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Its　lord　is　captive。　Nought　avails
His　courser's　speed　or　halberd's　thrust。
The　tiger　erstwhile　fierce；　now　whines
For　mercy。　Cao　Cao　had　meted　him
Full　well；　a　falcon　flown　at　will
And　hungry　kept。　Poor　fool！　He　let
Chen　Gong's　advice　be　overborne
By　harem　tattle；　vainly　now
He　rails　against　the　Long…Ears'　faith。

And　another　poem　says：

Round　is　the　hungry　tiger；　eater　of　men；　for　whom　is　no　pity；
Since　the　blood　of　his　victims　is　fresh　and　not　yet　dry。
Liu　Bei　spoke　no　word　in　favor　of　Lu　Bu；
To　whom　even　a　father's　life　was　not　sacred。

It　was　recorded　earlier　that　the　executioners　were　hustling　Zhang　Liao　forward。
Pointing　to　him　from　above；　Cao　Cao　said；　〃He　has　a　familiar　face。〃
〃You　were　not　likely　to　forget　me：　You　saw　me　before　in　Puyang；〃　said　Zhang　Liao。
〃O；　so　you　remember　me；　eh？〃
〃Yes；　more　is　the　pity。〃
〃Pity　for　what？〃
〃That　the　fire　that　day　was　not　fierce　enough　to　burn　you　up；　rebel　that　you　are。〃
Cao　Cao　began　to　get　angry。
〃How　dare　you　insult　me？〃　cried　he　and　lifted　his　sword　to　kill　the　bold　speaker。
The　undaunted　Zhang　Liao　never　changed　color；　but　stretched　out　his　neck　for　the　blow。　Then　a　man　behind　Cao　Cao　caught　his　arm；　and　in　front　of　him　another　dropped　on　his　knees；　saying；　〃O　Prime　Minister；　I　pray　thee　stay　thy　hand！〃

Lu　Bu　whining　was　not　spared；
Railing　Zhang　Liao　far　better　fared。

Who　was　it　that　saved　Zhang　Liao？　The　next　chapter　will　show。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　20　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　20
　Chapter　20
Cao　Cao　Organizes　A　Hunting　Expedition　In　Xutian；
Dong　Cheng　Receives　A　Secret　mand　In　The　Palace。
The　last　chapter　said　that　Cao　Cao　was　checked　in　his　angry　attack　upon　Zhang　Liao。　They　were　Liu　Bei　who　held　his　arm　and　Guan　Yu　who　knelt　before　him。
〃A　man　as　generous…hearted　as　he　is　should　be　saved；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
Guan　Yu　said；　〃I　know　him　well　as　loyal　and　righteous。　I　will　vouch　for　him　with　my　own　life！〃
Cao　Cao　threw　aside　his　sword　and　smiled。
〃I　also　know　Zhang　Liao　to　be　loyal　and　good。　I　was　just　testing　him；〃　said　he。
Cao　Cao　loosed　the　prisoner's　bonds　with　his　own　hands；　had　a　change　of　dress　brought　in；　and　clothed　him　therewith。　Then　he　was　led　to　a　seat　of　honor。　This　kindly　treatment　sank　deep　into　Zhang　Liao's　heart；　and　he　hastened　to　declare　formally　that　he　yielded。　And　then　he　was　given　the　rank　of　Imperial　mander　and　the　title　of　Lordship。
Zhang　Liao　was　sent　on　a　mission　to　win　over　the　bandit　leader　Zang　Ba；　who　hearing　what　had　happened；　came　forthwith　and　gave　in　his　submission。　He　was　graciously　received；　and　his　former　colleagues………Sun　Guan；　Wu　Dun；　and　Yin　Li………also　yielded；　with　the　exception　of　Chang　Xi；　who　remained　obdurate。　All　these　former　enemies　who　came　over　were　kindly　treated　and　given　posts　of　responsibility　wherein　they　might　prove　the　reality　of　their　conversion。　Lu　Bu's　family　were　sent　to　the　capital。
After　the　soldiers　had　been　rewarded　with　feasting；　the　camp　was　broken　up　and　the　army　moved　away　to　Xuchang。　Passing　through　Xuzhou　the　people　lined　the　roads　and　burned　incense　in　honor　of　the　victors。　They　also　petitioned　that　Liu　Bei　should　be　their　protector。
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃Liu　Bei　has　rendered　great　services。　You　must　wait　till　he　has　been　received　in　audience　and　obtained　his　reward。　After　that　he　shall　be　sent　here。〃
The　people　bowed　low　to　the　ground　to　express　their　thanks。　Che　Zhou；　General　of　the　Flying　Cavalry；　was　given　mand　of　Xuzhou　for　the　moment。
After　the　army　had　arrived　at　the　capital；　rewards　were　granted　to　all　the　officers　who　had　been　in　the　expedition。　Liu　Bei　was　retained　in　the　capital；　lodging　in　an　annex　to　the　Prime　Minister's　palace。
Next　day　a　court　was　held；　and　Cao　Cao　memorialized　the　services　of　Liu　Bei　who　was　presented　to　Emperor　Xian。　Dressed　in　court　robes；　Liu　Bei　bowed　at　the　lower　end　of　the　audience　arena。　The　Emperor　called　him　to　the　Hall　and　asked　his　ancestry。

＇e＇　Reigned　BC　157…141。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃Thy　servant　is　the　son　of　Liu　Hong；　grandson　of　Liu　Xiong；　who　was　a　direct　descendant　of　Prince　Sheng　of　Zhongshan；　who　was　the　son　of　His　Majesty　the　Emperor　Jing*。〃
The　Emperor　bade　them　bring　forth　the　Books　of　the　Genealogies；　and　therefrom　a　secretary　read：
〃Liu　Jing　the　Filial　Emperor　begot　fourteen　sons　of　whom　the　seventh　was　Liu　Sheng；　Prince　of　Zhongshan。　Sheng　begot　Liu　Zhen；　Lord　of　Luchang。　Zhen　begot　Liu　Ang；　Lord　of　Pei。　Ang　begot　Liu　Lu；　Lord　of　Zhang。　Lu　begot　Liu　Lian；　Lord　of　Yishui。　Lian　begot　Liu　Ying；　Lord　of　Qinyang。　Ying　begot　Liu　Jian；　Lord　of　Anguo。　Jian　begot　Liu　Ai；　Lord　of　Guangling。　Ai　begot　Liu　Xia；　Lord　of　Jiaoshui。　Xia　begot　Liu　Shu；　Lord　of　Zuyi。　Shu　begot　Liu　Yi；　Lord　of　Qiyang。　Yi　begot　Liu　Bi；　Lord　of　Yuanze。　Bi　begot　Liu　Da；　Lord　of　Yingchuan。　Da　begot　Liu　Buyi；　Lord　of　Fengling。　Buyi　begot　Liu　Hui；　Lord　of　Jichuan。　Hui　begot　Liu　Xiong；　Governor　of　Zhuo。　Xiong　begot　Liu　Hong；　who　held　no　office　or　rank；　and　Liu　Bei　is　his　son。〃
The　Emperor　pared　this　with　the　registers　of　the　Imperial　House　and　found　by　them　that　Liu　Bei　was　his　uncle　by　descent。　The　Emperor　seemed　greatly　pleased　and　requested　Liu　Bei　to　go　into　one　of　the　side　chambers　where　he　might　perform　the　ceremonial　obeisance　prescribed　for　a　nephew　to　his　uncle。　In　his　heart　he　rejoiced　to　have　this　heroic　warrior　uncle　as　a　powerful　supporter　against　Cao　Cao　who　really　held　all　the　power　in　his　own　hands。　The　Emperor　knew　himself　to　be　a　mere　puppet。　He　conferred　upon　his　uncle　the　rank　of　General　of　the　Left　Army　and　the　title　of　Lord　of　Yicheng。
When　the　banquet　was　concluded；　Liu　Bei　thanked　the　Emperor　and　went　out　of　the　Palace。　And　from　this　time　he　was　very　generally　styled　the　〃Imperial　Uncle。〃
When　Cao　Cao　returned　to　his　palace；　Xun　Yu　and　his　fellow　advisers　went　in　to　see　him。
Xun　Yu　said；　〃It　is　no　advantage　to　you；　Illustrious　Sir；　that　the　Emperor　recognizes　Liu　Bei　as　an　uncle。〃
〃Liu　Bei　may　be　recognized　as　uncle；　but　he　is　under　my　orders　since　I　control　the　decrees　of　the　Throne。　He　will　be　all　the　more　ready　to　obey。　Beside　I　will　keep　him　here　under　the　pretense　of　having　him　near　his　sovereign；　and　he　will　be　entirely　in　my　hands。　I　have　nothing　to　fear。　The　man　I　fear　is　Yang　Biao；　who　is　a　relative　of　the　two　Yuan　brothers。　Should　Yang　Biao　conspire　with　them；　he　is　an　enemy　within　and　might　do　much　harm。　He　will　have　to　be　removed。〃
Hence　Cao　Cao　sent　a　secret　emissary　to　say　that　Imperial　Guardian　Yang　Biao　was　intriguing　with　Yuan　Shu；　and　on　this　charge　Yang　Biao　was　arrested　and　imprisoned。　And　his　death　would　have　been　passed　had　his　enemy　dared。
But　just　then　the　Governor　of　Beihai；　Kong　Rong；　was　at　the　capital；　and　he　remonstrated　with　Cao　Cao；　saying；　〃Yang　Biao　es　from　a　family　famed　for　virtue　for　at　least　four　generations。　You　cannot　trump　up　so　foolish　a　charge　as　that　against　him。〃
〃It　is　the　wish　of　His　Majesty！〃　retorted　Cao　Cao。
〃If　the　child　Emperor　Cheng　of　Zhou　Dynasty　had　put　Duke　Chao　to　death；　could　the　people　have　believed　Duke　Zhou；　the　Regent　Marshal；　had　nothing　to　do　with　it？〃
So　Cao　Cao　had　to　relinquish　the　attempt；　but　he　took　away　Yang　Biao's　offices　and　banished　him　to　his　family　estate　in　the　country。
Court　Counselor　Zhao　Yan；　an　opponent　of　the　Prime　Minister；　sent　up　a　memorial　impeaching　Cao　Cao　for　having　removed　a　minister　of　state　from　office　without　a　decree。　Cao　Cao's　reply　to　this　was　the　arrest　of　Zhao　Yan　and　his　execution；　a　bold　stroke　which　terrified　the　bulk　of　officers　and　reduced　them　to　silence。
Cheng　Yu　advised　Cao　Cao　to　assume　a　more　definite　position。　He　said；　〃Illustrious　Sir；　your　prestige　grows　daily。　Why　not　seize　the　opportunity　to　take　the　position　of　Chief　of　the　Feudatory　Princes？〃
〃There　are　still　too　many　supporters　of　the　court；〃　was　the　reply。　〃I　must　be　careful。　I　am　going　to　propose　a　royal　hunt　to　try　to　find　out　the　best　line　to　follow。〃
This　expedition　being　decided　upon　they　got　together　fleet　horses；　famous　falcons；　and　pedigree　hounds；　and　prepared　bows　and　arrows　in　readiness。　They　mustered　a　strong　force　of　guards　outside　the　city。
When　the　Prime　Minister　proposed　the　hunting　expedition；　the　Emperor　said　he　feared　it　was　an　improper　thing　to　do。
Cao　Cao　replied；　〃In　ancient　times　rulers　made　four　expeditions　yearly　at　each　of　the　four　seasons　in　order　to　show　their　strength。　They　were　called　Sou；　Miao；　Xien；　and　Shou；　in　the　order　of　spring；　summer；　autumn；　and　winter。　Now　that　the　whole　country　is　in　confusion；　it　would　be　wise　to　inaugurate　a　hunt　in　order　to　train　the　army。　I　am　sure　Your　Majesty　will　approve。〃
So　the　Emperor　with　the　full　paraphernalia　for　an　imperial　hunt　joined　the　expedition。　He　rode　a　saddled　horse；　carried　an　inlaid　bow；　and　his　quiver　was　filled　with　gold…tipped　arrows。　His　chariot　followed　behind。　Liu　Bei　and　his　brothers　were　in　the　imperial　train；　each　with　his　bow　and　quiver。　Each　party　member　wore　a　breastplate　under　the　outer　robe　and　held　his　especial　weapon；　while　their　escort　followed　them。　Cao　Cao　rode　a　dun　horse　called　〃Flying…Lightning；〃　and　the　army　was　one　hundred　thousand　strong。
The　hunt　took　place　in　Xutian；　and　the　legions　spread　out　as　guards　round　the　hunting　arena　which　extended　over　some　one　hundred　square　miles。　Cao　Cao　rode　even　with　the　Emperor；　the　horses'　heads　alternating　in　the　lead。　The　imperial　attendants　immediately　following　were　all　in　Cao　Cao's　confidence。　The　other　officers；　civil　and　military；　lagged　behind；　for　they　dared　not　press　forward　into　the　midst　of　Cao　Cao's　partisans。
One　day　the　Emperor　was　riding　toward　the　hunting　grounds　and　noticed　his　newly　found　uncle　respectfully　standing　by　the　roadside。
〃I　should　like　to　see　my　uncle　display　his　hunting　skill；〃　said　the　Emperor。
Liu　Bei　mounted　his　steed　at　once。　Just　then　a　hare　started　from　its　form。　Liu　Bei　shot　and　hit　it　with　the　first　arrow。
The　Emperor；　much　struck　by　this　display；　rode　away　over　a　slope。　Suddenly　a　deer　broke　out　of　the　thicket。　He　shot　three　arrows　at　it　but　all　missed。
〃You　try；〃　said　the　Emperor　turning　to　Cao　Cao。
〃Lend　me　Your　Majesty's　bow；〃　Cao　Cao　replied。
Taking　the　inlaid　bow　and　the　golden…tipped　arrows；　Cao　Cao　pulled　the　bow　and　hit　the　deer　in　the　shoulder　at　the　first　shot。　It　fell　in　the　grass　and　could　not　run。
Now　the　crowd　of　officers　seeing　the　golden…barbed　arrow　sticking　in　the　wound　concluded　at　once　that　the　shot　was　the　Emperor's；　so　they　rushed　up　and　shouted　〃Wan　shui！　O　King！　Live　forever！〃
Cao　Cao　rode　out　pushing　past　the　Emperor　and　acknowledged　the　congratulations。
They　all　turned　pale。　Guan　Yu；　who　was　behind　Liu　Bei；　was　especially　angry。　The　silkworm　eyebrows　stood　up　fiercely；　and　the　red　phoenix　eyes　glared　as；　sword　in　hand；　he　rode　hastily　forth　to　cut　down　the　audacious　Prime　Minister　for　his　impertinence。
However；　Liu　Bei　hastily　waved　him　back　and　shot　at　him　a　meaning　glance　so　that　Guan　Yu　stopped　and　made　no　further　move。
Liu　Bei　bowing　toward　Cao　Cao　said；　〃Most　sincere　felicitations！　A　truly　supernatural　shot；　such　as　few　have　achieved！〃
〃It　is　only　the　enormous　good　fortune　of　the　Son　of　Heaven！〃　said　Cao　Cao　with　a　smile。
Then　he　turned　his　steed　and　felicitated　the　Emperor。　But　he　did　not　return　the　bow；　he　hung　it　over　his　own　shoulder　instead。
The　hunt　finished　with　banqueting；　and　when　the　entertainments　were　over；　they　returned　to　the　capital；　all　glad　of　some　repose　after　the　expedition。
Guan　Yu　was　still　angry　of　the　Prime　Minister's　breach　of　decorum。
One　day　Guan　Yu　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃Brother；　why　did　you　prevent　me　from　killing　that　rebel　and　so　ridding　the　world　of　a　scoundrel？　He　insults　the　Emperor　and　ignores　everybody　else。〃
〃When　you　throw　stones　at　a　rat；　beware　of　the　vase；〃　quoted　Liu　Bei。　〃Cao　Cao　was　only　a　horse's　head　away　from　Our　Lord；　and　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　of　his　partisans。　In　that　momentary　burst　of　anger；　if　you　had　struck　and　failed；　and　harm　had　e　to　the　Emperor；　what　an　awful　crime　would　have　been　laid　to　us！〃
〃If　we　do　not　rid　the　world　of　him　today；　a　worse　evil　will　e　of　it；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
〃But　be　discreet；　my　brother。　Such　matters　cannot　be　lightly　discussed。〃
The　Emperor　sadly　returned　to　his　palace。　With　tears　in　his　eyes；　he　related　what　had　occurred　in　the　hunt　to　his　consort；　Empress　Fu。
〃Alas　for　me！〃　said　he。　〃From　the　first　days　of　my　accession；　on