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When　this　memorial　reached　Capital　Xuchang；　Cao　Cao　was　in　the　Palace　at　Yejun；　and　it　annoyed　him　greatly。
〃How　dare　this　mean　weaver　of　straw　shoes　behave　thus？〃　said　he。　〃Now　I　swear　that　I　will　destroy　him。〃
So　he　issued　orders　for　the　whole　force　of　the　state　to　go　out　against　the　two　River　Lands　to　wage　fierce　war　with　the　new　Prince　of　Hanzhong。
But　a　remonstrance　came　from　the　mouth　of　one　man。
〃Let　not　the　great　Prince　of　Wei　trouble　himself　to　go　on　a　distant　expedition　because　of　a　temporary　annoyance。　I　can　propose　a　plan　of　which　the　execution　will　need　not　the　bending　of　a　single　bow；　and　yet　it　will　make　Liu　Bei　bring　down　disaster　upon　his　own　head。　When　his　army　shall　have　bee　exhausted；　it　will　only　be　necessary　to　send　one　single　general　against　him　and　victory　will　be　ours。〃
Cao　Cao　looked　at　the　officer。　It　was　First　Secretary　Sima　Yi。
〃What　is　your　exalted　view；　my　friend？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃Sun　Quan's　sister　is　wife　to　Liu　Bei；　but　Sun　Quan　has　found　an　occasion　to　steal　away　the　bride。　Liu　Bei　is　in　possession　of　Jingzhou　still；　and　he　and　Sun　Quan　are　bitter　enemies。　Therefore　send　some　able　speaker　with　a　letter　to　Wu　to　persuade　the　Marquis　to　send　an　army　to　recover　Jingzhou。　That　will　draw　thither　all　the　armies　of　Shu；　when　you　can　send　your　army　to　Hanzhong。　Liu　Bei　will　be　helpless；　and　his　strength　will　be　wasted。〃
The　scheme　pleased　Cao　Cao。　He　at　once　drew　up　a　letter　and　sent　it　by　the　hand　of　Man　Chong；　who　soon　arrived　in　Wu。　As　soon　as　Sun　Quan　knew　of　the　mission；　he　summoned　his　advisers　to　consult。
Zhang　Zhao　said；　〃Wei　and　Wu　are　primarily　enemies　because　of　the　dissension　fomented　by　the　words　of　Zhuge　Liang。　We　have　been　fighting　for　several　years；　and　many　lives　have　been　lost。　Now　this　messenger　has　surely　e　to　discuss　terms　of　friendship；　and　he　should　be　weled。〃
On　the　strength　of　this；　Man　Chong　was　well　received　and　conducted　into　the　city　and　into　the　presence　of　Sun　Quan。　He　presented　his　letters　at　the　conclusion　of　the　ceremonies　of　reception　and　declared　his　mission。
〃Wu　and　Wei　have　no　fundamental　quarrel；　and　their　dissension　has　been　brought　about　by　Liu　Bei。　My　master　sends　me　to　covenant　with　you　for　an　attack　on　Jingzhou；　while　he　goes　against　Hanzhong。　This　double　attack　being　successful；　the　conquered　regions　can　be　divided　between　us　two；　and　we　can　both　swear　to　respect　each　other's　territory。〃
Having　read　the　letter；　Sun　Quan　prepared　a　banquet　in　honor　of　Man　Chong　and　then　sent　him　to　the　guest…house　to　rest　while　he　discussed　the　matter　with　his　council　of　advisers。
Said　Gu　Yong；　〃Although　the　messenger's　speech　was　all　special　pleading；　it　was　correct　in　form。　I　propose　that　the　messenger　be　allowed　to　return　and　that　a　covenant　be　made　with　Cao　Cao　for　joint　attack。　In　addition；　let　spies　be　sent　over　the　Great　River　to　find　out　Guan　Yu's　movements；　and　then　we　may　act。〃
Zhuge　Jin　said；　〃I　hear　that　since　Guan　Yu　has　been　in　Jingzhou；　Liu　Bei　has　found　him　a　wife；　who　has　borne　him　a　son　and　a　daughter。　The　daughter　is　too　young　to　have　been　betrothed；　wherefore　let　me　go　to　ask　her　in　marriage　with　your　heir。　If　Guan　Yu　agrees；　then　we　can　arrange　with　him　to　attack　Cao　Cao。　If　Guan　Yu　refuses；　then　let　us　aid　Cao　Cao　in　an　attack　on　Jingzhou。〃
Sun　Quan　took　this　advice。　So　he　sent　Man　Chong　away　and　sent　Zhuge　Jin　to　Jingzhou　to　try　to　arrange　the　betrothal。　Zhuge　Jin　was　received。
When　the　time　came　to　state　the　reason　for　his　ing；　Guan　Yu　asked　him；　〃What　have　you　e　for；　Zhuge　Jin？〃
〃I　have　e　seeking　to　ally　the　two　houses。　My　master；　the　Marquis　of　Wu；　has　a　son　who　is　quite　clever。　Hearing　that　you　have　a　daughter；　General；　I　ask　her　in　marriage；　hereby　the　two　houses　may　join　in　an　attack　on　Cao　Cao。　This　would　be　an　admirable　result；　and　I　pray　you　consider　the　proposal。〃
But　the　warrior　flared　up。
〃How　can　a　tiger's　daughter　marry　with　a　dog's　whelp？　Were　it　not　for　your　brother；　I　would　take　your　head。　Say　no　more！〃
Guan　Yu　called　his　servants　to　hustle　forth　the　hapless　messenger；　who　ran　away　with　his　hands　over　his　head；　too　astonished　to　look　anyone　in　the　face。　And　reaching　his　own　place；　he　dared　not　hide　the　manner　of　his　reception；　but　told　the　whole　truth。
〃What　ruffianism！〃　exclaimed　the　Marquis。
Thereupon　Sun　Quan　ordered　the　council　again　to　consider　an　attack　on　Jingzhou。
Bu　Zhi　rose　and　said；　〃It　has　been　long　manifest　that　Cao　Cao　wishes　to　usurp　the　Throne；　but　he　is　afraid　of　Liu　Bei。　Now　we　are　to　attack　Shu　with　an　army；　and　so　Cao　Cao　wants　to　shift　the　misfortune　to　us　indeed。〃
〃But　I　also　want　the　place；〃　said　Sun　Quan。
Said　Bu　Zhi；　〃Cao　Ren　is　already　camped　at　Fancheng　and　Xiangyang　and　in　no　danger　from　the　river。　If　Cao　Cao　can　take　Jingzhou　by　land；　why　does　he　not　take　it？　However；　he　wants　you；　my　lord；　to　send　your　army；　and　you　can　judge　his　real　intention　from　this。　Send　to　Cao　Cao　and　tell　him　to　make　Cao　Ren　attack　by　land。　Then　Guan　Yu　must　take　the　army　from　Jingzhou　to　Fancheng。　When　Guan　Yu　has　left　Jingzhou；　you　can　send　an　army　to　seize　it。〃
Sun　Quan　thought　the　scheme　good　and　sent　letters　with　these　proposals　to　Cao　Cao。　Cao　Cao　adopted　the　plan；　and　having　sent　the　messenger　back　to　the　South　Land；　he　next　sent　Man　Chong　to　help　Cao　Ren　at　Fancheng　as　Adviser　in　the　matter　of　attack。　He　also　sent　dispatches　to　the　South　Land　to　ask　for　the　assistance　of　Sun　Quan's　marine　force。
Having　laid　on　Wei　Yan　the　task　of　holding　the　East　River　Land；　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong；　with　his　officers；　returned　to　Chengdu　and　began　to　set　his　new　house　in　order。　A　Palace　was　begun　and　public　guest…houses　were　built；　and　between　Chengdu　and　Baishui；　at　selected　places；　they　built　four　hundred　rest…houses　and　post　stations。　The　Prince　of　Hanzhong　also　set　himself　to　accumulate　great　stores　of　grain　and　forage　and　to　till　his　arsenals　with　weapons　with　the　design　of　mastering　the　capital　in　the　north　and　the　whole　empire。
Then　his　spies　told　him　of　the　treaty　between　Cao　Cao　and　Sun　Quan；　with　designs　upon　Jingzhou；　and　he　hastily　called　in　Zhuge　Liang　to　ask　what　should　be　done。
〃I　felt　that　Cao　Cao　would　try　to　do　this；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃and　most　of　the　advisers　in　the　South　Land　will　persuade　Cao　Cao　to　order　Cao　Ren　to　begin　the　campaign。〃
〃But　what　am　I　to　do？〃　asked　the　Prince。
〃First　send　a　special　messenger　to　Guan　Yu　with　his　new　title；　telling　him　to　capture　Fancheng；　which　will　so　damp　the　ardor　of　the　enemy　that　they　will　break　off　themselves。〃
Therefore　Liu　Bei　sent　Fei　Shi；　a　minister　from　his　Board　of　War；　to　take　the　patent　of　the　new　title　to　Guan　Yu；　who　received　the　delegate　with　great　deference　and　conducted　him　into　the　city。　After　they　had　arrived　at　the　official　residence；　Guan　Yu　inquired　what　new　title　had　been　conferred　upon　him。
〃The　first　of　the　Five　Tiger　Generals；〃　replied　Fei　Shi。
〃And　who　are　the　five？〃
〃Their　names　are　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhao　Yun；　Ma　Chao；　and　Huang　Zhong。〃
〃The　second　is　my　brother；〃　said　Guan　Yu；　〃Ma　Chao　es　of　a　famous　family；　and　Zhao　Yun　has　been　with　my　elder　brother　so　long　that　he　is　as　a　brother。　It　is　right　for　them　to　be　put　on　a　level　with　me。　But　what　sort　of　a　man　is　this　Huang　Zhong　that　he　is　ranked　with　us？　The　really　great　man　does　not　stand　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　any　soldier　that　es　along。〃
And　Guan　Yu　refused　both　title　and　seal。

＇e＇　Xiao　He　（BC　？…193）　a　close　adviser　of　Liu　Bang。　He　and　Liu　Bang　had　been　friends　in　their　native　Pei；　where　Liu　Bang　later　held　a　minor　office。　Remended　Han　Xin　to　Liu　Bang。　Became　Han's　prime　minister。　Enobled　as　the　Lord　of　Cuo。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Cao　Shen　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。　Served　as　Han's　prime　minister。　。。。。。
＇e＇　Han　Xin　was　a　general　of　Liu　Bang。　Before　serving　Han；　Han　Xin　had　been　an　officer　under　Xiang　Yu。　Disappointed　because　his　plans　were　rejected；　Han　Xin　left　Xiang　Yu　and　joined　Liu　Bang's　camp；　where　he　was　made　mander…in…Chief　by　remendations　of　Xiao　He　and　Zhang　Liang。　Enobled　as　King　of　Qi；　then　King　of　Chu。　。。。。。
〃You　do　wrong　to　refuse；〃　said　Fei　Shi。　〃Of　old；　Xiao　He*　and　Cao　Shen*　helped　Liu　Bang；　the　Founder　of　the　Han　Dynasty；　in　his　great　enterprise　and　were　very　dear　friends；　while　Han　Xin*　was　but　a　runaway　leader　from　Chu。　Yet　Liu　Bang　made　Han　Xin　a　prince；　and　so　placed　over　the　heads　of　the　other　two。　I　have　never　heard　that　these　two　resented　it。　The　Prince　of　Hanzhong　has　his　Five　Tiger　Generals；　but　he　is　still　your　brother　and　all　that　that　means。　As　his　brother；　you　are　he　and　he　is　you。　Is　there　any　parison　with　any　other？　The　Prince　has　always　treated　you　with　the　greatest　kindness。　You　two　are　one　in　sorrow　and　joy；　sharers　of　disaster　and　good　fortune。　No　such　question　as　that　of　a　mere　title　ought　to　reckon　at　all。　I　pray　you；　Sir；　reflect。〃
Guan　Yu　understood；　and　thanked　Fei　Shi；　saying；　〃You　have　prevented　me　from　making　a　great　mistake　due　to　my　ignorance。〃
Guan　Yu　then　received　the　seal　with　all　humility。
Next　Fei　Shi　produced　the　edict　ordering　the　capture　of　Fancheng。　Guan　Yu　lost　no　time　in　obeying　its　mand。　He　appointed　Fu　Shiren　and　Mi　Fang　Leaders　of　the　Van　to　take　the　first　army　out　of　the　city　into　camp。
This　done；　a　banquet　was　prepared　for　Fei　Shi；　and　they　sat　late　at　their　wine。　While　still　at　table　there　was　an　alarm　of　fire　in　the　new　camp；　and　Guan　Yu　hastened　out　of　the　city　to　see。　He　found　that　the　two　generals　had　also　been　feasting；　and　the　fire　had　started　behind　their　tent；　a　spark　having　fallen　into　some　explosives；　whence　it　spread　and　destroyed　the　whole　camp　and　all　that　was　in　it。　Guan　Yu　and　his　soldiers　did　what　they　could　to　put　out　the　fire　and　then　reentered　the　city。　There　Guan　Yu　summoned　the　two　generals　before　him；　abused　them　for　their　lack　of　care；　and　sentenced　them　to　death。
However；　Fei　Shi　interceded　for　them；　saying；　〃It　is　not　well　to　put　two　leaders　to　death　at　the　beginning　of　a　campaign；　before　even　the　army　has　marched。　You　might　reprieve　them　at　least。〃
Guan　Yu's　anger　had　by　no　means　subsided；　but　he　recalled　the　two　generals　and　said；　〃Were　it　not　that　I　have　the　greatest　regard　for　Chairman　Fei　Shi　here；　I　had　let　the　sentence　take　its　course。　Now　I　will　only　flog　you。〃
So　the　two　officers　received　forty　blows　each　and　were　degraded　from　leading　the　van。　Their　seals　were　taken　away；　and　Mi　Fang　was　sent　to　Nanjun；　Fu　Shiren　to　Gongan。
〃Now　be　warned；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃If；　when　I　return　from　my　victories；　there　is　the　least　sign　of　disorder　on　your　part；　you　will　suffer　for　both　faults。〃
The　two　men　flushed　crimson　and　went　out。
Then　two　new　officers　were　appointed；　Liao　Hua　and　Guan　Ping。　Next　Guan　Yu　took　mand　of　the　main　army；　and　he　had　two　advisers………Ma　Liang　and　Yi　Ji。　Then　it　was　that　Hu　Hua's　son；　Hu　Ban；　came　to　Jingzhou　and　joined　Guan　Yu；　who　loved　him　for　the　sake　of　his　father　and　the　good　service　Hu　Ban　had　rendered　when　he　saved　Guan　Yu。　Guan　Yu　sent　Hu　Ban　to　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong　in　the　train　of　Fei　Shi。
The　day　that　Guan　Yu　sacrificed　to　his　standard　before　starting；　he　was　lying　in　his　tent　resting　when　suddenly　there　dashed　into　his　tent　a　huge　boar；　very　large；　as　big　as　a　bullock　and　quite　black。　It　bit　his　foot。　He　jumped　up　to　kill　the　creature；　when　it　squealed　with　the　sound　of　tearing　cloth………and　he　awoke。　It　was　a　dream；　but　he　had　a　pain　in　his　foot。　The　dream　perplexed　him；　and　he　could　not　explain　it。
He　related　it　to　his　son；　who　interpreted　it　happily；　saying；　〃The　boar　is　a　royal　beast；　like　the　dragon；　and　ing　to　your　feet　means　a　rise　of　your　dignity。〃
When　the　dream　got　noised　abroad；　for　he　told　his　officers；　some　interpreted　it　as　auspicious　and　some　the　reverse。
〃When　a　person　nears　sixty；　he　ought　not　to　be　greatly　disturbed　by　the　thought　of　death；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃After　all；　I　am　a　warrior。〃
Just　about　that　time　came　an　edict　from　the　Prince　of　Hanzhong　making　him　manding　General；　with　honorable　insignia　of　rank　and　control　over　the　nine　territories　of　forty…one　counties　in　Jingzhou。　When　the　officers　congratulated　him　on　his　new　honors；　they　did　not　forget　the　dream。
〃This　shows　what　a　dream　of　boars　means。〃
This　new　distinction　pleased　Guan　Yu　greatly；　and　he　had　no　more　perplexing　doubts。　Soon　he　marched　away　along　the　great　road　to　the　point　of　danger。
C