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Suddenly　confusion　was　caused　in　the　rear　of　Wang　Lang's　army　by　the　sudden　onslaught　of　a　small　army。　Wang　Lang　galloped　off　to　see　the　attackers　were　Zhou　Yu　and　Cheng　Pu。　Then　an　attack　was　made　on　his　flank；　so　that　he　was　in　a　hopeless　position；　and　he　and　Yan　Baihu　and　Zhou　Xin；　fighting　desperately　to　cut　an　alley　out；　only　just　managed　to　reach　the　shelter　of　the　city。　The　drawbridges　were　raised；　the　gates　closed；　and　preparations　made　to　sustain　a　siege。
Sun　Ce　followed　right　up　to　the　walls　and　then　divided　his　troops　so　as　to　attack　all　four　gates。　Seeing　that　the　city　was　being　fiercely　attacked；　Wang　Lang　was　for　making　a　sortie；　but　Yan　Baihu　opposed　this　as　hopeless　against　so　strong　a　force　outside。
〃We　can　only　strengthen　our　position　and　remain　behind　the　shelter　of　the　ramparts　until　hunger　forces　the　besiegers　to　retire；〃　said　Yan　Baihu。
Wang　Lang　agreed；　and　the　siege　went　on。　For　several　days　a　vigorous　attack　was　maintained；　but　with　little　success。
In　a　council；　Sun　Jing；　who　was　the　uncle　of　Sun　Ce；　said；　〃Since　they　are　holding　the　city　with　such　resolution；　it　will　be　difficult　to　dislodge　them。　But　the　bulk　of　their　supplies　is　stored　at　Chadu；　distant　only　some　ten　miles。　Our　best　plan　is　to　seize　this　place；　thus　attacking　where　the　enemy　is　unprepared；　and　doing　what　they　do　not　expect。〃
Sun　Ce　approved；　saying；　〃My　uncle's　plan　is　admirable　and　will　crush　the　rebels。〃
So　he　issued　orders　to　kindle　watch　fires　at　all　the　gates；　and　leave　the　flags　standing　to　maintain　the　appearance　of　soldiers　in　position　while　the　expedition　went　south。
Zhou　Yu　came　to　utter　a　warning；　〃When　you；　my　lord；　go　away；　the　besieged　will　surely　e　out　and　follow　you。　We　might　prepare　a　surprise　for　them。〃
Sun　Ce　replied；　〃My　preparations　are　plete；　and　the　city　will　be　captured　tonight。〃
So　the　army　set　out。　Wang　Lang　heard　that　the　besiegers　had　gone；　and　he　went　up　to　the　tower　to　reconnoiter。　He　saw　the　fires　blazing；　the　smoke　rising；　and　the　pennons　fluttering　in　the　breeze　as　usual　and　hesitated。
Zhou　Xin　said；　〃He　has　gone　and　this　is　only　a　strategy。　Let　us　go　out　and　smite　them。〃
Yan　Baihu　said；　〃If　he　has　gone；　it　is　to　attack　Chadu。　Let　us　pursue。〃
〃The　place　is　our　base　of　supply；〃　said　Wang　Lang；　〃and　must　be　defended。　You　two　lead　the　way；　and　I　will　follow　with　reserves。〃
So　Yan　Baihu　and　Zhou　Xin　went　forth　with　five　thousand　soldiers　and　drew　near　their　enemy　about　the　first　watch；　at　seven　miles　from　the　city。　The　road　led　through　dense　forest。　Then　suddenly　the　drums　beat　and　lighted　torches　sprang　up　on　all　sides。　Yan　Baihu　was　frightened；　turned　his　horse　and　started　to　retreat。　At　once　a　leader　appeared　in　front　in　whom；　by　the　glare　of　the　torches；　he　recognized　Sun　Ce。　Zhou　Xin　made　a　rush　at　him　but　fell　under　Sun　Ce's　spear。　The　men　surrendered。　However；　Yan　Baihu　managed　to　cut　his　way　out　and　fled　to　Yuhang。
Wang　Lang　soon　heard　of　the　loss　and；　not　daring　to　return　to　the　city；　fled　in　all　haste　to　the　coastal　regions。　And　so　Sun　Ce　got　possession　of　the　city　of　Kuaiji。
Having　restored　order；　a　few　days　later　a　man　came　bringing　the　head　of　the　White　Tiger　as　an　offering　to　Sun　Ce。　This　man　was　a　native　of　the　county。　He　was　of　eight…span　height；　with　a　square　face　and　wide　mouth。　He　was　named　Dong　Xi。　Sun　Ce　appointed　him　mander。　After　this；　peace　reigned　in　all　the　southeast。　Sun　Ce　placed　his　uncle　Sun　Jing　in　mand　of　the　city　and　made　Zhu　Zhi　Governor　of　Wujun。　Then　Sun　Ce　returned　to　his　own　place；　south　of　the　Great　River。
While　Sun　Ce　was　absent；　a　band　of　brigands　suddenly　attacked　Xuancheng；　left　in　the　care　of　his　brother　Sun　Quan　and　the　leader　Zhou　Tai。　As　the　onslaught　was　made　on　all　sides　at　once；　and　in　the　night；　the　brigands　got　the　upper　hand。　Zhou　Tai　took　the　youth　in　his　arms　and　mounted　a　horse；　but　as　the　robbers　came　on　with　swords　to　attack　him；　he　dismounted；　and　though　without　mail；　met　the　robbers　on　foot　and　slew　them　as　they　came　up。　Then　came　a　horseman　armed　with　a　spear；　but　Zhou　Tai　laid　hold　of　his　spear　and　pulled　him　to　the　earth。　Then　Zhou　Tai　mounted　the　robber's　horse；　and　thrusting　this　way　and　that　with　the　spear　fought　his　way　out。　So　Sun　Quan　was　preserved；　but　his　savior　had　received　more　than　a　dozen　wounds。　However；　the　bandits　went　away。
These　wounds　being　due　to　metal　would　not　heal　but　swelled　enormously；　and　the　brave　soldier's　life　hung　in　the　balance。　Sun　Ce　returned　and　was　deeply　grieved。
Then　Dong　Xi　said；　〃Once　in　an　engagement　with　some　coastal　pirates；　I　received　many　spear　wounds；　but　a　certain　wise　man　named　Yu　Fan　remended　a　surgeon　who　cured　me　in　half　a　month。〃
〃Surely　this　must　be　Yu　Fan　of　Kuaiji；〃　replied　Sun　Ce。　〃That　is　he；　he　is　so　called。〃
〃Yes；　truly　a　wise　man。　I　would　employ　him。〃
So　Sun　Ce　sent　two　officers　to　invite　Yu　Fan；　and　he　came　at　once。　He　was　treated　in　most　friendly　fashion　and　appointed　an　official　forthwith。　Then　the　question　of　treating　the　wounded　man　was　brought　up。
〃The　surgeon　is　one　Hua　Tuo　from　Qiao；　who　has　perfectly　marvelous　medicine　skill。　I　will　get　him　to　e；〃　said　Yu　Fan。
Shortly　the　famous　Hua　Tuo　arrived；　a　man　with　the　plexion　of　a　youth　and　a　snowy　beard。　He　looked　more　like　a　saint　who　had　passed　the　gates　of　this　life。　He　was　treated　very　warmly　and　taken　to　see　the　sick　general's　wounds。
〃The　case　is　not　difficult；〃　said　the　surgeon。
And　he　prepared　certain　drugs　that　healed　the　wounds　within　a　month。　Sun　Ce　suitably　acknowledged　his　care　and　skill；　and　he　was　allowed　to　leave　with　rich　rewards。
Next　Sun　Ce　attacked　the　brigands　and　destroyed　them；　so　restoring　plete　tranquillity　to　the　South　Land。　After　this　he　set　garrisons　at　all　the　strategic　points　in　the　old　state　of　Wu；　and　this　done；　memorialized　what　he　had　achieved　to　the　Throne。　He　came　to　an　understanding　with　Cao　Cao　and　sent　letters　to　Yuan　Shu　demanding　the　return　of　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　he　had　left　in　pledge。
But　Yuan　Shu；　secretly　cherishing　the　most　ambitious　designs；　wrote　excuses　and　did　not　return　the　state　jewel。　In　his　own　place　Yuan　Shu　hastily　summoned　about　thirty　of　his　officers　to　a　council。　Among　them　were　Adviser　Yang　Dajiang　and　Generals　Zhang　Xun；　Ji　Ling；　Qiao　Rui；　Lei　Bo；　and　Chen　Lan。
Yuan　Shu　said；　〃Sun　Ce　borrowed　an　army　from　me　and　set　out　on　an　expedition　which　has　made　him　master　of　the　South　Land。　Now　he　says　nothing　of　repayment　but　demands　the　token　of　his　pledge。　Truly　he　is　a　boor；　and　what　steps　can　I　take　to　destroy　him？〃
Yang　Dajiang　replied；　〃You　cannot　do　any　thing　against　him；　for　he　is　too　strongly　placed；　the　Great　River　as　the　shield。　You　must　first　remove　Liu　Bei　in　revenge　for　having　attacked　you　without　cause；　and　then　you　may　think　about　Sun　Ce。　I　have　a　scheme　to　put　the　former　into　your　hands　in　a　very　short　time。〃

Yuan　Shu　went　not　to　destroy　the　tiger；　but　instead
Against　a　dragon　forth　his　army　led。

The　means　Yang　Dajiang　employed　will　be　made　plain　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　16　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　16
　Chapter　16
In　The　Camp　Gate；　Lu　Bu　Shoots　The　Halberd；
At　River　Yu；　Cao　Cao　Suffers　Defeat。
Adviser　Yang　Dajiang　knew　how　to　remove　Liu　Bei。
〃What　is　your　plan　of　attack　on　Liu　Bei？〃　said　Yuan　Shu。
Yang　Dajiang　replied；　〃Though　Liu　Bei；　now　camped　at　Xiaopei；　could　easily　be　taken；　yet　Lu　Bu　is　strongly　posted　at　the　chief　city　near。　And　I　think　Lu　Bu　would　help　Liu　Bei　if　it　was　only　for　the　grudge　he　bears　against　you　for　not　having　given　him　the　gold　and　studs；　grain　and　horses　you　promised。　First　of　all　you　should　send　Lu　Bu　a　present　whereby　to　engage　his　affections　and　keep　him　quiet　while　you　deal　with　Liu　Bei。　You　can　see　to　Lu　Bu　after　this　is　done；　and　Xuzhou　is　yours。〃
Thereupon　two　hundred　thousand　carts　of　millet　was　sent；　with　letters；　by　the　hand　of　Han　Yin。　The　gift　pleased　Lu　Bu　greatly；　and　he　treated　the　messenger　with　great　cordiality。　Feeling　sure　of　no　trouble　from　that　quarter；　Yuan　Shu　told　off　one　hundred　thousand　troops　against　Xiaopei。　The　army　was　led　by　Ji　Ling　as　manding　general；　and　Lei　Bo　and　Chen　Lan　as　generals。
When　Liu　Bei　heard　these　things　he　called　his　officers　to　take　counsel。　Zhang　Fei　was　for　open　war　forthwith。
But　Sun　Qian　said；　〃Our　resources　were　too　small；　therefore；　we　must　lay　the　position　before　Lu　Bu　and　ask　help。〃
〃Do　you　think　that　fellow　will　do　anything？〃　said　Zhang　Fei　cynically。
Liu　Bei　decided　in　favor　of　Sun　Qian's　proposal　and　wrote　as　follows：
〃Humbly　I　venture　to　remind　you　that　I　am　here　by　your　orders　and　enjoy　repose　as　the　result　of　your　kindness；　extensive　as　the　heavens。　Now　Yuan　Shu；　moved　by　a　desire　for　revenge；　is　sending　a　force　against　this　place；　and　its　destruction　is　imminent　unless　you　intervene　to　save　it。　I　trust　you　will　send　an　army　quickly　to　protect　the　town；　and　our　happiness　will　be　inexpressible。〃
Receiving　this　Lu　Bu　called　in　Chen　Gong　to　whom　he　said；　〃I　have　just　received　gifts　from　Yuan　Shu　and　a　letter；　with　the　intent　of　restraining　me　from　helping　Liu　Bei。　Now　es　a　letter　from　Liu　Bei　asking　help。　It　seems　to　me　that　Liu　Bei　where　he　is　can　do　me　no　harm；　but　if　Yuan　Shu　overes　Liu　Bei　and　es　to　an　understanding　with　the　leaders　around　the　Huashang　Mountains；　then　the　power　of　the　north　is　so　much　nearer；　and　I　should　be　unable　to　resist　the　attacks　of　so　many　leaders　and　should　never　sleep　secure。　I　will　aid　Liu　Bei：　That　is　the　better　course　for　me。〃
Now　Yuan　Shu's　force　sent　against　Xiaopei　went　thither　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　soon　the　country　to　the　southeast　fluttered　with　pennons　by　day　and　blazed　with　watch　fires　by　night；　while　the　rolling　of　the　drums　reverberated　from　heaven　to　earth。
The　five　thousand　troops　at　Liu　Bei's　disposal　were　led　out　of　the　city　and　arranged　to　make　a　brave　show；　but　it　was　good　news　to　him　to　hear　that　Lu　Bu　had　arrived　and　was　quite　near。　Lu　Bu　camped　only　half　a　mile　away　to　the　southwest。　When　Yuan　Shu's　general；　Ji　Ling；　heard　of　his　arrival；　he　wrote　letters　reproaching　Lu　Bu　for　his　treachery。　Lu　Bu　smiled　as　he　read　them。
〃I　know　how　to　make　both　of　them　love　me；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
So　he　sent　invitations　to　both　Liu　Bei　and　Ji　Ling　to　e　to　a　banquet。
Liu　Bei　was　for　accepting　the　invitation　and　going；　but　his　brothers　dissuaded　him；　saying；　〃There　is　some　treachery　in　his　heart。〃
〃I　have　treated　him　too　well　for　him　to　do　me　any　harm；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　he　mounted　and　rode　away；　the　two　brothers　following。　They　came　to　the　camp。
The　host　said；　〃Now　by　a　special　effort　I　have　got　you　out　of　danger。　I　hope　you　will　not　forget　that　when　you　e　into　your　own。〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　heartily　and　was　invited　to　take　a　seat。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　took　up　their　usual　place　as　guards。
But　when　Ji　Ling　was　announced；　Liu　Bei　felt　a　spasm　of　fear　and　got　up　to　go　away。
〃You　two　are　invited　for　the　particular　purpose　of　a　discussion；〃　said　the　host。　〃Do　not　take　it　amiss。〃
Liu　Bei；　being　quite　ignorant　of　his　intentions；　was　very　uneasy。　Presently　his　fellow　guest　entered。　Seeing　Liu　Bei　in　the　tent；　and　in　the　seat　of　honor；　Ji　Ling　was　puzzled；　hesitated　and　tried　to　withdraw。　But　the　attendants　prevented　this　and　Lu　Bu；　advancing；　laid　hold　of　him　and　drew　him　into　the　tent　as　if　he　had　been　a　child。
〃Do　you　wish　to　slay　me？〃　asked　Ji　Ling。
〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Lu　Bu。
〃Then　you　are　going　to　slay　Long…Ears？〃
〃No；　not　that。〃
〃Then　what　does　it　mean？〃
〃Liu　Bei　and　I　are　brothers。　Now；　General；　you　are　besieging　him；　and　so　I　have　e　to　the　rescue。〃
〃Then　slay　me；〃　said　Ji　Ling。
〃There　would　be　no　sense　in　that。　All　my　life　I　have　disliked　fighting　and　quarrels；　but　have　loved　making　peace。　And　now　I　want　to　settle　the　quarrel　between　you　two。〃
〃May　I　ask　how　you　think　of　doing　so？〃
〃I　have　a　means　and　one　approved　of　Heaven　itself。〃
Then　Lu　Bu　drew　Ji　Ling　within　the　tent　and　led　him　up　to　Liu　Bei。　The　two　men　faced　each　other；　full　of　mutual　suspicion；　but　their　host　placed　himself　between　them　and　they　took　their　seats；　Liu　Bei　on　the　right　hand　of　the　host。
The　banquet　began。　After　a　number　of　courses　almost　in　silence；　Lu　Bu　spoke；　saying；　〃I　wish　you　two　gentlemen　to　listen　to　me　and　put　an　end　to　your　strife。〃
Liu　Bei　made　no　reply；　but　Ji　Ling　said；　〃I　have　e　with　an　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　at　the　express　bidding　of　my