Romance of the Three Kingdoms II Read Online Free Page A

that city," said P'ang. "I do not think Wu will try to take it so long as K'ung-ming is there. But, my lord, write to Liu Chang telling him you wish to return on account of this threatening danger. It will be a plausible excuse. You may say that on account of Ts'ao's attack, Sun has sent to you for help and that as his country and yours are neighbours and dependent upon each other for safety you cannot refuse. Further, you will assure him that there is no danger of any invasion by Chang Lu. However, we have too few men for our purpose and insufficient grain, so you must also urge your relative to send you three or four legions of veterans and a plentiful supply of food. He will not refuse, and with more men and provisions we can do as we please."
    Liu Pei agreed to this and sent a messenger to Ch'engtu. When his messenger reached the Pass, Yang Huai and Kao P'o, who commanded the garrison, already knew of the design, and the former of the two captains went with him to the city. After reading the letter the Prefect asked Yang why he had come.
    "Only because of that letter," he replied. "This Liu Pei, from the day he first entered the province, has been trying to win over the hearts of your people by a display of kindness and virtue. He certainly intends no good, and I think you should refuse both the men and the supplies he asks. To help him is like adding fuel to a fire."
    "We are affectionate brothers and I must help him," said the Prefect."
    "Liu Pei is nothing but a vagabond swashbuckler," some one cried, "and if you keep him here in Shu you are loosing a tiger in your household. If you give him the men and supplies he asks you are adding wings to your tiger."
    Turning whence the voice proceeded they recognised the speaker as one Liu Pa, a native of Ch'engyang. His words threw the Prefect into a state of doubt and hesitation. Huang Ch'uan also dissuaded him most earnestly, and finally Liu Chang actually decided to send only four companies of worn-out men and a paltry supply of grain. At the same time fresh orders enjoining a diligent watchfulness were sent to the guardians of the Pass.
    When Yuan-te read the letter that accompanied the Prefect's miserable contribution to his strength he was furious and cried, "I have been spending myself in your defence and this is my reward! You are mean and greedy enough to stint my supplies. How can you expect generous service?"
    He tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof. The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital.
    Then said P'ang T'ung, "You have hitherto laid too much stress on humanity and righteousness. However, that is all over now and all affection between you two is at an end, now that you have torn up that letter."
    "Yes. And since that is so, what next?" asked Yuan-te.
    "I have three schemes ready in my mind. You may choose which pleases you."
    "What are your three schemes?"
    "The first, and best, is to send an army forthwith and seize Ch'engtu. The second is to capture and put to death the two captains of the Pass. They are the two most famous fighting men in this land. If you give out that you are returning to Chingchou they will assuredly come to say farewell. Seize and put them to death, and the Pass and Fouch'eng are both yours. Ch'engtu will follow soon. The third plan is to drop this role you have been playing, go back to Chingchou and make a regular invasion. But if you ponder these schemes too long you will get into such straits that nothing can save you."
    Yuan-te replied, "Of your three schemes, O Commander, I find the first too summary and the last too slow. I choose the second scheme, which is neither."
    So a letter was written to Liu Chang saying that Ts'ao Ts'ao was sending an army against Chingchou, the captains there were unequal to the defence and Liu Pei had to go to help. As the matter was pressing there could be no personal leave-taking.
    "I knew that the real desire of Liu Pei was to return to Chingchou," said Chang Sung, when