all was ready； he started with a small escort。
They heard this in Jingzhou； and Zhuge Liang sent a trusty person to the capital to keep him informed as to all the doings。
Zhang Song arrived in Xuchang； and； after he had established himself in his lodging； he made daily visits to the Prime Minister's palace to try to obtain an interview。 But the last success over Ma Chao had filled Cao Cao with insufferable pride； and he did nothing but give banquets。 He never appeared except for the most important affairs； and even carried on the business of the state in his own residence。 So Zhang Song waited many days。 But when he got to know the persons who were nearest the Prime Minister； he bribed them and obtained an audience。
Cao Cao was seated in the high place； and after his visitor had finished salutations； he said； 〃Your master Liu Zhang has sent no tribute for several years。 Why？〃
〃Because the roads are dangerous； and thieves and robbers infest them。 Intercourse is restricted。〃
Cao Cao interrupted in a loud harsh voice； saying； 〃What thieves and robbers are there when I have cleansed the empire？〃
〃How can you say the land is tranquil when one sees Sun Quan in the south； Zhang Lu and Liu Bei in the west； and everyone of these with armies reckoned in legions？ The weakest of them has one hundred thousand troops。〃
The extraordinary appearance of the emissary had prejudiced Cao Cao from the outset； and when Cao Cao heard these blunt words； he suddenly shook out his sleeves； rose and left the hall。
Those in attendance were annoyed with Zhang Song and said； 〃How can you behave so rudely when you e on a mission？ Your whole attitude was blunt and discourteous。 Happily for you； our lord remembered you had e from afar and did not take open notice of your fault。 The best thing for you is to go home again as quickly as you can。〃
But Zhang Song smiled。
〃We have no plausible flatterers and glib talkers in the River Lands；〃 said he。
At this； one from below the steps called out； 〃So you call us plausible and glib then。 And you have none such in your country； eh？〃
Zhang Song looked around and saw the speaker was a man with thin delicate eyebrows crossing narrow eyes set in a pale spiritual face。 He asked his name。 It was Yang Xiu； son of the former Regent Marshal Yang Biao。 The young man was then employed as Chair of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister's palace。 He was deeply read and had the reputation of being a clever controversialist； as Zhang Song knew。 So on one side was a desire to confound and on the other overweening pride in his own ability； with contempt for other scholars。 Perceiving the ridicule in Zhang Song's speech； Yang Xiu invited him to go to the library where they could talk more freely。 There； after they had got settled in their respective places； Yang Xiu began to talk about the west。
〃Your roads are precipitous and wearisome；〃 said Yang Xiu。
〃But at our lord's mand we travel； even through fire and water。 We never decline；〃 replied Zhang Song。
〃What sort of a country is this Yizhou？〃
〃Yizhou is a name for the group of western counties and territories known of old as the state of Shu。 The roads are intersected by streams； and the land bristles with steep mountains。 The circuit is over two hundred stations and marches and the area over one hundred thousand square miles。 The population is dense； villages being so close that the crowings of cocks in one waken the people in the next； and the dogs barking in this excite the curs in that。 The soil is rich and well cultivated； and droughts or famines are equally unknown。 Prosperity is general； and the music of pipes and strings can always be heard。 The produce of the fields is piled mountain high。 There is no place its equal。〃
〃But what of the people？〃
＇e＇ Liu Xiangru was prime minister of Zhao in the Warring States period； who did not have the force even to bind a chicken； but boldly behaved in the court of the powerful Qin。 When King Zhaoxiang of Qin tried to make away the purest jadestone from Zhao； Liu Xiangru threatened to destroy the stone； and so King Zhaoxiang backed up and let Liu Xiangru to return to Zhao。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Ma Yuan was one of the greatest Han generals。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Zhang Ji was a legendary physician in Latter Han。 One of his pilations instantly became one of the main bases for historical Chinese healing。 。。。。。
＇e＇ Yan Zun was one of the most well…known Taoist scholars in early Han。 。。。。。
〃Our administrators are talented as Liu Xiangru*； our soldiers able as Ma Yuan*； our physicians are expert as Zhang Ji*； our diviners are profound as Yan Zun*。 Our schools of philosophy and our culture stand forth as models； and we have more remarkable people than I can enumerate。 How should I ever finish the tale of them？〃
〃And how many such as you； Sir； do you think there are at the orders of your Imperial Protector？〃
〃Our officers are all geniuses： Wise； bold； loyal； righteous； and magnanimous。 As for poor simpletons like me： They are counted by hundreds； there are cartloads of them； bushels of them。 No one could count them。〃
〃What office may you hold then？〃
Zhang Song replied； 〃Mine can hardly be called an office。 I am a Supernumerary Charioteer。 But； Sir； what state affairs may you control？〃
〃I am the First Secretary in the Palace of the Prime Minister；〃 replied Yang Xiu。
〃They say that members of your family held office for many generations； and I do not understand why you are not in court service actually assisting the Emperor； instead of filling the post of a mere clerk in the private palace of the Prime Minister。〃
Yang Xiu's face suffused with shame at this rebuke； but he mastered himself and replied； 〃Though I am among the minor officials； yet my duties are of great importance； and I am gaining experience under the Prime Minister's guidance。 I hold the office for the sake of the training。〃
Zhang Song smiled； saying； 〃If what I have heard is true； Cao Cao's learning throws no gleaming light on the way of Confucius or Mencius； nor does his military skill illumine the art of Sun Zi or Wu Qi。 He seems to understand the doctrine of brute force and holding on to what advantages he can seize； but I see not how he can give you any valuable training or enlighten your understanding。〃
〃Ah； Sir； that es of dwelling in out…of…the…way parts。 How could you know of the magnificent talents of the great Prime Minister？ But I will show you something。〃
Yang Xiu called up an attendant and bade him bring a book from a certain case。 He showed this to his guest； who read the title 〃The New Book of Cao Cao〃。 Then Zhang Song opened it and read it through from the beginning； the whole thirteen chapters。 They all dealt with the art of war。
〃What do you take this to be？〃 asked Zhang Song； when he had finished。
〃This is the great Prime Minister's discussion of the art of ancient and modern war posed on the model of Sun Zi's Treatise on the Art of War。 You may be disdainful of the Prime Minister's talents； but will this not go down to posterity？〃
〃This book！ Every child in Yizhou knows this by heart。 What do you mean by calling it a new book？ It was written by some obscure person of the time of the Warring States； and Cao Cao has plagiarized it。 But he has deceived no one but you； Sir。〃
〃But what is the use of your sarcastic insult in saying that your school children know the book by rote？ It has never been given to the world； although copies have been made。 It belongs to his private library。〃
〃Do you disbelieve me？ Why； I know it and could repeat it。〃
Then Zhang Song repeated the whole book； word for word； from beginning to end。
Yang Xiu said； 〃You remember it like this after only one reading！ Really you are marvelous。〃
He boasted not a handsome face；
Nor was his body blessed with grace。
His words streamed like a waterfall；
He read a book and knew it all。
Shu's glories could he well rehearse；
His lore embraced the universe。
Or text or note of scholiast
Once read； his memory held fast。
At leave…taking Yang Xiu said； 〃Remain a while in your lodgings till I can petition our Prime Minister to give you another interview。〃
Zhang Song thanked him and left。
By and bye Yang Xiu went to see Cao Cao on the matter of receiving the emissary from the west and said； 〃Sir