Cao Cao and Liu Bei； with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei behind； seated themselves side by side in the White Gate Tower。 The captives were brought before them。 Lu Bu looked a pitiable object。 Although a very tall man； he was tied up in a veritable ball。
〃The bonds are very tight；〃 cried he； 〃I beseech you to loosen them！〃
〃Bindings a tiger must binding tight； of course；〃 replied Cao Cao。
Seeing Hou Cheng； Song Xian； and Wei Xu standing there looking pleased at their success； Lu Bu said； 〃I treated you all well enough： How could you turn against me？〃
Said Song Xian； 〃You listened to the words of your women； but rejected the advice of your generals。 Was not that mean？〃
Lu Bu was silent。 Then Gao Shun was brought forward。
〃What have you to say？〃 asked Cao Cao。
Gao Shun sulkily held his tongue。 He was ordered out to execution。
Next Chen Gong was led in。
〃I hope you have been well since we last saw each other； Chen Gong？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Your ways were crooked； and so I left you；〃 said Chen Gong。
〃You say I was crooked； and what of your serving Lu Bu？〃
〃Though he was a fool； he did not resemble you in deceit and wickedness。〃
〃You say you are able enough and clever； but what about your position today？〃
Turning toward Lu Bu； Chen Gong said； 〃This man would not follow my advice。 Had he done so； he would not now be a captive。〃
〃What think you ought to be done about this day's work？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃There is death for me today； and that is the end！〃 said Chen Gong undauntedly。
〃Very well for you； but what of your mother and wife and children？〃
〃It is said that one who rules with due regard to filial piety does not harm a person's family； one who would show benevolence does not cut off the sacrifices at a person's tomb。 My mother and wife and children are in your hands。 But since I am your prisoner； I pray you slay me quickly and not to try to harrow my feelings。〃
Cao Cao's heart still leaned toward mercy； but Chen Gong turned and walked away； repulsing the attendants who would stop him。 Cao Cao rose from his place and walked with Chen Gong； the tears falling from his eyes。 Chen Gong never looked at him。
Turning to his guards Cao Cao said； 〃Let his mother and family be taken to Xuchang and looked after immediately。 Any postponement will be punished！〃
The condemned man heard him but uttered no word。 He stretched out his neck for the blow。 Tears sprang to the eyes of all present。 His remains were honorably coffined and buried in Xuchang。
A poem pitying Chen Gong's fate says：
Neither hope of life nor fear of death moved him。
How brave was he； a hero indeed！
But his lord heeded not his words；
Wherefore in vain possessed he great talents。
Nevertheless； in that he stood by his master。
To parting with wife and mother；
He merits our pity and profound respect。
Who would resemble Chen Gong
That day he died at the White Gate Tower？
While Cao Cao sadly escorted Chen Gong on the way to death； Lu Bu appealed to Liu Bei； 〃Noble Sir； you sit there an honored guest while poor I lie bound at your feet。 Will you not utter one word to alleviate my lot？〃
Liu Bei nodded。
As Cao Cao returned to his place； Lu Bu called out； 〃Your only trouble； Illustrious Sir； is myself； and I am on your side now。 You take the lead； I will help you； and together the world is at our feet。〃
〃What do you think？〃 said Cao Cao turning to Liu Bei。
〃You are willing to forget the episodes of Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo？〃
〃Truly the lout is not to be trusted！〃 said Lu Bu； looking at Liu Bei。
〃Strangle and expose！〃 ordered Cao Cao。
As he was led away； Lu Bu turned once more to Liu Bei； 〃You long…eared lout； you forget now the service I rendered you that day at my camp gate； when my arrow hit the mark！〃
Just then someone shouted； 〃Lu Bu； O fool！ Death is but death； and why are you scared at it？〃
Everyone turned to look： The guards were hustling Zhang Liao to the place of judgment。 Cao Cao ordered Lu Bu's execution。
A poet has written upon the death of Lu Bu：
The flood spreads wide； the city drowns；
Its lord is captive。 Nought avails
His courser's speed or halberd's thrust。
The tiger erstwhile fierce； now whines
For mercy。 Cao Cao had meted him
Full well； a falcon flown at will
And hungry kept。 Poor fool！ He let
Chen Gong's advice be overborne
By harem tattle； vainly now
He rails against the Long…Ears' faith。
And another poem says：
Round is the hungry tiger； eater of men； for whom is no pity；
Since the blood of his victims is fresh and not yet dry。
Liu Bei spoke no word in favor of Lu Bu；
To whom even a father's life was not sacred。
It was recorded earlier that the executioners were hustling Zhang Liao forward。
Pointing to him from above； Cao Cao said； 〃He has a familiar face。〃
〃You were not likely to forget me： You saw me before in Puyang；〃 said Zhang Liao。
〃O； so you remember me； eh？〃
〃Yes； more is the pity。〃
〃Pity for what？〃
〃That the fire that day was not fierce enough to burn you up； rebel that you are。〃
Cao Cao began to get angry。
〃How dare you insult me？〃 cried he and lifted his sword to kill the bold speaker。
The undaunted Zhang Liao never changed color； but stretched out his neck for the blow。 Then a man behind Cao Cao caught his arm； and in front of him another dropped on his knees； saying； 〃O Prime Minister； I pray thee stay thy hand！〃
Lu Bu whining was not spared；
Railing Zhang Liao far better fared。
Who was it that saved Zhang Liao？ The next chapter will show。
Main Next to Chapter 20 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Cao Cao Organizes A Hunting Expedition In Xutian；
Dong Cheng Receives A Secret mand In The Palace。
The last chapter said that Cao Cao was checked in his angry attack upon Zhang Liao。 They were Liu Bei who held his arm and Guan Yu who knelt before him。
〃A man as generous…hearted as he is should be saved；〃 said Liu Bei。
Guan Yu said； 〃I know him well as loyal and righteous。 I will vouch for him with my own life！〃
Cao Cao threw aside his sword and smiled。
〃I also know Zhang Liao to be loyal and good。 I was just testing him；〃 said he。
Cao Cao loosed the prisoner's bonds with his own hands； had a change of dress brought in； and clothed him therewith。 Then he was led to a seat of honor。 This kindly treatment sank deep into Zhang Liao's heart； and he hastened to declare formally that he yielded。 And then he was given the rank of Imperial mander and the title of Lordship。
Zhang Liao was sent on a mission to win over the bandit leader Zang Ba； who hearing what had happened； came forthwith and gave in his submission。 He was graciously received； and his former colleagues………Sun Guan； Wu Dun； and Yin Li………also yielded； with the exception of Chang Xi； who remained obdurate。 All these former enemies who came over were kindly treated and given posts of responsibility wherein they might prove the reality of their conversion。 Lu Bu's family were sent to the capital。
After the soldiers had been rewarded with feasting； the camp was broken up and the army moved away to Xuchang。 Passing through Xuzhou the people lined the roads and burned incense in honor of the victors。 They also petitioned that Liu Bei should be their protector。
Cao Cao replied； 〃Liu Bei has rendered great services。 You must wait till he has been received in audience and obtained his reward。 After that he shall be sent here。〃
The people bowed low to the ground to express their thanks。 Che Zhou； General of the Flying Cavalry； was given mand of Xuzhou for the moment。
After the army had arrived at the capital； rewards were granted to all the officers who had been in the expedition。 Liu Bei was retained in the capital； lodging in an annex to the Prime Minister's palace。
Next day a court was held； and Cao Cao memorialized the services of Liu Bei who was presented to Emperor Xian。 Dressed in court robes； Liu Bei bowed at the lower end of the audience arena。 The Emperor called him to the Hall and asked his ancestry。
＇e＇ Reigned BC 157…141。
Liu Bei replied； 〃Thy servant is the son of Liu Hong； grandson of Liu Xiong； who was a direct descendant of Prince Sheng of Zhongshan； who was the son of His Majesty the Emperor Jing*。〃
The Emperor bade them bring forth the Books of the Genealogies； and therefr