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t　back　to　him。　You　will　not　enter　here　again！〃
〃Where　is　Chen　Gui？〃　cried　Lu　Bu；　angrily。
〃We　have　slain　him！〃　was　the　reply。
〃Where　is　Chen　Deng？〃　said　Lu　Bu　turning　to　Chen　Gong。
〃Do　you　still　hold　to　your　delusion；　General；　that　you　ask　where　this　specious　rogue　is？〃
Lu　Bu　bade　them　search　through　all　the　ranks；　but　Chen　Deng　was　not　to　be　found。　Then　they　decided　to　go　to　Xiaopei。　But　ere　they　had　got　half　way　there；　suddenly　appeared　the　troops　under　the　mand　of　Gao　Shun　and　Zhang　Liao。
They　said；　〃Chen　Deng　came　to　us　saying　you；　General；　was　surrounded　and　wanted　help；　so　we　came　at　once。〃
〃Another　trick　of　that　false　rogue！〃　said　Lu　Bu。　〃Surely　he　shall　die　for　this。〃
They　went　with　all　speed　to　Xiaopei；　only　to　see　as　they　drew　near；　the　ensigns　of　the　enemy　displayed　all　along　the　walls；　for　the　city　had　been　taken　by　Cao　Ren。
While　Lu　Bu　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　rampart　reviling　the　traitor；　Chen　Deng　himself　appeared　on　the　wall　and　pointing　to　Lu　Bu　cried；　〃Did　you　think　that　I；　a　minister　of　the　dynasty；　would　serve　a　rebel　like　you？〃
Lu　Bu　in　his　wrath　was　about　to　make　a　desperate　attack；　but　suddenly　a　great　noise　was　heard；　and　an　army　came　up　behind　him。　It　was　led　by　no　other　than　Zhang　Fei。　Gao　Shun　went　to　engage　him；　but　he　had　no　chance　of　success。　Lu　Bu　then　joined　in　the　fray。　Then　another　army　appeared；　and　the　leader　this　time　was　Cao　Cao　himself；　and　his　army　rushed　to　the　attack。　Seeing　that　he　had　no　hope　of　victory；　Lu　Bu　went　away　toward　the　east；　with　Cao　Cao　in　pursuit。　Lu　Bu's　army　marched　till　they　were　worn　out。
Then　appeared　a　new　force　under　Guan　Yu。　Holding　his　sword　ready　to　strike；　Guan　Yu　called　out；　〃Do　not　flee；　O　Lu　Bu！　Guan　Yu　is　waiting　for　you。〃
Lu　Bu　joined　battle。　He　was　flurried　and　scarcely　knew　what　was　happening。　And　soon　Zhang　Fei　came　up　once　more。　By　desperate　efforts　Lu　Bu　and　his　troops　cut　an　alley　through　the　press　and　got　free。　After　this　they　started　for　Xiapi　as　fast　as　they　could　travel；　and　Hou　Cheng　helped　to　keep　the　pursuers　at　bay　and　weled　them　into　the　city。
So　the　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　were　together　again　after　their　separation。　Both　shed　tears　of　joy　as　they　told　each　other　what　they　had　seen　and　suffered。
〃I　was　on　the　Haizhou　Road　when　I　heard　of　you；〃　said　Guan　Yu。　〃I　lost　no　time　in　starting。〃
〃And　I　had　been　camped　in　the　Mangdang　Hills　for　a　long　time。　It　is　happiness　to　be　together　again。〃
So　they　talked。　Then　they　marched　off　together　to　find　their　elder　brother；　and　made　their　salutations　with　tears。　In　Liu　Bei's　heart；　sadness　and　joy　intermingled。　Next　they　were　presented　to　Cao　Cao；　and　with　him　they　went　into　the　captured　Xuzhou　City。
Mi　Zhu　soon　came　with　the　wele　news　of　the　safety　of　the　family。　And　Chen　Gui　and　Chen　Deng　came　to　present　their　salutations。　A　grand　banquet　was　prepared　for　the　officers　at　which　Cao　Cao　presided　as　host；　and　Chen　Gui　and　Liu　Bei　occupied　the　seats　of　honor　to　his　right　and　left。　At　the　close　of　the　banquet；　Cao　Cao　paid　the　two　Chens　the　highest　pliments　on　their　success　and　rewarded　them　with　the　revenues　of　ten　counties　beside　giving　the　son　the　title　of　General　Who　Quells　the　Waves。
Cao　Cao　was　very　pleased　with　his　success　and　at　once　began　to　scheme　for　the　taking　of　Xiapi；　the　sole　place　now　left　to　Lu　Bu；　where　he　had　taken　refuge。
Cheng　Yu　said　the　course　was　inadvisable。
〃If　Lu　Bu　be　pressed　too　hard；　he　may　get　clear　by　a　desperate　effort　and　throw　himself　into　the　arms　of　our　especial　enemy；　Yuan　Shu。　These　two　as　allies　would　be　difficult　to　overe。　Rather　send　a　capable　man　to　guard　the　South　of　River　Huai；　one　able　to　secure　you　against　Lu　Bu　on　one　hand　and　to　hold　Yuan　Shu　on　the　other。　Moreover　the　bandits　are　in　Huashang　Mountains　and　still　our　enemies。　They　must　be　watched。〃
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃I　can　keep　the　whole　of　Huashang　Mountains；　and　I　will　request　Liu　Bei　to　take　the　south。〃
〃Could　I　dare　withstand　your　mand？〃　said　Liu　Bei。
So　forthwith　Liu　Bei；　leaving　Mi　Zhu　and　Jian　Yong　at　Xuzhou；　went　south；　taking　in　his　train　Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　and　Sun　Qian。　And　Cao　Cao　led　his　army　to　Xiapi。
Lu　Bu　felt　very　secure　in　his　refuge。　He　had　good　store　of　grain；　and　he　had　the　protection　of　River　Si；　so　he　sat　quiet；　satisfied　that　he　could　maintain　his　defense。　So　he　allowed　Cao　Cao's　army　to　approach　without　molestation。
〃You　ought　to　attack　Cao　Cao's　army　as　they　e　up；　before　they　have　time　to　make　camps　and　defenses。　They　will　only　have　a　fatigued　army　to　oppose　to　your　fresh　troops；　and　you　will　certainly　defeat　them。〃
So　said　Chen　Gong；　but　Lu　Bu　replied；　〃I　have　suffered　too　many　defeats　lately　to　take　any　risk。　Wait　till　they　actually　attack；　and　you　will　see　them　floating　away　on　the　waters。〃
So　Lu　Bu　neglected　the　confidant's　advice　and　waited　till　the　enemy　had　settled　into　their　camp。　This　done；　the　attackers　advanced　against　the　city。　From　the　foot　of　the　wall；　Cao　Cao　called　to　Lu　Bu　to　listen　while　he　spoke。　Lu　Bu　ascended　to　the　wall　where　he　stood。
Cao　Cao　addressed　him；　saying；　〃When　I　heard　that　your　family　and　that　of　Yuan　Shu　were　likely　to　be　united　by　marriage；　I　sent　an　army　against　you。　Yuan　Shu　was　guilty　of　treason；　while　you　had　to　your　credit　on　the　destruction　of　Dong　Zhuo。　For　what　reason　have　you　sacrificed　all　your　merits　to　throw　in　your　lot　with　a　rebel？　It　will　be　over　late　to　regret　when　this　city　shall　have　fallen。　But　if　you　surrender　and　help　me　to　support　the　ruling　house；　you　shall　not　lose　your　rank。〃
Lu　Bu　replied；　〃If　the　Prime　Minister　will　retire；　we　may　be　able　to　discuss　the　matter。〃
But　Chen　Gong；　standing　near　his　master；　began　to　rail　at　Cao　Cao　for　a　rebel　and　shot　an　arrow　that　struck　his　plumed　helmet。
〃My　oath；　but　I　will　slay　you　at　least！〃　cried　Cao　Cao；　pointing　his　finger　at　Chen　Gong。
Then　the　attack　on　the　walls　began。
〃They　have　e　from　far　and　cannot　maintain　this　for　long；〃　said　Chen　Gong。　〃General；　go　out　with　your　horse　and　foot　and　take　up　a　position　outside；　leaving　me　to　maintain　the　defense　with　the　remainder　of　our　troops。　If　he　engages　you；　I　will　e　out　and　strike　at　his　rear　ranks；　if　he　attacks　the　city；　you　can　e　to　our　aid。　In　ten　days　their　stores　will　fail；　and　we　can　beat　them　off。　This　will　place　them　between　the　ox…horns。〃
〃The　advice　seems　good；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Lu　Bu　went　back　to　his　palace　and　prepared　his　weapons。　As　it　was　the　depth　of　winter；　he　made　his　army　take　plenty　of　wadded　clothing　to　keep　them　warm。　Lady　Yan；　his　wife；　heard　of　it　and　came　to　ask　whither　he　was　going。　He　told　her　of　Chen　Gong's　plan。
She　said；　〃My　lord；　you　are　leaving　an　undamaged　city；　abandoning　your　wife　and　little　ones；　and　going　with　a　paltry　force。　Should　any　untoward　event　happen；　will　your　handmaid　and　her　lord　ever　meet　again？〃
Lu　Bu　hesitated　and　for　three　days　made　no　move。
Then　Chen　Gong　came　to　see　him　again　and　said；　〃The　enemy　are　all　round　the　city；　and　unless　you　go　out　soon；　you　will　be　quite　hemmed　in。〃
〃I　am　thinking　it　would　be　better　to　maintain　a　stubborn　defense；〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃Our　enemies　are　short　of　food　and　have　sent　for　supplies　to　Xuchang。　These　will　soon　arrive；　and　you　should　go　out　with　some　veterans　and　intercept　the　convoy。　That　loss　would　be　a　heavy　blow。〃
Lu　Bu　agreed　and　went　in　to　tell　his　wife　the　new　plan。
She　wept　saying；　〃If　you　go；　do　you　think　Chen　Gong　and　others　equal　to　the　defense　of　the　city？　Should　anything　go　wrong；　you　would　be　very　sorry。　You　abandoned　me　at　Changan；　and　it　was　only　through　the　fortunate　kindness　of　Pang　Shu　that　I　was　hidden　from　our　enemies　and　rejoined　you。　Who　would　have　thought　you　would　leave　me　again？　But　go；　go　your　way　as　far　as　you　wish；　and　do　not　mind　your　wife。〃
And　she　wept　bitterly。
Lu　Bu　very　sadly　went　to　take　leave　of　Diao　Chan　who　said；　〃You　are　my　lord　and　my　life。　You　must　not　be　careless　and　ride　out　alone。〃
〃You　need　not　fear。　With　my　mighty　trident　halberd　and　Red　Hare；　who　dare　e　near　me？〃
He　went　out。　But　when　he　met　Chen　Gong；　he　said；　〃That　story　about　supplies　for　Cao　Cao　is　all　false；　one　of　his　many　ruses。　I　am　not　going　to　stir。〃
Chen　Gong　sighed。　He　felt　all　was　lost。
〃We　shall　die；　and　no　one　shall　know　our　burial　place；〃　said　he。
Thereupon　Lu　Bu　remained　in　his　own　quarters　with　his　ladies；　drinking　freely　to　dissipate　his　sorrows。
Two　of　his　advisers；　Xu　Si　and　Wang　Kai；　went　in　and　proposed；　〃Yuan　Shu　in　the　South　of　River　Huai　is　very　powerful。　Why　not　write　to　him　to　renew　the　marriage　alliance？　Yuan　Shu　can　hardly　refuse　to　rescue　the　affianced　bride　of　his　son。〃
So　Lu　Bu　wrote　and　bade　these　two　take　the　letter。
Xu　Si　said；　〃You　ought　to　send　a　strong　escort　with　us　to　force　a　way　through。〃
So　Lu　Bu　told　off　one　thousand　troops　and　two　of　his　generals；　Zhang　Liao　and　He　Meng；　to　conduct　his　messenger　beyond　the　pass。　They　started　that　same　night　at　the　second　watch；　Zhang　Liao　leading　and　He　Meng　bringing　up　the　rear。　They　got　out　of　the　city；　crept　past　Liu　Bei's　camp；　and　got　beyond　the　danger　zone。　Then　half　the　escort　went　on；　and　Zhang　Liao　led　the　remainder　back　toward　the　city。　At　the　pass　he　found　Guan　Yu　waiting。　However；　at　that　moment　Gao　Shun　came　to　his　help；　and　they　all　returned　and　reentered　the　gates。
The　two　messengers　presently　reached　Shouchun；　saw　Yuan　Shu；　and　presented　the　letter。
〃How　is　this？〃　said　Yuan　Shu。　〃Formerly　he　slew　my　messenger　and　repudiated　the　marriage。　Now　he　sends　to　ask　for　it。〃
〃It　is　all　due　to　the　vile　plans　of　that　monster　Cao　Cao。　If　pray　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　consider　it　carefully；〃　replied　Xu　Si。
〃But　if　your　master　was　not　hemmed　in　by　his　enemy　and　in　imminent　danger；　he　would　never　have　thought　of　renewing　this　proposal　of　marriage。〃
The　messengers　said；　〃You　may　decide　not　to　help　him；　but　the　teeth　are　cold　when　the　lips　are　gone。　It　will　not　make　for　your　happiness　and　fort。〃
Said　Yuan　Shu；　〃Lu　Bu　is　unreliable。　Tell　him　that　I　will　send　soldiers　after　the　girl　has　arrived　here。〃
This　was　final；　and　the　two　messengers　took　leave　and　headed　back　to　Xiapi。
When　the　party　reached　Liu　Bei's　camp；　Xu　Si　decided；　〃We　must　wait　the　night　falls；　and　Wang　Kai　and　I　will　try　to　get　through　in　the　darkness。　The　escort　of　He　Meng　remaining　behind　to　protect　our　rear。〃
They　tried　that　very　night；　and　the　two　messengers　crept　across　without　discovery。　But　the　escort　found　themselves　faced　by　Zhang　Fei。　He　Meng　tried　to　fight　but　was　captured　in　the　very　first　bout；　and　the　five　hundred　troops　of　his　half　pany　were　either　killed　or　they　fled。
The　prisoner　was　taken　to　Liu　Bei；　who　forwarded　him　to　the　main　camp。　There　he　told　the　story　of　the　marriage　and　the　scheme　to　save　the　city。　Cao　Cao　was　angry　and　ordered　the　execution　of　He　Meng　at　the　main　gate。
Then　Cao　Cao　sent　orders　to　each　camp　to　exercise　the　greatest　diligence　with　threats　of　rigorous　punishment　of　the　officers　of　any　corps　that　permitted　any　munication　between　the　besieged　and　the　outer　world。
Every　soldier　felt　mightily　afraid。
Liu　Bei　returned　to　camp　and　cautioned　his　brothers；　saying；　〃We　are　in　the　most　important　place　with　regard　to　the　South　of　River　Huai；　and　you　must　be　very　careful　not　to　allow　any　breach　of　this　mand。〃
Zhang　Fei　was　inclined　to　grumble；　saying；　〃We　have　just　captured　one　of　the　enemy's　leaders；　and　there　is　no　word　of　praise　or　reward　for　us：　Nothing　but　new　orders　and　threats。　What　do　you　make　of　that？〃
〃You　are　wrong　to　plain；〃　said　Liu　Bei。　〃These　are　orders　of　the　mander…in…Chief；　and　what　would　happen　were　there　no　orders？　Do　not　disobey　them；　brother。〃
They　promised　obedience　and　withdrew。　In　the　meantime　Xu　Si　and　Wang　Kai　had　got　back　to　Lu　Bu　and　told　him　what　Yuan　Shu　had　said；　that　if　the　girl　came　the　soldiers　should　go。
〃But　how　can　she　be　sent？〃　said　Lu　Bu。
Xu　Si　said；　〃That　is　the　difficulty。　He　Meng's　capture　means　that　Cao　Cao　knows　the　whole　plan　of　getting　help　from　the　South　of　River　Huai。　I　do　not　see　how　anyone　but　you　yourself　could　hope　to　get　through　the　close　siege。〃
〃Suppose　we　tried；　today？〃　said　Lu　Bu。
〃This　is　an　ill…omened　day。　You　must　not　try　today。　Tomorrow　is　a　very　lucky　day；　especially　in　the　evening；　for　any　military　action。〃
Then　Lu　Bu　ordered　Zhang　Liao　and　Gao　Shun；　〃Get　ready　three　thousand　troops　for　the　venture；　and　prepare　a　light　carriage。　I　will　lead　the　first　seventy　miles；　thence　y