a sword…dance and take the chance to kill Liu Bang。 However； as Xiang Chang closed in Liu Bang； Xiang Ba rose to perform another sword…dance and fend off the attack。 Just then Liu Bang's general Fan Kuai bursted in； armed and angry…looking。 Fan Kuai proclaimed his lord's achievements and denounced the murder plot。 In the confusion； Liu Bang slipped away and rushed back to his camp。 。。。。。
But to Liu Bei matters began to take on a serious look。 Drawing a sword of a servant； he stood out in the banquet hall and cried； 〃We brothers have perhaps honored our meeting with a little too much wine。 There is nothing to say against that； but this is no Hongmen Banquet*； where murder was done。 Put up your swords； or I will slay you！〃
〃Why wear swords at all at a meeting of two brothers？〃 cried Liu Zhang； at the same time telling his servants to surround his officers and take away their weapons。
Disarmed； they sulkily withdrew。
Then Liu Bei called all the generals of Liu Zhang to the upper end of the banquet hall； gave them wine； and said； 〃You need have no doubts。 We two brothers； of the same bone and blood； have talked over the great design； and we are one in purpose。〃
The officers bowed and retired。
Liu Zhang took his guest by the hand； saying； 〃Brother； I shall never forget your kindness。〃
They sat drinking till late； both feeling very happy。 When at length Liu Bei reached his camp； he blamed his strategist for having caused the confusion。
〃Why did you endeavor to force me into mitting a great wrong？〃 said Liu Bei。 〃There must be no repetition of this。〃
Pang Tong retired； sighing。
When Liu Zhang reached his own camp； his leaders waited on him and said； 〃Sir； you saw the real meaning of that occurrence at the banquet； we suppose。 We think it prudent for you to retire at once into the city。〃
〃My brother is different from ordinary humans；〃 replied Liu Zhang。
〃He may not incline toward murder himself； but those about him have but one desire………that is to exploit this land of ours to their own advantage。〃
〃Do not try to sow dissension between us and make us quarrel；〃 said their chief。
And Liu Zhang took no heed of their remonstrance。 One day； when he and Liu Bei were enjoying together relaxation from cares of state； the news came that Zhang Lu was about to invade the West River Land at the Jiameng Pass。 Thereupon the Imperial Protector begged Liu Bei to go and defend it。 Liu Bei consented and left immediately with his own especial band。
At once Liu Zhang's officers took advantage of the guest's departure to urge the Imperial Protector to place his own trusty generals in mand at various strategic points； so as to guard against any attempts of the visitors to seize the land。 At first Liu Zhang was unwilling and refused； but as they prayed him most earnestly to do this he yielded and consented to take some steps to safeguard himself。 He sent Yang Huai； mander of Baishui； and Gao Pei to garrison River Fu Pass。
So Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu and his guest； Liu Bei； went away to the point where invasion threatened。 Arrived there； Liu Bei soon won the hearts of the people by the strict discipline he maintained over his army and by his gracious manner。
News of these doings in the west duly reached the south； and Sun Quan summoned his counselors as to his countermove。
Then Gu Yong spoke； saying； 〃I have an infallible plan to propose。 Liu Bei and his army are now far away and separated from us by difficult country。 Therefore he cannot return quickly； and my advice is to occupy the passes so that he cannot get through。 Then send all your force against Jingzhou and Xiangyang； and they will surely fall to you。〃
〃The plan seems excellent；〃 said Sun Quan。
But just then a voice was heard from behind the screen； crying； 〃You may just put to death the man who proposed that scheme for trying to pass the death of my daughter。〃
Everyone started with surprise。 It was the Dowager Marchioness' voice。
Further； Lady Wu looked very angry as she entered； saying； 〃What is to bee of my only daughter； who is the wife of Liu Bei？〃
She turned her wrathful eyes to Sun Quan and said； 〃You were heir to your father and brother and obtained possession of all these lands without the least effort。 Yet you are dissatisfied and would forget the claims of your own flesh and blood and sacrifice your sister for the sake of adding a little to your lands。〃
〃No； no！〃 murmured Sun Quan； ashamed。 〃I would never think of going contrary to my mother's wishes and orders。〃
He abruptly dismissed the assembly； and when they had gone the old lady； still nursing her wrath； retired to her own apartments。
Left alone beneath the portico； Sun Quan sighed sadly。
〃This chance missed！ When will Jingzhou be mine？〃 thought he。
While still deep in reverie； Zhang Zhao came up； saying； 〃What grieves my lord？〃
〃No great matter； only this last failure to gain my ends。〃
〃The difficulty may be easily removed；〃 said Zhang Zhao。 〃Choose some trusty man and charge him with a secret letter to Lady Sun Ren saying that her mother is dangerously ill。 Give him five hundred men as escort and tell him to make his way privily into Jingzhou City and deliver the letter。 Hearing her mother wants her； she will rush home at once； and she might bring with her the only son of Liu Bei。 Liu Bei will be glad enough to exchange Jingzhou for his son。 If he will not； you can still send the army。〃
〃That sounds like a good plan；〃 said Sun Quan。 〃Further； I have the man to carry it out successfully。 He is that Zhou Shan； who was a bold one。 He used to acpany my brother in his youth。 He is the man to go。〃
〃Keep it a secret； then；〃 said Zhang Zhao； 〃and let Zhou Shan start quickly。〃
It was decided that Zhou Shan should take with him about five hundred soldiers disguised as ordinary traders。 He had five vessels and distributed his men among them； while weapons were hidden in the holds。 Travel documents were forged to look like veritable authority in case they were asked。
Zhou Shan set out along the river route for the city of Jingzhou and was not long on the way。 He anchored his ships under the bank； landed； and went into the city to the residence； where he bade the doorkeepers announce him。 He was admitted and led into the presence of Lady Sun and presently gave her the secret letter。 When she read that her mother was in danger of death； she began to weep bitterly and questioned the messenger closely。
Zhou Shan invented a story； saying； 〃The Dowager Marchioness is really fretting for a sight of yours。 If you do not go quickly； it will be too late。 The Dowager Marchioness also wants to see little Liu Shan once before she dies。〃
Lady Sun replied； 〃You know that the Imperial Uncle is far away on military service； and I ought to inform the chief of the army before returning home。〃
〃But what will you do if the chief says he must inform your husband and await his consent？〃 said Zhou Shan。
〃If I went without asking permission………but I fear that is impossible。〃
〃My ships are all ready in the river； and you have only to drive through the city；〃 said Zhou Shan。
Naturally the news of her mother's illness greatly disturbed the young wife。 In a short time her carriage was ready； and she mounted； taking Liu Shan with her。 She took an escort of thirty guards； all armed； and was soon at the river side and had embarked before the palace people could report what she was doing。
But just as the ships were starting； a voice was heard； shouting； 〃Do not start yet！ Let me bid my lady farewell。〃
The voice was Zhao Yun's。 He had just returned from an inspection trip； and they had at once told him of Lady Sun's sudden departure。 As soon as he had recovered from his surprise； he dashed down to the river bank like a whirlwind； with only half a dozen followers。 He arrived only just in time。 The boat was starting； and Zhou Shan stood in the prow； a long spear in his hand。
〃Who are you that you dare hinder the movements of your mistress？〃 cried Zhou Shan。
Zhou Shan bade his soldiers cast off and get under way； and also to prepare their weapons to fight。 The ship moved off with a fair wind and a strong current beneath her keel。
But Zhao Yun followed along the bank。
〃My lady may go or not as she pleases；〃 cried he； 〃but I have one word t