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ins of the late Imperial Protector on the east of Xiangyang； near the bank of the Han River。 No notice of the death was sent to Liu Qi； the son； or to Liu Bei； his uncle。
Liu Zong arrived at Xiangyang； but； before he had had time to recover from the fatigue of the journey； the startling news of the approach of Cao Cao's great army came in。 He summoned Kuai Yue and Cai Mao and others to ask counsel。
One of the secretaries； Fu Xuan； offered his advice； saying； 〃Not only are we threatened by a great army from the north； but the elder son； who is the real heir； at Jiangxia； and his uncle at Xinye； are to be reckoned with。 These two have not been notified of the death； and they will resent that。 We shall be in sad case if they also march against us。 But if you will adopt my suggestion； then our people will be as steady as Taishan Mountains and our young lord's position and rank will be assured。〃
〃What is your plan？〃 asked the young lord。
〃To offer the whole region to Cao Cao； who will treat our young master most liberally。〃
〃What advice！〃 said Liu Zong angrily。 〃Am I to yield my heritage to another before I have even fairly succeeded to it？〃
〃The advice is good；〃 said Kuai Yue。 〃Opportunism is a policy； and possibilities need consideration。 In the name of government； Cao Cao is fighting against his neighbors。 If our lord opposes him； he will be termed contumacious。 Beside； any misfortune on our borders before our young lord is well established will react upon the internal administration； and our people will be panic…stricken at the mere news of the approach of a hostile army。 How could we then offer any resistance？〃
Liu Zong replied； 〃It is not that I disagree with you； but I should be a laughing stock to the whole world were I to abandon my heritage without an effort。〃
He was interrupted by a speaker who said； 〃If their advice is good； why not follow it？〃
They turned toward the speaker who was a certain Wang Can of Shanyang； a lean； cadaverous individual much below the middle height of a man。
However； his talents did not conform to his physical appearance。 When he was yet a youth； he went to visit Minister Cai Yong； then a vice…chairman of the Secretariat； and although many guests of exalted rank were present； the host hastened to wele the newer with the greatest deference。 The others were astonished and asked why he was so respectful to a mere youth。
〃He is a young man with the highest gifts；〃 said Cai Yong。
Wang Can was widely read and had a most retentive memory； better than any of his contemporaries。 If he glanced at a roadside monument as he passed； he remembered every word of the inscription。 If he saw people playing chess and the board was suddenly overthrown； he could replace every pip in its proper place。 He was a good mathematician and his poems were exquisite。 At seventeen he was appointed a court official but did not take up the appointment。 When the disturbance in the empire grew serious； he sought refuge in Jingzhou； where he was received with great honor as guest of the Imperial Protector。
What he said was this； 〃General； how do you pare with Cao Cao？〃
〃Inferior；〃 replied Liu Zong。
Wang Can continued； 〃Cao Cao has many soldiers and bold leaders。 He is able and resourceful。 He took Lu Bu at Xiapi and broke the power of Yuan Shao at Guandu。 He pursued Liu Bei into Longyou and destroyed Mao Dun at White Wolf Hills。 The destruction of such firmly established men shows his invincible character。 Now he is on the way here； and it will be very difficult to withstand him。 The plan proposed is the best you can expect； and you should not delay and hesitate till it is too late for ought but regret。〃
〃Worthy Sir； you indeed speak to the point。 I must inform my mother；〃 said the young ruler。
But just then they saw his mother appear from behind a screen。 She had been listening to all that was said。
〃Why refer to me when three such gentlemen coincide in their opinions？〃 said Lady Cai。
So Liu Zong decided； and the letter of surrender was posed and entrusted to one Song Zhong to convey secretly to Cao Cao。 Song Zhong went straight to Wancheng and presented the letter。 It was received with joy； and the bearer well rewarded。
The submission was accepted； and Cao Cao said； 〃Tell Liu Zong to go out to meet me in the open country； and he will be in perpetual tenure of his land。〃
Song Zhong left the city and took the homeward way。 He had nearly reached the ferry when he fell in with a party of horse。 On a closer look he saw the leader was Guan Yu。 The messenger tried to escape observation； but was presently captured and taken to the leader to be questioned。 At first he prevaricated but on being closely questioned told the whole story。 Then he was carried off to Xinye and made to retell his story to Liu Bei who heard it with lamentations。
Zhang Fei said； 〃This being so； I propose that we put this fellow to death； then cross the river； attack Xiangyang； and make an end of the Cai tribe and Liu Zong as well。 Then we can attack Cao Cao。〃
But Liu Bei replied； 〃Hold on。 I have something more to say。〃
Then turning to the prisoner； Liu Bei shouted； 〃When they did all this； why did you not e to tell me？ As things are now； there is nothing to be gained by killing you。 You may go。〃
Song Zhong stammered his thanks； threw his arms over his head； and ran away。 Liu Bei was very sad。
Presently Yi Ji from Jiangxia was announced。 Liu Bei was very fond of this man and went down the steps to wele him。
Then said Yi Ji； 〃The heir has heard that his father is dead； but his stepmother and her family are keeping back the news so that they may set up Liu Zong。 He knows the news is true； as he sent a special messenger to find out。 He thinks you； O Prince； may not know and has sent me to inform you； and his letter begs you to lead all the troops you can to Xiangyang to help him assert his claims。〃
Liu Bei opened and read the letter。
Then he said； 〃Yes； you know that the younger son has usurped the lordship； but you have not heard that he has already sent to offer Jingzhou to Cao Cao。〃
This news shocked Yi Ji； who asked； 〃How know you this？〃
Liu Bei told of the capture of Song Zhong。
Yi Ji said； 〃You can go to Xiangyang as if to attend the mourning ceremonies and so draw Liu Zong into ing out of the city to wele you。 Then you can seize him； slay his party； and take the region。〃
〃Your advice is good；〃 said Zhuge Liang； 〃and my lord ought to take it。〃
Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃In his last interview； my brother confided his son and heir to my care。 If I lay hands upon another son and seize upon the inheritance； how shall I be able to look my brother in the face when I meet him by and by beyond the grave？〃
〃If you do not act in this way now； how will you repel Cao Cao； who has already reached Wancheng？〃 said Zhuge Liang。
〃Our best plan is to take refuge in Fancheng；〃 replied Liu Bei。
Just about this time the spies came to say that Cao Cao's army had reached Bowang。 So Yi Ji was sent off with instructions to take measures for the defense of Jiangxia； while Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed plans for meeting the enemy。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃My lord should not worry。 We have burned the army of Cao Cao at Bowang Slope； so we will see them fallen into another ruse in Xinye。 This is no place to live in。 We will move over to Fancheng。〃
Then notices were posted at all the gates that all the people； without any exception； were to follow their ruler at once to the new city to escape danger。 Boats were prepared and the people sent away under the direction of Sun Qian。 Mi Zhu saw to the safe conveyance of the families of the officials。
Then the officers assembled for orders。
Zhuge Liang gave directions； 〃Guan Yu is to go to the upper of the White River with one thousand troops。 His men are to carry bags to fill with sand and earth to dam the river till the enemy shall be heard； about the third watch next day。 Then the waters are to be freed to drown one of the armies。 He is then to march down river。
〃Zhang Fei is to go to the Boling Ferry； where the current is slow。 After the waters of the White River have been let loose on Cao Cao's soldiers； they will try to get over the river at the ferry。 They are to be attacked by Zhang Fei and his one thousand troops。
〃Zhao Yun is to divide three thousand troops into four parties and take one to the east gate。 The other three are for the other gates。 The roofs of the houses within the city walls are piled with sulfur； saltpeter； and other bustibles。 The intention is to set fire to the city when the army of the enemy has entered it for shelter。 There will be a strong breeze next day in the evening which will fan the flames。 When this wind begins to blow； fire arrows are to be shot into the city from all sides。 When the flames are high； there is to be a great shouting outside to add to the general terror。 The east gate is to be left free for escape； but the flying men are to be smitten after passing the gate。
〃Mi Fang and Liu Feng are to take mand of two thousand troops； one half with red flags and the other half with blue。 They are to go to Magpie Tail Slope； about ten miles from the city and camp。 When they see Cao Cao's army ing along； the red flags are to move left and the blue right to confuse the enemy so that they