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in the midst of an army ready for battle。 Xu Chu dismounted and entered the camp to speak with Liu Bei。
〃Sir； on what business have you e？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃The Prime Minister has sent me to request you to return as he has further matters to discuss with you。〃
〃When a general has once taken the field； even the royal mand is of no effect。 I bade farewell to the Emperor； I received the Prime Minister's mands； and there can be nothing further to talk about。 You may return forthwith and take that as my reply。〃
Xu Chu was undecided what action to take。 He thought； 〃The Prime Minister cherishes a friendship with Liu Bei； and I have no orders to kill。 I can only return with this reply and ask further instructions。〃
So Xu Chu left。 When he related what had occurred； Cao Cao still hesitated to take any action。
〃This refusal to return means enmity；〃 said Cheng Yu and Guo Jia。
〃Still； two of my people are with him；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃He will not dare do anything unfriendly； I think。 Beside； I sent him and I cannot go back on my own orders。〃
So Liu Bei was not pursued。
He took his arms； he fed his steed；
And fared forth willingly；
Intent to acplish his King's behest
Deep graven on his memory。
At least he had broken out of his cage；
He heard not the tiger's roar；
He had shaken the shackles from his feet；
As a dragon on high could soar。
As soon as Ma Teng heard that Liu Bei had set forth； he reported that pressing business called him and marched back to his own region； Xiliang。
When Liu Bei reached Xuzhou； the Deputy Imperial Protector； Che Zhou； came to meet him。 When the official banquet was over； Sun Qian and Mi Zhu paid their visit to Che Zhou。 Then Liu Bei proceeded to his residence to greet his family。
Scouts were sent out to see what Yuan Shu was doing。 They came back with the intelligence： 〃Yuan Shu's arrogance had driven away his generals； Lei Bo and Chen Lan； who had returned to their mountain fastness in Mount Song。 His forces thus reduced； he wrote resigning the imperial style he had assumed in favor of his brother Yuan Shao； who at once manded his presence。 Thereupon he packed up the Palace fittings he had made； got the remnants of his army in order； and marched west。〃
When Yuan Shu neared Xuzhou； Liu Bei led out his force of fifty thousand soldiers and four generals………Guan Yu； Zhang Fei； Zhu Ling； and Lu Zhao。 Yuan Shu sent out Ji Ling to force a way through。 But Zhang Fei opposed him and attacked without a parley。 In the tenth bout Zhang Fei cut down Ji Ling。 The defeated troops fled in all directions。
Then Yuan Shu came up with his own army。 Liu Bei placed Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao in mand of the left wing； Guan Yu and Zhang Fei the right wing； and himself in the center； and so met Yuan Shu。
As soon as the enemy came near； Liu Bei began to abuse him； crying； 〃O rebellious one； and wicked； I have a mand to destroy you！ Yield； then； with good grace and so escape your punishment！〃
〃Base weaver of mats and mean maker of straw sandals！ How dare you make light of me？〃 replied Yuan Shu； and he gave the signal for an attack。
Liu Bei retired； and his generals from the flanks closed in。 They smote the army of Yuan Shu till corpses littered the plain and blood flowed in streams。 At the same time Yuan Shu's former generals； Lei Bo and Chen Lan from Mount Song； attacked the baggage train and pleted the destruction。 Yuan Shu tried to retreat to Shouchun； but Lei Bo and Chen Lan barred the road。
Yuan Shu sought refuge in Jiangling； with one thousand troops left of all his army。 And these were the weakly ones； able neither to fight nor flee。 It was then the height of summer； and their food was nearly exhausted。 The whole provision consisted of thirty carts of wheat。 This was made over to the soldiers； and the members of his household went hungry。 Many died of actual starvation。 Yuan Shu could not swallow the coarse food that the soldiers lived on。 One day he bade his cook bring him some honeyed water to quench his thirst。
〃There is no water； save that tainted with blood；〃 replied the cook。 〃Where can I get honeyed water？〃
This was the last straw。 Yuan Shu sat up on his couch and rolled out on the floor with a loud cry。 Blood gushed from his mouth and thus he died。 It was the sixth month of the fourth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 199）。
The last days of Han approached and weapons clashed in every quarter；
The misguided Yuan Shu； lost to all sense of honor；
Forgetful of his forefathers； who had filled the state's highest offices；
Madly aspired to bee himself Emperor；
Resting his outrageous claim on the possession of the Seal；
And arrogantly boasting that thus he fulfilled the design of Heaven。
Alas！ Sick unto death he vainly begged for a little honeyed water；
He died； alone。
Yuan Shu being dead； his nephew； Yuan Yin； taking his coffin and his wife and children； sought shelter in Lujiang。 There the Magistrate； Xu Liu； slew all the survivors。 Among the possessions Xu Liu found the Imperial Hereditary Seal； which he at once took to the capital and presented to Cao Cao； for which service he was made Governor of Gaoling。 Since then the Imperial Hereditary Seal belonged to Cao Cao。
When Liu Bei heard that Yuan Shu was dead； he prepared a report to the Throne； and sent it to Cao Cao。 He sent the two generals deputed by Cao Cao； Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao； back to the capital； keeping the army to defend Xuzhou。 He also personally went through the countryside manding the people to resume their ordinary avocations。
Cao Cao was angry when his two officers returned without their man and was going to put them to death。 Xun Yu reasoned with him。
〃The power was in Liu Bei's hands； and so these two had no alternative；〃 said Xun Yu。
So they were pardoned。
〃You should instruct Che Zhou； the Deputy Imperial Protector； to try to destroy him；〃 said Xun Yu。
Accordingly he sent secret orders to Che Zhou； who took Chen Deng into his confidence and asked his advice。
Chen Deng said； 〃That is easy。 Liu Bei is outside the city； and an ambush in the city gate to attack him on his return from the country will be final。 I will attack the escort with arrows from the city walls。〃
Che Zhou agreed to try this。
Then Chen Deng went to his father to tell him。 Chen Gui bade him go and warn the intended victim。 Chen Deng at once rode away to do so。 Before long he met Guan Yu and Zhang Fei； to whom he told his story。
Now Liu Bei was following some distance behind。 As soon as Zhang Fei heard of the plot； he wanted to attack the ambush； but Guan Yu proposed another plan。
Said he； 〃Attacking the ambush will be a failure； since we are without the walls。 And I think we can pass the death of Che Zhou。 In the night we will pretend to be some of Cao Cao's soldiers and entice him out to meet us。 We will slay him。〃
Zhang Fei approved of the plan。 Now the soldiers still had some of Cao Cao's army banners and wore similar armor。 About the third watch they came to the city wall and hailed the gate。 Those on guard asked who they were。 The men replied that they were Zhang Liao's troops sent from the capital。 This was told Che Zhou who sent hastily for Chen Deng to ask his advice。
〃If I do not receive them； they will suspect my loyalty；〃 said Che Zhou。 〃Yet if I go out； I may be victim of a ruse。〃
So he went up on the wall and said； 〃It is too dark to distinguish friends from foes。 You must wait till daylight。〃
〃If Liu Bei know our presence； he will attack；〃 shouted back the soldiers。
And they begged him to let them in。 Still Che Zhou hesitated。 They shouted louder than ever to open the gate。
Presently Che Zhou girded on his armor； placed himself at the head of one thousand cavalry and went out。 He galloped over the bridge； shouting； 〃Where is Zhang Liao？〃
Then lights blazed around； and he recognized Guan Yu with his sword drawn。
〃Wretch！〃 cried Guan Yu。 〃You would plot to slay my brother； would you？〃
Che Zhou was too frightened to make good defense； and he turned to reenter the gate。 But as he reached the drawbridge； Chen Deng shot out flights of arrows； wherefore Che Zhou turned aside and galloped along under the wall。 But Guan Yu came quickly in pursuit。 His sword was raised aloft； and as it came down； Che Zhou fell to the earth。
Guan Yu cut off his head and returned； shouting； 〃I have slain the traitor。 You others need not fear if you only surrender！〃
They threw aside their spears and gave in。 As soon as the excitement had calmed； Guan Yu took the head to show Liu Bei and told him the story of the plot。
〃But what will Cao Cao think of this？〃 said Liu Bei。 〃And he may e。〃
〃If he does； we can meet him；〃 said Guan Yu。
But Liu Bei was grieved beyond measure。 When he entered the city； the elders of the people knelt in the road to wele him。 When he reached his residence； he found that Zhang Fei had already exterminated the family of Che Zhou。
Liu Bei said； 〃We have slain one of Cao Cao's best officers； and how will he stand that？〃
〃Never mind！〃 cried Chen Deng。 〃I have a plan。〃
Just from grave danger extricated；
A looming war must be placated。
The plan proposed by Chen Deng will be disclosed next。
Main Next to Chapter 22 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Yuan Shao And Cao Cao Both Take The Field；