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e　me　surety　with　my　master　that　Jingzhou　would　be　returned　after　Yizhou　had　been　taken。　Well；　now　that　country　is　in　his　possession；　but　Jingzhou　is　still　unreturned。　Is　not　this　a　breach　of　good　faith？〃
〃This　is　a　government　affair；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃Such　matters　should　not　be　introduced　at　a　banquet。〃
〃My　master　only　has　petty　possessions　in　the　east；　and　he　allowed　the　temporary　loan　of　Jingzhou　out　of　consideration　for　the　need　in　which　you　then　were。　But　now　you　have　Yizhou；　and　Jingzhou　should　be　given　up。　The　Imperial　Uncle　has　even　yielded　three　territories；　but　you；　Sir；　seem　unwilling　to　let　them　go。　This　seems　hard　to　explain　on　reasonable　grounds。〃
Guan　Yu　replied；　〃After　the　Red　Cliffs；　my　brother　braved　the　arrows　and　the　stones　in　the　battle　at　Wuling　and　with　all　his　strength　drove　back　the　enemy。　Did　he　get　a　single　foot　of　land　for　all　his　efforts？　Now　you　e　to　force　this　place　out　of　him。〃
〃No；　I　do　not；〃　said　Lu　Su。　〃But　at　the　time　that　you　and　your　brother　suffered　defeat　at　Dangyang；　when　you　were　helpless　and　in　the　greatest　straits；　fugitives　you　knew　not　whither；　then　my　master　was　moved　with　pity　and　did　not　grudge　the　land。　So　he　gave　your　brother　a　foothold　whence　he　might　be　able　to　acplish　other　ends。　But　your　brother　has　presumed　upon　long…suffering。　He　has　attained　his　end………the　country　of　his　desire………and　still　he　occupies　Jingzhou。　Such　greed　and　such　treachery　will　make　the　whole　world　laugh　him　to　shame；　as　you　know　quite　well。〃
〃All　that　is　no　affair　of　mine；　it　is　my　brother's。　I　cannot　yield　the　land。〃
〃I　know　that　by　the　oath　in　the　Peach　Garden　you　three　were　to　live　or　die　together。　But　your　brother　has　consented　to　yield：　How　are　you　going　to　get　out　of　that？〃
Before　Guan　Yu　could　reply；　however；　Zhou　Cang　burst　into　the　conversation；　roaring　out；　〃Only　the　virtuous　get　hold　of　territory：　Does　that　mean　only　you　people　of　East　Wu？〃
Guan　Yu's　anger　now　showed　itself。　His　face　changed；　he　rose　in　his　place；　took　his　sword　from　his　sword…bearer；　and　said　fiercely；　〃How　dare　you　talk　like　this　at　a　discussion　of　state　matters？　Go！　And　go　quickly！〃
Zhou　Cang　understood。　He　left　the　hall；　made　his　way　to　the　river　and　waved　the　red　call…flag。　The　ships　of　Guan　Ping　darted　across　like　arrows　and　were　ready　for　action。
The　mighty　sword　in　his　right　hand；　Guan　Yu　laid　hold　of　Lu　Su　with　his　left　and；　simulating　intoxication；　said；　〃You　have　kindly　invited　me　today；　Sir；　but　do　not　say　anything　about　Jingzhou；　for　I　am　so　drunk　that　I　may　forget　our　old　friendship。　Some　other　day　I　hope　to　invite　you　to　Jingzhou；　and　then　we　will　talk　about　that　matter。〃
Poor　Lu　Su's　soul　almost　left　his　body　with　fright　as　he　was　led　down　to　the　river　bank　in　the　grip　of　his　guest。　Lu　Meng　and　Gan　Ning；　who　Lu　Su　had　placed　in　ambush；　dared　not　act　and　so　made　no　move　lest　they　should　bring　about　the　doom　of　Lu　Su。　When　they　got　to　the　bank；　Guan　Yu　released　his　host；　got　on　board；　and　then　said　farewell。　Lu　Su　stood　dumbfounded；　staring　at　the　ship；　while　a　fair　breeze　bore　it　quickly　out　of　sight。
This　episode　has　been　memorated　in　verse：

He　showed　his　contempt　for　the　soldiers　of　Wu
By　going　alone　to　their　traitor　feast；
As　Liu　Xiangru　of　old　he　was　much　bolder；
As　the　Shengchi　Lake　game　was　played　again。

Guan　Yu　took　his　homeward　way；　while　Lu　Su　and　his　two　confederates　talked　over　what　had　occurred。
〃What　can　be　done　now？〃　said　Lu　Su。
〃The　only　thing　is　to　tell　our　master　and　let　him　send　an　army；〃　replied　Lu　Meng。
Lu　Su　sent　a　messenger　to　Sun　Quan；　who；　in　his　wrath；　was　for　sending　every　available　soldier　at　once　against　Jingzhou。
But　at　this　crisis　there　came　news　that　Cao　Cao　was　raising　a　huge　army　with　the　intention　of　attacking　the　South　Land。　So　hasty　orders　were　sent　to　Lu　Su　to　make　no　move；　but　to　send　all　the　troops　he　could　toward　Hefei　and　Ruxu　in　the　north　to　repel　Cao　Cao。
However；　Cao　Cao　did　not　march　south。　One　of　his　military　advisers；　Fu　Gan；　sent　in　a　memorial　against　the　scheme：
〃I；　Fu　Gan；　understand　that　inspiring　fear　is　the　chief　consideration　in　war；　as　inculcating　virtue　is　in　government。　These　two　bined　in　one　person　fit　him　to　be　a　prince。　Formerly；　in　the　days　of　disturbance；　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　attacked　the　rebels　and　restored　tranquillity　almost　everywhere；　the　only　regions　unsubdued　and　not　under　your　control　being　Wu　and　Shu。　The　former　of　these　is　protected　by　the　Great　River；　the　latter　secured　by　its　mountains；　and　both　difficult　to　conquer　by　force　of　arms。
〃My　humble　opinion　is　that　it　is　more　fitting　to　increase　the　authority　of　civil　government；　to　lay　aside　arms　and　rest　weapons；　to　cease　from　war　and　train　your　soldiers　until　the　times　shall　be　favorable。　If　your　mighty　legions　be　now　sent　to　camp　on　the　river　bank　and　the　rebels　should　take　refuge　behind　their　natural　defenses；　your　soldiers　will　be　unable　to　prove　their　prowess；　and　should　extraordinary　strategies　be　planned；　the　rebels　will　not　be　available。　In　such　a　case　your　high　prestige　would　be　impaired。　I　trust；　Illustrious　Sir；　you　will　deign　to　examine　this。〃
After　reading　this；　Cao　Cao　ceased　to　think　of　an　expedition　against　the　south。　Instead；　he　established　schools　and　set　himself　to　attract　people　of　ability。
About　the　same　time　four　of　his　officers………Wang　Can；　Du　Xi；　Wei　Kai；　and　He　He………conceived　the　idea　of　getting　for　Cao　Cao　the　honor　of　〃Prince　of　Wei〃。
But　Xun　You　opposed　this　course；　saying；　〃The　Prime　Minister's　rank　is　already　that　of　〃Duke〃；　and　he　has　received　the　additional　honor　of　the　Nine　Dignities；　so　that　his　position　is　extremely　high。　If　he　advances　to　the　rank　of　kingship；　it　will　be　inconsistent　with　reasonableness。〃
But　Cao　Cao　was　annoyed　at　this　opposition　and　said；　〃Does　the　man　wish　to　emulate　Xun　Yu？〃
When　Xun　You　heard　of　Cao　Cao's　anger；　he　was　grieved　and　fell　ill；　so　that　in　a　few　days　he　died。　He　was　fifty…eight　years　of　age。　Cao　Cao　had　his　remains　interred　honorably；　and　he　stayed　his　ambition　for　princely　rank。
But　there　came　a　day　when　Cao　Cao　entered　the　Palace　wearing　his　sword　and　made　his　way　to　the　apartment　where　the　Emperor　and　the　Empress　were　seated。　The　Empress　rose　in　a　fright；　and　the　Emperor　gazed　at　his　minister　in　terror。
〃Sun　Quan　and　Liu　Bei　have　each　seized　a　portion　of　the　empire　and　no　longer　respect　the　court。　What　is　to　be　done？〃
To　this　abrupt　speech　the　Emperor　replied；　〃The　matter　lies　within　your　province。〃
Cao　Cao　answered；　angrily；　〃If　such　a　remark　be　known　outside；　they　will　say　I　treat　my　prince　without　respect！〃
〃If　you　will　help　me；　I　shall　be　most　happy；〃　said　His　Majesty。　〃If　not；　then　I　trust　to　your　kindness　to　let　me　alone。〃
At　this　Cao　Cao　glared　at　the　Emperor　and　went　out　full　of　resentment。
The　courtiers　said；　〃It　is　said　that　the　Duke　of　Wei　desires　to　bee　Prince　of　Wei；　and　soon　he　will　aspire　to　the　throne。〃
Both　the　Emperor　and　his　consort　wept。
Presently　Her　Majesty　said；　〃My　father；　Fu　Wan；　has　long　nourished　a　desire　to　slay　this　man。　Now　I　will　indite　a　secret　letter　to　my　father　to　acplish　his　end。〃
〃Remember　the　former　attempt　with　Dong　Cheng。　The　plot　was　discovered　and　great　misery　ensued。　I　fear　that　this　will　leak　out　also；　and　both　of　us　will　be　undone。〃
Said　the　Empress；　〃We　pass　our　days　in　constant　disfort；　like　sitting　on　a　rug　full　of　needles。　If　life　is　to　be　like　this；　one　were　better　dead。　But　I　know　one　loyal　man　among　the　attendants　to　whom　I　may　entrust　the　letter。　That　one　is　Mu　Shun；　and　he　will　deliver　it。〃
Thereupon　Empress　Fu　summoned　Mu　Shun　within；　and　having　sent　away　all　others；　they　told　their　distress　to　the　faithful　one。
Emperor　Xian　said；　〃That　fellow　Cao　Cao　desires　the　dignity　of　a　prince；　and　soon　he　will　aspire　to　the　throne　itself。　I；　the　Emperor；　wish　to　order　the　father　of　my　consort　to　make　away　with　the　man；　but　the　difficulty　is　that　all　the　courtiers　are　his　creatures　and　there　is　none　whom　I　can　trust　save　yourself。　I　desire　you　to　convey　this　secret　letter　to　Fu　Wan。　I　know　your　loyalty　and　am　sure　you　will　prove　no　betrayer。〃
〃I　am　the　recipient　of　much　graciousness　for　which　not　even　death　would　prove　my　gratitude。　Thy　servant　prays　that　he　may　be　allowed　to　undertake　this。〃
The　letter　was　given　to　Mu　Shun；　who　hid　it　in　his　hair；　made　his　way　out　of　the　precincts　and　handed　it　to　its　owner。　Fu　Wan　recognized　the　handwriting　of　his　daughter　and　read　it。
Turning　to　the　messenger；　Fu　Wan　said；　〃You　know　the　fellow's　creatures　are　many；　and　one　must　act　with　extreme　caution　against　him。　Unless　we　have　the　aid　of　Sun　Quan's　and　Liu　Bei's　armies；　Cao　Cao　will　certainly　attain　his　ends。　In　this　matter　we　must　gain　the　support　of　every　loyal　and　faithful　one　in　the　court　so　that　within　and　without　there　may　be　a　simultaneous　attack。〃
〃Then；　O　Father　of　the　Empress；　write　a　letter　in　reply　asking　for　a　secret　edict；　so　that　we　may　send　to　the　south　and　the　west　to　join　in　the　attack。〃
So　Fu　Wan　posed　a　reply；　which　he　gave　to　Mu　Shun　to　take　into　the　Palace。　This　time　also　the　letter　was　concealed　in　his　hair。
But　there　was　a　traitor；　and　Cao　Cao　heard　of　the　letters。　So　he　waited　at　a　Palace　gate　for　Mu　Shun　to　e　out。
〃Where　are　you　going？〃　asked　Cao　Cao；　when　Mu　Shun　appeared。
〃The　Empress　is　indisposed　and　has　bidden　me　call　a　physician。〃
〃Where　is　the　summon　for　the　physician？〃
〃There　is　no　summon。〃
Cao　Cao　bade　his　guards　search　Mu　Shun；　but　they　did　not　find　the　letter。
So　he　was　allowed　to　go。　But　just　then　a　gust　of　wind　blew　off　his　hat；　and　it　struck　Cao　Cao　that　that　had　not　been　examined。　So　Mu　Shun　was　called　back。　Nothing　was　found　in　the　hat；　but　when　it　was　given　back　Mu　Shun　put　it　on　with　both　hands。　There　was　something　suspicious　about　the　movement；　and　Cao　Cao　bade　the　searchers　examine　his　hair。
Therein　the　letter　of　Fu　Wan　was　found。　Cao　Cao　read　it；　which　said　that　Sun　Quan　and　Liu　Bei　were　to　be　induced　to　help。　The　unhappy　Mu　Shun　was　taken　away　into　a　secret　place　and　interrogated；　but　he　would　confess　nothing。
That　night　three　thousand　soldiers　surrounded　the　dwelling　of　Fu　Wan；　who　was　arrested　with　all　his　family。　Searching　the　house；　they　found　the　first　letter　in　the　handwriting　of　the　Empress。　Fu　Wan　and　his　family　were　then　consigned　to　a　gaol。
At　dawn；　a　party　of　Imperial　Guards；　under　Chi　Lu；　bearing　ensigns　of　authority；　entered　the　Forbidden　City　with　orders　to　take　away　the　seal　of　the　Empress。　On　the　way　they　met　the　Emperor；　who　asked　the　reason　for　a　pany　of　armed　guards　being　in　the　Palace。
〃I　have　orders　from　the　Duke　of　Wei　to　get　the　Empress's　seal；〃　said　Chi　Lu。
The　Emperor　grew　alarmed。　When　Chi　Lu　reached　the　apartments　of　the　Empress；　she　had　just　risen。　Chi　Lu　ordered　to　take　the　seal　of　the　Empress　and　went　away。
As　soon　as　the　Empress　knew　of　this；　she　recognized　her　danger　and　hid　herself　in　the　hollow　walls　of　her　private　apartments　behind　one　of　the　ceremonial　halls。　She　had　not　been　long　in　hiding　when　Hua　Xin　with　a　pany　of　five　hundred　armed　soldiers　appeared　and　asked　where　she　was。　The　Palace　people　said　they　did　not　know。　The　red　doors　of　the　hall　were　burst　open；　and　Hua　Xin　looked　in；　but　he　saw　no　lady　there。　It　occurred　to　him　where　she　might　be　hidden；　and　he　ordered　his　men　to　break　open　the　wall。　With　his　own　hands；　he　laid　hold　of　the　lady's　hair　and　dragged　her　forth。
〃Spare　my　life！〃　pleaded　she。
〃You　may　say　what　you　have　to　say　to　the　Duke！〃　cried　he。
She　pulled　down　her　hair　and　kicked　off　her　shoes；　but　a　couple　of　soldiers　pushed　her　along　in　front　of　them　outside。
It　may　be　said　here　that　this　Hua　Xin　had　a　reputation　for　learning。　He　and　two　others；　Bing　Yuan　and　Guan　Ning；　all　good　friends；　made　a　little　coterie　which　was　known　as　〃The　Dragon〃。　Hua　Xin　was　the　〃head〃；　Bing　Yuan；　the　〃belly〃；　and　Guan　Ning；　the　〃tail〃。　One　day　Guan　Ning　and　Hua　Xin　were　hoeing　in　their　garden　to　grow　some　vegetables；　when　they　turned　up　an　ingot　of　gold。　Guan　Ning　went　on　with　his　labors　without　giving　a　second　glance　at　the　find；　but　Hua　Xin　picked　it　up。　After　regarding　it　a　moment；　he　threw　it　away　again。
Another　day　Guan　Ning　and　Hua　Xin　were　reading　together　when　there　arose　a　great　shouting　outside　the　window　of　the　study。　A　minister　from　the　Palace　was　passing。　Guan　Ning　took　no　notice；　but　kept　his　eyes　on　his　book；　Hua　Xin　rose　and　went　to　the　window。　For