but on being closely questioned, revealed the whole story. Guan Yu was greatly startled so he took the man to Xinye and made him repeat his story to Liu Bei, who was also extremely alarmed.
Zhang Fei said, “In that case I propose that we put this fellow to death, then cross the river to take Xiangyang, and slay the mother and son. After that we can fight with Cao Cao.”
But Liu Bei told him to keep silent and said that he knew what to do. Then turning to the prisoner he said reproachfully, “You knew they did all this. Why didn’t you come to tell me? As things stand now there is nothing to be gained by killing you. Leave here at once.”
Song Zhong stammered his thanks and, throwing his hands over his head, quickly ran away.
Liu Bei was very sad. As he sat worrying about the critical situation, Liu Qi’s messenger, Yi Qi, was announced. Liu Bei was very grateful to this man for having saved his life before so he went down the steps to welcome him.
Yi Qi said, “The young master has heard that his father is dead, but his stepmother and her family have kept back the news and have set up Liu Zong as the new ruler. He knows the news is true, as he has sent a special messenger to find out. He is afraid that you might still be in the dark so he has sent me to deliver this obituary and he begs you to lead all the men you have to Xiangyang to help him assert his rights.”
Liu Bei read the letter. Then he said, “Well, you only know that the younger son has usurped the lordship, but you hardly know that he has already offered the nine districts to Cao Cao.”
This news shocked Yi Qi. “Where did you get this news?” he asked.
Liu Bei told him of the capture of Song Zhong. Yi Qi said, “In that case you can use the excuse of mourning over our late lord’s death to go to Xiangyang and so draw Liu Zong out of the city to welcome you. Then you can seize him, slay his party, and take the district.”
“This is good advice,” said Zhuge Liang. “My lord, you ought to take it.”
Tears rolled down his face as Liu Bei said, “On his deathbed my brother entrusted his sons to my care. If I lay hands upon one of his sons and seize the land, how will I be able to look my brother in the face when I meet him bye and bye under the nine springs?”
“If you do not act in this way now how will you repel Cao Cao, who has already reached Wancheng?” asked Zhuge Liang.
“We can take refuge in Fancheng,” replied Liu Bei.
At about this time scouts came to say that Cao Cao’s army had reached Bowang. So Yi Qi was immediately sent back with instructions for Liu Qi to prepare the defense of Jiangxia, while Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed plans for countering the enemy.
Zhuge Liang urged his master to take heart. As he had seen the last army destroyed by fire, so would he see this one suffer the same strategy. He said, “We can no longer stay here. Better move over to Fancheng as soon as possible.”
Then notices were posted at the four gates to inform all the residents, men or women, old or young, that, if they would, they could follow their ruler at once to the new city to escape danger. Sun Qian was entrusted with the job of preparing boats to transport the people and Mi Zhu was responsible for the safe conveyance of the families of the officials.
Then the officers assembled to take orders from Zhuge Liang. Guan Yu, at the head of a thousand men, was to lay an ambush at the upper reaches of the White River. His men were to carry bags to be filled up with sand and earth to dam the river, until they heard the arrival of the enemy at the lower reaches, at about the third watch the next day. Then the waters were to be freed to drown their foe. At the same time he was to come downstream to join in the fight.
Zhang Fei, with another thousand men, was to go to Boling Ferry, where the current was the slowest. After the waters of the White River had been let loose on Cao Cao’s men they would surely attempt to get across
Zhang Fei said, “In that case I propose that we put this fellow to death, then cross the river to take Xiangyang, and slay the mother and son. After that we can fight with Cao Cao.”
But Liu Bei told him to keep silent and said that he knew what to do. Then turning to the prisoner he said reproachfully, “You knew they did all this. Why didn’t you come to tell me? As things stand now there is nothing to be gained by killing you. Leave here at once.”
Song Zhong stammered his thanks and, throwing his hands over his head, quickly ran away.
Liu Bei was very sad. As he sat worrying about the critical situation, Liu Qi’s messenger, Yi Qi, was announced. Liu Bei was very grateful to this man for having saved his life before so he went down the steps to welcome him.
Yi Qi said, “The young master has heard that his father is dead, but his stepmother and her family have kept back the news and have set up Liu Zong as the new ruler. He knows the news is true, as he has sent a special messenger to find out. He is afraid that you might still be in the dark so he has sent me to deliver this obituary and he begs you to lead all the men you have to Xiangyang to help him assert his rights.”
Liu Bei read the letter. Then he said, “Well, you only know that the younger son has usurped the lordship, but you hardly know that he has already offered the nine districts to Cao Cao.”
This news shocked Yi Qi. “Where did you get this news?” he asked.
Liu Bei told him of the capture of Song Zhong. Yi Qi said, “In that case you can use the excuse of mourning over our late lord’s death to go to Xiangyang and so draw Liu Zong out of the city to welcome you. Then you can seize him, slay his party, and take the district.”
“This is good advice,” said Zhuge Liang. “My lord, you ought to take it.”
Tears rolled down his face as Liu Bei said, “On his deathbed my brother entrusted his sons to my care. If I lay hands upon one of his sons and seize the land, how will I be able to look my brother in the face when I meet him bye and bye under the nine springs?”
“If you do not act in this way now how will you repel Cao Cao, who has already reached Wancheng?” asked Zhuge Liang.
“We can take refuge in Fancheng,” replied Liu Bei.
At about this time scouts came to say that Cao Cao’s army had reached Bowang. So Yi Qi was immediately sent back with instructions for Liu Qi to prepare the defense of Jiangxia, while Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang discussed plans for countering the enemy.
Zhuge Liang urged his master to take heart. As he had seen the last army destroyed by fire, so would he see this one suffer the same strategy. He said, “We can no longer stay here. Better move over to Fancheng as soon as possible.”
Then notices were posted at the four gates to inform all the residents, men or women, old or young, that, if they would, they could follow their ruler at once to the new city to escape danger. Sun Qian was entrusted with the job of preparing boats to transport the people and Mi Zhu was responsible for the safe conveyance of the families of the officials.
Then the officers assembled to take orders from Zhuge Liang. Guan Yu, at the head of a thousand men, was to lay an ambush at the upper reaches of the White River. His men were to carry bags to be filled up with sand and earth to dam the river, until they heard the arrival of the enemy at the lower reaches, at about the third watch the next day. Then the waters were to be freed to drown their foe. At the same time he was to come downstream to join in the fight.
Zhang Fei, with another thousand men, was to go to Boling Ferry, where the current was the slowest. After the waters of the White River had been let loose on Cao Cao’s men they would surely attempt to get across
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