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Water Mirror replied； 〃You； capable enough to be the adviser of a king； ought to be able to find someone fit to serve。 Why did you cheapen yourself so far as to go to Liu Biao？ Beside； there is a real hero right under your eyes and you do not know him。〃
〃It is just as you say；〃 replied the stranger。
Liu Bei listened with great joy for he thought this visitor was certainly one of the two he was advised to look for。 Liu Bei would have shown himself then and there； but he thought that would look strange。 So he waited till daylight； when he sought out his host。
〃Who was it came last night？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃A friend of mine；〃 was the reply。
Liu Bei begged for an introduction。 Water Mirror said； 〃He wants to find an enlightened master； and so he has gone elsewhere。〃
When Liu Bei asked his name； his host only replied； 〃Good； good！〃
And when Liu Bei asked who they were who went by the names of Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix； he only elicited the same reply。
Liu Bei then； bowing low before his host； begged him to leave the hills and help him to bring about the restoration of the ruling house to its prerogatives。
But Water Mirror replied； 〃People of the hills and woods are unequal to such a task。 However； there must be many far abler than I who will help you if you seek them。〃
While they were talking； they heard outside the farm the shouts of troops and neighing of horses； and a servant came in to say that a general with a large pany of soldiers had arrived。 Liu Bei went out hastily to see who these were and found Zhao Yun。 He was much relieved； and Zhao Yun dismounted and entered the house。
〃Last night； on my return to Xinye；〃 said Zhao Yun； 〃I could not find you； my lord； so I followed at once and traced you here。 I pray you return quickly； as I fear an attack on the city。〃
So Liu Bei took leave of his host； and the whole pany returned to Xinye。 Before they had gone far another army appeared； and； when they had e nearer； they saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。 They met with great joy； and Liu Bei told them of the wonderful leap his horse had made over the torrent。 All expressed surprise and pleasure。
As soon as they reached the city； a council was called and Zhao Yun said； 〃You ought first of all to indite a letter to Liu Biao telling him all these things。〃
The letter was prepared and Sun Qian bore it to the seat of government in Jingzhou City。 He was received； and Liu Biao at once asked the reason of Liu Bei hasty flight from the festival。 Whereupon the letter was presented； and the bearer related the machinations of Cai Mao and told of the escape and the amazing leap over the Tan Torrent。
Liu Biao was very angry； sent for Cai Mao； and berated him soundly； saying； 〃How dare you try to hurt my brother？〃
And he ordered Cai Mao out to execution。
Liu Biao's wife； Cai Mao's sister； prayed for a remission of the death penalty； but Liu Biao refused to be appeased。
Then spoke Sun Qian； saying； 〃If you put Cai Mao to death； I fear Uncle Liu Bei will be unable to remain here。〃
Then Cai Mao was reprieved； but dismissed with a severe reprimand。
Liu Biao sent his elder son Liu Qi back with Sun Qian to apologize。 When Liu Qi reached Xinye； Liu Bei weled him and gave a banquet in his honor。
After some little drinking； the chief guest suddenly began to weep and presently said； 〃My step mother； Lady Cai； always cherishes a wish to put me out of the way； and I do not know how to avoid her anger。 Could you advise me； Uncle？〃
Liu Bei exhorted him to be careful and perfectly filial and nothing could happen。 Soon after； the young man took his leave and wept at parting。
Liu Bei escorted Liu Qi well on his way and； pointing to his steed； said； 〃I owe my life to this horse。 Had it not been for him； I had been already below the Nine Golden Springs。〃
〃It was not the strength of the horse； but your noble fortune； Uncle。〃
They parted； the young man weeping bitterly。 On reentering the city； Liu Bei met a person in the street wearing a hempen turban； a cotton robe confined by a black girdle； and black shoes。 He came along singing a song：
〃The universe is rived； O！ Now nears the end of all。
The noble mansion quakes； O！ What beam can stay the fall？
A wise one waits his lord； O！ But hidden in the glen；
The seeker knows not him； O！ Nor me； of mon humans。〃
Liu Bei listened。
〃Surely this is one of the people Water Mirror spoke of；〃 thought he。
He dismounted； spoke to the singer； and invited him into his residence。 Then when they were seated； he asked the stranger's name。
〃I am from Yingchuan； and my name is San Fu。 I have known you by repute for a long time； and they said you appreciated humans of ability。 I wanted to e to you but every way of getting an introduction seemed closed。 So I bethought me of attracting your notice by singing that song in the market place。〃
Liu Bei thought he had found a treasure and treated the newer with the greatest kindness。 Then San Fu spoke of the horse that he had seen Liu Bei riding and asked to look at it。 So the animal was brought round。
〃Is not this a Dilu horse？〃 said San Fu。 〃But though it is a good steed； it risks his master。 You must not ride it。〃
〃It has already fulfilled the omens；〃 said Liu Bei； and he related the story of the leap over the Tan Torrent。
〃But that was saving his master； not risking him。 It will surely harm someone in the end。 But I can tell you how to avert the omen。〃
〃I should be glad to hear it；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃If you have an enemy against whom you bear a grudge； give him this horse and wait till it has fulfilled the evil omens on this person； then you can ride it in safety。〃
Liu Bei changed color。
〃What； Sir！ You are but a new acquaintance； and you would advise me to take an evil course and to harm another for my own advantage？ No； Sir！ I cannot listen。〃
His guest smiled； saying； 〃People said you were virtuous。 I could not ask you directly； so I put it that way to test you。〃
Liu Bei's expression changed。 He rose and returned the pliment； saying； 〃But how can I be virtuous while I lack your teaching？〃
〃When I arrived here； I heard the people saying：
〃Since Liu Bei came here； O blessed day！
We've had good luck； long may he stay！
〃So you see； the effects of your virtue extend to the ordinary people。〃
Thereupon San Fu was made manding Adviser of the army。
The one idea that held Cao Cao after his return from Jizhou was the capture of Jingzhou。 He sent Cao Ren and Li Dian； with the two brothers Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang who had surrendered； to camp at Fancheng with thirty thousand troops and so threaten Jingzhou and Xiangyang。 Thence he sent spies to find out the weak points。
Then the two Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang petitioned Cao Ren； saying； 〃Liu Bei is strengthening his position at Xinye and laying in large supplies。 Some great scheme is afoot； and he should be checked。 Since our surrender we have performed no noteworthy service and； if you will give us five thousand soldiers； we promise to bring you the head of Liu Bei。〃
Cao Ren was only too glad； and the expedition set out。 The scouts reported this to Liu Bei who turned to San Fu for advice。
San Fu said； 〃They must not be permitted to cross the boundary。 Send Guan Yu and Zhang Fei left and right； each with one thousand troops； one to attack the enemy on the march； the other to cut off the retreat。 You and Zhao Yun will make a front attack。〃
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei started； and then Liu Bei went out at the gate with two thousand troops to oppose the enemy。 Before they had gone far they saw a great cloud of dust behind the hills。 This marked the approach of the Lu brothers。 Presently； both sides being arrayed； Liu Bei rode out and stood by his standard。
He called out； 〃Who are you who thus would encroach on my territory？〃
〃I am the great General Lu Kuang； and I have the order of the Prime Minister to make you prisoner！〃 said the leader。
Liu Bei ordered Zhao Yun to go out； and the two generals engaged。 Very soon Zhao Yun with a spear thrust had disposed of his opponent； and Liu Bei gave the signal to attack。 Lu Xiang could not maintain his position and led his troops off。 Soon his force found themselves attacked by an army rushing in from the side led by Guan Yu。 The loss was more than a half； and the remainder fled for safety。
About three miles farther on they found their retreat barred by an army under Zhang Fei； who stood in the way with a long spear ready to thrust； crying out； 〃Zhang Fei is waiting！〃
Zhang Fei bore down upon Lu Xiang； who was slain without a chance of striking a blow。 The troops again fled in disorder。 They were pursued by Liu Bei； and the greater part killed or captured。
Then Liu Bei returned into Xinye where he rewarded San Fu and feasted his victorious soldiers。
Some of the defeated troops took the news of the deaths of the leaders and the capture of their rades to Cao Ren at Fancheng。
Cao Ren； much distressed； consulted Li Dian who advised； saying； 〃The loss is due to our underestimation of our enemy。 Now we should stay where we are； hold on； and request reinforcements。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Cao Ren。 〃We cannot support calmly the death of two leaders and the loss of so many soldiers。 We must avenge them quickly。 Xinye is but a crossbow…slug of a place and not worth disturbing the Prime Minister for。〃