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break open any other house. A messenger was sent with tidings to Sun Ch'üan.

One very wet day Lü Mêng, with a few horsemen as escort, was going round the walls and visiting the gates. One of the soldiers took from a passer-by his broad-brimmed hat and put it on over his helmet to keep his armour dry. Lü Mêng saw it, and the offender was seized. He was a fellow-villager of

Lü Mêng's, 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 official property. Spare me, O General, for the sake of our common dwelling-place."

"I know you were protecting your armour, 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 when all was over, Lü Mêng had the body buried decently and wept at the grave for the loss of his friend. Never after this was there the least laxity of discipline.

When Sun Ch'üan visited the city, Lü Mêng met him at the boundary and led him to the official residence, where he issued rewards and commendations. This done, he ordered P'an

Chün to take charge of the new possession. Yü Chin, who was in prison, was freed and sent back to his master. When the people had been comforted and the soldiers rewarded, there was a great banquet in honour of the success of the expedition.

Then said Sun Ch'üan to his general, "We have got this place, but now we want Kungan and Nanchün. How can we get them?"

Suddenly one Yü Fan started up and offered his services. "You will need neither bows nor arrows," said he, "unless my little tongue is worn out. I can persuade Fu Shih-yen to surrender."

"Friend Yü, how will you do it?" asked Sun Ch'üan.

"He and I are very old friends, ever since we were boys, and if I explain the matter to him I am sure he will come over to this side."

So Yü Fan, with an escort, left quickly for Kungan, where his friend was in command.

Now when Fu heard of the capture of Chingchou he closed his gates. Yü Fan arrived, but was refused entrance. So he wrote a letter, attached it to an arrow and shot it over the city wall. A soldier picked it up and took it to his commander, who found therein much persuasion to surrender. Having read all this, he thought within himself, "I think I should do well, for the other day Kuan Yü was very bitter against me."

Without further ado he bade the wardens open the gate, and his friend came in. After their greetings they talked of old times, and Yü Fan praised Sun Ch'üan's magnanimity and liberality and greatness generally. So finally Fu Shih-yen decided to exchange masters and went away, taking with him his seal of office. He was presented to Sun Ch'üan, who reappointed him to the command of Kungan under its new lord. Lü Mêng thought the appointment imprudent while Kuan Yü was yet unconquered, and proposed instead to send him to Nanchün to induce his former colleague and fellow in disgrace to join him in desertion to the enemy. His advice was followed, and Fu was recalled.

"Go to Nanchün and win over Mi Fang, and I will reward you richly," said Sun Ch'üan.

Fu Shih-yen accepted the mission and duly left for Nanchün. Kungan's defender failed when tried,

So Wang Fu's words were justified.

For the events of the journey see the next chapter.

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HSU FIGHTS ON THE MIEN RIVER;

KUAN RETREATS TO MAICH'ÊNG.

The fall of Chingchou put Mi Fang in a quandary, and before he could decide upon any course his ancient colleague Fu Shih-jên came to see him. He was admitted, and when asked why he had come he blurted out his business without beating about the bush.

"I am faithful enough, but I got into difficulties and danger and could not hold on, so I have surrendered to Wu. And I advise you to do the same.'

"You and I have both fed on the bounty of the Prince of Hanchung, and I cannot understand how you can turn against him."

"Kuan Yü went away hating both of us intensely, and even if he comes back victorious I do not think he will forgive us. Just think it over."

"My brother and I have followed the prince these many years, and I do not like leaving him like this."

Mi Fang hesitated. Before he could make up his mind, there came a messenger to say that the army was short of grain and he had been sent to demand white rice for the soldiers. Nanchün and Kungan were to send ten myriad tan at once. Delay would be most severely punished.

This sudden demand was a shock to Mi Fang. "Where am I to get the rice?" said he despairingly to his friend and tempter. "Chingchou is now in the hands of Wu."

"Do not dilly-dally," said Fu Shih-jên. Thereupon he drew his sword and slew the messenger as he stood in the hall. "What have you done?" cried Mi Fang.

"Kuan wanted to slay us two and has forced me to this. Are we to fold our hands and await death? Either you give in at once and go over to Wu, or you will be put to death by Kuan Yü."

Just then they heard that Lü Mêng's men had actually reached the city wall. Mi Fang saw that nothing could save his life but desertion, so he went out with Fu and gave in his allegiance to Lü Mêng, by whom he was led to Sun Ch'üan. Sun Ch'üan gave both of them presents, after which he proceeded to restore order and to reward his army for their services.

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At the time that great discussion about Chingchou was going on in the capital, a messenger arrived with a letter from Sun Ch'üan. It told the tale of the acquisition of Chingchou and begged Ts'ao Ts'ao to send an army to attack Kuan Yü in the rear, enjoining the utmost secrecy.

At the meeting of advisers that Ts'ao Ts'ao summoned to consultation, Tung Chao said, "Now that the relief of Fanch'êng is contemplated it would be well to let the besieged know, so that they may not yield to depression. Moreover, if Kuan Yü hears that Chingchou is in the hands of Wu he will come back to try to recover it. Then let Hsü Huang take the chance to attack, and our victory will be complete.'

Ts'ao Ts'ao agreed that the plan was good, and so he sent a messenger to urge Hsü Huang to attack. Ts'ao himself led a large force to Yanglup'o, south of Loyang, to rescue Tsao Jên.

Hsü Huang was sitting in his tent when they told him that a messenger from the Prince of Wei had arrived. The messenger was called in and said. "The prince has led an army to Loyang, and he wishes you to hasten to attack Kuan Yü in order to relieve Fanch'êng."

Just then the scouts came to report that Kuan Yü had encamped at Yench'êng and Liao Hua at Ssuchung. The enemy had built a line of twelve stockades. Hsü Huang ordered two of his lieutenants to Yench'êng to masquerade as if he himself was in command, by showing his ensigns. Hsü himself, at the head of a few veterans, went along the Mien River to attack Yench'êng in the rear.

When Kuan P'ing heard of the approach of Hsü Huang he prepared his own division to meet him. When both sides were arrayed, Kuan P'ing rode out and engaged one Hsü Shang. After three encounters Hsü Shang had the worst of it and fled. Then the other lieutenant, Lü Chien, went out. He fought half a dozen bouts and also ran away. Thereupon Kuan P'ing went in pursuit and smote the flying enemy for twenty li. But then there was an alarm of fire within the city, and Kuan P'ing knew that he had been inveigled into the pursuit and was a victim. So he turned and set out for the city again. On his way he met a body of troops and standing under the great standard was Hsü Huang.

Hsü Huang shouted out, "Kuan P'ing, my worthy nephew, it is strange that you do not recognise death when it stares you in the face. Your Chingchou has fallen into the hands of Wu and yet you act so madly."

Kuan P'ing, whirling his sword, just rode hard at Hsü Huang, and they engaged. But after the third bout there was a tremendous shouting among the soldiers, for the flames within the city burst up higher than before. Kuan P'ing could not follow up his desire to continue the fight, but cut

his way out and made a dash for Ssuchung, where Liao Hua received him with the news of the disaster to Chingchou.

"People say that Chingchou has fallen to Lü Mêng, and the news has frightened the whole army; what is to be done?" said he.

"It is only a malicious rumour; do not let it spread. If any one repeats it, put him to death."

Just then a man came running in to say that Hsü Huang was attacking the first stockade on the north.

"If that goes," said Kuan P'ing, "the remainder will follow. But as we have the river at our back, they will not dare attack this. Let us go to the rescue.'

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So Liao Hua summoned his subordinate leaders and gave them orders to hold the camp and make a signal if the

enemy came.

"There is no danger here." said they. "The camp is defended by a tenfold line of 'deer-horns' (chevaux de frise): even a bird could not get in."

Kuan P'ing and Liao Hua mustered all the veterans they had and went away to the first stockade. Seeing the Wei soldiers camped on a low hill, Kuan P'ing said to his colleague, "Those men are stationed in an unsafe place; let us raid their camp to-night."

"You take half the force, General, and I will remain to keep the camp," said Liao Hua.

When night fell, the attacking force went out. But on reaching the camp not a man opposed them. The camp was empty. Then Kuan P'ing knew he had been deceived, and turned to retreat. He was at once attacked on two sides by Hsü Shang and Lü Chien. Unable to stand, his men ran for the camp. The men of Wei followed, and presently the camp was surrounded. They were compelled to abandon the position and set off for Ssuchung. As they drew near they saw torches, and presently knew by the ensigns displayed that the camp had also fallen to the enemy. Retiring, they hastened along the high road toward Fanch'êng, but presently their way was barred by a force under Hsü Huang himself. By dint of hard fighting they got away and returned to their main camp, and Kuan P'ing went to his father.

"Hsü Huang has got possession of Yench'êng. Ts'ao's main army is on the way in three divisions, and many say that Chingchou is in the enemy's hands."

Kuan Yü bade him be silent. "This is a fabrication of the enemy," said he, "but it may dishearten the soldiers. We know Lü Mêng is ill, and they have appointed that impractical fellow Lu Hsün to succeed him at Luk'ou. There is nothing to fear."

He was soon undeceived. The news came that Hsü Huang had arrived. At once Kuan Yü bade them saddle his charger.

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