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e me surety with my master that Jingzhou would be returned after Yizhou had been taken。 Well； now that country is in his possession； but Jingzhou is still unreturned。 Is not this a breach of good faith？〃
〃This is a government affair；〃 said Guan Yu。 〃Such matters should not be introduced at a banquet。〃
〃My master only has petty possessions in the east； and he allowed the temporary loan of Jingzhou out of consideration for the need in which you then were。 But now you have Yizhou； and Jingzhou should be given up。 The Imperial Uncle has even yielded three territories； but you； Sir； seem unwilling to let them go。 This seems hard to explain on reasonable grounds。〃
Guan Yu replied； 〃After the Red Cliffs； my brother braved the arrows and the stones in the battle at Wuling and with all his strength drove back the enemy。 Did he get a single foot of land for all his efforts？ Now you e to force this place out of him。〃
〃No； I do not；〃 said Lu Su。 〃But at the time that you and your brother suffered defeat at Dangyang； when you were helpless and in the greatest straits； fugitives you knew not whither； then my master was moved with pity and did not grudge the land。 So he gave your brother a foothold whence he might be able to acplish other ends。 But your brother has presumed upon long…suffering。 He has attained his end………the country of his desire………and still he occupies Jingzhou。 Such greed and such treachery will make the whole world laugh him to shame； as you know quite well。〃
〃All that is no affair of mine； it is my brother's。 I cannot yield the land。〃
〃I know that by the oath in the Peach Garden you three were to live or die together。 But your brother has consented to yield： How are you going to get out of that？〃
Before Guan Yu could reply； however； Zhou Cang burst into the conversation； roaring out； 〃Only the virtuous get hold of territory： Does that mean only you people of East Wu？〃
Guan Yu's anger now showed itself。 His face changed； he rose in his place； took his sword from his sword…bearer； and said fiercely； 〃How dare you talk like this at a discussion of state matters？ Go！ And go quickly！〃
Zhou Cang understood。 He left the hall； made his way to the river and waved the red call…flag。 The ships of Guan Ping darted across like arrows and were ready for action。
The mighty sword in his right hand； Guan Yu laid hold of Lu Su with his left and； simulating intoxication； said； 〃You have kindly invited me today； Sir； but do not say anything about Jingzhou； for I am so drunk that I may forget our old friendship。 Some other day I hope to invite you to Jingzhou； and then we will talk about that matter。〃
Poor Lu Su's soul almost left his body with fright as he was led down to the river bank in the grip of his guest。 Lu Meng and Gan Ning； who Lu Su had placed in ambush； dared not act and so made no move lest they should bring about the doom of Lu Su。 When they got to the bank； Guan Yu released his host； got on board； and then said farewell。 Lu Su stood dumbfounded； staring at the ship； while a fair breeze bore it quickly out of sight。
This episode has been memorated in verse：
He showed his contempt for the soldiers of Wu
By going alone to their traitor feast；
As Liu Xiangru of old he was much bolder；
As the Shengchi Lake game was played again。
Guan Yu took his homeward way； while Lu Su and his two confederates talked over what had occurred。
〃What can be done now？〃 said Lu Su。
〃The only thing is to tell our master and let him send an army；〃 replied Lu Meng。
Lu Su sent a messenger to Sun Quan； who； in his wrath； was for sending every available soldier at once against Jingzhou。
But at this crisis there came news that Cao Cao was raising a huge army with the intention of attacking the South Land。 So hasty orders were sent to Lu Su to make no move； but to send all the troops he could toward Hefei and Ruxu in the north to repel Cao Cao。
However； Cao Cao did not march south。 One of his military advisers； Fu Gan； sent in a memorial against the scheme：
〃I； Fu Gan； understand that inspiring fear is the chief consideration in war； as inculcating virtue is in government。 These two bined in one person fit him to be a prince。 Formerly； in the days of disturbance； you； Illustrious Sir； attacked the rebels and restored tranquillity almost everywhere； the only regions unsubdued and not under your control being Wu and Shu。 The former of these is protected by the Great River； the latter secured by its mountains； and both difficult to conquer by force of arms。
〃My humble opinion is that it is more fitting to increase the authority of civil government； to lay aside arms and rest weapons； to cease from war and train your soldiers until the times shall be favorable。 If your mighty legions be now sent to camp on the river bank and the rebels should take refuge behind their natural defenses； your soldiers will be unable to prove their prowess； and should extraordinary strategies be planned； the rebels will not be available。 In such a case your high prestige would be impaired。 I trust； Illustrious Sir； you will deign to examine this。〃
After reading this； Cao Cao ceased to think of an expedition against the south。 Instead； he established schools and set himself to attract people of ability。
About the same time four of his officers………Wang Can； Du Xi； Wei Kai； and He He………conceived the idea of getting for Cao Cao the honor of 〃Prince of Wei〃。
But Xun You opposed this course； saying； 〃The Prime Minister's rank is already that of 〃Duke〃； and he has received the additional honor of the Nine Dignities； so that his position is extremely high。 If he advances to the rank of kingship； it will be inconsistent with reasonableness。〃
But Cao Cao was annoyed at this opposition and said； 〃Does the man wish to emulate Xun Yu？〃
When Xun You heard of Cao Cao's anger； he was grieved and fell ill； so that in a few days he died。 He was fifty…eight years of age。 Cao Cao had his remains interred honorably； and he stayed his ambition for princely rank。
But there came a day when Cao Cao entered the Palace wearing his sword and made his way to the apartment where the Emperor and the Empress were seated。 The Empress rose in a fright； and the Emperor gazed at his minister in terror。
〃Sun Quan and Liu Bei have each seized a portion of the empire and no longer respect the court。 What is to be done？〃
To this abrupt speech the Emperor replied； 〃The matter lies within your province。〃
Cao Cao answered； angrily； 〃If such a remark be known outside； they will say I treat my prince without respect！〃
〃If you will help me； I shall be most happy；〃 said His Majesty。 〃If not； then I trust to your kindness to let me alone。〃
At this Cao Cao glared at the Emperor and went out full of resentment。
The courtiers said； 〃It is said that the Duke of Wei desires to bee Prince of Wei； and soon he will aspire to the throne。〃
Both the Emperor and his consort wept。
Presently Her Majesty said； 〃My father； Fu Wan； has long nourished a desire to slay this man。 Now I will indite a secret letter to my father to acplish his end。〃
〃Remember the former attempt with Dong Cheng。 The plot was discovered and great misery ensued。 I fear that this will leak out also； and both of us will be undone。〃
Said the Empress； 〃We pass our days in constant disfort； like sitting on a rug full of needles。 If life is to be like this； one were better dead。 But I know one loyal man among the attendants to whom I may entrust the letter。 That one is Mu Shun； and he will deliver it。〃
Thereupon Empress Fu summoned Mu Shun within； and having sent away all others； they told their distress to the faithful one。
Emperor Xian said； 〃That fellow Cao Cao desires the dignity of a prince； and soon he will aspire to the throne itself。 I； the Emperor； wish to order the father of my consort to make away with the man； but the difficulty is that all the courtiers are his creatures and there is none whom I can trust save yourself。 I desire you to convey this secret letter to Fu Wan。 I know your loyalty and am sure you will prove no betrayer。〃
〃I am the recipient of much graciousness for which not even death would prove my gratitude。 Thy servant prays that he may be allowed to undertake this。〃
The letter was given to Mu Shun； who hid it in his hair； made his way out of the precincts and handed it to its owner。 Fu Wan recognized the handwriting of his daughter and read it。
Turning to the messenger； Fu Wan said； 〃You know the fellow's creatures are many； and one must act with extreme caution against him。 Unless we have the aid of Sun Quan's and Liu Bei's armies； Cao Cao will certainly attain his ends。 In this matter we must gain the support of every loyal and faithful one in the court so that within and without there may be a simultaneous attack。〃
〃Then； O Father of the Empress； write a letter in reply asking for a secret edict； so that we may send to the south and the west to join in the attack。〃
So Fu Wan posed a reply； which he gave to Mu Shun to take into the Palace。 This time also the letter was concealed in his hair。
But there was a traitor； and Cao Cao heard of the letters。 So he waited at a Palace gate for Mu Shun to e out。
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Cao Cao； when Mu Shun appeared。
〃The Empress is indisposed and has bidden me call