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e a raid on the camp tonight。〃
〃How shall we meet it？〃 said Liu Bei。
〃The plans are quite ready；〃 was the reply。
San Fu whispered them to the chief。 So at the second watch； when the enemy arrived； they saw fires on all sides； the stockades and huts burning。 Cao Ren understood at once that all hope of a surprise was vain； and he turned to get away as quickly as possible。 This was the signal for Zhao Yun to fall on； and that cut Cao Ren's return road。 He hastened north toward the river； and reached the bank； but； while waiting for boats to cross the stream； up came Zhang Fei and attacked。
By dint of great efforts and with the support of Li Dian； Cao Ren got into a boat； but most of the soldiers were drowned in the stream。 As soon as he got to the farther shore； he bolted for Fancheng。 He reached the wall and hailed the gate； but； instead of a friendly wele； he heard the rolling of drums； which was soon followed by the appearance of a body of troops。 Guan Yu led them。
〃I took the city a long time ago！〃 shouted Guan Yu。
This was a severe shock to Cao Ren； who turned to flee。 As soon as he faced about； Guan Yu attacked and killed many of his force。 The remnant hastened to Xuchang。 On the road the beaten general wondered who had advised his opponents with such success； and he asked the natives for the answer。
While the defeated Cao Ren had to find his way back to the capital； Liu Bei had scored a great success。 Afterwards he marched to Fancheng； where he was weled by Magistrate Liu Mi； himself a scion of the ruling family； who had been born in Changsha。 Liu Mi received Liu Bei as a guest in his own house and gave banquets and treated him exceedingly well。
In the train of the Magistrate； Liu Bei saw a very handsome and distinguished…looking young man； and asked who he was。
Liu Mi replied； 〃He is my nephew； Kou Feng； son of Lord Kou of Luo。 I have taken care of him after his parents died。〃
Liu Bei had taken a great liking for the lad and proposed to adopt him。 His guardian was willing； and so the adoption was arranged。 The young man's name was changed to Liu Feng。 When Liu Bei left； he took his adopted son with him。 Liu Feng was then made to bow before Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as uncles。
Guan Yu was doubtful of the wisdom of adopting another son； saying； 〃You have a son。 Why do you think it necessary to adopt another？ It may cause confusion。〃
〃How？ I shall treat him as a father should； and he will serve me as befits a son。〃
Guan Yu was displeased。
Then Liu Bei and San Fu began further discussions of strategy； and they decided to leave Zhao Yun with one thousand soldiers to guard Fancheng； and they returned to Xinye。
In the meantime Cao Cao's defeated generals had gone back。 When they saw the Prime Minister； Cao Ren threw himself on the ground weeping and acknowledging his faults。 He told the tale of his losses。
〃The fortune of war；〃 said Cao Cao。 〃But I should like to know who laid Liu Bei's plans。〃
〃That was San Fu；〃 said Cao Ren。
〃Who is he？〃 asked Cao Cao。
Cheng Yu said； 〃The man is not San Fu。 When young this man was fond of fencing and used to take up the quarrels of other people and avenge their wrongs。 At the end of Emperor Ling； he killed a man to avenge his friend； and then he let down his hair； muddled his face； and was trying to escape when a lictor caught him and questioned him。 He would not reply。 So they carted him through the streets beating a drum and asking if anyone recognized him。 Nobody dared own to knowing him； even if they did so。 However； his rades managed to release him secretly； and he ran away under some other name。 Then he turned to study and wandered hither and thither wherever scholars were to be found。 He was a regular disputant with Sima Hui。 His real name is Xu Shu and he es from Yingchuan。 San Fu is merely an assumed name。〃
〃How does he pare with yourself？〃 asked Cao Cao。
〃Ten times cleverer。〃
〃It is a pity。 If able people gather to Liu Bei； his wings will soon grow。 What is to be done？〃
〃Xu Shu is there now。 But if you wanted him； it would not be difficult to call him；〃 replied Cheng Yu。
〃How could I make him e？〃 said Cao Cao。
〃He is noted for his affection for his mother。 His father died young； leaving his mother a widow with one other son。 Now that son is dead； and his mother； Lady Xun； has no one to care for her。 If you sent and got his mother here and told her to write and summon her son； he would surely e。〃
Cao Cao sent without loss of time and had the old lady brought to the capital； where he treated her exceedingly well。
Presently he said； 〃I hear you have a very talented son； who is now at Xinye helping on that rebel Liu Bei against the government。 There he is like a jewel in a muck heap： It is a pity。 Supposing you were to call him； I could speak of him before the Emperor； and he might get an important office。〃
Cao Cao bade his secretaries bring along paper and ink； with which Lady Xun could write to her son。
〃What sort of a man is Liu Bei？〃 asked she。
Cao Cao replied； 〃A mon sort of person from Zhuo； irresponsible enough to style himself Imperial Uncle； and so claiming some sort of connection with the Hans。 He is neither trustworthy nor virtuous。 People say he is a superior man as far as externals go； but a mean man by nature。〃
Lady Xun answered in a hard voice； 〃Why do you malign him so bitterly？ Everyone knows he is a descendant of one of the Han princes and so related to the House。 He has condescended to take a lowly office and is respectful to all people。 He has a reputation for benevolence。 Everyone； young and old； cowherds and firewood cutters； all know him by name and know that he is the finest and noblest man in the world。 If my son is in his service； then has he found a fitting master。 You； under the name of a Han minister； are really nothing but a Han rebel。 Contrary to all truths； you tell me Liu Bei is a rebel； whereby you try to induce me to make my son leave the light for darkness。 Are you devoid of all sense of shame？〃
As Lady Xun finished speaking； she picked up the inkstone to strike Cao Cao。 This so enraged him that he forgot himself and the need for caution and bade the executioners lead off the old woman and put her to death。
Adviser Cheng Yu； however； stopped this act； saying； 〃This old lady wished to die。 But if you kill her； your reputation will be damaged and hers enhanced。 Beside that will add a keen desire for revenge to the motives which led Xu Shu to labor in the interest of Liu Bei。 You had better keep her here so that Xu Shu's body and his thoughts may be in different places。 He can not devote all his energies to helping our enemy while his mother is here。 If you keep her； I think I can persuade the son to e and help you。〃
So the outspoken old lady was saved。 She was given quarters and cared for。 Daily Cheng Yu went to ask after her health； falsely claiming to being a sworn brother of her son's； and so entitled to serve her and treat her as a filial son would have done。 He often sent her gifts and wrote letters to her so that she had to write in reply。 And thereby he learned her handwriting so that he could forge a 〃home〃 letter。 When he could do this without fear of detection； he wrote one and sent it by the hand of a trusty person to Xinye。
One day a man arrived inquiring for one San Fu。 He claimed to have a letter from home for him。 The soldiers led the man to San Fu。 The man said he was an official carrier of letters and had been told to bring this one。 San Fu quickly tore it open and read：
〃On your brother's death recently I was left alone： No relative was near； and I was lonely and sad。 To my regret； the Prime Minister Cao Cao inveigled me into ing to the capital； and now he says you are a rebel； and he has throw me into bonds。 However； thanks to Cheng Yu； my life has been spared so far； and； if you would only e and submit too； I should be quite safe。 When this reaches you； remember how I have toiled for you and e at once； that you may prove yourself a filial son。 We may together find some way of escape to our own place and avoid the dangers that threaten me。 My life hangs by a thread； and I look to you to save me。 You will not require a second summon。〃
Tears gushed from Xu Shu's eyes as he read； and with the letter in his hand he