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Cao　Cao　clapped　his　hands　and　laughed　very　loudly；　saying；　〃Paltry　people　like　them　are　not　worth　mentioning。〃
〃With　these　exceptions　I　really　know　none。〃
〃Now　heroes　are　the　ones　who　cherish　lofty　designs　in　their　bosoms　and　have　plans　to　achieve　them。　They　have　all…embracing　schemes；　and　the　whole　world　is　at　their　mercy。〃
〃Who　is　such　a　person？〃　said　Liu　Bei。

＇e＇　Sai；　a　reader：　〃Cao　Cao　is　the　better　winner。　Liu　Bei　is　the　better　man。。。　as　far　as　the　heart　is　concerned。　Liu　Bei　is　modeled　as　what　Confucious　would　have　considered　a　perfect　ruler。　But　in　the　contest　of　war　and　politics。。。　Cao　Cao　has　him　beat。　So　I　say　that　Cao　Cao　should　have　used　his　talents　to　unite　China　and　then　handed　it　over　to　Liu　Bei。。。　never　will　happen。〃　。。。。。
Cao　Cao　pointed　his　finger　first　at　his　guest　and　then　at　himself；　saying；　〃The　only　heroes　in　the　world　are　you　and　I。〃*
Liu　Bei　gasped；　and　the　spoon　and　chopsticks　rattled　to　the　floor。　Now　just　at　that　moment　the　storm　burst　with　a　tremendous　peal　of　thunder　and　rush　of　rain。
Liu　Bei　stooped　down　to　recover　the　fallen　articles；　saying；　〃What　a　shock！　And　it　was　quite　close。〃
〃What！　Are　you　afraid　of　thunder？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃The　Sage　One　paled　at　a　sudden　peal　of　thunder　or　fierce　gust　of　wind。　Why　should　one　not　fear？〃
Thus　he　glossed　over　the　real　fact；　that　it　was　the　words　he　had　heard　that　had　so　startled　him。

Constrained　to　lodge　in　a　tiger's　lair；
He　played　a　waiting　part；
But　when　Cao　Cao　talked　of　breaking　humans；
Then　terror　gripped　his　heart。
But　he　cleverly　used　the　thunder　peal
As　excuse　for　turning　pale；
O　quick　to　seize　occasions　thus！
He　surely　must　prevail。

The　shower　had　passed；　and　there　appeared　two　men　rushing　through　the　garden；　both　armed。　In　spite　of　the　attendants；　they　forced　their　way　to　the　pavilion　where　sat　the　two　friends。　They　were　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei。
The　two　brothers　had　been　outside　the　city　at　archery　practice　when　Cao　Cao's　invitation　had　e　so　peremptorily。　On　their　return　they　heard　that　two　officers　had　arrived　and　led　away　Liu　Bei　to　the　Prime　Minister。　They　hastened　to　his　palace　and　were　told　their　brother　was　with　his　host　in　the　grounds；　and　they　feared　something　had　happened。　So　they　rushed　in。
Now　when　they　saw　their　brother　quietly　talking　with　Cao　Cao　and　enjoying　a　cup　of　wine；　they　took　up　their　usual　places　and　meekly　stood　waiting。
〃Why　did　you　e？〃　said　Cao　Cao。
〃We　heard　that　you；　Sir；　had　invited　our　brother　to　a　wine　party；　and　we　came　to　amuse　you　with　a　little　sword　play；〃　said　they。

＇e＇　At　that　time　Liu　Bang；　Governor　of　Pei；　and　Xiang　Yu；　King　of　West　Chu；　were　fighting　Qin　under　the　Chu　banner。　Liu　Bang　was　the　first　mander　who　entered　Qin's　capital；　Xianyang。　The　loss　of　this　honor　enraged　Xiang　Yu；　and　he　was　set　to　attack　Liu　Bang's　force。　But　his　uncle　Xiang　Ba　wanted　to　mediate　the　situation；　and　Xiang　Ba　invited　Liu　Bang　to　visit　Xiang　Yu's　camp　in　Hongmen。　During　a　banquet　at　Hongmen；　Xiang　Yu's　adviser　Fan　Zeng　ordered　Xiang　Chang　to　perform　a　sword…dance　and　take　the　chance　to　kill　Liu　Bang。　However；　as　Xiang　Chang　closed　in　Liu　Bang；　Xiang　Ba　rose　to　perform　another　sword…dance　and　fend　off　the　attack。　Just　then　Liu　Bang's　general　Fan　Kuai　bursted　in；　armed　and　angry…looking。　Fan　Kuai　proclaimed　his　lord's　achievements　and　denounced　the　murder　plot。　In　the　confusion；　Liu　Bang　slipped　away　and　rushed　back　to　his　camp。　。。。。。
〃This　is　not　a　Hongmen　Banquet；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃What　use　have　we　for　Xiang　Chang　and　Xiang　Ba　of　old？*〃
Liu　Bei　smiled。　The　host　ordered　wine　to　be　served　to　the　two　〃Fan　Kuais〃　to　allay　their　anxiety　and；　soon　after；　the　three　took　their　leave　and　returned　homeward。
〃We　were　nearly　frightened　to　death；〃　said　Guan　Yu。
The　story　of　the　dropped　chopsticks　was　told。　The　two　asked　what　their　brother　intended　by　his　actions。
〃My　learning　gardening　was　to　convince　Cao　Cao　of　my　perfect　simplicity　and　the　absence　of　any　ambition。　But　when　he　suddenly　pointed　to　me　as　one　of　the　heroes；　I　was　startled；　for　I　thought　he　had　some　suspicions。　Happily　the　thunder　at　that　moment　supplied　the　excuse　I　wanted。〃
〃Really　you　are　very　clever；〃　said　they。
Next　day　Cao　Cao　again　invited　Liu　Bei　and　while　the　two　were　drinking；　Man　Chong；　who　had　been　dispatched　to　find　out　what　Yuan　Shao　was　doing；　came　to　present　his　report。
Man　Chong　said；　〃Gongsun　Zan　has　been　pletely　defeated　by　Yuan　Shao。〃
〃Do　you　know　the　details？　I　should　like　to　know　how；〃　interrupted　Liu　Bei。
〃They　were　at　war；　and　Gongsun　Zan　got　the　worst　of　it；　so　he　acted　on　the　defensive；　building　a　high　wall　about　his　army　and　on　that　erecting　a　high　tower；　which　he　called　the　Yijing　Tower。　Therein　he　placed　all　his　grain；　one　hundred　thousand　carts　total；　and　took　up　his　own　quarters。　His　fighting　troops　passed　in　and　out　without　ceasing；　some　going　out　to　give　battle；　others　returning　to　rest。　One　of　them　was　surrounded　and　sent　to　ask　Gongsun　Zan　to　rescue　him。　Gongsun　Zan　said；　'If　I　rescue　him；　hereafter　everyone　will　want　to　be　helped　and　will　not　exert　himself。'　So　Gongsun　Zan　did　not　go。　This　disgusted　his　soldiers；　and　many　deserted　to　the　enemy　so　that　his　army　diminished。　He　sent　letters　to　the　capital　to　crave　help；　but　the　messenger　was　captured。　He　sent　to　Zhang　Yan　to　arrange　with　him　for　a　two…pronged　joint　attack；　and　those　letters　with　the　plans　also　fell　into　Yuan　Shao's　hands。　The　plans　were　adopted　by　Yuan　Shao；　who　gave　the　signals　agreed　upon。　Thus　Gongsun　Zan　fell　into　an　ambush；　lost　heavily；　and　retreated　into　the　city。　There　he　was　besieged；　and　a　subterranean　passage　was　pierced　into　the　tower　where　he　lodged。　The　tower　was　set　on　fire；　and　Gongsun　Zan　could　not　escape。　So　he　slew　his　wife　and　little　ones　and　hanged　himself。　The　flames　destroyed　the　bodies　of　the　whole　family。
〃Yuan　Shao　has　added　the　remnants　of　the　vanquished　army　to　his　own　and　so　bee　yet　stronger。　His　brother　Yuan　Shu　in　the　South　of　River　Huai；　however；　has　bee　so　arrogant　and　cruel　that　the　people　have　turned　against　him。　Then　Yuan　Shu　had　sent　to　say　he　would　yield　the　title　of　Emperor；　which　he　had　assumed；　in　favor　of　Yuan　Shao。　Yuan　Shao　demanded　the　Imperial　Hereditary　Seal　also；　and　Yuan　Shu　promised　to　bring　it　in　person。　Now　Yuan　Shu　has　abandoned　River　Huai　and　is　about　to　move　to　the　North　of　Yellow　River。　If　he　succeeded；　the　two　brothers　will　control　adjoining　regions　and　be　dangerous。〃
It　was　a　sad　story；　and　Liu　Bei　remembered　with　sorrow　that；　in　the　days　of　success　and　prosperity；　the　dead　chieftain；　Gongsun　Zan；　had　pushed　his　interest　and　shown　him　much　kindness。　Moreover　he　was　anxious　to　know　the　fate　of　Zhao　Yun。
In　his　heart　he　thought；　〃What　better　chance　am　I　likely　to　get　of　setting　myself　free？〃
So　Liu　Bei　rose　and　said　to　Cao　Cao；　〃If　Yuan　Shu　goes　over　to　join　his　brother；　he　will　surely　pass　through　Xuzhou。　I　beg　you　to　give　me　an　army　with　which　to　smite　him　on　the　way。　That　will　finish　Yuan　Shu。〃
〃Memorialize　the　Emperor　tomorrow；　and　I　will　give　you　an　army；〃　said　Cao　Cao。
So　next　day　Liu　Bei　went　to　an　audience；　and　Cao　Cao　gave　him　mand　of　fifty　thousand　horse　and　foot；　and　sent　Generals　Zhu　Ling　and　Lu　Zhao　with　him。
At　parting　with　Liu　Bei；　the　Emperor　shed　tears。
As　soon　as　Liu　Bei　reached　his　lodging；　he　set　about　preparations　for　immediate　departure；　taking　his　seal　as　General　and　preparing　his　weapons。　Dong　Cheng　went　three　miles　away　from　the　city　to　bid　him　farewell。
〃You　must　not　mind　my　going。　This　journey　will　assuredly　help　on　the　scheme；〃　said　Liu　Bei。
〃Keep　your　mind　fixed　on　that；〃　said　Dong　Cheng；　〃and　never　forget　what　His　Majesty　requires　of　us。〃
They　parted。　Presently　his　brothers　asked　him　why　he　was　in　such　a　hurry　to　get　away。
Liu　Bei　replied；　〃I　have　been　a　bird　in　a　cage；　a　fish　in　a　net。　This　is　like　the　fish　regaining　the　open　sea　and　the　bird　soaring　into　the　blue　sky。　I　suffered　much　from　the　confinement。〃
Then　he　ordered　Zhu　Ling　and　Lu　Zhao　to　march　the　troops　faster。
Now　Guo　Jia　and　Cheng　Yu　had　been　absent　inspecting　stores　and　supplies　when　Liu　Bei　left。　As　soon　as　they　heard　of　his　expedition；　they　went　in　to　see　their　master；　asking　him　why　he　had　let　Liu　Bei　go　in　mand　of　an　army。
〃He　is　going　to　cut　off　Yuan　Shu；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
〃Formerly；　when　he　was　Imperial　Protector　of　Yuzhou；　we　remended　that　he　should　be　put　to　death；　but　you　would　not　hear　of　it。　Now　you　have　given　him　an　army。　You　have　allowed　the　dragon　to　reach　the　sea；　the　tiger　to　return　to　the　mountains。　What　control　will　you　have　in　future？〃
So　spoke　Cheng　Yu；　and　Guo　Jia　followed　in　the　same　strain；　saying；　〃Even　if　you　would　not　put　him　to　death；　you　need　not　have　let　him　go。　As　the　proverb　says；　'Relax　opposition　for　one　day　and　age…long　harm　ensues。'　You　must　admit　the　truth　of　this。〃
Cao　Cao　recognized　that　these　were　prudent　counsels；　so　he　sent　Xu　Chu　with　five　hundred　horsemen　and　imperative　orders　to　bring　Liu　Bei　back　again。
Liu　Bei　was　marching　as　rapidly　as　possible　when　he　noticed　a　cloud　of　dust　in　the　rear　and　remarked　to　his　brothers；　〃Surely　they　are　pursuing　us。〃
He　halted　and　made　a　stockade；　and　ordered　his　brothers　to　be　in　readiness；　one　on　each　flank。　Presently　the　messenger　arrived　and　found　himself　in　the　midst　of　an　army　ready　for　battle。　Xu　Chu　dismounted　and　entered　the　camp　to　speak　with　Liu　Bei。
〃Sir；　on　what　business　have　you　e？〃　asked　Liu　Bei。
〃The　Prime　Minister　has　sent　me　to　request　you　to　return　as　he　has　further　matters　to　discuss　with　you。〃
〃When　a　general　has　once　taken　the　field；　even　the　royal　mand　is　of　no　effect。　I　bade　farewell　to　the　Emperor；　I　received　the　Prime　Minister's　mands；　and　there　can　be　nothing　further　to　talk　about。　You　may　return　forthwith　and　take　that　as　my　reply。〃
Xu　Chu　was　undecided　what　action　to　take。　He　thought；　〃The　Prime　Minister　cherishes　a　friendship　with　Liu　Bei；　and　I　have　no　orders　to　kill。　I　can　only　return　with　this　reply　and　ask　further　instructions。〃
So　Xu　Chu　left。　When　he　related　what　had　occurred；　Cao　Cao　still　hesitated　to　take　any　action。
〃This　refusal　to　return　means　enmity；〃　said　Cheng　Yu　and　Guo　Jia。
〃Still；　two　of　my　people　are　with　him；〃　said　Cao　Cao。　〃He　will　not　dare　do　anything　unfriendly；　I　think。　Beside；　I　sent　him　and　I　cannot　go　back　on　my　own　orders。〃
So　Liu　Bei　was　not　pursued。

He　took　his　arms；　he　fed　his　steed；
And　fared　forth　willingly；
Intent　to　acplish　his　King's　behest
Deep　graven　on　his　memory。
At　least　he　had　broken　out　of　his　cage；
He　heard　not　the　tiger's　roar；
He　had　shaken　the　shackles　from　his　feet；
As　a　dragon　on　high　could　soar。

As　soon　as　Ma　Teng　heard　that　Liu　Bei　had　set　forth；　he　reported　that　pressing　business　called　him　and　marched　back　to　his　own　region；　Xiliang。
When　Liu　Bei　reached　Xuzhou；　the　Deputy　Imperial　Protector；　Che　Zhou；　came　to　meet　him。　When　the　official　banquet　was　over；　Sun　Qian　and　Mi　Zhu　paid　their　visit　to　Che　Zhou。　Then　Liu　Bei　proceeded　to　his　residence　to　greet　his　family。
Scouts　were　sent　out　to　see　what　Yuan　Shu　was　doing。　They　came　back　with　the　intelligence：　〃Yuan　Shu's　arrogance　had　driven　away　his　generals；　Lei　Bo　and　Chen　Lan；　who　had　returned　to　their　mountain　fastness　in　Mount　Song。　His　forces　thus　reduced；　he　wrote　resigning　the　imperial　style　he　had　assumed　in　favor　of　his　brother　Yuan　Shao；　who　at　once　manded　his　presence。　Thereupon　he　packed　up　the　Palace　fittings　he　had　made；　got　the　remnants　of　his　army　in　order；　and　marched　west。〃
When　Yuan　Shu　neared　Xuzhou；　Liu　Bei　led　out　his　force　of　fifty　thousand　soldiers　and　four　generals………Guan　Yu；　Zhang　Fei；　Zhu　Ling；　and　Lu　Zhao。　Yuan　Shu　sent　out　Ji　Ling　to　force　a　way　through。　But　Zhang　Fei　opposed　him　and　attacked　without　a　parley。　In　the　tenth　bout　Zhang　Fei　cut　down　Ji　Ling。　The　defeated　troops　fled　in　all　directions。
Then　Yuan　Shu　came　up　with　his　own　army。　Liu　Bei　placed　Zhu　Ling　and　Lu　Zhao　in　mand　of　the　left　wing；　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　the　right　wing；　and　himself　in　the　center；　and　so　met　Yuan　Shu。
As　soon　as　the　enemy　came　near；　Liu　Bei　began　to　abuse　him；　crying；　〃O　rebellious　one；　and　wicked；　I　have　a　mand　to　destroy　you！　Yield；　then；　with　good　grace　and　so　escape　your　punishment！〃
〃Base　weaver　of　mats　and　mean　maker　of　straw　sandals！　How　dare　you　make　light　of　me？〃　replied　Yuan　Shu；　and　he　gave　the　signal　for　an　attack。
Liu　Be