sound of beating drums； and arrows and crossbow bolts began to fall like raindrops around Cao Cao。 He turned to retire； and the archers and bowmen followed him。 However； presently appeared Xu Chu； with the Tiger Guards； who rescued Cao Cao and took him back to his camp。 The army of the South Land had scored a victory； and they marched back to River Ruxu。
Alone in his camp； Cao Cao thought； 〃This Sun Quan certainly is no ordinary man； and by the presage of the sun in my dream he will bee an emperor。〃
He began to think it would be well to retire from the expedition； only that he feared the troops of the South Land would exult over him。 So the two armies remained facing each other a whole month； fighting occasional skirmishes and battles in which victory fell sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other。
And so it went on till the new year； and the spring rains filled the watercourses to overflowing； and the soldiers were wading in deep mud。 Their sufferings were extreme； and Cao Cao became sad at heart。 At the council board his officers were divided； some being for retirement and others anxious to hold on till the warm weather。 Their chief could not make up his mind。
Then there came a messenger from the South Land bearing a letter of Sun Quan； which read：
〃You and I； O Prime Minister； are both servants of Han； but you are careless for the tranquillity of the people and think only of battle； thereby causing great suffering。 Is this conduct worthy of a kindly person？
〃But spring with its heavy rains is at hand； and you would be wise to retire while you can。 If not； you may expect a repetition of the misfortune at the Red Cliffs。 It would be well to consider this。〃
And on the back of the letter was a note in a line running thus： 〃No tranquillity for me while you live！〃
Cao Cao read the letter and laughed。
〃Sun Quan speaks the truth！〃 said he。
He rewarded the messenger and issued orders to retreat。 The Governor of Lujiang； Zhu Guang； was left to guard Huancheng。 The army marched for the capital。
Sun Quan returned to Jianye。
At a meeting of his advisers Sun Quan said； 〃Cao Cao has marched north； Liu Bei is at Jiameng Pass。 Why should I not lead the army that has just repulsed the northern forces to take Jingzhou？〃
Thereupon Zhang Zhao offered another plan； saying； 〃Do not move a soldier。 I know how to keep Liu Bei from returning to Jingzhou。〃
Cao Cao's army march away；
Sun Quan's thoughts then southward stray。
The scheme proposed by Zhang Zhao will be unfolded in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 62 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 62
Chapter 62
Taking Of River Fu Pass； Yang Huai and Gao Pei Are Slain；
Siege Of Luocheng； Huang Zhong and Wei Yan Rival。
Zhang Zhao proceeded to unfold his device： 〃If you undertake any expedition farther west； Cao Cao will undoubtedly return to the attack。 Rather write two letters； one to Liu Zhang saying that Liu Bei has leagued himself with you against the west； which will raise suspicions in the mind of Liu Zhang and cause him to attack his guest； and another letter persuading Zhang Lu to march upon Jingzhou； which will uproot Liu Bei。 Between these two conflicting matters； Liu Bei cannot give supports to all fronts； and we can march against Jingzhou。〃
Sun Quan approved； wrote the two letters； and sent them by two messengers。
In the meantime； Liu Bei had been winning the hearts of the people about Jiameng Pass； where his army lay。 When he received the news of his wife's flight and of Cao Cao's attack on Ruxu； he called in Pang Tong and laid the matter before him。
〃The victor of Ruxu； whoever it is； will assuredly possess himself of our region of Jingzhou；〃 said Liu Bei at the close。
〃You need not trouble about that region；〃 said Pang Tong。 〃I do not think the South Land or the Middle Land will try to take it so long as Zhuge Liang is there。 But； my lord； write to Liu Zhang 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 Cao Cao's attack； Sun Quan has sent to you for help； and that as his country and yours are neighbors and dependent upon each other for safety you cannot refuse。 Further； you will assure him that there is no danger of any invasion by Zhang Lu。 However； we have too few troops for our purpose and insufficient grain； so you must also urge your relative to send you thirty or forty thousand of veterans and a plentiful supply of food。 He will not refuse； and with more soldiers and provisions we can do as we please。〃
Liu Bei agreed to this and sent a messenger to Chengdu。 When his messenger reached the River Fu Pass； Yang Huai and Gao Pei； who manded the garrison； already knew of the design； and the former of the two generals went with him to the city。
After reading the letter； the Imperial Protector asked Yang Huai； 〃Why did you e with the messenger？〃
〃Only because of that letter；〃 Yang Huai replied。 〃This Liu Bei； from the day he first entered Yizhou； 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 troops 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 Imperial Protector。
〃Liu Bei is nothing but a vagabond swashbuckler；〃 someone cried； 〃and if you keep him here in the west； you are loosing a tiger in your household。 If you give him the troops and supplies he asks； you are adding wings to your tiger。〃
Turning whence the voice proceeded； they recognized the speaker as one Liu Ba； a native of Lingling。 His words threw the Imperial Protector into a state of doubt and hesitation。 Huang Quan also dissuaded him most earnestly； and finally Liu Zhang actually decided to send only four thousand of worn…out soldiers and a paltry supply of grain。 At the same time fresh orders enjoining a diligent watchfulness were sent to the guardians of the passes。
When Liu Bei read the letter that acpanied the Imperial Protector's miserable contribution to his strength； he was furious and cried； 〃I have been spending myself in your defense； and this is my reward！ You are mean and greedy enough to stint my supplies。 How can you expect generous service？〃
Liu Bei tore the letter to fragments and execrated the writer thereof。 The bearer of the letter fled back to the capital。
Then said Pang Tong； 〃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 Liu Bei。
〃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 Chengdu。 The second is to capture and put to death the two generals of the River Fu Pass。 They are the two most famous fighting men in this land。 If you give out that you are returning to Jingzhou； they will assuredly e to say farewell。 Seize and put them to death； and the Pass and Fucheng are both yours。 Chengdu will follow soon。 The third plan is to drop this role you have been playing； go back to Jingzhou and make a regular invasion。 But if you ponder these schemes too long； you will get into such straits that nothing can save you。〃
Liu Bei replied； 〃Of your three schemes； O Instructor； 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 Zhang saying that Cao Cao was sending an army against Qingni； and since the generals there were unequal to the defense； Liu Bei 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 Bei was to return to Jingzhou；〃 said Zhang Song； when he heard of the letter to Liu Zhang。
Zhang Song then also posed a letter to Liu Bei。 While he was looking about for a trusty person to take it； his brother Zhang Su； who was the Governor of Guanghan； came to see him。 Zhang Song hid the letter in his sleeve while he talked with his brother。 Zhang Su noticed his anxious inquietude； which he could not explain。 W