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At the same time he gave secret orders to the custodians to let the man escape。 The man found his opportunity； crept out of camp； and went over to the enemy； to whom he betrayed the plan of a night attack。 As the man bore signs of savage punishment； Liu Dai was the more disposed to credit his desertion and tale。 So Liu Dai made his arrangements； putting the greater part of his troops in ambush outside his camp so that it was empty。
That night； having divided his army into three parties； Zhang Fei went to attack the camp。 A few men were ordered to advance directly； dash in and set fire going。 Two larger bodies of troops were to go round to the rear of the camp and attack when they saw the fire well started。 At the third watch； Zhang Fei； with his veterans； went to cut off Liu Dai's road to the rear。
The thirty men told off to start a conflagration made their way into the camp and were successful。 When the flames arose； the ambushing troops rushed out but only to find themselves attacked on both sides。 This confused them； and as they knew nothing of the number of their assailants； they were panic stricken and scattered。
Liu Dai； with a pany of footmen got clear of the fight and fled； but he went straight toward Zhang Fei。 Escape was impossible； and the two men rode up each to attack the other。 Zhang Fei captured his opponent； and the men surrendered。 Zhang Fei sent news of this success to his brothers。
Liu Bei said； 〃Hitherto Zhang Fei has been rather violent； but this time he has acted wisely； and I am very pleased。〃
They rode out to wele Zhang Fei。
〃You said I was too rough。 How now？〃 said Zhang Fei to his brothers。
〃If I had not put you on your mettle； you would not have evolved this stratagem；〃 said Liu Bei。
Zhang Fei laughed。 Then appeared the captive Liu Dai； in bonds。
Liu Bei at once dismounted and loosed the cords； saying； 〃My young brother was rather hasty； but you must pardon him。〃
So Liu Dai was freed。 He was taken into the city； his colleague was released； and both were cared for。
Liu Bei said to them； 〃I could not help putting Deputy Imperial Protector Che Zhou to death when he tried to kill me； but Cao Cao took it as disaffection and sent you two generals to punish me。 I have received much kindness from him and certainly would not show ingratitude by killing you。 I wish you to speak for me and explain when you get back。〃
〃We are deeply grateful that you spare our lives； and we will certainly do so in gratitude for what our wives and children owe you。〃
Next day the two leaders and their army were allowed to depart unscathed。 But before they had got three miles from the boundary； they heard a mighty shouting and there appeared Zhang Fei barring the road。
〃My brother made a mistake in letting you go。 He did not understand。 How could he give freedom to two rebels？〃
This made the two men quake with fear； but as the fierce eyed warrior with uplifted sword was bearing down upon them； they heard another man galloping up and shouting； 〃Do not behave so disgracefully！〃
The newer was Guan Yu； and his appearance relieved the unhappy men of all fear。
〃Why do you stop them since our brother set them free？〃 cried Guan Yu。
〃If they are let go today； they will surely e back；〃 cried Zhang Fei。
〃Wait till they do； then you may kill them；〃 replied Guan Yu。
The two leaders with one voice cried； 〃Even if the Prime Minister slay our whole clans； we will never e again。 We pray you pardon us。〃
Said Zhang Fei； 〃If Cao Cao himself had e； I would have slain him。 Not a breastplate should have gone back。 But for this time I leave you your heads。〃
Clapping their hands to their heads the two men scuttled off while the two brothers returned to the city。
〃Cao Cao will certainly e；〃 said Guan Yu and Zhang Fei。
Sun Qian said； 〃This is not a city that can hold out for long。 We should send part of our forces to Xiaopei and guard Xiapi as a corner stone of our position。〃
Liu Bei agreed and told off Guan Yu to guard Xiapi whither he also sent his two wives； Lady Gan and Lady Mi。 The former was a native of Xiapi； the latter was Mi Zhu's younger sister。
Sun Qian； Jian Yong； Mi Zhu； and Mi Fang were left to defend Xuzhou； and Liu Bei with Zhang Fei went to Xiaopei。
The two released leaders； Liu Dai and Wang Zhong； hastened home to Cao Cao and explained to him that Liu Bei was not disaffected。
But their master was exceeding angry with them； crying； 〃You shameful traitors； what use are you？〃
He roared to the guards to take them away to instant execution。
How can a hare or a deer expect
To conquer in tiger strife？
Minnows and shrimps that with dragons contend
Already have done with life。
The fate of the two leaders will be told in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 23 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Mi Heng Slips His Garment And Rails At Traitors；
Ji Ping Pledges To Kill The Prime Minister。
At the close of the last chapter the two unsuccessful leaders； Liu Dai and Wang Zhong； were in danger of death。
However； Kong Rong remonstrated with Cao Cao； saying； 〃You knew these two were no match for Liu Bei； and if you put them to death because they failed； you will lose the hearts of your people。〃
Wherefore the death sentence was not executed； but they were deprived of rank and status。
Cao Cao next proposed to lead an army himself to attack Liu Bei； but Kong Rong advised； 〃The weather is too inclement。 We must wait the return of spring。 In the interval； we better use the time to arrange peace with Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao； before launching an expedition against Xuzhou。〃
Wherefore Liu Ye was sent to Zhang Xiu and in due time reached Xiangyang。 He first had an interview with Jia Xu； Zhang Xiu's adviser； whereat he dwelt upon Cao Cao's virtues so that Jia Xu was impressed。 Jia Xu kept Liu Ye as a guest and undertook to smooth his way。
Soon after Liu Ye saw Zhang Xiu and spoke of the advantages of ing to terms with Cao Cao。 While the discussion was in progress； a messenger from Yuan Shao was announced； and he was called in。 He presented letters and； when they also proposed terms of peace； Jia Xu asked what their success had been lately against Cao Cao。
〃The war had ceased for the moment on account of the winter；〃 replied the messenger。 〃As you； General； and Liu Biao are both well reputed officers of the state； I have been sent to request your help。〃
Jia Xu laughed； 〃You can return to your master and say that as he could not brook rivalry of his brother； he certainly would be sorely put to it with that of all the officers of the state。〃
The letter was torn into fragments before the messenger's face； and he was angrily bidden be gone。
〃But his master； Yuan Shao； is stronger than Cao Cao；〃 protested Zhang Xiu。 〃You have torn up his letter and are dismissing his man。 What shall we say about such an insult should Yuan Shao e？〃
〃Better join hands with Cao Cao；〃 said Jia Xu。
〃But there is still between us an unavenged enmity。 We could not suffer each other。〃
Jia Xu said； 〃There are three advantages in joining hands with Cao Cao。 First； he has a mand from the Emperor to restore peace。 Second； as Yuan Shao is so strong； our little help to him will be despised； while we shall loom large and be well treated by Cao Cao。 Third； Cao Cao is going to be Chief of the Feudal Lords； and he will ignore all private feuds in order to show his magnanimity to all the world。 I hope； General； you will see these things clearly and hesitate no longer。〃
Zhang Xiu； now convinced； became more reasonable and recalled Liu Ye； who； at the interview； extolled the many virtues of his master。
〃If the Prime Minister had any thought of the old quarrel； he would hardly have sent me to make friendly engagements； would he？〃 said Liu Ye at the last。
＇e＇ Cao Cao slept with Zhang Xiu's aunt。
So Zhang Xiu and his adviser proceeded to the capital where formal submission was made。 At the interview Zhang Xiu bowed low at the steps； but Cao Cao； hastening forward； took him by the hand and raised him； saying； 〃Forget that little fault of mine*； I pray you； General！〃
Zhang Xiu received the title of General Who Possesses Prowess； and Jia Xu was appointed Counselor。
Cao Cao then directed his secretaries to draft letters inviting the support of Liu Biao。
Jia Xu said； 〃Liu Biao loves to have to do with famous people。 If some famous scholar should be sent to him； he would submit forthwith。〃
So Cao Cao inquired of Xun You who was the best person to go as a messenger； and he remended Kong Rong。 Cao Cao agreed and sent Xun You to speak with this officer。
Xun You went to Kong Rong； saying； 〃A scholar of reputation is required to aid as a messenger of state。 Can you undertake this task？〃
Kong Rong replied； 〃I have a certain friend； Mi Heng； whose talents are ten times mine。 He ought to be constantly at the court of the Emperor and not merely be sent as a state messenger。 I will remend him to the Emperor。〃
So Kong Rong wrote the following memorial：
＇e＇ Emperor Wu； aka Liu Che； （reigned BC 141…87） whose reign was longest among the Han emperors。 Emperor Wu was perhaps the most influential Han emperor who concerned not only about expanding territory but also about developing trade with other countries （the Silk Road； for example）