to　perform　his　contract？〃　said　Sun　Quan。
〃I　have　thought　out　a　plan　and　was　just　going　to　impart　it　to　you；〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃And　what　is　your　plan？〃
Lu　Su　said；　〃There　is　a　camp　at　Lukou。　Invite　Guan　Yu　to　a　banquet　there　and　try　to　persuade　him。　If　he　still　remains　obstinate；　have　some　assassins　ready　to　slay　him。　Should　he　refuses　the　banquet；　then　we　must　try　conclusions　with　an　army。〃
〃This　suits　me；〃　said　Sun　Quan；　〃and　it　shall　be　done。〃
〃It　should　not　be　done！〃　interrupted　Kan　Ze。　〃The　man　is　as　bold　as　a　tiger　and　not　at　all　like　mon　humans。　The　plan　will　fail　and　result　in　more　harm。〃
〃Then　when　may　I　expect　to　get　my　Jingzhou？〃　asked　Sun　Quan；　angrily。
Sun　Quan　ordered　Lu　Su　to　carry　out　his　plan；　and　Lu　Su　went　to　Lukou　forthwith　and　settled　the　preliminaries　of　the　banquet　with　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning。　The　place　selected　was　by　the　river。　Then　Lu　Su　wrote　a　letter　and　found　a　persuasive　person　to　deliver　it。　The　messenger　set　out　and　sailed　across　the　river　to　the　post；　where　he　was　received　by　Guan　Ping；　who　conducted　him　to　his　father。
〃As　Lu　Su　invites　me；　I　will　e　tomorrow。　You　may　return；〃　was　Guan　Yu's　reply。
After　the　messenger　had　gone；　Guan　Ping　said　to　his　father；　〃Why　did　you　promise　to　go？　I　think　Lu　Su　means　you　no　good。〃
〃Do　you　think　I　do　not　know？　This　has　all　e　out　of　my　refusal　to　yield　those　three　territories。　They　are　going　to　try　coercion　at　this　banquet。　If　I　refuse；　they　will　think　I　fear　them。　I　will　go　tomorrow　in　a　small　ship　with　just　my　ten　personal　guards；　and　we　shall　see　whether　Lu　Su　will　dare　to　e　near　me。〃
〃But；　Father；　why　risk　your　priceless　self　in　the　very　den　of　a　tiger？　I　think　you　are　not　giving　due　importance　to　my　uncle's　charge。〃
〃I　have　been　in　the　midst　of　million　blades　and　arrows；　yet　I　have　been　riding　through　it　like　traveling　through　a　meadow　of　no　one。　Think　you　that　I　shall　begin　to　show　fear　of　a　few　such　rats　as　those？〃
Nor　was　the　son　alone　in　remonstrance。　Ma　Liang　also　warned　his　chief。
〃Although　Lu　Su　has　a　great　repute；　yet　now　he　is　pushed　hard。　He　certainly　is　badly　disposed　toward　you；　and　you　must　be　careful；　General。〃

＇e＇　Liu　Xiangru；　prime　minister　of　Zhao　in　the　Warring　States　period；　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。　。。。。。
Guan　Yu　replied；　〃I　have　given　my　word；　and　shall　I　withdraw　from　it？　In　the　days　of　the　Warring　States；　Liu　Xiangru*　of　the　state　of　Zhao　had　not　the　force　even　to　bind　a　chicken；　yet　in　the　assembly　at　Shengchi　Lake　he　regarded　not　the　prince　and　the　ministers　of　the　powerful　state　of　Qin；　but　did　his　duty　without　fear　of　consequences。　Have　I　not　learned　to　face　any　number　of　foes？　I　cannot　break　my　promise。〃
〃If　you　must　go；〃　said　Ma　Liang；　〃at　least　go　prepared。〃
〃Tell　my　son　to　choose　out　ten　fast　ships　and　five　hundred　of　good　marines　and　be　in　readiness　to　help　me　at　need。　And　when　he　sees　a　red　flag　waved；　he　can　e　over　to　my　aid。〃
The　order　was　given；　and　the　little　squadron　was　got　ready。
The　messenger　returned　to　his　master　and　told　him　that　Guan　Yu　had　boldly　accepted　the　invitation；　and　Lu　Su　and　Lu　Meng　took　counsel　together。
〃What　do　you　think　of　this？〃　asked　Lu　Su。
〃If　Guan　Yu　es　with　a　force；　Gan　Ning　and　I　will　be　in　readiness　for　him　by　the　riverside。　And　you　will　hear　our　bomb　as　a　signal　that　we　are　attacking。　If　he　has　no　force　with　him；　the　assassins　can　set　on　during　the　banquet。〃
Next　day　a　look…out　was　kept　on　the　bank；　and　early　in　the　day　a　single　ship　came　along。　It　was　manned　by　very　few　men；　and　a　simple　red　flag　flew　out　on　the　breeze　showing　but　one　word；　Guan　。　Presently　they　could　see　him；　a　handsome　figure　in　a　green　robe　and　navy…blue　turban。　Beside　him　stood　Zhou　Cang；　his　sword…bearer；　and　near　him　were　eight　or　nine　fine…looking　men；　each　with　a　sword　at　his　side。
Guan　Yu　landed　and　was　received　by　the　trembling　Lu　Su；　who　conducted　him　to　the　hall；　bowed　his　greetings；　and　led　him　to　the　banquet　chamber。　When　Guan　Yu　drank　to　his　host；　Lu　Su　dared　not　raise　his　eyes；　but　Guan　Yu　was　perfectly　posed。
When　they　had　bee　mellow　with　wine；　Lu　Su　said；　〃I　have　a　word　to　say　to　you；　Sir；　if　haply　I　may　have　your　attention。　You　know　that　your　illustrious　brother；　the　Imperial　Uncle；　made　me　surety　with　my　master　that　Jingzhou　would　be　returned　after　Yizhou　had　been　taken。　Well