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〃Because the prudent bird chooses its perch； and the wise person his master。 I did attempt to dissuade Liu Zhang of Yizhou from a course which I felt to be disastrous； and thereby fulfilled my duty as his servant。 He rejected my counsel； and I knew he would fail。 Your liberality； O General； has won over all the region； and success must be yours。 I wish to serve under your banner。〃
〃Your services will surely be of great advantage to me； Sir；〃 said Liu Bei。
Then Li Hui began to talk of Ma Chao； 〃I knew him when we were in West Valley Land together。 He is now in great straits； and I may be able to talk him over。 What say you？〃
〃Just the man to go instead of me；〃 interjected Zhuge Liang。 〃But what arguments will you use？〃
Li Hui leaned over and whispered in his ear thus and thus。 What he said seemed to please Zhuge Liang mightily； and he was bidden to go forthwith。
Arrived at the camp； Li Hui sent in his name； at which Ma Chao remarked； 〃Yes； I know him………a glib and specious persuader。 I know what he has e for； too。〃
So Ma Chao placed a score of armed ruffians in hiding about his tent and told them to cut the visitor to pieces if the signal was given。
Then the guest was led in and came walking proudly。 His host remained seated stiff and upright。
Ma Chao spoke roughly； saying； 〃What are you e for？〃
〃I am here as persuader。〃
〃This sword here in the scabbard is newly ground。 You may try me by words； but if the words do not penetrate； I shall ask you to try the sword。〃
Li Hui smiled； saying； 〃O General； evil is not far off。 However； I am thinking the newly ground sword will not be tried on my head。 You will want to try it on your own！〃
〃What evil were you talking about？〃
＇e＇ Xi Shi was a moner and a famous beauty who helped King Gou Jian of Yue defeat the powerful kingdom of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Lady Wuyan of Qi was also a famous moner who did not possess physical attractiveness。 Yet her insights were so loving that King Xuan of Qi fell in love with her and made her queen。 。。。。。
〃The worst vilification could not hide the beauty of Lady Xi Shi* of Yue； nor could the most fulsome praise gloze over the ugliness of Lady Wuyan* of Qi。 The sun rises to the meridian and then declines； the moon waxes to the full and then wanes。 All things obey the one law。 Now； General； you are at enmity with Cao Cao for your father's death； and in West Valley Land you carry a stubborn； grinding hate for your family's death。 You can neither rescue Liu Zhang by repulsing the army from Jingzhou； nor can you settle Yang Song by getting an interview with Zhang Lu。 The whole world now holds no place for a person without a lord； and if you experience further defeats； like that one on River Wei； or the loss of Jicheng； will you not be too shamed to look any human in the face？〃
Ma Chao bowed his head； saying； 〃You speak well； Sir。 But I am helpless。〃
〃Now that you listen to me； I would ask why those fearsome ruffians are in hiding by your tent？〃 continued Li Hui。
Ma Chao； suddenly stricken with shame； ordered them to retire。 Li Hui continued his speech。
〃Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； is considerate to his subordinates； and I am certain he will succeed； and so I have forsaken Liu Zhang to cleave to him。 Your honored father joined him in destroying rebels。 Why do you not flee from darkness into the light？ Thereby you would avenge your father and bee famous。〃
Ma Chao； convinced of the wisdom of the course thus remended； proved his conversion by sending for Yang Bo and slaying him forthwith。 Taking with him the head of his victim； Ma Chao acpanied Li Hui to the Pass and tendered his submission。 Liu Bei weled him warmly and treated him as a highly honored guest。
Ma Chao bowed his head； saying； 〃Meeting you； O Illustrious Lord； is like seeing the clear sky when the clouds have been swept aside。〃
When Sun Qian returned from Yang Song's place； Liu Bei detached a force to go to the capture of Chengdu； left two generals； Meng Da and Huo Jun to guard Jiameng Pass； and made a triumphant entry into Mianzhu with the wele of Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong。
Two generals of West River Land； Ma Han and Liu Jun； came to oppose Liu Bei； but Zhao Yun went out against them while Liu Bei was entertaining Ma Chao at a banquet on the city wall。 Ere it had concluded； Zhao Yun slew both the generals and brought their heads to the banquet chamber。 This exploit put Ma Chao on his mettle and doubled his respect for the conquerors。
〃Let not my lord attack；〃 said Ma Chao。 〃I will make Liu Zhang surrender of his own accord。 Should he resist； my brother Ma Dai and I will take the city and offer it to you with both hands。〃
Liu Bei was very pleased with the course of events。 The day was indeed one of rejoicing。
But Liu Zhang was greatly distressed at the news of his fresh misfortunes； which reached him with the return of his defeated soldiers。 He barred the gates and stopped all exits。 Before long came news of the approach of Ma Chao with an army of rescue。 The Imperial Protector then ventured to mount the walls； and soon Ma Chao and Ma Dai rode up and stood below the ramparts。
And Ma Chao called out； 〃I wish to speak with Liu Zhang。〃
Then Liu Zhang showed himself； and Ma Chao plunged into the matter without more ado。
〃I took the leadership of Zhang Lu's army to rescue Yizhou； little thinking that； under the calumnious advice of Yang Song； Zhang Lu would try to slay me。 However； now I have gone over to the side of Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； and advise you； Sir； to do the same； you and all your officers。 Thereby you will all escape harm。 If anyone holds on a misguided course； I shall take the city。〃
Such words came as a shock； and Liu Zhang paled。 His feelings overcame him and he swooned。
When he came to his senses； he muttered； 〃I am stupid and I am sorry。 Better open the gates and end it。 The city will be saved。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried Dong He。 〃There are thirty thousand of good soldiers in the city and ample money and stores for a year to e。 Hold out！〃
But Liu Zhang was broken； saying； 〃My father and I have ruled Shu for twenty years and have done no particular good for the people。 We have fought for three years： The grass has been be stained with the blood of my people。 The fault is mine。 I could not bear it； and so I see no better way than to surrender； whereby I may bring peace to the people。〃
Those about him wept。 One man spoke； saying； 〃You speak as Heaven guides you。〃
Turning toward him they recognized a man of Baxi named Qiao Zhou； who had the reputation of being an astrologer。
〃I have studied the aspect of the heavens and a multitude of stars gathered over the west； one of which shone as the full moon： A right royal star。 And I recall a popular couplet of last year：
〃When es the ruler from the east；
Then may you on new rice feast。
〃None can withstand the decree of the Most High。〃
Liu Ba and Huang Quan； who heard these words； were very angry at such a speech and rose up； swords in hand； to smite the speaker。 But Liu Zhang stayed them。
Next came news that Xu Jing； the Governor of the Shu District； had climbed the wall and gone over to the invaders。 This was the last blow。 Liu Zhang went home weeping。
Next day they reported that Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； had sent Jian Yong as legate to visit Liu Zhang and he was even then at the city gate。 Jian Yong was admitted； and he entered； riding in a carriage and looking about him most haughtily。
Suddenly he was hailed from the street by a man with a sword in his hand； who cried； 〃You have got your wish； wretched creature； and you seem to think there is no one to pare with you。 But do not look so contemptuously at us of Shu！〃
Jian Yong quickly got out of his carriage to speak to the speaker； who was a man of Mianzhu named Qin Mi。
〃Worthy brother；〃 said Jian Yong； 〃I did not recognize you。 I pray you not to be angry。〃
Both then went to visit Liu Zhang； and they spoke of the liberality and broad…mindedness of Liu Bei； said he had no intention to harm anyone； and praised him to such effect that Liu Zhang then and there made up his mind finally that he would give up the struggle。 So he treated Jian Yong very honorably that day。
And the next day； taking his seal and insignia of office and his archives； he acpanied Jian Yong out of the city and went to Liu Bei's camp。 Liu Bei came out in person to receive him。
Taking Liu Zhang by the hand； Liu Bei wept； saying； 〃It is not that I wish to act cruelly or wrongly。 I am the victim of circumstances and cannot help it。〃
They entered the camp together； where the seal of office and the documents changed hands。 Afterwards they rode into the city side by side。 The people gave Liu Bei a cordial wele； burning incense and illuminating the city。 The victor went to the residence of the chief of the region； where he took his seat and was saluted by all the subordinate officials。
However； Huang Quan and Liu Ba stayed away from the ceremony。 This annoyed the more violent of Liu Bei's supporters； and they wished to kill the delinquents。 But Liu Bei would not allow violence and threatened condign punishment to anyone who might interfere with these two。 When the reception was over； Liu Bei went to visit the two recalcitrants； whereupon both came out and made their obeisance