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ed there； Liu Bei soon won the hearts of the people by the strict discipline he maintained over his army and by his gracious manner。
News of these doings in the west duly reached the south； and Sun Quan summoned his counselors as to his countermove。
Then Gu Yong spoke； saying； 〃I have an infallible plan to propose。 Liu Bei and his army are now far away and separated from us by difficult country。 Therefore he cannot return quickly； and my advice is to occupy the passes so that he cannot get through。 Then send all your force against Jingzhou and Xiangyang； and they will surely fall to you。〃
〃The plan seems excellent；〃 said Sun Quan。
But just then a voice was heard from behind the screen； crying； 〃You may just put to death the man who proposed that scheme for trying to pass the death of my daughter。〃
Everyone started with surprise。 It was the Dowager Marchioness' voice。
Further； Lady Wu looked very angry as she entered； saying； 〃What is to bee of my only daughter； who is the wife of Liu Bei？〃
She turned her wrathful eyes to Sun Quan and said； 〃You were heir to your father and brother and obtained possession of all these lands without the least effort。 Yet you are dissatisfied and would forget the claims of your own flesh and blood and sacrifice your sister for the sake of adding a little to your lands。〃
〃No； no！〃 murmured Sun Quan； ashamed。 〃I would never think of going contrary to my mother's wishes and orders。〃
He abruptly dismissed the assembly； and when they had gone the old lady； still nursing her wrath； retired to her own apartments。
Left alone beneath the portico； Sun Quan sighed sadly。
〃This chance missed！ When will Jingzhou be mine？〃 thought he。
While still deep in reverie； Zhang Zhao came up； saying； 〃What grieves my lord？〃
〃No great matter； only this last failure to gain my ends。〃
〃The difficulty may be easily removed；〃 said Zhang Zhao。 〃Choose some trusty man and charge him with a secret letter to Lady Sun Ren saying that her mother is dangerously ill。 Give him five hundred men as escort and tell him to make his way privily into Jingzhou City and deliver the letter。 Hearing her mother wants her； she will rush home at once； and she might bring with her the only son of Liu Bei。 Liu Bei will be glad enough to exchange Jingzhou for his son。 If he will not； you can still send the army。〃
〃That sounds like a good plan；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃Further； I have the man to carry it out successfully。 He is that Zhou Shan； who was a bold one。 He used to acpany my brother in his youth。 He is the man to go。〃
〃Keep it a secret； then；〃 said Zhang Zhao； 〃and let Zhou Shan start quickly。〃
It was decided that Zhou Shan should take with him about five hundred soldiers disguised as ordinary traders。 He had five vessels and distributed his men among them； while weapons were hidden in the holds。 Travel documents were forged to look like veritable authority in case they were asked。
Zhou Shan set out along the river route for the city of Jingzhou and was not long on the way。 He anchored his ships under the bank； landed； and went into the city to the residence； where he bade the doorkeepers announce him。 He was admitted and led into the presence of Lady Sun and presently gave her the secret letter。 When she read that her mother was in danger of death； she began to weep bitterly and questioned the messenger closely。
Zhou Shan invented a story； saying； 〃The Dowager Marchioness is really fretting for a sight of yours。 If you do not go quickly； it will be too late。 The Dowager Marchioness also wants to see little Liu Shan once before she dies。〃
Lady Sun replied； 〃You know that the Imperial Uncle is far away on military service； and I ought to inform the chief of the army before returning home。〃
〃But what will you do if the chief says he must inform your husband and await his consent？〃 said Zhou Shan。
〃If I went without asking permission………but I fear that is impossible。〃
〃My ships are all ready in the river； and you have only to drive through the city；〃 said Zhou Shan。
Naturally the news of her mother's illness greatly disturbed the young wife。 In a short time her carriage was ready； and she mounted； taking Liu Shan with her。 She took an escort of thirty guards； all armed； and was soon at the river side and had embarked before the palace people could report what she was doing。
But just as the ships were starting； a voice was heard； shouting； 〃Do not start yet！ Let me bid my lady farewell。〃
The voice was Zhao Yun's。 He had just returned from an inspection trip； and they had at once told him of Lady Sun's sudden departure。 As soon as he had recovered from his surprise； he dashed down to the river bank like a whirlwind； with only half a dozen followers。 He arrived only just in time。 The boat was starting； and Zhou Shan stood in the prow； a long spear in his hand。
〃Who are you that you dare hinder the movements of your mistress？〃 cried Zhou Shan。
Zhou Shan bade his soldiers cast off and get under way； and also to prepare their weapons to fight。 The ship moved off with a fair wind and a strong current beneath her keel。
But Zhao Yun followed along the bank。
〃My lady may go or not as she pleases；〃 cried he； 〃but I have one word to say to her。〃
Zhou Shan turned a deaf ear and only urged his soldiers to get greater speed on the ship。 Zhao Yun followed down the bank for some three or more miles。 Then he saw a fishing boat made fast to the bank。 He at once dismounted； cast off the rope； took his spear； and leaped into the boat。 Then he made the two men row him toward the vessel in which sat Lady Sun。
As he approached； the soldiers of the South Land threatened him with their spears。 Thereupon he threw his spear into the bottom of the boat； drew the glittering steel blade he wore； dashed aside the opposing spears； and leaped upon the larger vessel。 The guards of the South Land fell back in surprise and fear； and Zhao Yun went down into the body of the ship。 There sat Lady Sun with little Liu Shan in her arms。
〃Why this rude intrusion？〃 said she angrily。
The warrior sheathed his sword and said humbly； 〃Whither may my mistress be going； and why goes she privily？〃
〃My mother is ill and on the point of death。 I had no time to inform any person of my departure；〃 said Lady Sun。
〃But why take the young master if you are going merely to see a sick person？〃 said Zhao Yun。
〃Liu Shan is my son； and I would not leave him behind to be neglected。〃
〃Mistress； you have acted wrongly。 My lord has but this one son of his body； and I rescued the child lord from among many thousand troops of Cao Cao in the great battle at Long Slope Bridge in Dangyang。 There is no reason for you to take him away。〃
Lady Sun took refuge in anger。 〃You leave my family affairs alone； you mon soldier！〃 cried she。
〃My lady； if you will go； then go； but leave the young master behind。〃
〃You are a rebel； jumping on board the ship like that！〃 cried Lady Sun。
〃If you will not leave the young lord behind； I refuse to let you go； e what may；〃 said Zhao Yun。
Lady Sun called in her maids to seize him； but he just pushed them off。 Then he took the boy from her arms and ran out to the prow of the ship。 He tried to get the vessel in to the bank； but no one would aid him； and he thought it would be wrong to begin to slay indiscriminately。 He knew not what to do in such a quandary。 And Lady Sun was screaming to her maids to take the boy away from him。 But he kept too firm a grip on the child； and the good sword in his other hand kept everyone at bay。
Zhou Shan was at the helm； giving all his attention to getting the ship out into the current and away down the river。 He steered for the middle of the stream； where the wind was strong。 Zhao Yun； one hand taken up with holding the boy； was quite unable to get the vessel in toward the shore。
Just as things looked most desperate； Zhao Yun saw a string of ships filing out from a creek lower down the stream； flags fluttering and drums beating。 He thought that certainly all was over and he was about to fall a victim to a stratagem of the South Land； when he noticed a mighty warrior standing in the prow of the leading craft。 He was armed with a long spear； and it was Zhang Fei。
Zhang Fei also shouted； 〃Sister…in…law！ Leave the child lord。〃
Zhang Fei had been out scouting when he heard the news of his sister…in…law's sudden departure； and he at once made for the River Yu with the intention of intercepting her flight。 He had arrived just in the nick of time to cut off the ships of the South Land。 Very soon； sword in hand； he had boarded the vessel。 As Zhang Fei came on board； Zhou Shan drew his sword and advanced toward him； but one sweep of Zhang Fei's blade laid him on the deck dead。 And the grim warrior hung his head at the feet of Lady Sun。
〃Why this very unseemly behavior？〃 cried Lady Sun； now quite frightened。
〃Sister；〃 said Zhang Fei； 〃you thought very little of my brother when you set out on this mad journey。 That was behaving rudely。〃
〃My mother is very ill。 It is a matter of life and death；〃 cried she。 〃If I had waited for your brother's permission to go； I should have been too late。 If you do not let me go now； I will throw myself into the river。〃
Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei took counsel together。 They said to each other； 〃It is hardly the co