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〃Not so； indeed；〃 said Zhang Song。 〃Illustrious Sir； you are of the lineage of Han。 Your noble character is widely known。 No one could say that your fate excludes all thoughts of occupying territory； where you might begin to set up authority and take an emperor's position。〃
Liu Bei deprecated such a suggestion； 〃Sir； you go too far。 This really is too much。〃
The next three days were spent in banquets and wine parties； but all the time no mention was made of West River Land。 And when； at the end of that time； Zhang Song took leave； his host was at the three…mile 〃parting road〃 to bid him farewell and offer refreshment。
When the moment came for the parting； Liu Bei raised his wine…cup and said； 〃I am sincerely grateful that you deigned to e here。 You have prolonged your visit to three days； but now the moment of parting has e。 Who knows when I may have the privilege of receiving your instructions again？〃
As Liu Bei said this； the tears flowed； but he hid them while Zhang Song； willing to believe that this emotion was on his account； thought how wonderfully kind and noble his host must be to be thus affected。 Quite overe； Zhang Song decided to speak about the west。
So he said； 〃I have thought that I； too； would e to you one day； but so far I have found no way。 In Jingzhou I see Sun Quan on the east； always ready to pounce； I see Cao Cao on the north； greedy to swallow。 So this is not a wholly desirable place for you to remain in。〃
〃I know this but too well；〃 said Liu Bei； 〃but I have no secure place to go to。〃
〃Yizhou is well protected； has much fertile soil； is populous and well governed。 Its scholars are attracted by your virtue。 If you marched your armies westward； you could easily bee a real power there and restore the glory of the Hans。〃
〃But how dare I attempt this？ The ruler is also of the Imperial House。 The whole region is devoted to him for his good deeds； and no other person could attain such a hold。〃
〃I am no traitor；〃 said Zhang Song； 〃but in your presence I feel constrained to be perfectly open and plain。 Liu Zhang； the Imperial Protector of Yizhou； is naturally weak and can neither use the wise nor employ the capable。 Then again Zhang Lu threatens on the north。 People are distracted and would gladly wele an appreciative ruler。 The journey I have just made was to propose to support Cao Cao and place the region under him； but I found him rebellious and set on evil； proud and arrogant。 So I have turned aside to you。 If you will take Yizhou； you will have a base from which to deal with Hanzhong when you will； and the whole empire beside。 You will continue the rightful line； and your name will live in history。 Would not that be real fame？ If then you think of taking our region； I am willing to do what little I can as an ally within。 But do you contemplate such a step？〃
〃I am deeply grateful that you think so well of me。 But the Imperial Protector being a member of the family； I should lay myself open to general execration； were I to attack him。〃
〃When a hero finds himself in the world； his duty is to work out his destiny； to exert himself and perform his task as best as he can； to press forward among the foremost。 At the moment the position is that； if you fail to seize this opportunity； some other will take possession of Yizhou； and you will regret when too late。〃
〃And I have heard much of the difficult nature of the country； its many high mountains and numerous streams； and its narrow roads。 How could such a country be invaded？〃
Then Zhang Song drew the map from his sleeve； saying； 〃I am so deeply affected by your virtue that I offer you this map of the country； whereby its roads and rivers may be known。〃
Liu Bei unrolled the map。 It was covered with notes； on the lie of the land； lengths and widths； and such matters。 Strategic points on rivers and hills were shown； and store…houses and granaries and treasuries。 Everything was plainly stated。
Zhang Song went on； 〃Sir； you can prepare your plans promptly。 I have two friends who will certainly help you。 And when they e to see you； you may be perfectly frank with them。 Their names are Fa Zheng and Meng Da。〃
Liu Bei thanked him with joined hands。
Said Liu Bei； 〃As the blue mountains grow not old and the green waters always remain； so shall I never forget。 And when I shall have acplished my task； you shall have no mean reward。〃
Replied Zhang Song； 〃I look for no reward。 Having met with an enlightened lord； I felt pelled to unbosom myself to him。〃
Zhang Song left soon after； and Guan Yu escorted him for several miles。
After arrival in Yizhou； Zhang Song lost no time in visiting his close friend Fa Zheng； who was from Fufeng。 Fa Zheng was told of Cao Cao's arrogance and haughtiness toward scholars and good people。
〃As for the man himself；〃 said Zhang Song； 〃he is a man to grieve with but not a person to rejoice with。 I have promised Yizhou to Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； and I want your especial advice and assistance。〃
〃I think Liu Zhang is incapable；〃 said Fa Zheng； 〃and I have felt drawn to Liu Bei for some time past。 So we are in sympathy here。〃
Shortly after Meng Da arrived。 Meng Da and Fa Zheng were fellow townsmen。 When Meng Da entered the room； he saw the other two in earnest and secret conversation。
And he said； 〃I know what you two are about。 You are scheming to hand over Yizhou to somebody。〃
〃It is really so。 You have guessed right；〃 said Zhang Song。
〃But to whom ought it to go？〃 said Fa Zheng。
〃There is but one： Liu Bei；〃 said Meng Da。
All three clapped their hands and laughed。
Then said Fa Zheng to Zhang Song； 〃You will see our lord tomorrow。 What about that？〃
〃I shall remend that you two be sent to Jingzhou on a mission。〃
They thought that a suitable scheme。
And when the lately arrived messenger saw his master and was asked how he had fared； Zhang Song said； 〃Cao Cao is a rebel who desires to get the whole empire into his hands。 I need hardly tell you that。 But he also hankers after this region。〃
〃Then what will bee of us？〃 said Liu Zhang。
〃I have a plan to check both our enemies。 Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； now in Jingzhou； is a relative of yours； and he is generous and well disposed。 This is a matter of mon knowledge。 Cao Cao was simply overwhelmed at the result of the battle at the Red Cliffs； and Zhang Lu more so。 Now my plan is that you ally yourself with your distinguished relative against Cao Cao and Zhang Lu。〃
〃I have been thinking thus for a long time。 Can you remend a suitable emissary？〃
〃The only ones are Fa Zheng and Meng Da。〃
These two were summoned and； meanwhile； a letter was prepared。 Fa Zheng was to proceed as emissary to open up friendly relations； and Meng Da would follow in due course with an army to wele Liu Bei into the West River Land。
While still discussing the details of the policy； a person forced his way in； his face all running with sweat； and cried out； 〃My lord； your land of forty…one counties will be lost to you and pass to another if you listen to Zhang Song！〃
Zhang Song turned a startled look on the intruder； who was Huang Quan of Xiliang； First Secretary in the Imperial Protector's palace。
The Imperial Protector said； 〃Why do you use such language？ Liu Bei is of my family； and so I am seeking his support。〃
Said Huang Quan； 〃I know all about him。 He is liberal minded to gain people to his side； and his softness can overe the hardest。 He is bolder than any other。 He gains humans' hearts from afar off； and those near him look up to him。 He also has the wisest advisers in Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong； and the boldest warriors such as Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； Zhao Yun； Huang Zhong； and Wei Yan。 But if you call him here as a soldier； think you that he will be content to remain in a lowly condition？ And if you treat him as an honored guest； can a state stand two rulers？ Hear me； my lord； and you stand secure as Taishan Mountains； be deaf to my words； and your position is as precarious as a pile of eggs。 This Zhang Song has lately e home through Jingzhou； where he has certainly been plotting with Liu Bei。 Slay this man； and make an end of Liu Bei。 That will be for the happiness of this land。〃
〃But how else am I to fend off my two enemies？〃
〃Fortify your country； dig out your moats； and raise your ramparts。 Then you can wait on events。〃
〃If these rebels invade this land； the position will be critical； as when fire singes one's eyebrows。 It is idle talk to tell me to wait on events。〃
No notice was taken of Huang Quan； and Fa Zheng was about to set out when another interfered； crying； 〃No； no！〃
This was a secretary； Wang Lei。
With bowed head Wang Lei stood and said； 〃My lord will bring misfortune upon himself if he listens to this Zhang Song。〃
〃Not so； I make an alliance with Liu Bei in order to withstand Zhang Lu。〃
〃Zhang Lu's invasion would be but a skin disease。 Liu Bei's entry into this country would be a mortal malady。 Liu Bei is an unscrupulous brave。 He was once in Cao Cao's service and plotted against him。 Then he hung on to Sun Quan and seized Jingzhou。 This shows his character and his designs。 Think you that you two can dwell together？ If you invite him； then Shu is lost！〃
〃No more wild talk！〃 cried Liu Zhang angrily。 〃Liu Bei is of my clan and family and will not ravish me of my possessions。〃
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