this land is to wele the tiger into your gates。〃
〃Liu Bei is my brother and will not harm me；〃 said the Imperial Protector。 〃And any other who shall oppose me shall suffer death。〃
So Li Hui was thrust out。
〃The officers of Shu regard the safety of their families and no longer render you service。 The generals are arrogant； and each has some scheme of his own to further。 If you do not get Liu Bei to oppose the enemy without and your own people oppose you within； surely you are on the road to ruin。〃
So spoke Zhang Song； and the Imperial Protector replied； 〃I know the plan is for my advantage。〃
Whereupon he mounted his horse to ride out to Elm Tree Bridge。
Then a messenger reported to him： 〃Wang Lei has suspended himself； head downwards； at the city gate。 In one hand he holds a written remonstrance and in the other a knife。 And he says that if you heed him not； he will cut the rope and die at your feet。〃
Liu Zhang went to the gate； took the writing and read：
〃Good medicine is bitter in the mouth but good for the disease； faithful words offend the ear but are good for the conduct。 Of old King Huai of Chu listened not to Qu Yuan； but attended the meeting at Wu Pass and was captured by the state of Qin。 Sir； you are thoughtlessly leaving your place to go to wele Liu Bei； but I fear there is a way out and none in。 Could you but behead Zhang Song in the market place and have nothing to do with this league with Liu Bei； it would be for the happiness of old and young； and assure the safety of yourself。〃
Anger rose in Liu Zhang's breast as he read。
〃Why do you insult me when I go to meet a kindly man I feel as if I were about to enjoy the delight of seeing brother？〃
At this Wang Lei gave a great cry； severed the rope； and fell to the ground battered and dead。
Head downwards at the city gate one hung
A last remonstrance in his outstretched hand。
Resolved that； were his words rejected； he
Would not survive defeat。 Sincere was he
Who； desperate； held to Liu Zhang's silken robe
Until his broken teeth released their grip。
Sincere indeed； but how can he pare
With stern Wang Lei who went to awful death？
Liu Zhang with thirty thousand troops went out to wele his clansman； and there followed one thousand wagons laden with supplies and rich stuffs。
Liu Bei's advanced guard had arrived at River Dian。 During the march the people had brought presents； and Liu Bei had given an order to pay for everything； under penalty of death for disobedience。 Thus no one suffered； and the people came out in trusting crowds to watch the soldiers marching by and wele them in every way。 Liu Bei soothed them with very gracious words。
Then Fa Zheng secretly showed Pang Tong a letter from Zhang Song advocating the assassination of Liu Zhang near the place of wele。
Pang Tong said； 〃Say nothing about this。 After the two Lius have met； there may be opportunities； but this is too early to talk。 Any plot would leak out。〃
So nothing was said。
Fucheng； where the meeting was to take place； was one hundred twenty miles from Capital Chengdu。 Liu Zhang arrived first and sent messengers to wele Liu Bei。 The two armies camped on the bank of River Fu。 Liu Bei went into the city to see the Imperial Protector； and they met cordially as brothers should。 Both shed a few tears； and by and bye they began a heart…to…heart talk。 Then followed a banquet； and after this each returned to his own camp。
The Imperial Protector said； 〃How ridiculous have been proved the fears of Huang Quan and Wang Lei！ They do not understand the force of family affection。 I see he is really a kindly and noble man； and with him as a support I shall fear neither Cao Cao nor Zhang Lu。 And I owe all this to Zhang Song。〃
To show his gratitude； Liu Zhang took off the green silken robe he wore and sent it as a gift to Zhang Song； together with five hundred ounces of gold。
However； some of his officers were not so content； and a group of them bade him beware。
〃Do not rejoice too soon； O Master；〃 said they； 〃for Liu Bei is hard enough within in spite of his mild exterior。 You have not sounded him yet and should be on your guard。〃
〃You are all too anxious；〃 said Liu Zhang； laughing。 〃My brother is no double…dealer； I am sure。〃
When Liu Bei had returned to his own tent； Pang Tong came in to ask what impression he had of his host of that day。
〃He seems a very honest man；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃He is good enough； but some of his servants are discontented at this turn of affairs； and I would not guarantee there will be no murders。 If you took my advice； you would have Liu Zhang assassinated at the return banquet。 A hundred ruffians behind the arras； a signal from you； and the deed would be acplished。 All that would be needed； then would be a rush on Capital Chengdu。 No sword need be drawn； no arrow fitted to the string。〃
〃He is a brother of my house and has treated me with sincerity。 I am a new…er and so far unknown in this land。 Such a deed would be abhorrent to all the world； and these people would resent it。 I will not establish myself by such means。〃
〃The scheme is not mine。 It originated in a private letter from Zhang Song； who says it will have to be done some time。〃
At this moment Fa Zheng came in and said； 〃This is not for ourselves。 It is the will of heaven。〃
〃Liu Zhang and I are of the same house； and I would shudder at harming him；〃 said Liu Bei。
〃Sir； you are wrong。 If you act not as we propose； then Zhang Lu will take Shu in revenge for the death of his mother。 What is there for you at the end of your long march？ Advance； and success is yours； retreat； and you have nothing。 And delays are most dangerous。 At any moment this scheme may leak out； and another will reap the profit。 This is the day when Heaven smiles on you。 Act before Liu Zhang suspects you。 Establish yourself。〃
So urged Fa Zheng； and Pang Tong backed it。
Their lord； by argument； they tried
From rectitude to turn aside。
What Liu Bei hid in his heart will be explained in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 61 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 61
Chapter 61
In The River； Zhao Yun Recovers Liu Shan；
With One Letter； Sun Quan Repulses Cao Cao。
In spite of the persuasion of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng； Liu Bei steadily refused to sanction the assassination of his host at the banquet； Imperial Protector Liu Zhang； even if thereby he was to gain possession of West River Land。
The next day there was another banquet； this time in the city of Fucheng； whereat host and guest unbosomed themselves freely to each other and became exceedingly friendly and affectionate。
All were mellow with wine； and Pang Tong； talking with Fa Zheng； said； 〃Since our master will have nothing to do with our scheme； we had better set Wei Yan's sword…play to work and take advantage of the confusion to kill Liu Zhang。〃
Wei Yan came in shortly afterward； with his sword drawn； and said； 〃There being no other entertainment at this banquet； may I show you a little fencing to amuse you？〃
Thereupon Pang Tong called up some of the armed guards and ranged them along the lower part of the hall till Wei Yan should fall on。
At these preparations the officers of Liu Zhang stared with questioning eyes toward the chief seats at the upper end。
Then one of them； Zhang Ren； drew his sword； saying； 〃An opponent is needed to make fencing a success； so he and I will display our skill at the same time。〃
So they began。 Presently； at a glance from Wei Yan； Liu Feng came up and took position at his side。
At once three of the manders of the west followed suit； saying； 〃And we three will e in too。 It may add to your amusement and help to raise a laugh。〃
＇e＇ Hongmen Banquet At that time Liu Bang； Governor of Pei； and Xiang Yu； King of West Chu； were fighting Qin under the Chu banner。 Liu Bang was the first mander who entered Qin's capital； Xianyang。 The loss of this honor enraged Xiang Yu； and he was set to attack Liu Bang's force。 But his uncle Xiang Ba wanted to mediate the situation； and Xiang Ba invited Liu Bang to visit Xiang Yu's camp in Hongmen。 During a banquet at Hongmen； Xiang Yu's adviser Fan Zeng ordered Xiang Chang to perform a sword…dance and take the chance to kill Liu Bang。 However； as Xiang Chang closed in Liu Bang； Xian