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 Moling.
At a meeting of his advisers he 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.”
The scheme proposed by Zhang Zhao will be unfolded in the next chapter.
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 threatened attack, he called in Pang Tong and laid the matter before him.
“The victor, 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 commanded 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 come with the messenger?”
“Only because of that letter,” Yang Huai replied. “This Liu Bei, from the day he first entered Yiazhou, 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,” some one 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 accompanied 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.
