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Liu Bei naturally took the offer as a mand and set out as soon as he could； taking leave of the Imperial Protector the next day。 And so he took up his quarters in Xinye。
When he left Jingzhou City； he noticed in the gate a person making him emphatic salutations； and the man presently said； 〃You should not ride that horse。〃
Liu Bei looked at the man and recognized in the speaker one of the secretaries of Liu Biao named Yi Ji； a native of Shanyang。 So Liu Bei hastily dismounted and asked why。
Yi Ji replied； 〃Yesterday I heard that Kuai Yue told the Imperial Protector that that horse was a Dilu horse and brought disaster to its owner。 That is why it was returned to you。 How can you mount it again？〃
〃I am deeply touched by your affection；〃 replied Liu Bei； 〃but a person's life is governed by fate； and what a horse can interfere with that？〃
Yi Ji admitted his superior view； and thereafter he kept in touch with Liu Bei wherever he went。
The arrival of Liu Bei in Xinye was a matter of rejoicing to all the inhabitants； and the whole administration was reformed。
In the spring of the twelfth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 207）； Liu Bei's wife； Lady Gan； game birth to a son who was named Liu Shan。 The night of his birth a crane settled on the roof of the house； screeched some forty times and then flew away westward。
Just at the time of birth a miraculous incense filled the chamber。 Lady Gan one night had dreamed that she was looking up at the sky； and the constellation of the Great Bear had fallen down her throat。 And she conceived soon after。
While Cao Cao was absent from the capital on his northern expedition； Liu Bei went to Liu Biao and said to him； 〃Why do you not take this opportunity to march against the capital？ An empire might follow from that。〃
〃I am well placed here；〃 was the reply。 〃Why should I attempt other things？〃
Liu Bei said no more。 Then the Imperial Protector invited him into the private apartments to drink。 While they were so engaged； Liu Biao suddenly began to sigh despondently。
〃O brother； why do you sigh thus？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃I have a secret sorrow that is difficult to speak about；〃 said Liu Biao。
Liu Bei was on the point of asking what it was when Lady Cai came and stood behind the screen； whereat Liu Biao hung his head and became silent。 Before long host and guest bade each other farewell； and Liu Bei went back to his own place at Xinye。
That winter they heard that Cao Cao had returned from Liucheng； and Liu Bei sighed when he reflected that his friend had paid no heed to his advice。
Unexpectedly a messenger came from the capital city with a request that Liu Bei would go thither to consult with the Imperial Protector。 So he started at once with the messenger to Jingzhou City。 He was received very kindly； and when the salutations were over； the two men went into the private quarters at the rear to dine。
Presently Liu Biao said； 〃Cao Cao has returned； and he is stronger than ever。 I am afraid he means to absorb this region。 I am sorry I did not follow your advice for I have missed an opportunity。〃
〃In this period of disruption； with strife on every side； one cannot pretend that there will be no more opportunities。 If you only take what that offers； there will be nothing to regret。〃
〃What you say； brother； is quite to the point；〃 replied Liu Biao。
They drank on for a time till presently Liu Bei noticed that his host was weeping； and when he asked the cause of these tears； Liu Biao replied； 〃It is that secret sorrow I spoke of to you before。 I wished to tell you； but there was no opportunity that day。〃
〃O brother； what difficulty have you； and can I assist you？ I am entirely at your service。〃
〃My first wife； of the Chen family； bore me a son Liu Qi； my eldest。 He grew up virtuous but weakly and unfitted to succeed me in my office。 Later I took a wife of the Cai family； who bore me a son named Liu Zong； fairly intelligent。 If I pass over the elder in favor of the younger； there is the breach of the rule of primogeniture。 But if I follow law and custom； there are the intrigues of the Cai family and clan to be reckoned with。 Further； the army is in the hollow of their hands。 There will be trouble； and I cannot decide what to do。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃All experience proves that to set aside the elder for the younger is to take the way of confusion。 If you fear the power of the Cai faction； then gradually reduce its power and influence； but do not let doting affection lead you into making the younger your heir。〃
Liu Biao pondered silent。 But Lady Cai had had a suspicion why her lord had summoned Liu Bei and what was the subject of discussion； so she had determined to listen secretly。 She was behind the screen when the matter was talked over； and she conceived deep resentment against Liu Bei for what he had said。
On his side； Liu Bei felt that his advice had fallen upon a forbidden subject； and he arose and walked across the room。 As he did so he noticed that he was getting heavy and stiff； and a furtive tear stole down his cheek as he thought of the past。 When he returned and sat down； his host noticed the traces of weeping and asked the cause of his sorrow。
〃In the past I was always in the saddle； and I was slender and lithe。 Now it is so long since I rode that I am getting stout； and the days and months are slipping by………wasted。 I shall have old age on me in no time； and I have acplished nothing。 So I am sad。〃
〃I have heard a story that when you were at Xuchang at the season of green plums； you and Cao Cao were discussing heroes。 You mentioned this name and that to him as humans of parts； and he rejected everyone of them。 Finally he said that you and he were the only two persons of real worth in the whole empire。 If he with all his power and authority did not dare to place himself in front of you； I do not think you need grieve about having acplished nothing。〃
At this flattering speech Liu Bei； as wine was getting the better of him and in a half maudlin manner； replied； 〃If I only had a starting point； then I would not be afraid of anyone in a world full of fools。〃
His host said no more and the guest； feeling that he had slipped up in speech； rose as if drunk； took leave； and staggered out saying he must return to his lodging to recover。
The episode has been celebrated in a poem：
When with crooking fingers counting；
Cao Cao reckoned up the forceful
Humans of real determination；
Only two he found； and one was
Liu Bei。 But by inaction
He had grown both fat and slothful；
Yet the months and years in passing
Fretted him with nought acplished。
Though Liu Biao kept silence when he heard the words of Liu Bei； yet he felt the more uneasy。 After the departure of his guest； he retired into the inner quarters where he met his wife。
Lady Cai said； 〃I happened to be behind the screen just now and so heard the words of Liu Bei。 They betray scant regard for other people and mean that he would take your territory if he could。 If you do not remove him； it will go ill with you。〃
Her husband made no reply； but only shook his head。
Then Lady Cai took counsel with her kinsman Cai Mao； who said； 〃Let me go to the guest…house and slay him forthwith； and we can report what we have done。〃
His sister consented and he went out； and that night told off a party of soldiers to do the foul deed。
Now Liu Bei sat in his lodging by the light of a single candle till about the third watch； when he prepared to retire to bed。 He was startled by a knock at his door and in came Yi Ji； who had heard of the plot against his new master and had e in the darkness to warn him。 He related the details of the plot and urged speedy departure。
〃I have not said farewell to my host。 How can I go away？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If you go to bid him farewell； you will fall a victim to the Cai faction；〃 said Yi Ji。
So Liu Bei said a hasty good…bye to his friend； called up his escort； and they all mounted and rode away by the light of the stars toward Xinye。 Soon after they had left the soldiers arrived at the guest…house； but their intended victim was already well on his way。
Naturally the failure of the plot chagrined the treacherous Cai Mao； but he took the occasion to scribble some calumnious verses on one of the partitions。
Then he went to see Liu Biao to whom he said； 〃Liu Bei has treacherous intentions； as can be seen from some lines written on the wall。 And his hurried departure is suspicious。〃
Liu Biao felt doubtful； but he went to the guest…house and there on the wall he read this poem：
Too long； far too long I have dreamed life away；
Gazing at scenery day after day。
A dragon can never be kept in a pond；
He should ride on the thunder to heaven and beyond。
Greatly angered by what he read； Liu Biao drew his sword and swore to slay the writer。 But before he had gone many paces； his anger had already died down； and he said to himself； 〃I have seen much of the man； but have never known him write verses。 This is the handiwork of someone who wishes to sow discord between us。〃
So saying； he turned back and with the point of his sword scraped away the poem。 Then； putting up his sword； he mounted and rode home。
By and bye Cai Mao reminded him； saying； 〃The soldiers are awaiting your orders to go to Xinye and arrest Liu Bei。〃
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