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〃If this is so； it is hard to make a plan that will ensure success；〃 said Lu Meng。 〃I have already advised my master to attack Jingzhou； but I am unable to meet this plication。〃
Therefore he made illness an excuse to stay at home； and sent to inform Sun Quan； who was very distressed at the news。
Then said Lu Xun； 〃The illness is feigned。 He is quite well。〃
〃If you know that so well； go and see；〃 said Sun Quan。
Away went Lu Xun and speedily arrived at Lukou； where he saw Lu Meng； who indeed appeared to be in perfect health。 Nor did his face bear any signs of recent illness。
〃The Marquis of Wu has sent me to inquire after your honorable plaint；〃 said Lu Xun。
〃How distressed I am that the state of my wretched carcass has caused the Marquis the inconvenience of inquiring〃 replied Lu Meng。
〃The Marquis placed a very heavy responsibility on your shoulders； but you are not making the best use of the opportunity。 However； what is the real origin of your distress？〃
Lu Meng sat gazing at his visitor a long time without replying。
〃I have a little remedy；〃 said Lu Xun。 〃Do you think you might use it？〃
Lu Meng dismissed the servants； and when the two were alone； he said； 〃This remedy； my friend； please tell me what it is。〃
〃Your ailment is due simply to the efficiency of the Jingzhou soldiers。 I know how to keep the beacons from flaring； and I can make the defenders of Jingzhou e to you with their hands tied。 Would that cure you？〃
〃My friend； you speak as if you saw into my inmost heart。 Pray unfold your good scheme。〃
〃Guan Yu thinks himself too much of a hero for anyone to dare to face him； and his only anxiety is yourself。 Now you must take advantage of this excuse you have made of illness actually to resign this post； so that the pretense may be kept up and another person be appointed to your place。 Let this person； your successor； humbly praise Guan Yu till that general bees so conceited that he will withdraw all the troops from Jingzhou to send them against Fancheng。 When Jingzhou is left undefended then is our chance； and the city will fall into our hands。〃
〃The plan seems most excellent；〃 said Lu Meng。
Wherefore Lu Meng's malady waxed worse； so that he was confined to bed。 He gave Lu Xun his letter of resignation to carry back to Sun Quan。 The messenger hastened back and explained the ruse to his master； who soon after issued a mand for Lu Meng to retire and attend to the recovery of his health。
But Lu Meng came to Sun Quan to discuss the matter of a successor。
Sun Quan said to him； 〃As to the appointment at Lukou； you know Zhou Yu remended Lu Su； who at his last moment proposed you。 Now you ought to be able to mention some other talented and well…known officer to succeed you。〃
〃If you choose a well…known man； Guan Yu will certainly be on his guard against him。 Now Lu Xun is deep and farseeing； but he has no widespread fame。 Hence no particular notice would be taken of his appointment and no countermeasures taken。 So he is the most suitable person to send。〃
Sun Quan agreed and thereupon promoted Lu Xun to the rank of General of the Right Army and Admiral of the Right Fleet； and sent him to defend the port。
〃I am very young；〃 said Lu Xun； 〃and feel unequal to such a post。〃
〃Lu Meng has proposed you； and you will not make any mistakes。 Pray do not decline；〃 said Sun Quan。
So the appointment was made； and Lu Xun set out at once。 When he had assumed charge of the cavalry； the infantry； and the marines； he set about drawing up a letter to Guan Yu； and he selected fine horses and beautiful silks and good wines and delicacies suitable for gifts to go with the letter。 He sent all by the hand of a trusty messenger to Fancheng。
The news of the change of mand reached Guan Yu when he lay ill from the effects of his wound and unable to conduct any military operations。 Close upon the news came the letter and the gifts from Lu Xun； and the bearer was called in to see the warrior。
〃Friend Sun Quan was not very prudent when he made a manding General out of a mere youth；〃 said Guan Yu； pointing to the messenger。
The messenger said； 〃General Lu Xun sends this letter and some presents； which he hopes you will accept。 He also sends his felicitations； and would rejoice if the two houses could bee friends。〃
Guan Yu read the letter； which was couched in most modest language； and then threw back his head and laughed aloud。 He bade the attendants receive the various gifts； and sent the bearer away。
The messenger forthwith returned to Lukou and reported to Lu Xun； 〃Guan Yu seemed very gratified； and he felt no anxiety and danger toward the South Land。〃
Spies were sent out to report on proceedings； and they returned to say that half the troops of Jingzhou had been sent to assist in the siege of Fancheng。 That city was to be seriously assaulted as soon as Guan Yu had recovered。
This news was promptly sent on to Sun Quan； who at once called in Lu Meng to decide upon the next move。
〃Now is the favorable moment to get possession of Jingzhou；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃I propose to send you and my brother； Sun Jiao； to lead the army。〃
This Sun Jiao was really only a cousin； as he was the second son of Sun Quan's uncle； Sun Jing。
But Lu Meng objected。 〃My lord； if you think to employ me； then employ me only； if Sun Jiao； then Sun Jiao only。 You cannot have forgotten that Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu were associate manders； and although the final decision lay with Zhou Yu； yet the other presumed upon his seniority and there was some unfriendliness between the two。 All ended well because Cheng Pu recognized the ability of his colleague and so supported him。 I know I am not so clever as Zhou Yu； but Sun Jiao's consanguinity will be a greater obstacle than mere length of service； and I fear he may not be wholly with me。〃
Sun Quan saw the force of the contention； and appointed Lu Meng to sole mand with Sun Jiao to help him in the missariat。 Lu Meng thanked his lord for his mission； soon got his thirty thousand marines together； and assembled eighty ships for the expedition。
Lu Meng dressed a number of sailors in the plain white costumes of ordinary merchants and put them on board to work his vessels。 He concealed his veterans in the partments。 He selected seven generals………Han Dang； Jiang Qin； Zhu Ran； Pan Zhang； Zhou Tai； Xu Sheng； and Ding Feng………to serve under him and settled the order of their successive movements。 The remainder of the forces was left with Sun Quan as supports and reserves。 Letters were also written to Cao Cao that he might cooperate by sending his army to attack Guan Yu in the rear； and to Lu Xun that he would act in concert。
Then the sailors in plain white dress navigated the ships to River Xunyang as quickly as possible； and then crossed to the north bank。
When the beacon…keepers came down to question them； the men of Wu said； 〃We are traders forced into the bank by contrary winds。〃
And they offered gifts to the beacon…keepers； who accepted them and let the ships e to an anchor close to the shore。
At about the second watch the soldiers came out of hiding in the holds of the transports； suddenly fell upon the beacon…keepers and made them prisoners； officers and soldiers。 Next the signal for a general landing was given； and all the soldiers from the eighty ships went ashore。 The guard stations were attacked； and all the troops captured and carried off to the ships； not one being allowed to escape。 Then the force of Wu hurried off to the city of Jingzhou； having so far carried out their plans that no one knew of their ing。
Nearing Jingzhou； Lu Meng spoke kindly to his captives； and gave them gifts and forted them in order to induce them to get the gates opened for him to enter the city。 He won them over to his side； and they promised to aid him。 They would show a flare as a signal that the gates were free。 So they went in advance and arrived at the gates about midnight。 They called the watch。 The wardens of the gate； recognizing their voices； opened for them。 Once within； they shouted and lit the flares。 Immediately the soldiers of Wu came in with a rush and were soon in possession。
The first order issued by Lu Meng was to spare the people。 Instant death should be the punishment for any murder or robbery。 The various officials in the city were retained in their offices and continued their functions。 Special guards were set over Guan Yu's family dwelling； and none dared break open any other house。 A messenger was sent with tidings to Sun Quan。
One very wet day Lu Meng； with a few horsemen as escort； was going round the walls and visiting the gates。 One of the soldiers took from a passer…by a broad…brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armor dry。 Lu Meng saw it； and the offender was seized。 He was a fellow…villager of Lu Meng； but that did not save him。
〃You are an old acquaintance； but you knew my order。 Why did you disobey it？〃
〃I thought the rain would spoil my uniform； and I took the hat to protect it。 I did not take it for my own advantage； but to protect state property。 Spare me； O General； for the sake of our mon dwelling…place。〃
〃I know you were protecting your armor； but still it was disobedience to the order against taking anything from the people。〃
The soldier was beheaded； and his head exposed as a warning。 But