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r was to bee the wife of Liu Bei。 Why did you keep me in the dark？ It was my place to promise her in marriage。〃
〃Whence es this story？〃 said the Marquis； really much frightened。
〃Do you pretend ignorance？ There is not a soul in the city who does not know！ But you have succeeded in keeping me in the dark。〃
〃I heard it several days ago；〃 said the State Patriarch Qiao。 〃And I came just now to offer my felicitations。〃
〃There is no such thing；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃It is just one of the ruses of Zhou Yu to get hold of Jingzhou。 He has used this means to inveigle Liu Bei here and hold him captive till Jingzhou is restored to us。 And if they will not give it back； then Liu Bei will be put to death。 That is the plot。 There is no real marriage。〃
But the Dowager was in a rage and vented her wrath in abusing Zhou Yu。
She said； 〃Zhou Yu is a pretty sort of governor over the six territories and eighty…one counties； if he cannot find any means of recovering one region except making use of my child as a decoy。 Truly this is a fine deed； to spoil the whole of my child's life and condemn her to perpetual widowhood； because he wants to use the fair damsel ruse to slay a man！ Who will ever e to talk of marriage with her after this？〃
Said the State Patriarch Qiao； 〃By this means you may indeed recover Jingzhou； but you will be a shameful laughing stock to all the world。 What can be done？〃
Sun Quan had nothing to say。 He could only hang his head； while the Dowager abused his general。
The State Patriarch Qiao tried to soothe her； saying； 〃After all Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； is a scion of the reigning family。 You can do nothing better now than to wele him as a son…in…law and not let this ugly story get abroad。〃
〃I am afraid their ages do not match；〃 interposed Sun Quan。
〃Liu Bei is a very famous man；〃 said the State Patriarch Qiao。 〃There can be no shame in having such a son…in…law。〃
〃I have never seen him；〃 said the Dowager。 〃Arrange that I may get a look at him tomorrow at the Sweet Dew Temple。 If he displeases me； you may work your will on him。 But if I am satisfied with him； then I shall simply let the girl marry him。〃
Now Sun Quan was above all things filial and at once agreed to what his mother said。 He went out； called in Lu Fan； and told him to arrange a banquet for the morrow at the temple so that the Dowager Marchioness might see the bridegroom。
〃Why not order Jia Hua to station some men in the wings of the temple？ Then if the Dowager be not pleased； we can call them out and fall upon him；〃 said Lu Fan。
Accordingly the ambush was prepared and five hundred ruffians posted to act as the Dowager's attitude might determine。
When the State Patriarch Qiao took his leave and had reached his house； he sent to tell Liu Bei； saying； 〃Tomorrow the Marquis and the Dowager Marchioness wished to see you。 So be careful！〃
Liu Bei and his faithful henchman discussed their plans。
Zhao Yun said； 〃The morrow bodes rather ill than well。 However； your escort shall be there。〃
Next day the Dowager Marchioness and the State Patriarch Qiao went to the Temple of Sweet Dew as had been arranged。 Sun Quan came with a number of his strategists； and when all were assembled； Lu Fan was sent to the guest…house to request Liu Bei to e。 He obeyed the summons； but as a precaution he put on a light coat of mail under his brocaded robe。 His followers too took their swords upon their backs and followed close。 He mounted his steed； and the cavalcade set out for the temple。 At the door of the temple he met Sun Quan on whom the visitor's brave demeanor was not lost。 After they had exchanged salutations； Sun Quan led Liu Bei into the presence of his mother。
〃Just the son…in…law for me！〃 said the Dowager delighted with the appearance of Liu Bei。
〃He has the air of an emperor and a look like the sun；〃 remarked the State Patriarch Qiao。 〃When one remembers also that his fair fame has spread over the whole earth； you may well be congratulated on getting such a noble son…in…law。〃
Liu Bei bowed； in acknowledgment of his reception。 Soon after they were all seated at the banquet in the temple； Zhao Yun entered and took his place beside Liu Bei。
〃Who is this？〃 asked the Dowager。
〃This is Zhao Yun of Changshan。〃
〃Then he must be the hero of Dangyang； who saved the little Liu Shan。〃
〃Yes； this is he；〃 replied Liu Bei。
〃A fine general！〃 said the Dowager； and she gave him wine。
Presently Zhao Yun said to his master； 〃I have seen a lot of armed ruffians hidden away in the purlieus of the temple。 They can be there for no good； and you should ask the Dowager to get them sent away。〃
Thereupon Liu Bei knelt at the feet of the Dowager and； weeping； said； 〃If you would slay me； let it be here。〃
〃Why do you say this？〃 asked she。
〃Because there are assassins in hiding in the wings of the temple。 What are they there for if not to kill me？〃
The Dowager wrathfully turned on Sun Quan； 〃What are armed men doing there today； when Liu Bei is to bee my son…in…law and the pair are my son and daughter？〃
Sun Quan said he did not know and sent Lu Fan to inquire。 Lu Fan put the blame on Jia Hua。 The Dowager summoned him and upbraided him severely。 He had nothing to say； and she told them to put him to death。
But Liu Bei interceded； saying； 〃The general's death will do me harm and make it hard for me to stay at your side。〃
The State Patriarch Qiao also interceded； and she only ordered the general out of her presence。 His subordinates also scattered and ran like frightened rats。
By and bye； strolling out of the banquet room into the temple grounds； Liu Bei came to a boulder。 Drawing his sword he looked up to heaven and prayed； saying； 〃If I am to return to Jingzhou and achieve my intent to bee a chief ruler； then may I cleave this boulder asunder with my sword。 But if I am to meet my doom in this place； then may the sword fail to cut this stone。〃
Raising his sword he smote the boulder。 Sparks flew in all directions； and the boulder lay split in twain。
It happened that Sun Quan had seen the blow； and he said； 〃Why do you thus hate that stone？〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃I am near my fifth decade and have so far failed to rid the state of evil。 I greatly regret my failure。 Now I have been accepted by the Dowager as her son…in…law； and this is a critical moment in my life。 So I implored of Heaven a portent that I might destroy Cao Cao as I would that boulder and restore the dynasty。 You saw what happened。〃
〃That is only to deceive me；〃 thought Sun Quan。 Drawing his own sword； he said； 〃And I also ask of Heaven an omen； that if I am to destroy Cao Cao； I may also cut this rock。〃
So he spoke。 But in his secret heart he prayed； 〃If I am to recover Jingzhou and extend my borders； may the stone be cut in twain。〃
He smote the stone and it split in twain。 And to this day there are cross cuts in the stone； which is still preserved。
One who saw this relic wrote a poem：
The shining blades fell and the rock was shorn through；
The metal rang clear and the sparks widely flew。
Thus fate then declared for the dynasties two
And the tripartite rule there began。
Both put up their swords and returned hand in hand to the banquet hall。
After some more courses； Sun Qian gave his master a warning look； and Liu Bei said； 〃I pray you excuse me as my drinking powers are very small。〃
Wherefore Sun Quan escorted him to the gate。
As they walked down looking at high land and rolling river spreading in glorious panorama before their eyes； Liu Bei exclaimed； 〃Really this is the finest scene in the whole world！〃
These words are recorded on a tablet in the Temple of the Sweet Dew； and one who read them wrote a poem：
From the riverside hills the rain clears off；
And the black clouds roll away；
And this is the place of joy and mirth
And never can sorrow stay。
And here two heroes of ages past
Decided their parts to play；
And the lofty heights flung back wind and wave
Then； as they do today。
Yes； they stood both entranced by the beautiful scene。 And gradually along the vast river the wind whipped the waves into snowy foam and raised them high toward heaven。 And in the midst of the waves appeared a tiny leaf of a boat riding over the waves as if all was perfect calm。
〃The northern people are riders and the southern people sailors。 It is said quite true；〃 sighed Liu Bei。
Sun Quan hearing this remark took it as a reproach to his horsemanship。 Bidding his servants lead up his steed； Sun Quan leaped into the saddle and set off； full gallop； down the hill。 Then wheeling he came up again at the same speed。
〃So the southerners cannot ride； eh？〃 said Sun Quan laughing。
Not to be outdone； Liu Bei lifted the skirts of his robe； jumped upon his horse and repeated the feat。
The two steeds stood side by side on the declivity； the riders flourishing their whips and laughing。
Thence forward that hillside was known as the 〃Slope Where the Horses Stood；〃 and a poem was written about it：
Their galloping steeds were of noble breed；
And both of spirit high；
And the riders twain from the hill…crest gazed
At the river rolling by。
One of them mastered the western mountains。
One ruled by the eastern sea；
And the hill to this very day
Still is the Slope Where the Horses Stood。
When they rode side by side into Nanxu； the