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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　master　to　take　Liu　Bei。　How　can　I　cease　the　strife？　I　must　fight。〃
〃What！〃　exclaimed　Zhang　Fei　drawing　his　sword。　〃Few　as　we　are；　we　regard　you　no　more　than　a　lot　of　children。　What　are　you　pared　with　a　million　Yellow　Scarves？　You　dare　hurt　our　brother！〃
Guan　Yu　urged　him　to　be　silent；　saying；　〃Let　us　see　what　General　Lu　Bu　has　to　say　first。　After　that　there　will　be　time　to　go　to　our　tents　and　fight。〃
〃I　beg　you　both　to　e　to　an　understanding。　I　cannot　let　you　fight；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Now　on　one　side　Ji　Ling　was　discontented　and　angry；　on　the　other　Zhang　Fei　was　dying　for　a　fight；　and　neither　of　the　two　chiefly　concerned　would　signify　assent。
Then　suddenly　the　host　turned　to　his　attendants；　saying；　〃Bring　my　trident　halberd！〃
They　did　so；　and　he　sat　there　gripping　that　graceful　but　effective　weapon　in　his　right　hand。　Both　guests　felt　very　ill　at　ease　and　turned　pale。
Lu　Bu　went　on；　saying；　〃I　have　tried　to　persuade　you　to　make　peace；　for　that　is　the　mand　of　the　Most　High。　It　shall　be　put　to　the　test。〃
He　then　bade　his　servants　take　the　halberd　outside　beyond　the　gate　and　set　it　up。
Then　speaking　to　his　two　guests；　he　said；　〃That　gate　is　one　hundred　and　fifty　paces　distant。　If　I　can　hit　that　left　branch　of　the　halberd…head　with　an　arrow；　you　will　both　withdraw　your　armies。　If　I　miss；　you　can　go　away　and　prepare　for　immediate　battle。　I　shall　stand　against　either　of　you　who　does　not　abide　by　what　I　say。〃
Ji　Ling　thought　to　himself；　〃That　small　mark　at　that　distance！　How　could　anyone　hit　it？〃
So　he　assented；　thinking　he　would　have　plenty　of　fighting　after　his　host　had　missed　the　mark。　Of　course　Liu　Bei　was　willing。
They　all　sat　down　again　and　wine　was　served。　When　this　had　been　drunk；　the　host　called　for　his　bow　and　arrows。　Liu　Bei　silently　prayed　that　Lu　Bu　would　hit　the　mark。
Lu　Bu　turned　back　his　sleeves；　carefully　fitted　an　arrow　to　the　string　and　pulled　the　bow　to　its　utmost　stretch。　A　slight　exclamation　escaped　him　as　the　bow　curved　like　the　harvest　moon　sailing　through　the　sky。　〃Twang！〃　went　the　bowstring；　and　the　arrow　sped　like　a　falling　star。　And　it　struck　the　slender　tongue　of　the　halberd　head　full　and　square。　A　roar　of　acclamation　from　all　sides　greeted　the　exploit。
The　multitude　people　often　hail　their　praise：

O　Lu　Bu　was　a　wonderful　archer；
And　the　arrow　he　shot　sped　straight；
By　hitting　the　mark　he　saved　his　friend
That　day　at　his　camp　gate。
Hou　Yi；　the　archer　of　ancient　days；
Brought　down　each　mocking　sun；
And　the　apes　that　gibbered　to　fright　Yang　Youji
Were　slain　by　him；　one　by　one。
But　we　sing　of　Lu　Bu　that　drew　the　bow；
And　his　feathered　shaft　that　flew；
For　one　hundred　thousand　soldiers　could　doff　their　mails
When　he　hit　the　mark　so　true。

Lu　Bu　laughed　loud　at　the　success　of　his　shot。
Dropping　his　bow　he　seized　his　guests　by　the　hands；　saying；　〃The　mand　of　Heaven　indeed！　And　now　you　cease　from　fighting！〃
He　ordered　the　soldier　attendants　to　pour　out　great　goblets　of　wine　and　each　drank。　Liu　Bei　in　his　inmost　heart　felt　rather　lucky；　his　fellow　guest　sat　silent；　nodding　his　head。
Presently　Ji　Ling　said；　〃I　cannot　disobey　your　mand；　General；　but　let　me　depart。　What　will　my　master　say　and　will　he　believe　me？〃
〃I　will　write　a　letter　and　confirm　it；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
After　a　few　more　rounds　of　the　wine；　Ji　Ling　asked　that　he　might　have　the　letter　and　after　that　departed。
When　the　brothers　took　their　leave；　Lu　Bu　again　reminded　Liu　Bei；　saying；　〃Do　not　forget　I　have　delivered　you　today！〃
Liu　Bei　thanked　him　and　departed。　Next　day　the　leaders　broke　camps；　and　the　soldiers　were　gone。
When　Ji　Ling　had　got　back　to　the　South　of　River　Huai　and　told　the　story　of　the　feat　of　archery　and　the　peace　making　that　followed；　and　had　presented　the　letter；　his　lord　was　very　wroth。
〃Lu　Bu　repays　me　for　all　my　grain　with　this　bit　of　play　acting！〃　cried　Yuan　Shu。　〃He　has　saved　Liu　Bei；　but　I　will　lead　a　large　army　myself　and　settle　both　Liu　Bei　and　him。〃
〃Be　careful；　my　lord；〃　said　Ji　Ling。　〃Lu　Bu　is　braver　and　stronger　than　most　leaders　and　has　a　wide　territory。　He　and　Liu　Bei　together　make　a　powerful　bination；　not　easy　to　break。　But　there　is　another　course。　I　have　found　out　that　his　wife；　Lady　Yan；　has　a　daughter　just　of　marriageable　age；　and　as　you　have　a　son；　you　could　arrange　a　marriage　alliance　with　Lu　Bu。　If　his　daughter　wedded　your　son；　Lu　Bu　would　certainly　slay　your　enemy　for　you。　This　is　called　'Relative…above…Stranger'　plan。〃
This　scheme　appealed　to　Yuan　Shu；　who　soon　set　about　its　acplishment。　He　sent　presents　by　the　hand　of　Han　Yin；　who　was　to　discuss　the　question。

＇e＇　Jin　was　a　state　that　occupied　the　western　part　of　the　empire；　in　the　mountainous　area　north　of　the　Yellow　River。　During　the　Spring　and　Autumn　period；　under　the　leadership　of　Duke　Wen　and　his　successors；　Jin　grew　into　a　very　large　state；　which　broke　into　three　states　in　the　Warring　States　period。　Qin　was　a　western…most　state　existed　in　both　Spring　and　Autumn　and　Warring　States　periods。　Because　Jin　blocked　its　way　to　the　east；　Qin　was　shielded　from　the　wars　in　the　central　plain。　Wars　between　Qin　and　Jin　were　not　few；　but　intermarriages　between　the　two　houses　were　frequent；　and　this　alliance　strengthened　both　states。　。。。。。
When　Han　Yin　saw　Lu　Bu；　he　said；　〃My　master　has　an　immense　respect　for　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　and　he　desires　to　ensure　perpetual　alliance　between　the　two　families　by　a　marriage；　an　alliance　such　as　existed　between　the　ancient　states　of　Qin　and　Jin*。〃
Lu　Bu　was　well　disposed　toward　the　scheme；　but　went　in　to　consult　his　wife。　Now　Lu　Bu　had　two　wives　and　one　concubine。　He　first　married　a　lady　of　the　Yan　family；　and　she　was　the　legal　wife。　Then　he　took　Diao　Chan　as　a　concubine。　And　while　he　was　living　at　Xiaopei；　he　had　married　a　secondary　wife；　a　daughter　of　Cao　Bao。　Lady　Cao　had　died　quite　young　leaving　no　issue。　Neither　had　Diao　Chan　borne　any　children。　So　that　Lu　Bu　had　but　one　child；　this　daughter；　of　whom　he　was　dotingly　fond。
When　he　broached　the　subject；　his　wife　said；　〃The　Yuans　have　dominated　the　regions　around　the　River　Huai　these　many　years。　They　have　a　large　army　and　are　very　prosperous。　One　day　a　Yuan　will　bee　emperor；　and　our　daughter　may　hope　to　be　an　empress。　But　how　many　sons　has　Yuan　Shu？〃
〃Only　this　one。〃
〃Then　we　should　accept　the　offer。　Even　if　our　daughter　does　not　bee　Empress；　Xuzhou　has　a　new　ally。〃
Lu　Bu　decided　to　accept　and　so　treated　the　messenger　with　extreme　generosity。　Han　Yin　went　back　with　a　favorable　answer。　The　wedding　gifts　were　then　prepared　ready　for　Han　Yin　to　take　to　the　bride's　family。　They　were　received　and　banquets　and　merry…making　filled　all　the　time。
Next　day　Chen　Gong　went　to　see　the　messenger　in　his　lodging；　and　when　the　usual　ceremonies　and　greetings　had　been　exchanged；　the　two　men　sat　down　to　talk。
When　the　servants　had　been　sent　out　of　earshot；　Chen　Gong　said；　〃Who　originated　this　scheme　by　which　Yuan　Shu　and　Lu　Bu　are　to　bee　connections　by　this　marriage　so　that　Liu　Bei's　head　may　fall？〃
Han　Yin　was　terrified。　〃I　pray　you　not　to　let　it　get　abroad；〃　said　he。
〃I　certainly　shall　keep　it　secret。　But　if　there　be　any　delay；　some　other　person　will　find　it　out　and　that　spells　failure；〃　said　Chen　Gong。
〃What　would　best　be　done？〃
〃I　will　see　Lu　Bu　and　get　him　to　send　the　girl　immediately　so　that　the　marriage　may　be　concluded　quickly。〃
〃If　it　happened　thus；　my　master　would　indeed　hold　you　in　high　respect。〃
With　this　Chen　Gong　took　his　leave　and　sought　an　interview　with　Lu　Bu。
〃I　hear　your　daughter　is　to　be　married　to　Yuan　Shu's　son。　That　is　capital；　but　no　one　knows　when。〃
〃That　has　yet　to　be　considered；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃There　were　certain　fixed　rules　as　to　the　period　between　sending　presents　and　consummation　of　the　marriage：　Emperors；　a　year；　nobles；　half　a　year；　high　officers；　three　months；　and　mon　people；　one　month。〃
Lu　Bu　replied；　〃As　to　Yuan　Shu；　Heaven　has　already　put　into　his　hands　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal；　and　he　will　surely　arrive　at　the　dignity　one　day。　So；　I　should　think　the　imperial　rule　would　apply。〃
〃No；　it　will　not。〃
〃The　nobles'　rule；　then？〃
〃No；　nor　that。〃
〃The　high　officers'？〃
〃Not　even　that。〃
Lu　Bu　laughed；　saying；　〃Then　you　mean　me　to　go　by　the　rule　for　mon　people。〃
〃Nor　that　either。〃
〃Then　what　do　you　mean？〃
Chen　Gong　said；　〃In　the　midst　of　the　present　troubles；　when　there　is　great　rivalry　among　the　nobles；　do　you　not　see　that　the　others　will　be　exceedingly　jealous　of　your　marriage　alliance　with　such　a　high　family　as　the　Yuans？　Suppose　you　postpone　the　choice　of　the　day；　most　likely　when　your　fine　morning　arrives；　the　wedding　party　will　fall　into　an　ambush　on　the　road　and　the　bride　be　carried　off。　Then　what　could　be　done？　My　opinion　is　that　you　would　have　done　better　to　refuse。　But　since　you　have　consented；　then　carry　out　the　plan　at　once　before　the　lords　hear　of　it；　and　so　send　the　girl　over　without　delay　to　Shouchun。　You　can　hire　a　lodging　there　till　you　have　selected　the　wedding　day；　and　the　odds　are　greatly　against　any　failure。〃
〃What　you　say　is　quite　to　the　point；〃　replied　Lu　Bu。
He　went　into　the　private　apartments　to　see　his　wife　and　told　her　the　bride　elect　would　set　out　immediately　and　the　trousseau　was　to　be　prepared　as　far　as　it　could　be。　On　his　side　he　chose　some　good　horses　and　had　a　wedding　carriage　got　ready。　The　escort　consisted　of　Han　Yin　and　two　of　Lu　Bu's　generals；　Song　Xian　and　Wei　Xu。　The　procession　went　out　of　the　city　to　the　sound　of　music。
Now　at　this　time　Chen　Gui；　father　of　Chen　Deng；　was　placidly　waiting　till　the　evening　of　his　life　passed　into　night。　Hearing　this　burst　of　music　he　inquired　the　occasion；　and　the　servants　told　him。
〃They　are　working　on　the　'Relative…above…Stranger'　device；　then；〃　said　Chen　Gui。　〃Liu　Bei　is　in　danger。〃
Thereupon　in　spite　of　his　many　infirmities；　he　went　to　see　Lu　Bu。
〃Noble　Sir；　what　brings　you　here？〃　asked　Lu　Bu。
〃I　heard　you　were　dead；　and　I　came　to　mourn；〃　quavered　the　old　man。
〃Who　said　that？〃　exclaimed　his　host。
〃Once　upon　a　time　you　received　grand　presents　from　Yuan　Shu　that　you　might　slay　Liu　Bei；　but　you　got　out　by　that　clever　shot　at　your　halberd。　Now　they　suddenly　seek　a　marriage　alliance　thinking　to　get　hold　of　your　daughter　as　a　pledge。　The　next　move　will　be　an　attack　on　Xiaopei　and；　that　gone；　where　are　you？　Whatever　they　ask　in　future；　grain　or　troops　or　anything　else；　and　you　yield；　will　bring　your　own　end　nearer；　and　make　you　hated　all　round。　If　you　refuse；　then　you　are　false　to　the　duties　of　a　relative；　and　that　will　be　an　excuse　to　attack　you　openly。　Beside　this　Yuan　Shu　intends　to　call　himself　emperor；　which　would　be　rebellion；　and　you　would　be　of　the　rebel's　family：　Something　abominable；　which　the　multitude　people　would　not　suffer。〃
Lu　Bu　was　much　disturbed　to　hear　this。
〃I　have　been　misled　by　Chen　Gong！〃　cried　he。
So　he　hurriedly　sent　Zhang　Liao　to　bring　the　wedding　party；　which　had　been　ten　miles　away；　back　to　the　city。　When　they　had　e；　Lu　Bu　threw　Han　Yin　into　prison　and　sent　a　reply　to　Yuan　Shu　saying　curtly　that　the　girl's　trousseau　was　not　ready　and　she　could　not　be　married　till　it　was。
Chen　Gui　wanted　Han　Yin　to　be　sent　to　Capital　Xuchang。　But　Lu　Bu　was　hesitating　what　course　to　adopt；　when　he　heard　that　Liu　Bei　was　enlisting　soldiers　and　buying　horses　for　no　apparent　reason。
〃He　is　simply　doing　his　duty。　There　is　nothing　to　be　surprised　at；〃　said　Lu　Bu　at　first。
Then　came　two　officers；　Song　Xian　and　Wei　Xu；　saying；　〃As　you　ordered　us；　we　went　into　the　Huashang　Mountains　to　purchase　horses。　We　had　got　three　hundred　when；　on　our　way　back；　on　the　borders　of　Xiaopei　some　robbers　stole　half　of　them。　We　hear　that　the　real　robbers　were　Zhang　Fei　and　his　soldiers；　who　took　on　the　guise　of　brigands。〃
Lu　Bu　was　very　angry　at　this　and　began　to　prepare　an　expedition　against　Xiaopei。　When　Liu　Bei　heard　that　an　attack　threatened；　he　led　out　his　army　to　oppose　it；　and　the　two　armies　were　arrayed。
Liu　Bei　rode　to　the　front　and　said；　〃Elder　brother；　why　have　you　brought　an　army　against　me？〃
Lu　Bu　began　abusing　him；　saying；　〃That　shot　of　mine　at　the　Archery　Feast　saved　you　from　grave　danger。　Why　then　did　you　steal　my　horses？〃
〃I　wanted　horses　and　I　sent　out　to　buy　them。　Should　I　dare　to　take　yours？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃You　stole　a　hundred　and　fifty　in　th