from the wars in the central plain。 Wars between Qin and Jin were not few； but intermarriages between the two houses were frequent； and this alliance strengthened both states。 。。。。。
Lu Fan said； 〃A man without a wife is like a house without a ridge pole。 At your age； one should not live an inplete life。 I am e on the part of Marquis Sun Quan； who has a sister； beautiful as she is； acplished and well fitted to be a mate for you。 Should the two families bee allied as formerly were Qin and Jin*； then that ruffian Cao Cao would never dare so much as look this way。 Such an alliance would be to the benefit of both our houses and of the state。 I hope； O Imperial Uncle； that you will fairly consider the proposal。 However； since the young girl's mother is dotingly fond of her； the mother does not wish her to go far away； and so I must ask you to e into our country for the wedding。〃
〃Does the Marquis know of your ing？〃
〃How dare I e without his knowledge？〃
〃I am no longer young；〃 said Liu Bei。 〃I am fifty and grizzled。 This fair damsel； the sister of the Marquis； is now in the flower of her youth and no mate for me。〃
〃Although the damsel is a woman； yet in mind she surpasses many a man； and she has said she will never wed anyone who is unknown to fame。 Now； Sir； you are renowned throughout the four seas。 Marriage with you would be the chaste maiden mating with the born gentleman。 Of what consequence is the difference in age？〃
〃Sir； stay here awhile； and I will give you a reply tomorrow；〃 said Liu Bei。
So that day the envoy was entertained at a banquet and then conducted to the guest…house to repose； while； late as it was； Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed their plans。
〃I knew what he had e about；〃 said the adviser。 〃While he was talking； I consulted the oracle and obtained an excellent sign。 Wherefore you may accept the proposal and send Sun Qian back with this envoy to arrange the details。 When the promise has been ratified； we will choose a day and you shall go to plete the ceremony。〃
〃How can I thus go into enemy territory？ Zhou Yu has wanted to slay me for a long time。〃
〃Let Zhou Yu employ all his ruses。 Think you he can get beyond me？ Let me act for you； and his calculations will always fail halfway。 Once Sun Quan's sister is in your power； there will be no fear for Jingzhou。〃
Still Liu Bei doubted in his mind。 However； Sun Qian was sent to the South Land； with definite instructions； and traveled thither with Lu Fan。
At the interview Sun Quan said； 〃I wish my sister could induce Liu Bei to live here with us。 He would e to no harm。〃
Sun Qian took his leave。 And returning to Jingzhou； he told the bridegroom elect； saying； 〃Sun Quan's sole desire is for our lord to go over and plete the marriage。〃
However； Liu Bei feared and would not go。
Zhuge Liang said； 〃I have prepared three plans； but I need Zhao Yun to carry them out。 He will be sent as your guard。〃
So Zhuge Liang called in Zhao Yun； gave him three silken bags； and whispered in his ear； saying； 〃Here are three schemes enclosed in three bags。 When you escort our lord to the South Land； you will take these with you and act as they direct。〃
Zhao Yun hid the three silken bags in his breast so that they should be at hand when required。
Zhuge Liang next sent the wedding gifts； and when these had been received； the preliminaries were settled。
It was then the early winter of the fourteenth year of Rebuilt Tranquillity （AD 209）。 The bridegroom elect； his escort； and the intermediary left the city of Jingzhou with a fleet of ten fast ships to sail down the river to Nanxu。 Zhuge Liang remained to guard and rule the region。
But Liu Bei was far from feeling fortable。 They arrived and the ships were made fast。 This done； the time had e for the first of the silken bags to be opened。 And so it was。 Thereupon Zhao Yun gave each of his five hundred guards his instructions； and they went their several ways。 Next Zhao Yun told Liu Bei what he was to do： To pay his visit first to the State Patriarch Qiao； who was the father…in…law of Sun Ce and of Zhou Yu。
The State Patriarch Qiao resided in Nanxu and to his house； leading sheep and bearing wine jars； went the bridegroom elect。 Having made his obeisance； Liu Bei explained that as Lu Fan had arranged； he had e to marry a wife。
In the meantime the five hundred guards； all in gala dress； had scattered over the city place buying all sorts of things； as they said； for the wedding of Liu Bei with the daughter of the Sun House。 They spread the news far and wide and the whole town talked about it。
When Sun Quan heard of Liu Bei's arrival； he bade Lu Fan wait upon him and take him to the guest…house。 Meanwhile the State Patriarch Qiao went to the Dowager Marchioness； mother of Sun Quan； to congratulate her on the happy event。
〃What happy event？〃 ejaculated the old lady。
〃The betrothal of your beloved daughter to Liu Bei。 And he has arrived too； as surely you know。〃
〃My poor old self does not know；〃 said the Dowager。 〃I have heard nothing of all this。〃
She at once summoned her son and also sent her servants out into the town to see what was going about。
They quickly returned to say： 〃The whole city know of the ing wedding； and the bridegroom is now at the guest…house。 Moreover； he has e with a large escort； and they are spending freely； buying pork and mutton and fruits； all in readiness for the wedding feasting。 Lu Fan and Sun Qian are the intermediaries on each side； and they are in the guest…house too。〃
The Dowager Marchioness was terribly taken aback and upset so that； when Sun Quan arrived； he found his mother beating her breast and weeping bitterly。
〃What has disturbed you； Mother？〃 asked he。
〃What you have just done；〃 said she。 〃You have treated me as a nonentity。 When my elder sister lay dying； what did she tell you？〃
Sun Quan began to be frightened； but he said boldly； 〃Please speak out plainly； Mother。 What is this great sorrow？〃
〃When a son is grown； he takes a wife； and when a girl is old enough； she goes to her husband。 And that is right and proper。 But I am the mother； and you ought to have told me that your sister was to bee the wife of Liu Bei。 Why did you keep me in the dark？ It was my place to promise her in marriage。〃
〃Whence es this story？〃 said the Marquis； really much frightened。
〃Do you pretend ignorance？ There is not a soul in the city who does not know！ But you have succeeded in keeping me in the dark。〃
〃I heard it several days ago；〃 said the State Patriarch Qiao。 〃And I came just now to offer my felicitations。〃
〃There is no such thing；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃It is just one of the ruses of Zhou Yu to get hold of Jingzhou。 He has used this means to inveigle Liu Bei here and hold him captive till Jingzhou is restored to us。 And if they will not give it back； then Liu Bei will be put to death。 That is the plot。 There is no real marriage。〃
But the Dowager was in a rage and vented her wrath in abusing Zhou Yu。
She said； 〃Zhou Yu is a pretty sort of governor over the six territories and eighty…one counties； if he cannot find any means of recovering one region except making use of my child as a decoy。 Truly this is a fine deed； to spoil the whole of my child's life and condemn her to perpetual widowhood； because he wants to use the fair damsel ruse to slay a man！ Who will ever e to talk of marriage with her after this？〃
Said the State Patriarch Qiao； 〃By this means you may indeed recover Jingzhou； but you will be a shameful laughing stock to all the world。 What can be done？〃
Sun Quan had nothing to say。 He could only hang his head； while the Dowager abused his general。
The State Patriarch Qiao tried to soothe her； saying； 〃After all Liu Bei； the Imperial Uncle； is a scion of the reigning family。 You can do nothing better now than to wele him as a son…in…law and not let this ugly story get abroad。〃
〃I am afraid their ages do not match；〃 interposed Sun Quan。
〃Liu Bei is a very famous man；〃 said the State Patriarch Qiao。 〃There can be no shame in having such a son…in…law。〃
〃I have never seen him；〃 said the Dowager。 〃Arrange that I may get a look at him tomorrow at the Sweet Dew Temple。 If he displeases me； you may work your will on him。 But if I am satisfied with him； then I shall simply let the girl marry him。〃