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st as possible to the west。 ing to a river they asked the natives its name and were told it was the Han River； and near it Liu Bei made a temporary camp。 When the local people found out who was in the camp； they presented flesh and wine。
A feast was given upon a sandy bank of the Han River。
After they had drunk awhile； Liu Bei addressed his faithful followers； saying； 〃All you； Fair Sirs； have talents fitting you to be advisers to a monarch； but your destiny has led you to follow poor me。 My fate is distressful and full of misery。 Today I have not a spot to call my own； and I am indeed leading you astray。 Therefore I say you should abandon me and go to some illustrious lord where you may be able to bee famous。〃
At these words they all covered their faces and wept。
Guan Yu said； 〃Brother； you are wrong to speak thus。 When the great Founder of Han contended with Xiang Yu； he was defeated many times； but he won at the Nine…Mile Mountains and that achievement was the foundation of a dynasty that endured for four centuries。 Victory and defeat are but ordinary events in a soldier's career； and why should you give up？〃
〃Success and failure both have their seasons；〃 said Sun Qian； 〃and we are not to grieve。 Jingzhou； which your illustrious relative； Liu Biao； mands； is a rich and prosperous country。 Liu Biao is of your house； why not go to him？〃
〃Only that I fear he may not receive me；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Then let me go and prepare the way。 I will make Liu Biao e out to his borders to wele you。〃
So with his lord's approval； Sun Qian set off immediately and hastened to Jingzhou。 When the ceremonies of greeting were over； Liu Biao asked the reason of the visit。
Said Sun Qian； 〃The princely Liu Bei is one of the heroes of the day； although just at the moment he may lack soldiers and leaders。 His mind is set upon restoring the dynasty to its pristine glory； and at Runan the two manders； Liu Pi and Gong Du； though bound to him by no ties； were content to die for the sake of his ideals。 You； Illustrious Sir； like Liu Bei； are a scion of the imperial stock。 Now the Princely One has recently suffered defeat and thinks of seeking a home in the east with Sun Quan。 I have ventured to dissuade him； saying that he should not turn from a relative and go to a mere acquaintance； telling him that you； Sir； are well known as courteous to the wise and condescending to scholars； so that they flock to you as the waters flow to the east sea； and that certainly you would show kindness to one of the same ancestry。 Wherefore he has sent me to explain matters and request your mands。〃
〃He is my brother；〃 said Liu Biao； 〃and I have long desired to see him； but no opportunity has occurred。 I should be very happy if he would e。〃
Cai Mao； who was sitting by； here broke in； 〃No； no！ Liu Bei first followed Lu Bu； then he served Cao Cao； and next he joined himself to Yuan Shao。 And he stayed with none of these； so that you can see what manner of man he is。 If he es here； Cao Cao will assuredly e against us and fight。 Better cut off this messenger's head and send it as an offering to Cao Cao； who would reward you well for the service。〃
Sun Qian sat unmoved while this harangue was pronounced； saying at the end； 〃I am not afraid of death。 Liu Bei； the Princely One； is true and loyal to the state and so out of sympathy with Lu Bu； or Cao Cao； or Yuan Shao。 It is true he followed these three； but there was no help for it。 Now he knows your chief is a member of the family； so that both are of the same ancestry； and that is why he has e far to join him。 How can you slander a good man like that？〃
Liu Biao bade Cai Mao be silent and said； 〃I have decided； and you need say no more。〃
Whereat Cai Mao sulkily left the audience chamber。
Then Sun Qian was told to return with the news that Liu Bei would be wele； and Imperial Protector Liu Biao went ten miles beyond the city to meet his guest。
When Liu Bei arrived； he behaved to his host with the utmost politeness and was warmly weled in return。 Then Liu Bei introduced his two sworn brothers and friends and they entered Jingzhou City where Liu Bei finally was lodged in the Imperial Protector's own residence。
As soon as Cao Cao knew whither his enemy had gone； he wished to attack Liu Biao； but Cheng Yu advised against any attempt so long as Yuan Shao； the dangerous enemy； was left with power to inflict damage。
He said； 〃My lord should return to the capital to refresh the soldiers so that they may be ready for a north and south campaign in the mild spring weather。〃
Cao Cao accepted his advice and set out for the capital。 In the first month of the eighth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 203）； Cao Cao once again began to think of war； and sent to garrison Runan as a precaution against Liu Biao。 Then； after arranging for the safety of the capital； he marched a large army to Guandu； the camp of the year before； and aimed at Jizhou。
As to Yuan Shao； who had been suffering from blood…spitting but was now in better health； he began to think of measures against Xuchang； but Shen Pei dissuaded him； saying； 〃You are not yet recovered from the fatigues of last year。 It would be better to make your position impregnable and set to improving the army。〃
When the news of Cao Cao's approach arrived； Yuan Shao said； 〃If we allow the foe to get close to the city before we march to the river； we shall have missed our opportunity。 I must go out to repel this army。〃
Here his son Yuan Shang interposed； 〃Father； you are not sufficiently recovered for a campaign and should not go so far。 Let me lead the army against this enemy。〃
Yuan Shao consented； and he sent to Qingzhou and Youzhou and Bingzhou to call upon his other two sons and his nephew to attack Cao Cao at the same time as his own army。
Against Runan they beat the drum；
And from Jizhou the armies e。
To whom the victory will be seen in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 32 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Jizhou Taken： Yuan Shang Strives；
River Zhang Cut： Xun You Schemes。
Yuan Shang was puffed up with pride after his victory over Shi Huan and； without deigning to wait the arrival of his brothers； he marched out with thirty thousand troops to Liyang to meet the army of Cao Cao。 Zhang Liao came out to challenge him； and Yuan Shang； accepting the challenge rode out with spear set。 But he only lasted to the third bout when he had to give way。 Zhang Liao smote with full force and Yuan Shang； quite broken； fled pell…mell to Jizhou。 His defeat was a heavy shock to his father Yuan Shao； who had a severe fit of hemorrhage at the news and swooned。
Lady Liu； his wife； got him to bed as quickly as possible； but he did not rally； and she soon saw it was necessary to prepare for the end。 So she sent for Shen Pei and Peng Ji that the succession might be settled。 They came and stood by the sick man's bed； but by this time he could no longer speak。 He only made motions with his hands。
When his wife put the formal question； 〃Is Yuan Shang to succeed？〃
Yuan Shao nodded his head。 Shen Pei at the bedside wrote out the dying man's testament。 Presently Yuan Shao uttered a loud moan； a fresh fit of bleeding followed； and he passed away。
Born of a line of nobles famous for generations；
He himself in his youth was wayward always and headstrong；
Vainly he called to his side generals skilled and courageous；
Gathered beneath his banner countless legions of soldiers；
For he was timid at heart； a lamb dressed as a tiger；
Merely a cowardly chicken； phoenix…feathered but spurless。
Pitiful was the fate of his house； for when he departed
Brother with brother strove and quarrels arose in the household。
Shen Pei and some others set about the mourning ceremonies for the dead man。 His wife； Lady Liu； put to death five of his favorite concubines； and such was the bitterness of her jealousy that； not content with this； she shaved off the hair and slashed the faces of their poor corpses lest their spirits should meet and rejoin her late husband in the land of shades beneath the Nine Golden Springs。 Her son followed up this piece of cruelty by slaying all the relatives of the unhappy concubines lest they should avenge their deaths。
Shen Pei and Peng Ji declared Yuan Shang successor with the titles of Regent Marshal and Supreme Imperial Protector of the four regions of Jizhou； Qingzhou； Youzhou； and Bingzhou and sent in a report of the death of the late Imperial Protector。
At this time Yuan Tan； the eldest son； had already marched out his army to oppose Cao Cao。 But hearing of his father's death； he called in Guo Tu and Xin Ping to consult as to his course of action。
〃In your absence； my lord；〃 said Guo Tu； 〃the two advisers of your younger brother will certainly set him up as lord； wherefore you must act quickly。〃
〃Those two； Shen Pei and Peng Ji； have already laid their plans；〃 said Xin Ping。 〃If you go； you will meet with some misfortune。〃
〃Then what should I do？〃 asked Yuan Tan。
Guo Tu replied； 〃Go and camp near the city； and watch what is taking place while I enter and inquire。〃
Accordingly Guo Tu entered the city and sought an interview with the young Imperial Protector。
〃Why did not my brother e？〃 asked Yuan Shang after the usual salutes。
Guo Tu s