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The plan of action being prepared； Zhuge Liang went out of the city to wele his brother。 But instead of taking him to his own residence； Zhuge Liang took him to the guest…house。 When the greetings were over； the visitor suddenly lifted up his voice and wept。
〃If you have any trouble； my brother； pray tell。 Why do you weep thus？〃 asked Zhuge Liang。
〃Alas！ My family are lost！〃 cried he。
〃I suppose it is in the matter of the return of Jingzhou？ If your family have been seized on my account； how can I bear it calmly？ But do not be anxious； my brother。 I shall certainly find some way out of the difficulty。〃
This reply pleased Zhuge Jin； and the two brothers went to visit Liu Bei。
The letter of Sun Quan was presented； but when Liu Bei had read it he said； angrily； 〃He is related to me by marriage； and he has profited by my absence from Jingzhou to steal away his sister。 That is a sort of kindliness I find it hard to bear。 When I am just going to lead my army to the South Land to take vengeance； is it likely he will get Jingzhou out of me？〃
At this point Zhuge Liang prostrated himself weeping at his lord's feet and said； 〃The Marquis of Wu has seized my brother's family； and he will put them all to death if the land be not given up。 Can I remain alive if such a fate befall them？ I pray my lord for my sake to give back the region and prevent any breach between my brother and me。〃
But Liu Bei refused。 He seemed obdurate； but Zhuge Liang persisted in his entreaty。 Finally Liu Bei reluctantly consented。
〃Since things are so； and the Instructor pleads for it； I will return half；〃 said he。 〃I will give up three territories………Changsha； Lingling； and Guiyang。〃
〃Then； as you have consented； prepare letters ordering Guan Yu to yield these three territories；〃 said Zhuge Jin。
Liu Bei said； 〃When you see my brother； you must use most gracious words to him； for his nature is as a fierce fire； and even I fear what he may do。 So be very careful。〃
Zhuge Jin； having got the letter； took his leave and went straightway to Jingzhou。 He asked for an interview； and was received in the grand reception hall。
When both were seated in their respective places； the emissary produced the letter of Liu Bei； saying； 〃The Imperial Uncle has promised to return three territories to my master； and I hope； General； you will hand them over at once and let me return。〃
Guan Yu's countenance changed； and he said； 〃The oath sworn in the Peach Garden bound me and my brother to support the dynasty of Han。 Jingzhou is a portion of their domain； and how can any part be given to another？ When a leader is in the field； he receives no orders； not even those of his prince。 Although you have brought letters from my brother； yet will I not yield the territories。〃
〃But the Marquis of Wu has laid hands upon my family； and they will be slain if the land be not given up。 I crave your pity； O General！〃
〃This is but a ruse on his part； but it does not deceive me！〃
〃Why are you so pitiless？〃
Guan Yu drew his sword； saying； 〃Let us have no more。 This sword is pitiless！〃
〃It will put the Instructor to shame；〃 said Guan Ping。 〃I pray you not to be angry； my father。〃
〃Were it not for my respect for the Instructor； you would never go back to the South Land；〃 said Guan Yu to Zhuge Jin。
Zhuge Jin； overwhelmed with shame； took his leave； sought his ship； and hastily returned to Chengdu to see his brother。 But Zhuge Liang had gone away upon a journey。 However； he saw Liu Bei and related what had happened； and said that Guan Yu was going to slay him。
〃My brother is hasty；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃It is difficult to argue with him。 But return home for the present； and when I have finished my conquest of Hanzhong； I will transfer Guan Yu to another post； and then I may be able to return Jingzhou。〃
Zhuge Jin had no choice but to accept this reply and carry the unsatisfactory news to his master。
Sun Quan was greatly annoyed and said； 〃This running to and fro was nothing more than one of your brother's tricks。〃
The unhappy messenger denied； saying； 〃No； no！ Zhuge Liang had interceded with many tears and obtained the promise to return three territories from Liu Bei。 It was the obstinacy of Guan Yu that spoiled all。〃
〃Since Liu Bei said he would return three territories； we may send officials to take over their administration。 Think you that might be done？〃 said Sun Quan。
〃What you say； my lord； seems most proper。〃
The family of Zhuge Jin were restored to liberty； and officers were sent to take charge of the three territories of Changsha； Lingling； and Guiyang。
But they quickly returned； saying； 〃Guan Yu would have none of us； but had chased us away at once with threats to kill us if we did not hasten！〃
Sun Quan then summoned Lu Su and laid the blame on him。
〃You are Liu Bei's guarantor in this matter。 How can you sit quietly looking on while Liu Bei fails to perform his contract？〃 said Sun Quan。
〃I have thought out a plan and was just going to impart it to you；〃 said Lu Su。
〃And what is your plan？〃
Lu Su said； 〃There is a camp at Lukou。 Invite Guan Yu to a banquet there and try to persuade him。 If he still remains obstinate； have some assassins ready to slay him。 Should he refuses the banquet； then we must try conclusions with an army。〃
〃This suits me；〃 said Sun Quan； 〃and it shall be done。〃
〃It should not be done！〃 interrupted Kan Ze。 〃The man is as bold as a tiger and not at all like mon humans。 The plan will fail and result in more harm。〃
〃Then when may I expect to get my Jingzhou？〃 asked Sun Quan； angrily。
Sun Quan ordered Lu Su to carry out his plan； and Lu Su went to Lukou forthwith and settled the preliminaries of the banquet with Lu Meng and Gan Ning。 The place selected was by the river。 Then Lu Su wrote a letter and found a persuasive person to deliver it。 The messenger set out and sailed across the river to the post； where he was received by Guan Ping； who conducted him to his father。
〃As Lu Su invites me； I will e tomorrow。 You may return；〃 was Guan Yu's reply。
After the messenger had gone； Guan Ping said to his father； 〃Why did you promise to go？ I think Lu Su means you no good。〃
〃Do you think I do not know？ This has all e out of my refusal to yield those three territories。 They are going to try coercion at this banquet。 If I refuse； they will think I fear them。 I will go tomorrow in a small ship with just my ten personal guards； and we shall see whether Lu Su will dare to e near me。〃
〃But； Father； why risk your priceless self in the very den of a tiger？ I think you are not giving due importance to my uncle's charge。〃
〃I have been in the midst of million blades and arrows； yet I have been riding through it like traveling through a meadow of no one。 Think you that I shall begin to show fear of a few such rats as those？〃
Nor was the son alone in remonstrance。 Ma Liang also warned his chief。
〃Although Lu Su has a great repute； yet now he is pushed hard。 He certainly is badly disposed toward you； and you must be careful； General。〃
＇e＇ Liu Xiangru； prime minister of Zhao in the Warring States period； boldly behaved in the court of the powerful Qin。 When King Zhaoxiang of Qin tried to make away the purest jadestone from Zhao； Liu Xiangru threatened to destroy the stone； and so King Zhaoxiang backed up and let Liu Xiangru to return to Zhao。 。。。。。
Guan Yu replied； 〃I have given my word； and shall I withdraw from it？ In the days of the Warring States； Liu Xiangru* of the state of Zhao had not the force even to bind a chicken； yet in the assembly at Shengchi Lake he regarded not the prince and the ministers of the powerful state of Qin； but did his duty without fear of consequences。 Have I not learned to face any number of foes？ I cannot break my promise。〃
〃If you must go；〃 said Ma Liang； 〃at least go prepared。〃
〃Tell my son to choose out ten fast ships and five hundred of good marines and be in readiness to help me at need。 And when he sees a red flag waved； he can e over to my aid。〃
The order was given； and the little squadron was got ready。
The messenger returned to his master and told him that Guan Yu had boldly accepted the invitation； and Lu Su and Lu Meng took counsel together。
〃What do you think of this？〃 asked Lu Su。
〃If Guan Yu es with a force； Gan Ning and I will be in readiness for him by the riverside。 And you will hear our bomb as a signal that we are attacking。 If he has no force with him； the assassins can set on during the banquet。〃
Next day a look…out was kept on the bank； and early in the day a single ship came along。 It was manned by very few men； and a simple red flag flew out on the breeze showing but one word； Guan 。 Presently they could see him； a handsome figure in a green robe and navy…blue turban。 Beside him stood Zhou Cang； his sword…bearer； and near him were eight or nine fine…looking men； each with a sword at his side。
Guan Yu landed and was received by the trembling Lu Su； who conducted him to the hall； bowed his greetings； and led him to the banquet chamber。 When Guan Yu drank to his host； Lu Su dared not raise his eyes； but Guan Yu was perfectly posed。
When they had bee mellow with wine； Lu Su said； 〃I have a word to say to you； Sir； if haply I may have your attention。 You know that your illustrious brother； the Imperial Uncle； made me s