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As the matter was pressing there could be no personal leavetaking.

"I knew that the real desire of Liu Pei was to return to Chingchou," said Chang Sung, when he heard of the letter.

Chang Sung then also composed a letter to Liu Pei. While he was looking about for a trusty person to take it, his brother Su, who was the Prefect of a country district, came to see him. He hid the letter in his sleeve while he talked with his brother. Brother Su noticed his anxious inquietude, which he could not explain. Wine was brought in and, as the two brothers chatted over it, the letter dropped to the floor unnoticed by Chang Sung. One of brother Su's men saw it, picked it up and gave it to his master, who opened and read it.

This is about how it ran:-"What I said to you lately was not mere meaningless talk. Why, then, postpone action? The ancients valued the man who took by force and held by conciliation. If you act at once the whole matter is in your hand. Why abandon all and return to Chingchou? Surely I do not hear aright! When you get this, attack without a moment's delay and remember that I am your ally on the inside. Above all, no delay!"

"This plot of my brother's will end in the destruction of the whole family," said Chang Su. "I must get in the first word." So at once he went in and laid the whole matter before the Prefect.

"I have always treated your brother so well!" said Liu Chang, very angry.

He issued orders to arrest Chang Sung and behead him and all his household in the market place.

Chang was quick of comprehension, such as he have been but few,
Little thought he that a letter would betray

When he plotted for another. But success he never knew,
For himself there opened out a gory way.

Having thus learned of a real conspiracy to deprive him of his heritage, Liu Chang assembled his officers and asked their advice. Huang Ch'üan spoke out saying, "Prompt action is needed. Send to every strategic point telling them to increase the garrisons and keep careful guard and, above all, prevent the entrance of any person from Chingchou."

Such orders were sent to all points of vantage where were garrisons.

In the meantime, carrying out P'ang T'ung's scheme, Liu Pei had marched down to Fouch'êng, where he halted and sent in a messenger to invite the two captains to come forth and say farewell. But they did not respond at once to this invita

tion.

"What is the real meaning of this retirement?" said one to the other.

"Let us hide

"This Yüan-tê ought to die," said Kao P'o. daggers under our dress and stab him at the place of farewell. That will end all our lord's troubles."

"A most excellent plan," said his colleague.

So they two, taking only a small escort, went down out of the Pass to say good-bye. Most of their men were left in the camp. On the way down to Fou River, P'ang T'ung had said to his master, "You have need to be on your guard against those two if they come to bid you farewell. If they do not come, then

the Pass must be attacked without delay."

Just as he said this a violent gust of wind overthrew the leading flag of the army, and Liu Pei asked what this portended. "That means a surprise; those two intend to assassinate you, so be on your guard.”

Accordingly, Liu Pei put on double armour and girded on his sword in readiness. When the two captains arrived the army halted while the captains should pay the farewell visit.

Then P'ang T'ung said to his two captains, Wei Yen and Huang Chang, "However many soldiers come down from the Pass see to it that none return."

The two captains of Shu, armed with hidden daggers, came up, their escort bearing gifts of sheep and wine. They marked no precautions being taken against an attack and began to think their task of murder would be an easy one. They were

led in to where Liu Pei sat under a tent, his adviser with him. They said, "We hear, O Imperial Uncle, that you contemplate a long march and therefore we come to offer a few poor gifts to speed you on your way."

The cups of farewell were duly filled. Then Yüan-tê replied, "You have a heavy responsibility to defend the Pass, Captains. I pray you drink first."

They drank. Then Liu Pei said, "I have a secret matter to talk over with you."

So all but the two captains were sent away with the escort and were led to the midst of the camp. As soon as they had gone, Liu Pei shouted, "My people, lay hands upon these two rebels!"

Thereupon Liu Fêng and Kuan P'ing rushed out from behind the tent. The two captains of the Pass were taken aback, but began to struggle. However, each of the two seized his man and held him.

"Your lord and I are of the same house," said Liu Pei, "why then have you plotted against me and conspired to sow enmity between us?"

P'ang T'ung bade his men search the captives, and the hidden daggers were found. So both were ordered to immediate execution. However, Liu Pei hesitated and was unwilling to confirm the sentence and put them to death. But his adviser insisted that they were worthy of death for the assassination

they had panned, and bade the executioners fall on. So the two men were beheaded. Of their following not one had been

allowed to slip away.

Liu Pei summoned the soldiers of the escort to his tent, gave them wine to comfort them and said, "Your leaders conspired to sow dissension between brothers and were found with daggers hidden beneath their clothing. They were assassins in intent and have met the fate they merited. You have committed no crime and need feel no alarm.”

The soldiers thanked him for his clemency with low obei

sance.

Then said P'ang T'ung, "If you will now show the way so that our men may capture the Pass, you shall even be rewarded."

They consented. That same night the army set out, with the men of the renegade escort leading the way. When they reached the Pass they hailed the gate, saying, "Open the gate quickly: the captains have returned earlier than they expected because of important business."

Hearing the voices of their comrades, the gate guards had no suspicion of treachery and threw open the gates. In rushed the enemy soldiers and so gained possession of Foukuan without shedding a drop of blood. The defenders came over to the side of Liu Pei and were liberally rewarded. This done, the army was posted so as to guard the approaches and maintain what they had captured.

The next few days were spent in banquets and feasts in celebration of success. At one of these feasts Liu Pei turned to his adviser, saying, "This is what one might call a joyful occasion."

"To employ warlike weapons in making an attack upon the possession of another is not using them in the best way." replied P'ang T'ung. "Nor is such attack the most proper occasion for rejoicing."

Liu Pei replied, "The success of King Wu against Chou was celebrated with music; I suppose weapons were not well used on that occasion either. Why do you talk so wide of reason? You had better retire."

P'ang T'ung laughed and withdrew from the table, while the attendants supported Liu Pei to his own chamber, where he had a long sleep. About midnight he awoke from his wine and then the servants told him that he had driven away his adviser from the feast. He was at once filled with remorse. Next day, having dressed early in full costume of ceremony, he took his seat in the great hall, summoned his adviser and apologised handsomely for his rude behaviour the night before.

"I drank too much last night and spoke rudely; pray forget it."

P'ang, who had taken the whole episode in very good part from the first, laughed and talked as usual. But Yuan-tê went on, “Really I was the only one to blame yesterday."

"We both slipped up; it was not only you, my lord," said P'ang.

Then Yüan-tê laughed too and the two were as good friends again as ever.

When the Prefect Liu Chang heard of the doings of his relative and guest he said. “I did not think that such things would come to pass."

The officers of Shu met to consider how to oppose the further advance of Liu Pei, and Huang Ch'üan said, "Let us send without delay a force to hold Lohsien, which is the very throat of the road he must take. He may have veteran soldiers and fiery captains but he will not be able to pass."

So the four ablest captains were told off for this duty and they led five legions. As they marched, one of them, Liu Kuei by name, said, "In the Chinp'ing Hills there is a wonderful Taoist who calls himself 'The Superman of the Dark Void.' He has the gift of second sight, so let us visit him as we pass and enquire what our fortunes are to be."

"What should one seek of a hermit when one is out to repulse an enemy?" said his colleague, Chang Jên, contemptuously.

"Your view is wrong," said Liu. "The Sage has said that it is characteristic of the most entire sincerity to be able to foreknow. So let us enquire of this man of high intelligence that we may know what to do and what to avoid."

Whereupon they went up into the hills and sought the hermit's retreat. They were a small party, on horseback. Meeting a wood-cutter they enquired the whereabouts of the dwelling of the wise man, and he pointed to one of the highest hills, saying that the Sage lived on the very summit. They climbed up to the spot he had told them of and found a small hut. At their summons a lad in Taoist garb came out to speak with them. He asked their names and ied them into the presence of the Superman, who received them seated on a rush cushion. ney made a low obeisance, told him the reason of their coming and asked of the future.

"How can a poor Taoist recluse know aught of fortunes, good or evil?" said he.

However, after a time, as Liu Kuei repeated his request again and again and comported himself most humbly, the hermit bade the lad bring paper and ink and he wrote eight lines, which he handed to his questioner.

"Supported by dragon and phoenix,

So flies he westward.

But the Phoenix Fledgling shall fall to the earth,
And the Sleeping Dragon shall soar to the sky;

There shall be successes and failures,
For such is the eternal law.

See that ye act when occasion offers,
Lest ye descend to the Nine Springs.'

Having read the oracle they pressed the seer to reveal them their individual fortunes, but he replied, "Why ask these things? None can escape his fate." Liu Kuei ventured to question the Sage further, but his eyelids dropped as if he slumbered. Nor would he vouchsafe a word more, and the four captains took leave and descended the hill.

"One must have faith in such as he says," said Liu.

"What is to be gained by listening to the sayings of a daft old man?" replied Chang.

So they continued their road to Lohsien. When they arrived they settled that two of them should guard the ramparts while the other two should station themselves in front of the city, where was a point of vantage sheltered by some hills. Here they established two camps in two stockades, hoping to be able to keep the foe away from the city.

The Pass being captured, Yüan-tê took counsel with his adviser as to the next point to be attempted. This was Lohsien. Scouts had reported the arrival of the four captains sent by Liu Chang and said that a camp had been established sixty li from the city. Then Yüan-tê assembled his officers and asked who would go to attack the camps. The veteran Huang Chung offered himself.

"Veteran captain, take your own men and go," said Liu Pei. "A goodly reward shall be yours if you capture the two camps." Huang thanked his lord and was just leading away his men when suddenly up spake a youthful leader, saying, "The General is old to go on such an expedition; I am of poor ability, but I wish to take his place."

The speaker was Wei Yen. Huang replied, "I already have my commission; why should you wish to supplant me?"

"Because the task is beyond an old man's strength," said Wei. "The two men in those camps we know are the best and boldest in the country. They are strong, and, veteran as you are, I fear you will be unable to overcome them. If you fail, our lord's great design will be hindered. Therefore I ask that I may replace you, and my intent is kindly."

This reminder of his age angered the old man. "Old, am I? Dare you compete with me in the use of warlike weapons?" said he.

"Yes; I dare. And our lord shall be the judge. The winner shall undertake this expedition. Do you agree?"

Huang ran down the steps and called to his men to bring his small sword.

But Yuan-tê would stop this contest and said, "I have need of both of you in the task that lies before me. When two

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